Fandom, Software, Technology

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You're probably amazingly literate in computer software and the internet.

To some of you reading this, you wonder if I've had my morning Red Bull because you've done a lot of boneheaded things on the computer.  You accidentally erased files, you just had your far more tech-savvy neighbor redo your security settings after the virus incident.  You don't feel too competent, and you STILL don't know where your vacation photos went.

But you're a fan.  You're obviously wired enough to be on-line to read this.  I'm betting you've got a lot more software knowledge than you've realized.  You may geek out more over bishounen than technology, but if you're your average online fan, you have a lot more knowledge than you may realize.

This of course means a few things:
1) you may want to reassess your resume because you have a lot more technical ability than you realized.
2) You may want to rethink some career options as perhaps you like the technology you work with, you just aren't sure you're too good at it – but if you like it, training can make up for ignorance.
3) You may want to reassess what you're doing in your current career as you may be able to do more than you thought, or may be able to improve your skills more quickly than you thought.

So ask yourself just what you know?
* DId your fanfic writing help you get to know a Word Processor?
* Did doing the budget for a convention make you better at Spreadsheets?
* Were you able to use visio to chart out how to get that cosplay done?
* You were editing a fan-wiki,learning all the markups and ins and outs.

You probably know more than you think, software-wise thanks to your fandom.

Keep that in mind.  Maybe give your resume or your career a once-over and ask what you know that you've missed.  Also ask how you can improve it.

– Steven Savage

Book Review: Escape from Cubicle Nation

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Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur
by Pamela Slim

ISBN-10: 1591842573
ISBN-13: 978-1591842576

PROS: A good, friendly book that covers the process, psychology, and issues of starting one's own business.  Many personal and general insights are provided.

CONS: Occasional odd metaphors and "pop-culture" elements can distract.  The book does not cover everything about your own business in depth – but does advise where to go for in-depth information.

SUMMARY: An excellent, broad guide mixing psychology, encouragement, and advice for starting your own business.

Read more

News of the day 9/18/2009

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Career:
Record unemplyoment in several states – Still an unpretty picture, except . . .

The creative class is doing somewhat better employment-wise depending on profession – The graph provided is actually very informative – you can clearly see the impact of the dot-bomb.

Media and Publishing:
Google's Schmidt thinks the WSJ pay-plan won't work – Old versus new? It's interesting to see Google inserting itself into the pay-for-news issues so blatantly. Of course if it somehow WORKS, then this has repercussions for Google . . . and maybe another move in the seemingly endless-expanding Everything Wars? I don't know if the WSJ paywall can work (if anyone can pull it off, they can), but if it succeeds it changes the rules of information commerce. If it fails . . . I think the idea will be all but permanently discounted.

And on that subject, Google has some deal to print books with on-demand printer Expresso. Sounds like Google is obviously moving to printing – but also some branding. That doesnt change much for you as a writer directly, but I think it raises the profile of on-demand printing and publishing (which may be an area to look at career-wise)

Plus more in publishing tech (a lot today!) – Medallion has a Virtual Book Signing. Here's something I can buy will work – easier to attend, broader audience, everyone wins. So far not many have signed up for it, but let's watch what happens. If you're a writer, an event like this might work – you could practacally do one yourself with today's technology.

Technology:
Apparently Apple DID reject the Google Voice App – Which flys in the face of what Apple says. Again, more Everything Wars – and another blow to Apple who seems to be having some cracks in its image regarding the App Store. Google, I suspect, will keep pushing this for obvious reasons.

OK did I miss something here? Lawsuits over confidential information involving Skype Founders, Joost, JoltId – Just a lot of ugliness (with two companies that don't need it). Dare I say don't be sending any resumes to any of these companies for awhile? There seems to be a lot of legal activity flying around the technosphere as of late – not sure if it's me, or if there's some trend (or chance).

Video Games:
Playfish COO discusses friend-based distribution of games – And saving marketing money. A few things worth thinking about if you're in gaming, marketing, or social media. Hey they just opened a new studio in San Francisco so they must be onto something.

And a bit of fun for the end of the week a look at startups and Buzzword Bingo

– Steve