Donate to Red Cross Disaster Relief

Career-Op: Stop! 3 Things to Stop Doing Today - from the archives with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Stop! 3 Things to Stop Doing Today
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

It can be very difficult to see the forest for the trees when you are involved in a day-to-day battle to maintain and develop your high-tech career. Layoffs abound. Project work is drying up. The computer industry is in turmoil. Who has time to worry about the rest of the world when you are just trying to keep your boss happy or your clients off your back? In truth, you need to make the time to constantly evaluate your position in your career and do those things that need to be done to insure that you are moving forward in your career and your life. As a way to jolt you into thinking more about your career and less about your current job, here are 3 things you need to stop doing today.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Career-Op: Take advantage of the holidays - from the archives with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Take advantage of the holidays
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

As you probably know, most companies tend to slow down around the holiday season, unless, of course, they are in a business directly related to holiday retail or events. We look forward to this slower pace as we wind down to the end of the year, but you might want to take a different approach this time. While the holidays may not be the best time to look for a new job (See Holiday Recharge, December 1998), you can turn these slow times to your advantage.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Career-Op: Simply Right - from the archives with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Simply Right
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Despite the complexity of high-tech hardware, software and systems, it is often the simplest issues that cause the most problems. This is true whether you are troubleshooting a computer or trying to figure out what to do with your high-tech career. Too often, complex ideas and systems can divert us when most problems call for a little simple thinking. Before you start tearing things apart, you need to ask a few simple questions.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Let it snow!

Los Angeles after some grand climatic clamity?!?!? No, it is merely the view from our friends house here in Bedford, Ohio. We are spending the holidays back on our old stomping grounds and Mother Nature delivered 12+ inches of soft, white powder directly into our laps.

We are remembering how different it was living in Ohio year-round, with large coats, hats, snow pants and boots. In preparation for your trip to New London (my hometown) tomorrow, I brushed all the snow off the rental car and ended up covered in snow from head to foot.

Joe is loving the snow play and even got to go sledding yesterday at another friends house.

I realize now that after 18.5 years away from these Winters, it is very unlikely I would ever choose to move back. I have been softened by LA's climate, even if hardened by the city itself.

Off now for nice warm cup of coffee!

Be well!

Career-Op: Sales is everything with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Sales is everything
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Yes, that’s right, “sales” is everything. Business experts like Tom Peters preach it, industry pundits carry on the charge, even I know this is true, but taking it to heart and integrating this thought into my business is a troublesome task. I bemoan the past when…was it ever true?... there were sales people and everyone else. If you worked in development, technical support or any other aspect of business, you didn’t have to think about sales. It was something that the “Sales guys” did. This would be my dream world, but dreams don’t put food on the table.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.3.7 Update

Apple released its latest update for Mac OS X 10.3.x (Panther) This 10.3.7 release contains a number of updates and can be downloaded using the Software Update System Preference.

I have not yet loaded this update, but plan to do so in a few hours, when I get a free minute or two.

The 10.3.7 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther" and is recommended for all users.

Key enhancements include:

• improved AFP support for saving documents with long file names
  
• improved OpenGL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
  
• improved FireWire device compatibility
  
• updated Preview application
  
• improved compatibility for third party applications
  
• previous standalone security updates
  

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n300385
For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

My book review in Valley Scene Magazine

My book review for The Complete Book of Spirits is currently appearing in Valley Scene Magazine, both in print and online.

This is a great book both for the history buff, science geek and food/drink wonk.

Read the review here this week

Find the review here after 12/19/04

Career-Op: One by One...from the archives with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: One by one
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Over the years I am sure you have experienced the “never-ending project”—a project, program, or issue that never seems to get finished or resolved. These problems linger from year to year and no one ever seems to find a solution. Worse still, the longer they linger the worse they get. People get angrier, recriminations become nastier and the problem becomes even more intractable. If you want to keep your high-tech career on track, you need to face these never-ending issues head on. It won’t be easy, but it can prevent these issues from haunting you and your career from year to year.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Career-Op: Getting BY with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Getting By
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Have you ever had a day when you didn’t want to get out of bed and face your work? Good. I’m glad it isn’t just me. Jobs and careers can have their ups and downs, but sometimes it can feel like life is ganging up on you. I describe it as having a reverse “Midas touch.” Instead of gold, all I get is mud. Thank goodness, I know these times are transient. Everything is cyclical and even these days will pass. This can be an important mindset to keep. Otherwise, you might ditch your high-tech career for something less stressful, like work as an airline pilot or crash test dummy.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Career-Op: Stretching...from the archives with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Stretching
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

Stretching yourself, both professionally and personally, can be a bit painful. It can also yield some of the best improvements in your life. Just like you may be sore the day after starting a new exercise routine, your ego and intellect might emerge a little bruised, but your body will be better for the effort.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Audio: Where'd All That Spam Come From? -- John Draper

The link below takes you to an MP3 audio file of this talk, hosted by John Draper (also famous/infamous as the hacker Captain Crunch). The talk was held at the "The Fifth Hope Conference: Hackers on Planet Earth" held July 9-11, 2004.

While there is some highly technical talk involved, it also provides an excellent overview of "Where'd all that SPAM Come From?" If you have ever been interested in the "How & Why" of SPAM, take a listen.

I will be highlighting a few other sessions here, as I listen my way through them.

Where'd All That Spam Come From? -- John Draper - MP3 Audio File (5.7 MB)


A study of the mechanisms spammers use to flood your mailbox along with what some of the work and research of SpamCrunchers have uncovered. Topics of this talk will include spam bots, spam trojans, some of the sneaky methods spammers use, how they get around filters, why none of this stuff really works anyway, and what you can do to significantly cut down on spam.

Web: Photography @ WillSimpson.org

Will Simpson is an amateur photographer with a wonderful eye and a wonderful way of talking about photography. I am a regular subscriber to his Podcast, where he presents several photos and then talks about the thoughts and techniques behind their creation.

It is a wonderful way to start the day, his gentle voice leading you through beautiful scenes.

Additionally, Will highlighted me as one of his favorite Podcasts in today's show, along with one of my favorites, Jim Kloss and Esther Golton over at Whole Wheat Radio.

I want to thank Will for his kind words about Career Opportunities: The High-Tech Career Handbook and wish him much continued success with his photography and Podcast.

Check out the photos and the Podcast at:

WillSimpson.org

Career-Op: Criticism...with MP3 Podcast

Career-Op: Criticism
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

There is a little that can be so useful, or so damaging, as criticism. When given correctly, justly and without malice, it can be the building block of a better career. Dealt out cruelly, meanly and with venom, it can stunt the progress of even the best person. A great career depends on understanding criticism, both how to deliver it and how to receive it.

(Continued)

Listen to this column on your computer, iPod or other MP3 player

MP3 via Coral | MP3 direct from WelchWrite.com

RSS Feed with enclosures

Tom Peters Reads My Mind!

Tom Peters and I are certainly on the same wavelength here. Reading is an important part of my life...and should be part of yours! (SMILE)

100 Ways To Succeed #33:

OUT-READ 'EM!

Read!

Read Wide!

Read Deep!

Read Often!

Surprise Yourself With Your Reading Picks!

Out-READ the "Competition"!

Take Notes!

Summarize!

Share With Others What You Read!* (*Not to impress them, but to practice what you've learned.)

Create/Join A Reading Salon!

Cultivate A Learning-Curiosity ADDICTION.

Read!

Make comments on Tom's Site

[Dispatches from the New World of Work]

Latest Mac OS X Security Update

Apple released a new security update today, which is available via the Software Update panel in System Preferences. Here is the information that accompanies the update.

Security Update 2004-12-02 delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users. This update includes the following components:

Apache

AppKit

HIToolbox

Kerberos

Postfix

PSNormalizer

Safari

Terminal

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

Creativity Starters

Over at Creative Chaos - Dina Mehta's Blog she discusses 2 new creativity card decks. These are collection of cards (like playing cards) that contain comments, quotes and questions to help spur your thinking.

One web site even allows you to play with the desk via the web.If you are looking for ways to get your creative juices flowing, check out Dina' web site and these decks.

Traffic Citation Scam

BoingBoing has a link regarding a new mail scam which sends out official-looking traffic citations.

See Interesting traffic citation scam for more info and photos.

Event: A Southern California Christmas

A Southern California Christmas

Celebrate Southern California Christmas traditions from the 1840s, 1870s, and 1920s at an afternoon festival featuring music, historic house tours, arts and crafts, food, Santa Claus, and more.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

W H E N : December 12, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

S I T E : Homestead Museum

15415 East Don Julian Road, City of Industry

C O S T : Free

S P O N S O R : Homestead Museum

I N F O : 626-968-8492, www.homesteadmuseum.org