Advice

Fandom Reminders

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You're in a job you don't like or aren't thrilled with.  You want to move up or out (or over).  It's tiring, exhausting, and you are having trouble focusing on what you like.

It's time for a Fandom Reminder.

Those posters in your cube?  A reminder of what you love.  That action figure?  A reminder that you want to move on to marketing.  That amusing LOLCat?  A subtle hint of the business you plan to start.  Those pictures from your last convention?  More than a conversation piece, a constant lighthouse guiding you to the day you'll have your own fan/geek career.

Those seemingly pointless reminders, collectibles, decorations, and pictures are a way to remind you of what you care about even in the worst job situation or bleakest career.  They're little sparks of light to guide you a bit farther whether you want to change jobs where you work now or want to start your own company.

Those geeky reminders that seem so pointless or ephemeral may be very important to you to help keep you on track in your life.  Don't discount them at work – a single desktop theme may be what you need to keep going a little farther.  Everything does add up.

In fact, it can be more.  Want to move to the IT division?  Put up articles on IT you've been reading for your co-workers to talk about and you to be reminded by.  Want to be a voice actor? Put up that picture of Scott McNeil or Steve Blum you took at a con.

If you're lucky your job reinforces you.  But if not, find a way to make your environment a little more of a guide and reminder to where you're going to go.

– Steven Savage

The Economic downturn and Profans

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I've wondered if the Economic downturn is encouraging or discouraging profans and progeeks.

On one hand the economy is bad and people don't want to take chances.  It's hard to live your dreams when you're worried about layoffs, health care, housing prices, etc.  It's often a taking a chance to try and go live your dreams, and its hard when you want to be sure you can pay the bills.  Worse, a tough economy means less chance to fall back on friends and family if there's a crisis.

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Moving to a Geeky Job: The Business Shift

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Related to my previous post on geeky jobs, another issue I encounter with people wanting to use their skills on their jobs is the feeling that what they do know, what they enjoy, just isn't going to have a plance in the areas they want to work.  They're good at something that doesn't seem overly fannish, and they just can't see how it relates to the cool things they want to do or the place they want to work.

I relate of course, as a Project Manager.  I seriously enjoy gant charts, forms, coordinating, and organizing.  I've had moments where I am probably having more fun than anyone else on a project.

Indeed, there were times I wondered where I would go with this, many years ago I began looking at ways to go "the whole fan" and do what I liked where I liked.  I was in IT, which satisfied my geek, but I wanted to do more.

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