Comments on: Building Your Career, One Brick at a Time

By: mich

mich — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:43:26 +0000

Great Post Trent!
Can you please tell us what software you used to creat those bricks? I’m looking forward to create my wall.

By: R. J. Kern

R. J. Kern — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:15:04 +0000

Trent, Great post. I’ve re-read the article three times and will certainly be jotting down important points in my “life-notes” notebook I’ve kept for several years. I double-majored in art & geography and went on to get my MA in geography…. and have followed along that career path for the last 8 years in the mapping IT world. While I enjoy it, I realize it has provided wonderful opportunities for stability, travel, and personal time to pursuit my photography. Your article made me realize my two brick walls have allowed me to create a solid bridge… one that I enjoy bouncing & playing on. The balance has been rewarding.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:34:01 +0000

Nice analogy– just remember to wear a hardhat for the unexpected . . .

I think flexibility is key– there are countless ways of building walls and not being stopped by a wall: Over, under, around, and through to name but a few.

By: Yuva

Yuva — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:40:48 +0000

Nice post! This could be an easy impetus for all who want to build and hone skills to fabricate their career. Also people need not be a copycat of others, if they can bring out their inherent talent and work on it, they will be mightily successful.

By: CashAholic

CashAholic — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:36:43 +0000

Well written post with interesting analogies. All new college grads should read this to see how skills and experience interconnect.

By: CF

CF — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:05:59 +0000

I liked this post a lot!

I also have a life sciences degree, and after having worked for 2 years, I am returning to do a brief comp sci degree. Very nervous!

But I also am interested in writing, and it makes me happy to see that from a similar situation, you’ve become successful. Thanks for sharing.

By: jana

jana — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:02:18 +0000

i like this. i am constantly on the lookout to find new directions in life and work (i am the type od person who needs new challenges to stay interested although i am calmer now when i am in my 30s).

i have a main job and then a side job, and keep myself amused by one-off jobs for various companies. now got an offer to do something completely new )which was flattering since the person asking knew it was not my usual thng but thought it would do that very well), and as i was pondering over it, i have stumbled upon this.

the analogy was very well chosen, tried to apply it to my own situation now and it turned out really interesting PLUS reinforced my belief i can do it as it is actually connected to my other areas of work. thanks!

By: Rajeev Singh

Rajeev Singh — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:29:01 +0000

Superb post..great way of driving home the point of dedication and thoughful planning in career management.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:12:49 +0000

Excellent post, Trent. Yet another IT Professional chiming in on this topic. Regarding your mention of wanting to go to graduate school, I would encourage you to go that route. I have the luxury of working IT in higher education, which means free tuition. I consider myself to be intelligent, but I was either bored or disinterested in high school and in my undergraduate days. When I began grad school, it was like going through the looking glass and it showed me that undergraduate work has simply become an extension of high school. My faculty and peers challenged me to apply critical thought and to improve my ability to express myself through written and oral communication. My coursework is done and I have passed comprehensive exams. All that is left is my graduate research, which I am taking a quick break from to read your posts. From what I can tell you have the skills to move on from here. I can only see a benefit for you. It has certainly changed me for the better.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:33:37 +0000

Reminds me of a story I heard James Autry, formerly of Meredith tell. Two masons were working side by side. One was whistling, laughing and smiling. The second was putting on mortar, placing the brick and had no expression on his face. When asked what they were doing the second one replied, “I’m laying bricks.” The first one replied, “I’m building a cathedral.”

By: Helix

Helix — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:29:21 +0000

Trent, I’ve got to say this is hands down my favorite post you’ve ever written (and I’ve read every single one on this site). Nothing has spoken to me more, and it has reassured me that even though I’ve spent the last 8 years in “jobs” rather than working towards my desired career, some of the bricks I’ve built will help me when it my current wall (hopefully) becomes a career.

Fantastic. Thanks!

By: Sierra

Sierra — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:36:02 +0000

This is a great post. I loved the visual demonstration about how all these things are connected.

I’ve always been clear that I’m building a particular skill set – writing, teaching, counseling – but I’ve had many, many different jobs that let me express those skills in different ways.

By: Russ Smith

Russ Smith — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:20:25 +0000

What a great article Trent. Great analogy of using bricks, it’s such a great way to think about it. Truly inspiring, thank you!

By: Beverly D

Beverly D — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:43:00 +0000

As I near retirement, I can look back and see the brick wall I created and how it has been exactly the right wall for me. I started my career as an RN, working in ICU. I loved the technology, the cutting edge, working with people on the cusp of life. I resisted all efforts to push me towards a management position and stayed at the bedside. Later I worked as a case manager and learned about insurance rules, and how they affect patient care. I went to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner for the care of the elderly. Now I work as an NP in hospice, where Medicare rules govern payment, and all of my work with death and dying in the ICU has come full circle. Instead of trying to extend life at all costs, I try to help people have either quality of life or peaceful death. Everything I ever learned is useful to me now. If I had had any idea of this 40 years ago I would have been amazed.

By: sefcug

sefcug — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:27:31 +0000

Good post.

I particularly like:

“Membership in reputable organizations Groups of like-minded people are not only resume fodder, but are also great places to build strong relationships that can only help you later in life.”

That is why I originally got involved with computer user groups, and now I edit two user group newsletters, and am President of one of them.

Writing occasional articles, and sometimes giving a presentation, has helped me expand my knowledge.

I have no problems with giving presentations to the smaller group, but am still a little uncomfortable doing the same with the larger group. I assume that just like most things, I will become more comfortable with experience.

By: Lenore

Lenore — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:02:50 +0000

“All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall.” Sorry, couldn’t resist after watching a Pink Floyd documentary.

By: Andrew B. Watt

Andrew B. Watt — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:33:35 +0000

I’m in the same boat as you were at one time. I had a liberal arts degree in philosophy, and a reasonably good education.

Now I’m a teacher, and I have skills as a writer, a presenter, a philosopher, a computer guy, and more… but I’m thinking I need to change the place where I work, or even change job paths, and I’m not sure where to go. Thanks for some good thoughts about how to go about finding a new job, both in this post and in others.

By: career

career — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:42:34 +0000

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By: Joe L.

Joe L. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:25:46 +0000

I like this post Trent. I saw almost the same pattern in my life. I am also an IT professional, part of me loves IT and another part of me loves to inspire people (speaking and writing). Somehow I see this as a somewhat contradicting since one is technical while the other is far from technical. I find meaning in both fields though, meaning both of them makes me feel satisfied. Right now I am developing both and try to manage both areas of my life.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:02:19 +0000

To MJ:

Why not use your “working with your hands” talent to supplement your income rather than replace it. Be a weekend furniture builder and sell at art/craft shows. You get to keep your security (and 401k!), add bricks to your career wall, work with your hands, make extra money, travel to craft shows and meet people. Cool!