I have been in technology since 1983, actually working, since 1983. I was into technology and programming well before that, but when I count the years I have been in the industry I start in 1983. I was selling computers at a store called, ComputerLand, Store #11. Arlington Heights, IL — Store #11 I was fairly young, but…
Boots & Technology – CommvaultGO Review
When I heard Commvault had selected Nashville for its annual user conference, CommvaultGO, I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t attending. I had some personal plans in Nashville that had to do with my other passion, music, but sadly I was leaving on the same day it was starting, Tuesday. One way or another, I got an email from…
#! /usr/bin/ksh – Backup Admin Life: Testing
In a blog, far far away… In my previous post on Automation in this series I’m calling “Backup Admin Life”, I talked about what we used to do with scripting to “get $#!+” done and how the more complex the systems got the more important it was to make sure things were automated and easy…
#! /usr/bin/ksh – Backup Admin Life: Automation
If you read that title, ‘Pound sign, exclamation point, forward slash U-S-R, forward slash, B-I-N, forward slash, K-S-H’, then you may not get the nuances of my blog post, or forget the nuances, you may not “get it” at all. No offense. However, if you read the title, “pound-bang user-bin-korn shell” or something very similar,…
Take a Business-Centric Approach to IT
I have been in and around this industry for more than 30 years. Having been a backup admin at the very beginning of my career, data protection consulting toward the middle of my career, and on the manufacturer’s side currently in my career, has given me a good sense of the challenges IT still faces…
10 Tips to make you a better presenter
I hope you enjoyed reading the series, “Can you present?” If not, you can read the first one here, second here, and the final entry here. 10 Tips on presenting: Always rehearse your pitch. Know how much time you have for your presentation, practice giving it within that timeframe. On the big day, bring…
Part III: Can You Present?
I’ve waited until now to post the final part of this series for a couple of reasons, but mainly I didn’t want to get to the conclusion too fast. There is something to be said for remaining in the ‘swirl’ of things for a period of time. The chaos, the uneasiness, and the general feeling…
Stay tuned for part III: Can You Present?
Many have emailed me asking for Part III of my series on presentation skills. Don’t worry, I will be posting it soon…wait for it. Trust me, you will like the wrap up! Until then, please check out my friend, Scott Halford, and his company, Complete Intelligence. Chapa, signing off
Part II: Can You Present?
Some people are so uncomfortable with public speaking, just the thought of having to face an audience starts the body to perspire, the throat to dry, and vision begin to narrow. As The CTE, I am extremely comfortable in these environments, but it was not always the case. Those who know me would never believe…
Part I: Can You Present?
As The CTE, I’m asked this question often, “can you present?” Why, yes I can. I can present tomorrow, next week, next month, even later on today if my calendar is free. It is what I do, I present, I deliver, I execute. Yes, if you are asked to present, you should be able to…
Saying it, doesn’t make it fact
As many of you know, I spend a lot of time reading articles, blogs, research work, vendor collateral, etc. I mean, I spend a lot of time and any time I see a quantitative statement, such as “13% of the world’s population prefers the color purple”, without a source given I question its validity. Just…
Personal Brand Marketing: Does it Matter?
Companies live and die by its brand, if the buying community has a “bad taste in its mouth” for a certain brand, you can be assured down revenues will quickly follow. This is why so much time, effort and money is spent on creating a brand and why protecting the value of that brand is…