[00:04.520 --> 00:11.120] Welcome back to the Career Hacking Village here at DEF CON Safe Mode. As many of us know, [00:11.120 --> 00:17.580] one of the ways that we can get our skills to help our overall career development and actually [00:17.580 --> 00:24.880] build those skills that need to be put to place in our technical careers, one of those ways is [00:24.880 --> 00:31.320] through being part of conferences. But conferences have so many other benefits to us. We thought [00:31.320 --> 00:35.800] that it would be really great that Sciatic Nerd would come here today and tell us all about the [00:35.800 --> 00:42.560] career arcs of cons and careers. Sciatic, you want to take it away? Thank you very, very much, [00:42.560 --> 00:48.540] Kathleen. And hello, Career Hacking Village. It is super awesome to be able to be here and share [00:48.540 --> 00:54.660] today. This is one of those rare moments, right, where you realize there are not that many [00:54.660 --> 01:00.100] opportunities to just get out there and share what it is you've been doing or what you know. [01:00.100 --> 01:06.360] And if there's a chance, then it's got to be worth it to reach out and do the thing. And today, [01:06.360 --> 01:13.340] the thing is talking about how conferences, virtual or in person, can be something that enhances [01:13.940 --> 01:20.680] your story. Because we all deal with this ridiculous, frustrating thing. It's impossible [01:20.680 --> 01:26.280] to push down sometimes. It's called, well, in InfoSec, it's commonly called imposter syndrome, [01:26.280 --> 01:32.600] right? This is that feeling that wells up in you when you're not sure, can people see through [01:32.600 --> 01:39.460] me right now? What exactly am I thinking? What are they thinking? I don't know that I can do this. [01:39.460 --> 01:44.320] Well, we're going to talk about this a little more in depth, but it's a constant thing. [01:44.320 --> 01:49.840] And in the context of this talk, it's going to be referred to kind of like a level boss. [01:49.840 --> 01:57.000] It's the nondescript, just thing waiting at the top of the stairs, at the behind the dark door, [01:57.000 --> 02:02.120] but we're going to deal with it one step at a time. Because I don't know how it was for you, [02:02.120 --> 02:07.780] but when I was growing up, my older brother, he had the stereo, which meant I got to listen to [02:07.780 --> 02:13.660] whatever he wanted. And that made me crazy in the way it would, right? You don't get to control what [02:13.660 --> 02:18.560] you're hearing. You're force fed things into your ears. And in this case, for him, it was, [02:18.560 --> 02:24.560] it's the 80s. Yes, I'm that age. In the 80s, the band, Yes, had this ridiculous album called [02:24.560 --> 02:31.440] 90125. It's very different from all their other work, but so what? It had a lot of high production [02:31.440 --> 02:36.040] value and all this stuff, but it was pushed into my head. And the song, Owner of a Lonely Heart, [02:36.040 --> 02:41.560] in particular, was the kind of anthem thing. But I wanted something for me, something I could [02:41.560 --> 02:46.400] listen to. And I said, you know, I'm going to do something really different. And I got a hold of [02:46.400 --> 02:52.220] the Art of Noise. Now, this is just an album cover for one of their pieces or a fairly well-known [02:52.220 --> 03:00.180] thing called Paranormia. But it turns out, you find inspiration in strange places. Specifically, [03:00.180 --> 03:07.160] the Art of Noise wouldn't have existed unless 90125, the actual album my brother was listening [03:07.160 --> 03:13.340] to, had gotten made. It turns out the music programmer who was recording some drum beats [03:13.340 --> 03:20.420] for the band, got the idea in his head to work with this relatively new recording technology, [03:20.420 --> 03:26.740] the sequencing technology, and the Art of Noise was born. Even though I may not have been a super [03:26.740 --> 03:33.640] fan of that band at the time, it's the reason that the band I was enjoying came into being. [03:33.640 --> 03:39.300] So the moral here is intended to be, you might find inspiration in unique places, [03:39.300 --> 03:44.980] and don't skip going back to learn something new. Re-examine something you thought you had [03:44.980 --> 03:50.220] an idea of before, because it can change who you are and what your career path is. [03:50.220 --> 03:55.920] That's just like a career though, I mean, right? It takes time to figure out who you are and the [03:55.920 --> 04:01.800] kind of work you really want to do. It's difficult to just show up one day and a guidance counselor [04:01.800 --> 04:08.660] or somebody you trust, hopefully, asks, well, what do you want out of this thing, this stuff you do? [04:08.660 --> 04:13.660] You just stay up all night and tinker? What is it that gets you out of bed and makes you [04:13.660 --> 04:19.500] want to put hands to a keyboard or do whatever it is that you do? So learn from your mistakes, [04:19.500 --> 04:23.900] right? You've got to go back and at some point, maybe try to even help those who are coming after [04:23.900 --> 04:29.280] you to find a different route too. We're going to talk a little bit more about that as we go, [04:29.280 --> 04:38.600] because one of the biggest challenges I've ever found was figuring out how do you and I, [04:38.600 --> 04:44.420] I mean, that's a ridiculously HR sounding thing, but when you come to a situation, [04:44.420 --> 04:48.480] whether hanging with your friends or putting together a camping trip or anything, [04:48.480 --> 04:53.660] how do you bring value? What is it that you are going to do that makes it more enjoyable, [04:53.660 --> 04:59.520] improve the situation? What can you do to be positive about growth? And that's something [04:59.520 --> 05:05.900] that is, it's an intangible, some would call it a soft skill, but it's a very important and [05:05.900 --> 05:09.900] challenging thing because it means something different to every person. It's not going to [05:09.900 --> 05:15.680] always mean the same thing, but maybe you come along and make people laugh. Maybe you do something [05:15.680 --> 05:20.100] ridiculous. Maybe you help with conferences, whether it's planning them, helping with the [05:20.100 --> 05:26.060] safety and security aspects, talking to people, helping get the sponsorship going. All of these [05:26.060 --> 05:32.620] different pieces help make the whole better. So let's talk about the most epic of stories. Let's [05:32.620 --> 05:38.240] talk about yours because when it comes down to it, we have to think of things. Well, I prefer, [05:38.240 --> 05:43.540] excuse me, I prefer to think of things in terms of a story because that's what it is. [05:43.860 --> 05:48.380] If you're a fan of science fiction, recently, one of the characters said, you know, have a story, [05:48.380 --> 05:54.200] but make it a good one. And here we're going to address our concepts that way. So it's your early [05:54.200 --> 06:00.080] arc, the middle arc, the late arc, or in our case, we're going to talk about these arcs are kind of [06:00.080 --> 06:06.860] chapters or a group of chapters that sum up a large portion of growth. And what do I mean by [06:06.860 --> 06:12.460] growth? I mean that there's usually a beginning and a middle and an end to a segment, whether [06:12.460 --> 06:16.940] it's part of your life because you met a new friend or they've departed your life, or you push [06:16.940 --> 06:25.640] them out, whatever the situation. There are usually times and chapters. And with that kind of idea in [06:25.640 --> 06:30.520] mind, we'll talk about things that way. But some disclaimers that we have to talk through on our [06:30.520 --> 06:36.700] way into this journey, your journey, there are going to be jerks. There are going to be people [06:36.700 --> 06:41.860] who don't want to help. There is going to be a requirement to leave the comfort of the herd, [06:41.860 --> 06:48.280] if you watched that show in the 90s, or was that in the 2000s? I forget. The point is, [06:48.280 --> 06:54.880] the joke is on us. We love to stay out of things. We don't want to get involved. And if you do, [06:54.880 --> 07:00.460] then there has to be the right timing to get involved. Nothing comes easily, right? It takes [07:00.460 --> 07:04.740] effort. Because there are people who will want to be roadblocks. There are people who are going to [07:04.740 --> 07:12.920] be just gatekeepers, or they're going to even tell you directly, you aren't cut out for this. [07:13.140 --> 07:18.880] Go somewhere else. That was literally one of the driving inspirations for me to finish my degree. [07:19.000 --> 07:24.320] Because a professor literally looked over my work and said, it gets serious from here, [07:24.320 --> 07:29.580] maybe you should consider changing. But that's just my experience. It doesn't have to be college, [07:29.580 --> 07:35.060] it can be anything. We're going to look at instead, don't worry about higher ed, this ed, [07:35.060 --> 07:41.260] certifications, none of that yet. Let's talk about conferences in general, and then we'll work our [07:41.260 --> 07:46.400] way into the levels we can go up. Whether you're killing chickens out in the yard to get a few XP, [07:46.400 --> 07:52.540] or you are already at a point where you're trying to help contribute to the development or [07:52.540 --> 07:56.860] furthering of a conference in your local community, we're going to go through it. [07:56.900 --> 08:02.100] These arcs, as I was talking about, are meant to kind of take us from drinking from the fire hose, [08:02.100 --> 08:07.860] coming up to the part where we're actually trying to run the show, and how to defend against the [08:07.860 --> 08:16.360] beast of burnout. So you're watching this from DEF CON safe mode, I'm going to at least hope. [08:16.400 --> 08:22.380] So this is, you know what a conference is. But a conference can be many things. I've heard people [08:22.380 --> 08:28.080] who have amazing stories of going to an in-person event where it opened their eyes to lots of new [08:28.080 --> 08:33.660] things. But there are other stories where it didn't go so well. It depends on where you are. [08:33.660 --> 08:38.620] You might want to start in a local regional thing. It could be as small as a meetup, because there [08:38.620 --> 08:43.380] are so many different types of events. Whether you want to go locally and look up to see if there are [08:43.380 --> 08:50.500] groups in town, I have had people approach me and ask, where am I supposed to go to do this? [08:50.500 --> 08:55.280] You're mentioning this, go over here. I live in an area where we don't have anything. [08:55.800 --> 09:01.180] There are group sites like Meetup, or you could use the Book of Faces, or you could use Twitter, [09:01.180 --> 09:06.040] or social media. Look for meetups in the name of your city, or your town, or your area code. [09:06.040 --> 09:11.760] It may take a little digging, depending on where you live. I live in Texas right now, and there are [09:12.060 --> 09:16.760] a lot of different events. They may not be closed to me, but there are events. And some of them, [09:17.360 --> 09:23.800] I wouldn't know if I didn't go and look it up. Also, I'm going to shill for a minute and say, [09:23.800 --> 09:29.780] look for your local B-Sides events. They're fantastic ways to get your feet wet. In a way, [09:29.780 --> 09:35.420] I almost think that the local meetups, whether it's for lockpicking, or hardware hacking, [09:35.420 --> 09:42.080] or software reverse engineering, whatever the detail, these are great places to not only [09:42.080 --> 09:48.440] meet people who think in the space you like to think in, but also a way to practice getting [09:48.440 --> 09:54.060] your ideas out, and learning from others, of course. And sometimes there just isn't anything [09:54.640 --> 09:59.600] really close by that does what you're looking to do. So it might be important to go out and get [09:59.600 --> 10:05.500] yourself stretched out. Go out there and get in the car, or get on the bus, or however it works [10:05.500 --> 10:11.080] when there's not a pandemic, and go and travel to other events in other places if you can afford to [10:11.080 --> 10:16.120] do so. Got that cousin you haven't seen in a while? Maybe they've got a couch you can try out. [10:17.000 --> 10:22.400] Don't give up just because it isn't nearby. I'm not saying you are giving up. I'm saying this is [10:22.400 --> 10:27.640] kind of the mindset that has helped me along the way, as I try to get into and learn about this [10:27.640 --> 10:33.620] industry that I accidentally fell face first into when I was trying to be a video producer back in [10:33.620 --> 10:39.300] the late 90s. So it turns out that sometimes people will pay you for the thing you're good at, [10:39.300 --> 10:44.380] not what you want to be good at, if that makes any sense. The thing you had a knack for. Anyway, [10:44.380 --> 10:51.900] sometimes there are just no substitutes for going to events that are specific to your interest. [10:51.900 --> 10:56.580] But maybe you don't know what that is. Just keep in mind there are specialized events. [10:57.260 --> 11:04.200] They will come up later, for sure. So maybe you don't get to actually go when it's convenient. [11:04.200 --> 11:07.860] Maybe you're going to have to go over a weekend. You're not going to be able to take off work. Some [11:07.860 --> 11:11.640] of these events go all the way through the weekend. And people have asked, why would you [11:11.640 --> 11:19.240] do that? Why would you go to a work-like thing on your time off? When you find your group, [11:19.240 --> 11:25.300] your tribe, your thing that you're that interested in, it won't be a challenge. It won't be a question. [11:25.300 --> 11:29.720] It will be that there are opportunities there and a chance to learn from other people that you [11:29.720 --> 11:35.640] respect or have a curiosity about. And it will no longer be one of those things where you're just [11:35.640 --> 11:42.620] looking at it from a time perspective or a cost perspective. Sometimes, and most of the time, [11:42.620 --> 11:47.820] it boils down to the relationships you make or build, the connections you make, the people you [11:47.820 --> 11:53.400] meet, and around rare occasion, the buffet or restaurant you found along the way. No, okay, [11:53.400 --> 11:59.640] maybe not. But some of us are led around. I didn't get to be in this shape without finding the food, [11:59.640 --> 12:06.160] at least. The point is, there are events at these events, sometimes inside the larger event. [12:06.160 --> 12:11.100] When we're looking at, hey, I want to go to this reverse engineering event, but it isn't just going [12:11.100 --> 12:16.620] to listen to people talk at you. Maybe, maybe you learn a different way. So maybe you prefer [12:16.620 --> 12:23.060] challenges. So there are events like capture the flag events, and you can go participate in, [12:23.060 --> 12:28.820] they're called a lot of different things. There are many events, whether it's a skills challenge [12:28.820 --> 12:32.480] that climbs the ladder, whether it's a cryptography challenge, where you have to come [12:32.480 --> 12:38.340] out ahead first or come up with the right answers. Maybe it's a speed trial. Maybe it's a creative [12:38.340 --> 12:43.400] event where it's either story writing or making custom hardware work in a way it wasn't meant to. [12:43.400 --> 12:50.480] There are so many opportunities, reasons to get out of your shelf, excuse me, to get out from being [12:50.480 --> 12:56.340] by yourself, out from behind the counter or desk. There are reasons to get out there and to go and [12:56.340 --> 13:01.800] engage. And we're going to talk about more of them. So let's think about when you first go, [13:01.800 --> 13:07.480] if you're going to your very first event, you're level one, you've got a sword made of wood, [13:07.480 --> 13:11.780] and you can barely defeat the chicken or the cat in the backyard. I don't know why you're attacking [13:11.780 --> 13:17.080] the cat. That's probably not a wise choice. They come with knives, you know, but they are so many [13:17.080 --> 13:22.700] different things you can do, but don't go alone. If you're going to your very first event, [13:22.700 --> 13:27.900] I strongly encourage you to take a conference buddy, someone who's willing to go with you, [13:27.900 --> 13:32.700] even if they're not part of that industry, because it's good to be able to sort of cling [13:32.700 --> 13:38.220] to someone else, maybe because you want to pick and choose the different events to look at during [13:38.220 --> 13:45.080] the day. Maybe you want to share each other's experiences and talk about them. Maybe there's [13:45.080 --> 13:51.380] someone you work with. And that's why we're going to go through these arcs at different approaches. [13:51.380 --> 13:59.080] Who does it benefit? See, if we jump back half a second here, we're going to talk about how each of [13:59.080 --> 14:06.760] these things applies to the different use case. So, if you're at the inn, you're going to have [14:06.760 --> 14:11.440] that tavern scene before the brawl breaks out. You're there with your conference buddy, I hope, [14:11.440 --> 14:17.340] and let's look at your support job. Maybe you're just starting out. And in this idea, I'm going to [14:17.340 --> 14:21.900] encourage you to get on some kind of social media. Don't necessarily post your picture. [14:21.980 --> 14:26.980] Don't necessarily say all the things that come immediately into your head. Realize social media [14:26.980 --> 14:31.560] is a two-way street. But if you're looking to figure out what's out there in your community [14:31.560 --> 14:38.560] and going on in your industry, I highly encourage you to get a social media account. Try out Meetup, [14:38.560 --> 14:42.860] for starters. See what the local scene looks like. You don't necessarily have to pay, [14:42.860 --> 14:46.760] but you will need to create an account. And again, this is leaving the comfort of the herd moment, [14:46.760 --> 14:51.900] where it's time to start striking out a little bit. And again, that buddy is not a bad idea. [14:52.580 --> 14:58.440] You might get on Twitter or Discord or Slack or participate in Reddit. All of these different [14:58.440 --> 15:04.560] ways to connect. The thing is, each of them are their own chapter. So you're going to need to [15:04.560 --> 15:09.000] spend a little time if you've never done it before. And if you really want to know, go and [15:09.000 --> 15:14.360] ask people who are already doing it, just to get an idea of how they approach it. Because you're [15:14.360 --> 15:20.380] going to want to, in my opinion, release as little personal information as possible, especially in a [15:20.380 --> 15:27.540] day and time like now, where potential employers are always looking at social media to see what [15:27.540 --> 15:33.400] image is being put forth of the person behind an account. So keep in mind that try not to say [15:33.400 --> 15:38.320] anything you wouldn't say to someone you care about, right? Try to keep those things in mind. [15:38.320 --> 15:43.640] Or if you're an outspoken person, that's your business. The point is, realize that's there. [15:43.640 --> 15:48.120] It's the internet. It never goes away. So just keep in mind that whatever it is you're saying, [15:48.120 --> 15:53.120] it's going to be there a while. So try to be thoughtful about what gets put out there. [15:53.120 --> 15:58.980] But this is a prime way to go out there and see what's happening in the world. So at this level, [15:58.980 --> 16:03.900] when you're kind of that level one, level two startup account human being, you're just happy [16:03.900 --> 16:09.060] to be on the show. If you saw Galaxy Quest, this is someplace where you have to be careful about [16:09.060 --> 16:15.680] monsters. You may be eaten by a grue. I'm saying it's very easy to be distracted. And there are [16:15.680 --> 16:22.920] things happening out there that you may not be aware of. So conference buddy, and then go and [16:22.920 --> 16:29.040] maybe think about sharing something you do, right? Even if the presentations aren't your job or [16:29.040 --> 16:34.280] something that you would do normally, it might explain how something else gets done. My very [16:34.280 --> 16:40.820] first experience at a B-Sides in Las Vegas in 2011, I walked in without anything. I helped [16:40.820 --> 16:46.880] move some boxes. Turns out there was an opening in their AV team. And I sat through a track I [16:46.880 --> 16:53.160] wouldn't have selected for myself. I had no idea what this thing even was. Here I am sitting in [16:53.160 --> 16:58.760] this chapel in the back row with this camera and recording gear. But I learned some things just [16:58.760 --> 17:05.200] because I was able to sit through all these other talks. It opened my eyes to so many things [17:05.200 --> 17:10.000] and ideas I didn't even think about. Now that's just me. You'll have your own experience. Your [17:10.000 --> 17:15.140] mileage will vary. But this can help your career, you see, because this is part of a pattern that [17:15.140 --> 17:21.580] will repeat itself time and again. This is a breakdown to you, your management, the team you're [17:21.580 --> 17:27.820] on. And again, not all things to all people, right? But I just want you to keep in mind, [17:27.820 --> 17:34.600] this has an impact. It helps us grow. So in your career, going around to the local events may help [17:34.600 --> 17:41.180] you learn the layout, the lay of the land, if you will, about who's out there. What companies are in [17:41.180 --> 17:47.280] your neck of the woods? Who visits? Do they come often? Do they come bearing treats? It may be a [17:47.280 --> 17:52.720] squishy ball thing with a face on it. It could be software. It could be free training or an internship. [17:52.720 --> 17:58.740] These are all opportunities to bridge the gap between what companies want and what you offer. [17:58.880 --> 18:03.200] These are helpful things. And again, this is at the very beginning of the conference career. [18:03.200 --> 18:08.140] If you are already working and you go to an event, what does this mean for your management? [18:08.140 --> 18:13.860] Your management may be interested in seeing what you did. Maybe, and as my mentor has shared [18:13.860 --> 18:18.760] with me, write up a trip report when you go to an event. Sit down at the end of the day or even [18:18.760 --> 18:23.040] during the day and get a break and just make a few notes about what you're learning, what you're [18:23.040 --> 18:28.460] experiencing, who did you meet? Are you supposed to connect with them again later? You know, instead [18:28.460 --> 18:32.700] of live tweeting the thing, make a note on your own device. And then at the end of the day, you [18:32.700 --> 18:38.200] can go back and look. Oh, I forgot. I also met this person over here in the food line when we [18:38.200 --> 18:42.780] were waiting to get half a burrito together. And it turns out they want to share some information [18:42.780 --> 18:48.060] because I'm learning how to code and they've been doing it for 20 years. It could be anything. And [18:48.060 --> 18:55.300] it's important. And don't discount that initial opportunity to make a connection. So what does [18:55.300 --> 19:02.100] this mean for co-workers? If they hear that you're attending these events, they may either A, want to [19:02.100 --> 19:08.400] go with you. B, might want to see if you brought back any good information. Or C, maybe they're [19:08.400 --> 19:13.260] going to say, oh, what did you learn? Let me share something I was looking at. It opens doors. [19:13.260 --> 19:18.940] It starts a conversation. Everything in this life, it seems, is tied to that. And this is no [19:18.940 --> 19:26.360] different. But the value to you is now you are going out and seeing something new. You're [19:26.360 --> 19:31.440] introducing yourself, putting yourself in the path of discovering something that you didn't [19:31.440 --> 19:37.340] already know. Or if you did know, maybe it fills in some blanks for you. But here, again, if you [19:37.340 --> 19:44.460] look, you have an opportunity to grow. Even after that, when people start to take notice, [19:44.460 --> 19:50.200] maybe offer to pick up work you wouldn't normally do in your office. Offer to join a team or [19:50.200 --> 19:55.360] participate in a group event. Because your intelligence alone isn't enough to save you. [19:55.360 --> 20:01.700] You can be the smartest person in the room. But without the understanding of when and where to [20:01.700 --> 20:07.980] knowledge, it's not going to be as much help as it could be. And we all could stand to learn more. [20:07.980 --> 20:14.700] I know I could. So I chase it over and over again. And if you're still with me here, [20:14.700 --> 20:20.360] cool story, bro. Maybe that's what you're thinking. Because you don't know me. Well, [20:20.360 --> 20:25.240] that's right. I don't know your situation. Everybody is going to be different. And that's [20:25.240 --> 20:30.560] okay. This isn't supposed to be tailor made for one. I'm sharing experiences I've had so far. [20:30.560 --> 20:37.560] Because this is what's gotten me to where I am. And so far, it seems like we all suffer from [20:37.560 --> 20:43.000] imposter syndrome at one point or another, where we're not quite sure if we're good enough to do [20:43.000 --> 20:48.940] the thing we're doing. Or at any given moment, someone will see through us and realize, fake, [20:48.940 --> 20:53.940] person doesn't know it. They shouldn't be doing this. Or someone comes at you that way in any [20:53.940 --> 20:59.180] other direction. And it sticks with you and chews at you while you're going eating takeout and [20:59.180 --> 21:05.080] quietly scarfing things and watching the TV show. Wait, that was just me. Sorry. Whatever [21:05.080 --> 21:11.840] your situation, we all fight with it. So how do we move past it? You step up, you go further, [21:11.840 --> 21:17.620] you have to push through and defeat your personal level boss and move on to specialization. [21:18.200 --> 21:23.360] By the way, that time where you were in the jumper back there in the first arc as a starting [21:23.360 --> 21:29.140] out person, that's not... there's no given time frame. That could be six months, it could be six [21:29.140 --> 21:35.500] years. Everyone is different. The people in your life are different. You have to keep pushing to [21:35.500 --> 21:41.700] get to the next level. You may even have to back up and redirect. But don't give up. Because now [21:41.700 --> 21:45.680] let's imagine you've been going to events for a little while, you've gone to a B-Sides, you [21:45.680 --> 21:50.920] traveled out of town for a bigger event, maybe some name brand something. All kinds of events [21:50.920 --> 21:57.560] exist. Some don't anymore. We exist in a special time right now. Use this time to go and start [21:57.560 --> 22:04.620] watching videos at virtual events, just like this one, local ones, ones in other cities and other [22:04.620 --> 22:11.400] continents. Because now is an amazing time to connect with people you might not otherwise get [22:11.400 --> 22:19.200] to meet or learn from. Because conferences are a great way to come together and learn new things. [22:19.200 --> 22:24.120] So here in the specialization arc, now's the time that after you've done a few things, [22:24.120 --> 22:30.220] maybe you start realizing there are specific things you're interested in learning, things [22:30.220 --> 22:36.820] you want to do. And now you can start ticking off the boxes in the online schedule for that event, [22:36.820 --> 22:42.460] because you only want to learn about butter sculpture. So you look for all the events that [22:42.460 --> 22:46.520] have butter sculpture in the name, and you're going to look at the one where the person's using [22:46.520 --> 22:51.660] the razor blade and carving very tiny intricate things, and the one with the chainsaw who is [22:51.660 --> 22:57.520] making baby Yoda out of butter fat. You never know. The point is that when you start to narrow [22:57.520 --> 23:03.220] your specialization and figure out what it is that interests you, it changes the way you attend [23:03.220 --> 23:08.420] an event. And at larger, more nationally attended events, there's a much broader cross-section, [23:08.420 --> 23:13.500] right? You're going to have different people coming to present. That is not to invalidate [23:13.500 --> 23:19.740] the people you met before. It is simply to say that you can get more ideas, because if you go to [23:19.740 --> 23:25.580] all the meetups and all the things in your local community, maybe you've heard it a little bit, [23:25.580 --> 23:31.800] and now you're looking for another perspective. The other thing is, while you can go and much of [23:32.340 --> 23:38.720] the events that you go to when you travel, when we get back to that, seems to be tied up in the [23:38.720 --> 23:44.700] talks. For me, it started to become less about the talks and presentations that way. It became [23:44.700 --> 23:51.240] more about the sidelong events, the villages, the meetups, the impromptu get-togethers. [23:51.240 --> 23:55.640] And those things suddenly became where I connected more with the people who were at the event [23:55.640 --> 24:01.560] than going to talks alone. And that changed, I guess it changed actually my perspective [24:02.140 --> 24:07.820] on why I was going. And that's just me, because to me, growth personally means connecting with people [24:07.820 --> 24:13.740] who either share and help me grow, or I can give something back to in return. So let's go back [24:13.740 --> 24:18.900] to not forgetting to bring a conference buddy. At a larger event, it's even more important. [24:18.900 --> 24:23.020] Whether you're meeting up with someone from another locale who's coming to where you're going [24:23.020 --> 24:31.320] to be, do not leave on the mission alone if you can help it. Because it helps to be together, [24:31.320 --> 24:38.240] and it takes time to find a tribe. It took me, goodness, it took me years. I felt, I feel now [24:38.240 --> 24:44.420] like I'm part of a much larger group of people who are all about learning and sharing and growing. [24:44.900 --> 24:51.080] Yes, I make it sound incredibly idealistic. Not all moments, but most of them. A lot of good ones. [24:51.080 --> 24:55.840] Whether you're coming together to raise money for a charity somewhere else, or you're just trying [24:55.840 --> 25:02.100] to learn how to do Python together. It's worth it. And so sometimes it takes multiple years also [25:02.100 --> 25:08.040] to find either the tribe, or to stop drinking from the fire hose, and figure out that thing [25:08.040 --> 25:14.100] that really drives you. But now that you've gone to these bigger events, where is the value? [25:14.360 --> 25:19.100] The value to management now, they're going to hope that you're bringing ideas back. Did you [25:19.100 --> 25:23.720] write that personal trip report when you went to the first and smaller events? Well, now it'll seem [25:23.720 --> 25:29.440] like second nature when you hit the big events, because now you're almost dialoguing with yourself. [25:29.460 --> 25:33.600] Now I talk to myself an awful lot. I don't recommend it for everyone, but people have [25:33.600 --> 25:39.040] come to expect it from me. The point is, whether your monologue is internal or external, having a [25:39.040 --> 25:44.200] log of where you've been, who you talked to, and what you learned will help you keep track of where [25:44.200 --> 25:50.040] you are on your journey. And maybe even setting up personal tools to measure where you feel you are, [25:50.040 --> 25:55.400] and where you want to go. Because there must be an opportunity there, because management is going [25:55.400 --> 26:00.120] to see that. That's going to look like getting your act together, and management will maybe offer you [26:00.120 --> 26:04.720] the opportunity to collaborate with other teams. Don't miss out on those group opportunities. [26:04.720 --> 26:11.920] They may be painful and frustrating, but therein lies growth, and partnership, and advancement. [26:12.100 --> 26:16.040] And that's not to be missed. There are some amazing opportunities out there, because your [26:16.040 --> 26:19.580] co-workers are going to see that you're coming back with this stuff. You will have access to [26:19.580 --> 26:24.860] new people, the presenters, right? You'll be seeing new people. You'll be talking about new things. [26:24.860 --> 26:30.640] There are so many opportunities to just share something and partner. I missed out on a couple [26:30.640 --> 26:35.280] of great opportunities because of my own imposter syndrome right at the very beginning of my journey, [26:35.280 --> 26:39.480] because I felt like I would be taking away from the voice of the person who had a clue, [26:39.480 --> 26:47.080] because I knew I didn't feel like I had one. So, give yourself a break. But also, if you go to [26:47.080 --> 26:51.780] these events and you feel that self-doubt chewing at you, know that everyone else is going through [26:51.780 --> 26:59.560] it too. Maybe even the person standing up at the podium. The value to you at this ARC, when we're [26:59.560 --> 27:05.500] not drinking from the fire hose, we're specializing, stay connected to people on social media. Begin to [27:05.500 --> 27:12.200] build your interconnected network of people. And by doing that, I mean just be a human being to [27:12.200 --> 27:17.060] other people. Actually get out there, get on social media, see what's going on in the world. Oh wait, [27:17.060 --> 27:21.880] I saw an article about this thing that the person I follow was talking about. Maybe I could share it [27:21.880 --> 27:28.220] with them. Ask if they've seen it before. Try to watch as you ask questions. Don't present like you [27:28.220 --> 27:33.380] know everything. I know I've stepped in it a few times and had to go wash my shoes off with a hose. [27:33.660 --> 27:40.040] It's going to happen. It just does. But realize that there's a chance to be and grow in part or in [27:40.040 --> 27:46.520] whole as part of a community. And that's amazing. Give yourself time to grow. Give yourself a chance [27:46.520 --> 27:53.560] to learn these things. And it may not come again on any particular timetable that we want or desire. [27:53.560 --> 28:03.360] There's a larger picture here. You are drafting your great novel of your career path and [28:04.560 --> 28:09.060] conferences can be a part of that because the people you meet along the way will contribute [28:09.060 --> 28:13.800] to these chapters. Yeah, that's great. I think it's hilarious that you're going to tell me to [28:13.800 --> 28:18.460] do all this stuff and get out there and go out and do all these things. You don't know what I'm [28:18.460 --> 28:24.940] going through. I face all these issues. My butter sculpture is melting in the backyard right now, [28:24.940 --> 28:30.000] you lunatic. And while I'm listening to you, I'm not out there tending the garden or fixing this [28:30.000 --> 28:36.260] up or the milk is curdling or whatever. No, I can't possibly know that unless we interact. [28:36.440 --> 28:41.820] And then it takes time and effort to stay connected. And we can't give up just because [28:41.820 --> 28:48.360] things get bad or ugly. Because they will. Because life isn't easy. But we can take it [28:48.360 --> 28:53.620] and we can turn it and push it through our imposter syndrome. Because there it is again. [28:53.620 --> 28:57.860] Right as you've gone out and you said, wow, I've had a great time at this event. And you come back [28:57.860 --> 29:02.440] with your little trip report you wrote up. And someone says, that's terrific. While you're off [29:02.440 --> 29:06.880] partying, the rest of us were here working. That's where you pull up that trip report and say, [29:06.880 --> 29:13.340] actually, John, Bob, Sally, Sue, Chrissy, whatever your name is. Here's what I was doing. [29:13.340 --> 29:18.120] I actually got to meet these people and do these things. Whatever I do. I don't know if you have [29:18.260 --> 29:26.320] a personal life, Sally, Sue, Johnny, Bravo, Samson. But it's not all fun and games. There [29:26.320 --> 29:31.940] will be moments of levity. Goodness, I hope so. But there are also lots of times of learning and [29:31.940 --> 29:38.680] growing together. So now let's say you're on to the third arc, the prestige class. You now have [29:38.860 --> 29:43.980] a fancy hat and maybe some things, epaulets on your shoulder, a little pin here. Who knows? Maybe [29:43.980 --> 29:50.100] you have a custom patch you wear. Because you are reaching out to the prestige class level. [29:50.100 --> 29:55.620] You have now taken it to the point where you have gone and absorbed. This is the montage [29:55.620 --> 30:00.480] has passed. And now it's further along. You maybe have a little gray at your temple. Who knows? [30:00.480 --> 30:04.480] The point is you're at a level where you can turn around and start sharing what you've learned. [30:04.620 --> 30:08.100] Maybe you've attended a lot of these events and you said, you know what, I actually feel pretty [30:08.100 --> 30:15.720] good about my knowledge of sculpting icing into small animals that I now will wrap around [30:16.520 --> 30:21.420] mechanized zoids that will now walk. And I can now go and tell people about this. Well, it turns [30:21.420 --> 30:27.800] out there's lots of things you know that others may not know. It's your turn to start sharing [30:27.800 --> 30:34.640] that information. And it's not going to be an easy road, necessarily. Maybe you were the class clown [30:34.640 --> 30:41.020] and maybe getting up in front of people was easy for you. Not so for a lot of folks, right? Some [30:41.020 --> 30:44.780] people, I think, would much rather pull their own teeth out with the back bumper of a vehicle than [30:44.780 --> 30:49.960] try to get up in front of someone and share an idea like we're doing right here. But it's worth [30:49.960 --> 30:55.960] it because it might be a progression, okay? So go and watch stand-up comedians, if you don't now, [30:55.960 --> 31:03.600] and learn. Or if you really have no idea where to start with public speaking, there's a group [31:03.600 --> 31:10.320] called the Toastmasters. Now, this is an entire subculture, okay? They exist. They're larger than [31:10.320 --> 31:17.460] any DEF CON or B-Sides or any one group. There are thousands of these chapters around the world. [31:17.460 --> 31:22.580] And they have their own competitions. And they will help harden you, prepare you, start you out [31:22.580 --> 31:30.840] in understanding for how public speaking works. It is invaluable. It is amazing. And it's really [31:30.840 --> 31:35.400] quite humbling because they have their own competitions, their own ladders to climb, but it [31:35.400 --> 31:42.520] helps explain how public speaking works and gives you the tools to put in your backpack to bring [31:42.520 --> 31:47.620] with you to conferences so that it isn't the scariest thing you've ever done. And that's [31:47.620 --> 31:52.880] actually worth it. Again, Toastmasters, please take an opportunity, if you're going to learn to [31:52.880 --> 31:58.200] present, and check out the local groups in your area. I can almost guarantee you there are several [31:58.200 --> 32:04.860] wherever you are. And I mean that. That's not just where I live. I mean the chapters are amazing. [32:05.180 --> 32:10.720] So grab your hairbrush, get in front of that mirror, and start talking. About what? As a friend [32:10.720 --> 32:18.440] recently shared, the presentation that only you can give. If you spend 80 hours a week brushing [32:18.440 --> 32:24.040] dogs, then that's what you're going to make your first talk about. Because that's what you know. [32:24.040 --> 32:29.100] But get it down. Figure out how to tell your story. And if you can put up with it, I highly [32:29.100 --> 32:34.040] encourage you to record yourself doing it. Get in front of the mirror. Go through it the first time. [32:34.080 --> 32:38.380] This is going to take some time and effort, but you have to record it so you can go back and [32:38.380 --> 32:44.680] look at what you've done. You have to be able to get back and examine and look for the nervous tick [32:44.680 --> 32:49.340] you didn't know you had, and you're going to have to work on correcting it step at a time. [32:49.400 --> 32:57.040] Whether it's trying to bite your nails on stage, or it's perhaps adding ums. How many ums have I [32:57.040 --> 33:03.560] had in this presentation today? How many times did I stop, cough, or blink oddly? Have I constantly [33:03.560 --> 33:09.000] rubbed at my eye with this finger? Whatever your situation is, it'll come out when you see the [33:09.000 --> 33:15.180] recording. Now, always bring the video adapter with you. This is one of my little top tips because [33:15.180 --> 33:21.280] I've worked AV for events. The expectation is always going to be that when you get there, [33:21.280 --> 33:26.780] there is only going to be a live chicken and a small old bowl of oatmeal. So if you can bring [33:26.780 --> 33:32.000] anything with you that will help the situation, I encourage you to do so. That means having your [33:32.000 --> 33:40.780] laptop. Having your laptop with a connector that can send video out. Also having your presentation, [33:40.780 --> 33:45.240] not only on the laptop, but on a thumb drive that you have brought with you and is in your [33:45.240 --> 33:51.920] personal possession, maybe touching your body somewhere. Beyond that, I'm also going to encourage [33:51.920 --> 33:56.700] you and say it again, bring the video adapter that goes with your laptop and has at least two kinds [33:56.700 --> 34:03.160] of output on it. At least two kinds of output. Because sometimes you get on site and there isn't [34:03.820 --> 34:09.080] the same projector you worked with at home. Or your laptop doesn't work well with it, but they [34:09.080 --> 34:15.360] maybe can have a presenter laptop on hand for you, so you whip out the thumb drive. Or if all else [34:15.360 --> 34:20.600] fails, you keep a backup also in your cloud that you can then download to your local device and [34:20.600 --> 34:29.540] share using a local connection kind of technology. The point is, you need backups, folks. Backups, [34:29.540 --> 34:34.460] of all things. If there's a carbon copy behind over here, that would be awesome, because it'd [34:34.460 --> 34:38.960] be great, because I need them to go and fold the laundry right now. If you can have a backup for [34:38.960 --> 34:46.480] you at your presentation time, have it. Especially, do you do demos? Do you like to try and invoke [34:46.480 --> 34:50.760] crazy moments of random when you try to open something that worked five minutes ago, but now [34:50.760 --> 34:56.640] you're live and on air, and you don't have something that plays? I'm telling you, you got to get out [34:56.640 --> 35:03.080] there, but you got to go prepared. So please, pre-record your demos just in case. It's easier to [35:03.080 --> 35:08.260] run a video than to stand there and dry wash your hands in front of people. Now, when you're going to [35:08.260 --> 35:14.300] do it, you've got to go and prepare yourself for rejection. I know that sounds tough, and it kind of [35:14.300 --> 35:20.040] is, but it's worth it, because you have to audition in a sense, and it's called the CFP, or call for [35:20.040 --> 35:25.600] presentation, and every conference will have a different process. It might be helpful to go and [35:25.600 --> 35:31.300] look online for conferences in your part of the world. For example, if I go and look for [35:31.300 --> 35:39.280] Information Security Conferences North America, I have been able to locate schedules that include [35:39.280 --> 35:45.040] not only the name of conferences that are coming up, but also of when their submission times are, [35:45.040 --> 35:49.920] and when they wrap. Someone has a heart for this. There are folks who have a passion for [35:49.920 --> 35:55.840] helping others to share their ideas, and since that's what we're about right now, go for it. You [35:55.840 --> 36:02.100] can choose to do it locally, practice at your local meetup event, but then take that show on the road. [36:02.100 --> 36:08.920] Go do it, and your confidence will come through to the audience. But okay, so why am I doing that? [36:09.280 --> 36:15.160] Why would I go and put myself through all this stress, and singing into a hairbrush, and why would [36:15.160 --> 36:23.400] I go to all this trouble? Because it adds value to who you are, and what your contribution can be. [36:23.440 --> 36:29.440] Conferences can inform our self-confidence, because now if we imagine that this is easier, [36:29.440 --> 36:35.060] I had to go talk to my boss, and my boss makes me nervous. I just got up this weekend and presented [36:35.060 --> 36:42.180] in front of a hundred people, a thousand people, ten people, whatever it was, and isn't this easier [36:42.180 --> 36:47.920] now because you've done that? Sure, you know this person doesn't necessarily have a response, but you [36:47.920 --> 36:53.100] didn't get booed off stage, did you? No, you made it through, and if you did get booed off stage, [36:53.100 --> 36:59.260] that's okay. That colors things in, too. Definitely that would have sucked, sorry, [36:59.880 --> 37:06.620] but come back from it anyway. The ability to present is an essential part of communication, [37:06.620 --> 37:12.080] whether you're pitching ideas in an elevator, or you are trying to share about a report that [37:12.080 --> 37:17.680] comes out every week. And every time you get up to share about that report in your group, [37:17.680 --> 37:22.700] or in your team meeting, you will have learned or taken something away, whether that informs [37:22.700 --> 37:28.360] your ability to present at an event, or your presentations at an event help inform your [37:28.360 --> 37:34.100] internal confidence. It is so worthwhile to management because you're going to go and say, [37:34.100 --> 37:41.840] I can do, I can do this thing. Just keep in mind that if your boss or your team sees that you can [37:41.840 --> 37:47.680] now present and they start pushing you out there, try not to outshine the top dog in your community [37:47.680 --> 37:55.400] because it's about showing respect as well as having the ability to represent. So again, [37:55.400 --> 38:00.660] if you're really good at it, just try not to show up other people. Be respectful of what they're [38:00.660 --> 38:04.740] doing and what they're there to do for you and what you're doing for your team. So learning to [38:04.740 --> 38:10.240] speak will help your self-confidence and it will help on very tough situations like job interviews, [38:10.240 --> 38:14.480] which are very much like presentations because that's the dog and pony moment, isn't it? [38:14.480 --> 38:20.200] Your resume is the only place where you will ever be this perfect, ever. By the way, if you haven't [38:20.200 --> 38:27.600] taken advantage of it, I hope you stopped and take advantage of the opportunity for live resume [38:27.600 --> 38:33.040] review that may be going on right now. And if it happened in the past, go look for it in a future [38:33.040 --> 38:37.880] event and look for career tracks and opportunities to have someone help you examine a third person, [38:37.880 --> 38:41.860] an outside party, to take a look at that resume, to make sure that you're polishing it the right [38:41.860 --> 38:46.740] way, to make sure your tone and your story is getting told in the best way it possibly can. [38:46.740 --> 38:51.620] Because getting back to it, presenting at conferences puts you into a whole new group of [38:51.620 --> 38:57.940] people, the actual presenters, and they will grow as part of your personal network, just like you [38:57.940 --> 39:03.320] are becoming part of theirs. It can allow for opportunities to bounce ideas off of someone [39:03.320 --> 39:08.200] in your field or in a different field. Maybe you get to learn more about their story and they can [39:08.200 --> 39:15.060] definitely help you polish up yours. This has actually been one of the best experiences I've [39:15.060 --> 39:20.300] had, where I've been able to communicate and connect with someone I met at another event, [39:20.300 --> 39:25.860] and we share ideas when trying to come up with new talks. And they're hopefully going to be honest [39:25.860 --> 39:32.140] with you. And because they do it, they're hopefully thinking in a way that supports you as well. [39:32.140 --> 39:38.880] But that's just me talking, right? Cool story, bro. You don't know. I have crippling anxiety. [39:38.880 --> 39:44.560] I have a missing left arm. And if you do, more power to you, because you're awesome and you get [39:44.560 --> 39:49.600] through the day and you do what needs to be done. Those who make it happen, make it happen. [39:49.660 --> 39:55.640] You are going to be one of those people if you can, right? So take advantage of the opportunities [39:55.640 --> 40:02.520] in front of you and go for it. I don't know you. You don't necessarily know me, but I know we all [40:02.520 --> 40:08.220] deal with imposter syndrome. See, here we are again at that level, boss. I'm terrified of getting in [40:08.220 --> 40:13.380] front of people. What if I stutter? What if I trip up? What if I say something? What if I drop [40:13.380 --> 40:20.800] the microphone? What if I literally trip on stage? You get up, dust yourself off, you say, excuse me, [40:21.380 --> 40:27.200] take a couple of breaths, and you pick it back up. I started out very early on being [40:27.200 --> 40:34.220] very filled with anxiety and nervous, and I showed many personal things I thought that would lighten [40:34.220 --> 40:39.620] the mood, which turned out not to necessarily be the greatest thing to do during the presentation. [40:39.620 --> 40:46.380] So if I can encourage you, wiggle your toes. Yes, I'm serious. When you're standing up in front of [40:46.380 --> 40:51.620] people, wiggle your toes. Those of you wearing open-toed shoes, this may not be for you. [40:51.780 --> 40:59.000] However, wiggle your toes like mad. Why? If you like to podium dance, you have a thing you like [40:59.000 --> 41:05.020] to do, and you don't know that you're doing it, and it kind of can get distracting from your topic, [41:05.020 --> 41:11.380] wiggle your toes. And I mean, like, go crazy with the wiggling, because what it does is it puts all [41:11.380 --> 41:16.900] that nervous energy away from where people are looking. Now, me, I talk a lot with my hands. I [41:16.900 --> 41:21.780] try to keep it down, but it's just kind of a thing. A friend used to joke that if they handcuffed me [41:21.780 --> 41:27.460] hands behind my back, I might not be able to talk, and I think they're right. But if you're in front [41:27.460 --> 41:31.980] of people, if you wiggle your toes, you'll find that it takes some of that nervous energy and [41:31.980 --> 41:37.260] puts it somewhere else, and it's not a distraction for you or others. And it lets you get on with the [41:37.260 --> 41:44.580] thing, where you can start the fourth arc. Now, now you've arrived. You are going to turn the tables [41:44.580 --> 41:50.620] because you've obviously lost your mind, because you're going to try to put on an event. When you [41:50.620 --> 41:55.880] get to this level, giving back to the community becomes an important mission of its own. Seek [41:55.880 --> 42:01.000] partnerships, because that's what happened to me. I started to go out and present and share a little [42:01.000 --> 42:06.660] bit here and there, and then realized there was an opportunity in my local community in San Antonio, [42:06.660 --> 42:13.040] Texas. I've been here 30 years. I got to tell you something. This has been one of the most rewarding [42:13.660 --> 42:19.100] reasons to stick around, is being able to help other people to find their career path, whether [42:19.100 --> 42:25.180] they're at the very beginning or getting ready to retire. Finding people who are willing to share [42:25.180 --> 42:31.440] their ideas, give of their time, it's very rewarding. It is, however, a little maddening, [42:31.440 --> 42:36.940] because at this point, it could open doors to bigger things at work. Once people see that you're [42:36.940 --> 42:42.320] starting to organize a group, or they hear that you're putting on an event, and it gets known, you [42:42.320 --> 42:48.540] may be asked to present about that, or how the organization supported it. There are many, many [42:48.540 --> 42:54.520] opportunities, but don't miss out on them. And just because you participate in the operation of an [42:54.520 --> 43:00.580] event or a meetup, it does not necessarily mean the same thing as business management, by the way. [43:00.580 --> 43:05.560] Herding cats and herding cats. There are different kinds. Just like there are many kinds of cats, [43:05.560 --> 43:13.040] there are many types of management. So it's easy for this to get confused, but it can still provide [43:13.040 --> 43:18.760] value. And it can take longer than you think to get it right. The very first B-Side San Antonio [43:18.760 --> 43:25.740] I helped with, I was like the number three person. And then a few years go by, and I'm asked, [43:25.740 --> 43:33.400] given the opportunity, and I had to take it. It's not easy, but now you're looking at a whole new [43:33.400 --> 43:38.500] kind of value to bring to the team, because you can now build contacts. You can leverage your [43:38.500 --> 43:44.660] coordination skills. Ask for help. It's easier than you think, and much harder than you think. [43:44.660 --> 43:52.280] But asking for help is important, because otherwise it's very easy to sink. And you'd [43:52.280 --> 43:57.740] rather not try to test those waters. So be honest with yourself when there's a problem, [43:57.740 --> 44:04.020] and be thankful, oh so thankful, for willing partners. What I mean by be thankful is tell them [44:04.020 --> 44:08.600] you appreciate them. Let them know that that thing they just did, that rock they moved out [44:08.600 --> 44:14.200] of your way that you could not move, let them know you appreciate it. Do not wait. Send them [44:14.300 --> 44:20.800] a thank you note. Send them something edible that works for their digestive tract. I know that's a [44:20.800 --> 44:27.380] silly way to say that, but you get the idea. Be appreciative. Remember, this doesn't happen [44:27.380 --> 44:32.280] without the help of other people. So there are all new challenges when you get to the fourth arc, [44:32.280 --> 44:37.900] by the way. Marketing, budgeting, planning skills, I never really knew I had. They're [44:37.900 --> 44:43.340] going to come up, and you must learn to work with your volunteer army. All of this to tell you, [44:44.920 --> 44:50.740] that each of these steps along the way, you have to work with other people and resolve on the fly [44:50.740 --> 44:56.980] sometimes. But that's a fun story, because I'm not even... I have an internship. I don't even have [44:56.980 --> 45:02.080] that. I'm just trying to decide if I need to go for a degree plan, or if I need to get a [45:02.080 --> 45:05.780] certification, because you don't know what I'm going through right now. You don't know how hard [45:05.780 --> 45:10.140] it is. I can barely put food on the table. I'm supposed to go and help someone else learn how to [45:10.140 --> 45:18.240] start a career path. You'd be surprised. And you will, if you get off that wall, get out of the [45:18.240 --> 45:26.940] chair, get off the couch, and get engaged. Because even though I had massive imposter syndrome, [45:26.940 --> 45:34.000] trying to operate beside San Antonio, we had a very successful year this year. Not because of me. [45:34.000 --> 45:42.240] But everyone from our sponsorship team, to our events team, the AV folks, everybody, even our [45:42.240 --> 45:47.540] ombudsman. And you can ask the organizer of this village about the ombudsman, should you be curious [45:47.540 --> 45:53.780] what that's about. The point is, there are so many ways that we can overcome this, if we try. [45:54.200 --> 46:00.300] And all of this work, all of this effort, all of these things that we try to do, we must beware [46:00.300 --> 46:06.580] the beast of burnout when you are done. So done. How done are you? Everything stresses you out. [46:06.580 --> 46:11.460] There's nothing that could bring you back from the edge. You cannot even imagine getting up and doing [46:11.460 --> 46:19.760] the thing again, whatever it is. This is the time to take a well-earned break, take a step back. [46:19.780 --> 46:24.520] I don't know if you've ever had one, but I have days where all technology feels like it has turned [46:24.520 --> 46:29.320] against me. I don't know what happens, but it's like I could pick up a small plastic object, [46:29.320 --> 46:34.420] and it would snap in half just by me touching it. And oh, if it's one of those days, maybe it's time to [46:34.420 --> 46:42.140] take a step back and read a book or go for a walk or something. Get away from it for a while, but then [46:42.140 --> 46:48.400] when you come back, look and see what it is that got you interested in the first place. What was it [46:48.400 --> 46:54.800] that sparked your interest or gave you the drive to do this? And we go back to the art of noise [46:54.800 --> 47:04.220] story from the beginning. I did not like the Yes album 90125, and I went out of my way to ignore it [47:04.220 --> 47:11.180] and push all of that stuff away for years. 15, 20 years passes, and I go back and read an article out [47:11.180 --> 47:16.240] of one of those Where Are They Now magazines or retrospectives about a band, and the article [47:16.240 --> 47:20.940] mentions how there was a major change in what they were doing and how they partnered with a specific [47:20.940 --> 47:27.600] group of people during the time. Because Yes as a band failed. Someone else came in, a new vector [47:28.140 --> 47:33.880] came in, and they partnered with someone. It changed everything about that band and gave them [47:33.880 --> 47:40.800] another 25 years of life. Why? Because just like burnout, when something has run its course [47:40.800 --> 47:46.220] and you're not sure why you're doing it anymore, there is benefit to be had by going back and [47:46.220 --> 47:52.640] re-examining what it was that got you started. Or read into the very thing that sparked your [47:52.640 --> 47:57.360] interest to begin with and see if anything new has come up. It can take you down another road, [47:57.440 --> 48:03.800] a new path, and open all new doors. Inform something you thought you knew for a long time [48:03.800 --> 48:10.080] as a held belief, and maybe that fundamentally changes for you and changes you in the process. [48:10.080 --> 48:16.240] So that reflection can change so much about you, because at the end of the day, we need each other, [48:16.240 --> 48:23.620] right? I mean, everybody who, even people who don't like other people, need someone to tell [48:23.620 --> 48:29.520] that to, okay? And because I firmly believe this, and sounding boards are really helpful. You've [48:29.520 --> 48:34.400] got to be able to share your ideas and figure out where things fit. And honest feedback makes [48:34.400 --> 48:40.060] everything better, as hard as it can be sometimes. No, no, the baby's ugly. Yes, I'm sorry, I have to [48:40.060 --> 48:47.200] be the one to tell you. So, fine. That's all easy for me to say, right? But I'm here to tell you that if [48:47.200 --> 48:53.400] the underperforming kid in seventh grade who went on his lunch and hid out in the AV room and [48:54.880 --> 49:00.220] enjoyed rolling the cart into the classroom with the filmstrip projector, and being the kid who [49:00.220 --> 49:08.260] could turn the thing that meant to turn the knob, if you can be that guy and end up where I am now, [49:08.260 --> 49:14.500] oh my goodness, I don't know any way better than that to tell you. This is something you can do. [49:14.560 --> 49:21.280] This is something you can actually do. You have to be able to break your own mold and move past [49:21.280 --> 49:27.460] it. We just put on a B-side San Antonio that blew away all of my, our expectations, right? [49:27.640 --> 49:34.320] We had over a thousand people. We had people participating from six countries. I didn't expect [49:34.320 --> 49:42.780] that, but you can't expect it, but you should try for it. So that's what we're here to do. [49:42.780 --> 49:49.400] Cool story, bro. You don't know me. I'm fighting my own imposter syndrome on my own battles, [49:49.400 --> 49:54.540] but that's the point. We're here to build a community and let's try to build it together [49:54.540 --> 50:02.500] and make it better. I very much appreciate your time and your ears and your eyes, [50:02.500 --> 50:06.620] and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. And thank you. I hope you have a great time [50:06.620 --> 50:11.680] checking out the rest of the Career Hacking Village and DEF CON Safe Mode. Thank you very [50:11.680 --> 50:19.600] much. I am Psionic Nerd. Stephen, thank you so much. I really appreciate you sharing how you've [50:19.600 --> 50:25.400] woven your career throughout all of the career, all the conferences that you've attended and [50:25.400 --> 50:31.300] produced, and it's a really great roadmap for everyone in their careers. I know everyone's [50:31.300 --> 50:36.560] going to be looking forward to asking you questions in the Discord channel. And as you [50:36.560 --> 50:42.400] mentioned, we do also have resume review going on and career coaching. Just ping us in the career [50:42.400 --> 50:47.020] channel and we'll be able to tell you where that is. Take care, everyone. Enjoy the rest [50:47.020 --> 50:47.980] of the conference.