Are We in a Recession or Not?
IpvDre After Hours #1
Economy News
Are we in a recession or not?
Apparently, jobs rose “unexpectedly” during July by 528,000 and unemployment dropped 3.5%. This is interesting because social media would have you think we are going into the worse recession in history with record high inflation, currently at 9.1%.
Either way, my approach to this is simple. I’m fine-tuning my tech skills as well as learning new ones. I think building marketable skills recession proofs your resume. It also never hurts to build your personal brand because it puts you out in front. More
Business
Medium-sized content creators possibly have the most impact.
I read an article on medium the other day that struck me. It was about the impact that medium-sized content creators have on the people they build a community with. This article hit home because I’m currently a small content creator. I love what I do. I love sharing ideas and documenting my journey throughout the tech space. And this article makes the case that smaller content creators have more value to bring in the way of community engagement due to the fact that their community is smaller and more intimate.
This makes sense because I’m able to answer all of my comments, respond to all of my discord messages, and engage with chat when I live stream. And I’m early on in the process of my transitioning into the tech space which makes me relatable.
This is why I encourage everyone to become content creators because it’s the new form of networking. It brings you in contact with so many people and it adds value in the long run, granted you’re doing it for the right reasons. More
Learning
Map out your learning system: Be intentional with your study plan
I’m a huge proponent of learning. Which is different from studying. Learning is functional. While studying, to me, is just to pass an exam. Dr. Justin Sung has helped me to make sense of effective ways to learn, including mapping out my learning system. In this video he explains how. More
Study as close to bedtime as possible
When I was in undergrad for engineering, I studied as close to bedtime as possible. I heard that it helps with memory consolidation and it looks like I might have been on to something.
People
Want to gain coveted soft skills? Step out into a leadership role.
I have the best of both worlds. I have technical skills gained through certifications and practical labbing, and I also have the soft skills gained from 6 years of union leadership.
I’m not saying all of that to brag.
If you want to gain soft skills, take a leadership role. And the best thing about becoming a leader is that, now more than ever, it’s easy to step into this role. Become a tutor, volunteer, take initiative in your current job role or community.
All of these things involve people and persuading them to do good things. Too many people are strictly focussed on tech skills or raw skills in any field. Remember, life is about people. And if you can’t work with people, you’re going to have an uphill battle for success. Check out my leadership development publication on Medium dot com here.
Book of the Month
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
While I was studying for my CCNA, I was looking for an efficient way to optimize my time. Most “productivity” hacks only serve to clutter my life. This book helped me to align myself with my biological rhythms which ultimately helped me to optimize for my time.
Quote of the Week
“The secret to perseverance, discipline, and commitment is not caring about what other people might think of you...” - Yann Girard