Episode 10

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Published on:

16th Apr 2024

I Gave Away $0 Tech Mentorships... And Regretted It!

John from Titan of Tech addresses a concerning trend

observed on Reddit and LinkedIn, where individuals entering the cybersecurity

and technology sectors believe they are entitled to free mentorship from more

senior professionals. He argues against the notion that successful individuals

are obligated to provide free guidance simply due to their position. The script

outlines the reasons why this mindset is flawed, including the misconception

that teaching or mentorship should not come at a cost, and the reality that

many professionals already pay for training in various forms. Further, John

shares personal experiences to illustrate that voluntary mentorship often goes

unappreciated or unutilized, reinforcing his stance that true learning requires

personal investment and engagement. He concludes by encouraging individuals to

value paid resources for their structured learning paths and to shed the

entitlement mentality towards free mentorship.

00:00 Introduction: Addressing a Troubling Trend in Tech Mentorship

00:55 Debunking the Myth: The Expectation of Free Mentorship

01:57 The Value of Teaching and Learning in Tech

02:33 Challenging the Free Resource Mentality

03:31 Personal Experiences with Mentoring in Tech

06:44 The Reality of Investing in Your Professional Growth

09:28 Evaluating Paid vs. Free Learning Resources

11:02 Conclusion: Taking Ownership of Your Professional Development

Transcript
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Hey, what's up?

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Everybody?

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John here with Titan of tech got another video for you today on a trend that I

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have seen to be a little bit troubling, particularly on Reddit and LinkedIn.

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And so you may ask, what is this troubling trend that I have been

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seeing for several months now?

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And that is this idea that anybody that is exposed to.

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Aspiring to be a cyber security professional or technology

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professional professional or owed a mentor, not only just owed a mentor.

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They're owed a mentor for free.

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And that anybody that happens to be a senior leader or somebody with

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senior experience, maybe they've got a lot of technical experience.

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That they are required to become a mentor.

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And I find that to be the stupidest junk out there when you start

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thinking about it critically, and you start thinking about it logically.

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So let's jump into this real quick.

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Why is this a stupid trend?

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And of course, coming from social media, there's all kinds of stuff

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out there that are stupid trends.

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But, uh, this has been primarily stuff I've seen, like I said, in

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Reddit and LinkedIn that people were complaining that these were juniors.

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They were newer to the field of technology, maybe even cyber

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security that, you know, Senior senior leaders, senior technical

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practitioners within their organization.

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We're not mentoring them.

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And then you would see the flip side argument of other people

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that were senior leaders.

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And they wanted to be voices.

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I think they were trying to build their brand saying that.

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Technology professionals should never have to pay to be, to have a mentor.

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Everything should be free and just never, if you need training, nothing,

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there's just so much free stuff out there that you never pay for it.

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So what are all of their reasons?

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One, it's a scam.

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Doers do.

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They don't teach that is just crazy.

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If you want to the best way for you to learn something is to teach it.

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It causes you to organize your thoughts in a logical way.

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You can kind of I see where some of your blind spots are where some of your

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weaknesses are for you to be a teacher.

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All you have to do is be 1 step ahead of the person that you're teaching.

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That's it.

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There's no, there's no great formula for anybody that actually

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wants to become a teacher.

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We all have different experiences.

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We all have different ways that we may view the world.

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And you start putting that together.

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You've got something that you could probably teach somebody else.

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The other 1 is there's so many free resources out there,

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and there's a reason to pay.

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Yes, there are tons of free resources out there.

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We'll go through some of that toward the end of the video.

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But a lot of the times with free resources.

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They're unorganized.

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I'll call it just in time learning.

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Uh, don't have that on the, on the slide here, but just in time learning

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where you're kind of just looking up the pieces to fill gaps here and there, but

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usually when you are paying for a course, it can be a little bit more organized.

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Also, with free resources, you're really not probably getting any

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feedback or questions if you're downloading somebody else's paper

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questions, things of that nature.

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And the other reason they say not to pay is it's just your duty.

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It's your duty as a professional.

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The further up the ladder you go, you have to get back.

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Well, says who?

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Who says that I am required because I have been in the field for 25 or 30

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years to sit down and mentor somebody that's just entering the industry?

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I've had many, many times over my career where I have absolutely mentored other

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people, people that have shown an interest in what they're doing, whether this has

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been just kind of on my own, uh, you know, one on one questions, or if I was

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running another department or a team for another organization, I would have

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formalized training sessions where we would go do whiteboard for for that team.

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That was something that I took upon myself.

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Nobody made me do it and then why I was complaining.

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But the flip side of that is, I can tell you right now out of the dozens

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and dozens and dozens of people that I've had training sessions with or quote

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unquote mentoring sessions with only 2 of it ever 2 of them ever took it serious.

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There was a situation some years back.

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Where we had a network administrator.

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He wanted to go up the ranks.

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He wanted to learn some more of the, the tools that made the system run.

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And 1 of the ones that we had in there was a email filtering system.

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Sure.

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Everybody's familiar with that.

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Try to block the spam, stop some of the phishing attempts, things of that nature.

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I spent.

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An hour to two hours in one training session, just going over the fundamentals,

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knowingly expect nobody's going to catch everything in one training session,

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but we would walk through how this functions work, how a whitelist works,

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how the blacklist works, how you can set up different filtering to try to

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become a little bit more fine tune and granular to block the bad emails from

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hitting the end user to stop them from not getting ransomware everywhere.

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So the thing that stuck out with me to this day was after spending, I'll

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say, an hour and a half, I'll split the difference somewhere between an hour

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and 2 hours with them going over how the program functioned the very next day.

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I didn't get a question on, like, how does this button work?

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Or how do you do this?

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I legitimately got a question that said, Hey, do we have a program

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that, that does email spam filtering?

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Are you, are you kidding me?

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What did we do for 90 minutes yesterday, except go through that in detail.

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And instead of asking a fine tuning question or follow up, you actually

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asked me that we have the software.

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This is the type of stuff that, you know, if you don't take pride

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and ownership in the work that you do and want to get better.

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I can't drag you along for it.

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It's not my duty to drag you along.

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. I have so many people that will ask a question that net will never respond.

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I've got so many people that will sit there and say, Hey,

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do you have a connection?

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I'm looking for a job, you know, a new job.

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Do you know anybody that does X, Y, Z?

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Oh, yeah, absolutely.

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Go, go here and go apply or go hit them up, you know, and then maybe a week later.

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Hey, did you go do that?

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I either get no response.

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Or they went, no, I didn't do it.

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Don't waste my time.

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It is not my duty to drag you along to where you say you want to go.

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If you're not willing to actually put in the work.

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Now, if you're not familiar with this already and put a little critical

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thinking out there after going through what people are complaining about saying

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that they're not getting mentored and that you shouldn't do it because it's

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free or it's my duty to train you just to take you under my wing just because

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just because that's what the mantra is.

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You're already paying for mentorship.

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You're already paying for training in a lot of cases.

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Do you have a college degree?

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Are you working toward a college degree?

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Have you taken a certification or a boot camp?

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Have you taken test prep software for a certification?

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How about a test prep book?

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You ever pay to go to a conference and listen to lectures or speeches?

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Do you, do you already have certifications and you're part of professional chapters,

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you've got clubs, you've got part of those groups that you've paid to become a member

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of, to have access to those other members?

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Guess what?

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That's training and mentorship.

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That stuff's not free.

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Yes, you can do some of those things.

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You can go take a certification for free and self study with other material.

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You're probably paying for some of this stuff.

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And that's what it is.

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It's somebody else's knowledge in a different format than having that

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1 to 1 access to someone like me.

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The other thing to this is not only are you paying for training, you're probably,

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you're getting paid for your knowledge.

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The stuff that everybody says for you not to pay for is probably

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the exact same you're getting paid for in your day to day job.

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Have you ever worked a help desk or know somebody that

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works like a tier one help desk?

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And what do they do all day long?

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They're just answering technical support questions, which comes

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from their knowledge or somebody else's knowledge put in a book.

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That's accessible to them.

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Are you a consultant?

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Are you a strategic consultant?

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That is selling your expertise to another organization?

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Then what is the difference between selling your expertise?

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To somebody else that wants to do the job that you're doing nothing.

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Do you get any sort of salary based on the info?

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You know, probably whether you again cybersecurity or graphics designer,

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you're an author you're a writer Whatever it is a technical writer a

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lot of your experience You're getting a salary based on the information, you

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know, and the more information, you know The more experience you gather you

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typically get a bigger salary for it

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All this to say, I'm tired of seeing these posts on there, uh,

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that paying for a coach is a scam.

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I have bought many, many courses from other, from other people because I

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wanted to achieve or try to achieve the results that they have, that they

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have earned through their career.

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I said earned, not deserved.

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They earned it.

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So one of the things with paying, let's say you want to do a, a self

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directed course that somebody has.

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You've got skin in the game.

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It's not just handed to you.

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We live in a capitalist United States here.

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Putting money, putting money where your mouth is, is how you show

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you're serious about something.

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And the information that you usually get from paid resources, Is better organized.

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It covers more than just that 1 little question where you're filling in a gap.

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You're going to go through a training course.

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That's foundational and that builds upon itself.

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So you get better and better and better and you don't have blind

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gaps just trying to go out there.

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If you happen to take a course where you have access, whether it's in a

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group setting, Or maybe it's one on one time with a particular coach,

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there will be more invested in you.

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As I told you earlier, I've had maybe two people in 25 years actually take

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the advice I have seriously because it was freely given, kind of put a little

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bit more impact on something when you've had to pay for that level of impact.

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But with anything, you have to evaluate what you're buying before you do.

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What are you getting with what it is?

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The more direct contact that you usually have with a key professional, the more

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expensive it's going to be something in a group setting where you there's a

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bunch of people that has access at one time where you guys meet once a week.

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Like a, like a degree program or a certification boot camp, if that's

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in a smaller timeframe, it's going to be probably a little cheaper than one

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on one specialized time versus a self directed course where you maybe, maybe

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you get to write an email question, maybe you have no access either, but

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it's just a better organized program.

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So don't sit there and listen to the people that say, you should never pay

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for anything or that you're owed it.

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You're not owed it.

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You haven't done anything special.

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You got to sit there and be willing to invest yourself and not think somebody

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else is just going to spoon feed.

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Now, 1 of the things for those that are still stuck on.

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Well, there's so much free stuff.

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You're, you're right.

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There is a ton of free stuff out there and the coach or mentor or

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somebody that's trying to build a brand or build a business on the side.

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Of the knowledge that they have probably already have a bunch of free information.

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That's out there for you to utilize.

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Now, whether it's YouTube videos, whether it's blogs, whether it's

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podcast, maybe they even have micro courses that step you through a very

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small subset of a larger problem.

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They may have white papers.

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You've got the library.

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There's tons of free resources out there.

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If you choose to go that route,

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and that's a way if you're seriously considering, hey, I need to sit there

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and have a resource available to me to answer my questions to help me

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take my career from here to here.

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That you can evaluate the information that they've got and make sure 1, that

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you think it's accurate and 2, that it fits your learning style and that

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their personality is somebody that will help you achieve your next level.

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But do me a favor drop any notion that you're owed anything and

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drop any of the notion that you see from the self righteous

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people on LinkedIn or or read it.

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That think that it's, it's somebody else's duty to spoon feed you and give

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you the wrong conception of the idea.

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It's not until the next one.

Show artwork for Titan of. Tech

About the Podcast

Titan of. Tech
Tech Trends, Triumphs, and Trials: The Human Side of Tech
"Titan of Tech" is more than just a podcast; it's a journey through the evolving landscape of technology. Each episode is a window into the future, offering insights and perspectives that you won't find anywhere else. This is the place where curiosity meets innovation, and listeners become well-versed in the language of tomorrow’s technology.

Why Tune Into "Titan of Tech"?

Diverse Perspectives: We bring you voices from all corners of the tech world – from seasoned CEOs of leading tech companies to the unsung heroes and rising stars in the industry. Get a 360-degree view of the technological panorama.

Beyond the Buzzwords: We delve deeper than the trendy tech jargon. Understand what Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing, or Artificial Intelligence really mean for the world and for you.

Global Tech Scene: Technology knows no borders. We explore international tech developments, giving you a global perspective on innovation and its impact.
Accessible Content: Whether you're a tech guru or a novice, our content is tailored to be accessible and engaging. We break down complex concepts into understandable and relatable discussions.

Future Focused: From predictions about the next big tech breakthrough to exploring how technology will shape our society in the future, "Titan of Tech" keeps you ahead of the curve.

In "Titan of Tech," every episode is a blend of passion, knowledge, and a vision for the future. We're not just reporting on technology; we're part of the conversation that shapes it. Our engaging narratives and in-depth analyses make us the perfect companion for your daily commute, workout, or leisure time.

Discover the stories behind the innovations that are transforming our world. Join our community of curious minds and tech enthusiasts. Subscribe to "Titan of Tech" and be a part of the conversation that's shaping our digital destiny. Connect with us online at https://podcast.titanof.tech and follow the future, today!

Follow at:
https://linkedin.com/in/johnbarker78
https://x.com/johnbarker78
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https://titanof.tech (Virtual CIO Advisory Services)

About your host

Profile picture for John Barker

John Barker

John Barker, MBA, CISSP, PMP, has worked as a Virtual CIO for the past 7 years. He has supported many executives in a wide range of industries. John's mission is to improve operational technology, identify technology value drivers, and improve cybersecurity defenses. John has led numerous cybersecurity evaluations. Using standard frameworks such as HIPAA and NIST cyber standards. John has been a regular featured columnist in Northern Virginia news outlets. He has over 35 technology columns published in the region.

John started his technology career working on Unisys mainframes in a manufacturing setting. This evolved into the lead network engineer for American Military University. The first online-exclusive accredited university in the United States. He has led a global multi-million-dollar Department of Defense technology program. That supports over 500,000 users. John advises high-net-worth families (300M+) on all technology and cybersecurity matters.

John is active in his community. John served four years in Culpeper County Broadband Planning Commission. The purpose was to expand high-speed internet access in the rural community. He has served on the Board of Directors for chambers of commerce. Served as the chairperson of marketing, and membership committees. John has been a regular at mock interviews and career days for local elementary and high schools. John has led technology entrepreneurial sessions for high school-age students. He instructs them on the steps to create a mock technology product and create a business plan. They "pitch" their ideas to other business leaders in the community.

In 2023, John served on the Technology Advisory Committee for Stafford County Public Schools. He assisted in writing the first A.I. policy voted on and approved by a School Board in the State of Virginia.

John currently works with two different cybersecurity organizations. John is a member of ISC2. He wrote new and reviewed questions for the current version of the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam. This is the gold-standard information security certification. John is part of the Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI.US) Cyber reporting team. The team aligns national security threat scenarios to common and uncommon cyber frameworks. The team also has access to information that cannot be disclosed.

Press List – Author
Mind-blowing AI Tools are here to stay
Date: March 4, 2023
Link: https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/comment-mind-blowing-ai-tools-are-here-to-stay/article_b603e478-b7c4-11ed-a7b0-838023b605f9.html
Category: artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen an unprecedented leap into the public consciousness, especially with the advent of tools like ChatGPT, showcasing the potential for machines to mimic human conversation with remarkable fluency. AI's history, dating back to 1956, is built on the premise that human intelligence can be emulated by machines, leading to developments in reasoning, learning, and perception.
This technology has quietly underpinned everyday tools, from recommendation algorithms on YouTube to autonomous driving, without widespread public awareness of its mechanisms. The discussion around AI now also encompasses ethical considerations, such as the potential for plagiarism in AI-generated content and the embedding of biases within algorithms. Despite these challenges, the integration of AI into daily life and work is inevitable, urging a collective effort to harness its potential responsibly and ethically. The narrative is clear: AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present reality, transforming how we interact with technology, understand creativity, and approach the ethical dimensions of digital innovation.

Cybersecurity is a people problem
Date: Oct 15, 2023
Link: https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/column/comment-cybersecurity-is-a-people-problem/article_042531f0-6924-11ee-8b91-fffa2f546f8c.html
Category: Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity incidents often stem from human error rather than technological flaws. For example, a major breach at MGM Resorts was enabled by social engineering, exploiting inadequate employee verification processes. Similarly, the Equifax breach resulted from unpatched servers, highlighting a lack of attention to basic security practices. Other incidents, like a casino hack via an internet-connected thermometer, illustrate the risks of integrating insecure IoT devices into critical networks. These examples underscore the importance of robust security protocols, regular updates, and education to mitigate human-related vulnerabilities. Awareness and proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

Think Twice before using TikTok
Date: May 28, 2023
Link: https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/comment-think-twice-before-using-tiktok/article_55e76904-f3fe-11ed-b8a0-4fc03a885c17.html
Category: Cybersecurity
TikTok faces increasing scrutiny for its data privacy practices, with concerns over potential data sharing with the Chinese government due to its parent company ByteDance's ties. The platform's massive user engagement has drawn legislative attention, resulting in app bans and hearings aimed at mitigating security risks. Users are encouraged to critically evaluate their TikTok usage, considering the privacy and psychological implications of their engagement with the app.

‘Brute Force’ cellphone attack secures conviction
Date: April 22, 2023
Link: https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/columns/comment-brute-force-cellphone-attack-secures-conviction/article_0d2b4d80-ddff-11ed-8cd7-3b730ec21d54.html
Category: cybersecurity, law enforcement
At the heart of Alex Murdaugh's trial for family murder charges was a crucial cell phone video that challenged his innocence. The U.S. Secret Service's expertise in unlocking the phone revealed evidence critical to the case, showcasing the power and potential privacy concerns of digital forensic technology. This situation underscores the importance of robust personal cybersecurity measures, such as multi-factor authentication and secure passwords, to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technology education evolving in Fredericksburg Region
Date: July 1, 2023
Link: https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/column/comment-technology-education-evolving-in-fredericksburg-region/article_248daac4-16b0-11ee-b3af-1ffb021e4fb5.html
Category: technology education

The document discusses the evolution of technology education in the region, highlighting the shift from traditional vocational programs to modern Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. It showcases local initiatives to engage youth in technology through summer camps and hands-on learning experiences. Programs range from building drones and gaming PCs to video game development and entrepreneurship in technology. These efforts are aimed at equipping students with industry-level certifications, real-world experience, and fostering a passion for technology from a young age, challenging them to think critically and innovatively.

Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things
Date: November 30, 2020
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgaxG574TI&t=227s
Category: cybersecurity, IoT
John Barker leads a panel through a discussion of the cybersecurity risks in everyday household items that now connect to the internet.
Creating a Culture of Security
Date: Jan 23, 2020
Link: https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/data-dump-creating-a-culture-of-security/article_6fd2bbb8-3de8-11ea-991b-9f8d164e71d4.html
Category: cybersecurity

Creating a culture of security is essential in combating the increasing threat of cyberattacks, which affect organizations of all sizes. Implementing foundational cybersecurity measures like firewalls, strong passwords, and patch management is crucial. Leadership must prioritize and practice these measures to influence the organization's culture positively. Regular training adapts to evolving cyber threats, emphasizing social engineering awareness. A non-punitive environment encourages reporting mistakes, fostering trust and improvement. External audits validate cybersecurity practices, ensuring adherence to standards. Despite existing regulations in some sectors, many companies lack comprehensive cybersecurity measures. Upcoming regulations, like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, will enforce stricter compliance and auditing, potentially extending to wider markets influenced by cybersecurity insurance trends.

Ignorance is not an excuse anymore!
Date: November 21, 2019
Link: https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/data-dump-ignorance-is-not-an-excuse-anymore/article_a5309ae6-0c92-11ea-a3cf-e716081495ce.html
Category: cybersecurity


In recent travels and networking, a concerning trend of improperly secured websites has been observed, highlighting a persistent issue with security certificates. Many businesses, from startups to established companies, neglect basic web security, often resulting in vulnerable websites. The misconception that security breaches are unlikely and the lack of knowledge about the importance of SSL certificates contribute to this problem. It's emphasized that securing a website is a fundamental task that should not be overlooked, as it verifies the site's authenticity and secures data transmission. The article suggests actively ensuring web designers or hosting providers implement SSL certificates and explores options for securing websites, including free services. Ignorance of web security is no longer acceptable, underscoring the necessity for all, including those without technical backgrounds, to prioritize online security.

Is Your Cloud Data Safe from Prying Eyes?
Date: July 5, 2018
Link: https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/archive/data-dump-is-your-cloud-data-safe-from-prying-eyes/article_c728ffc4-f902-5674-89be-9b178ad12ee1.html
Category: cloudy, security, privacy
The narrative explores the evolution and concerns surrounding cloud data security, focusing on encryption practices and the tension between user privacy and government access requests. It emphasizes the importance of encryption for data in transit and at rest, highlighting user control over encryption keys as critical for privacy. Major tech companies' struggle with government demands for data access is discussed, underscoring the ongoing battle for data privacy. The piece suggests that while cloud storage offers enhanced security and convenience compared to local storage, users should be aware of the potential for their data to be accessed by service providers or under legal compulsion.
Project Management Institute (PMI) Network Without Cringing (Really!) (Featured Guest)
Date: August 7, 2017
Link: https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/network-without-cringing-really
Category: business, networking