Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
Dear everyone who feels as if they should comment on business, economics, and careers.
I appreciate you want to do so. I appreciate analysis. I especially appreciate those of you who can produce actual numbers in your discussion that come from reliable research. We need to have these discussions on jobs, employment, health care, etc.
But, my dear assorted commenters and commentatrixes, could you please, maybe, in your theories KEEP IN MIND THE HUMAN SIDE OF economics?
Networking.
OK, you're tired of hearing about it. Every book you read on job searching mentions networking. Job counselors recommend networking. *I* recommend networking as do other bloggers.
Guess what? I like networking, but *I* am getting tired of hearing constantly how it's the key to getting an ideal job – because by now I know it. A lot of people know it.
So why is it we constantly are bombarded with the "networking message" despite the fact we've gotten it?
Are you applying your work lessons to your hobbies?
This may seem like a strange thing to say, especially to the people who use their hobbies tocope with the stress of work. However if your ambitions are to go from fan to pro, if you want to be a progeek, then you need to learn to apply your work to fandom, not just the other way around.
If there's something you do on the job that you're good at (or in some cases just decent at) consider how you can apply it in your fandom:
Applying what you do on the job to your hobbies has several benefits:
Don't just take your fandom into your career – find ways to turn it around. It'll make life easier, let you do more – and perhaps inspire you as to your next steps . . .
– Steven Savage