Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the net, Not a creature was stirring, not even a botnet. The firewalls were hung by the servers with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas would not find malware. But in the glow of our twinkling, festive LED lights, The digital Grinches were plotting their cyber plights. They didn’t want toys, or cookies, or cheer, They wanted…
I’ve always believed that poor choices have consequences and good choices come with benefits. It’s not groundbreaking stuff—just the truth. Yet, in a world that’s racing faster than we can keep up with, especially when it comes to technology, this truth gets ignored, forgotten, or worse, flat-out denied. Every tool, every gadget, every shiny new piece of tech offers a choice. How we use it—or…
Critical thinking is one of those things people love to talk about but rarely practice. It’s not sexy, it’s not flashy, and it doesn’t sell books like “10 Easy Steps to Be an Overnight Success.” But you know what it does do? It keeps us from looking like an idiot, falling for bad ideas, or getting played. It’s the difference between blindly following the crowd…
Authenticity is a big deal, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately–what it means to be unapologetically, unflinchingly yourself in a world that loves its filters and façades. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 30+ years of saying what I mean in this industry (and sometimes meaning what I probably shouldn’t have said), it’s this: being real is disarming. It throws people…
Let’s talk about ego. You know, that little voice in my head that tells me I’m always right, that I deserve more credit, that I’m the smartest person in the room. It might feel like my best friend sometimes, pumping me up and giving me confidence. But trust me on this: my ego is not my amigo. Ego doesn’t make me better. It doesn’t make…
Bullshit. We’re swimming in it. It’s everywhere—on TV, in boardrooms, on social media, in politics, in the security industry (oh, especially here), and even in everyday conversations. It’s so pervasive that most people don’t even notice it anymore. But here’s the thing: bullshit matters. And not in a good way. Bullshit isn’t just harmless fluff. It’s the grease that makes lies slip by unnoticed. It’s…
Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for the blessings in our lives, cherish connections with loved ones, and reflect on shared abundance. Thanksgiving is also a mix of chaos and comfort: a time when families gather to feast, share laughs, and occasionally debate something that should be off-limits for such gatherings (politics, UFO evidence, unsolicited opinions/advice, etc.). As you’re carving the turkey and dodging…
Follow up post to Burnout: The Slow Death You Don’t See Coming. As promised, this is my plan for coming back from burnout stronger than before. This is a three-phase, six-week plan I created based on my own personal experience with burnout. I’ve been here enough times, and now I want to build habits that make my return (to burnout) less likely. If you find…
Burnout isn’t loud. It doesn’t knock on your door screaming, “Hey, I’m here to ruin your life!” No, it creeps in, one small step at a time, until you wake up one day wondering why you hate everything and why even the thought of another email makes you want to set your laptop on fire. Sound familiar? Yeah, me too. Let’s get real: burnout is…
So, there was an election last week. If we’re to trust the results from the Associated Press (I do, but recognize some people don’t), 48.2% of us are lamenting the result and 50.2% of us are celebrating it. Regardless of what I think or feel, it is what it is. It’s reality. What I decide to do with this reality is up to me. Will…