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Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

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Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#31

Post by FlailFast »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #12

tl;dr Don't try to be the best at something, it's too hard. Be good at a couple of things and make a living in the Venn diagram intersection. It's a nice idea, but I struggle when I get to "software and ..." Cartoons? Cycling? DIY?

I love this advice, and it took me a while to figure out that for me the intersection is Developer Advocacy. Math, software, public speaking, writing, comedy, business = Dev Advocate at a bitcoin company. I'm not great at any of them individually, but good enough at all of them to make a great Developer Advocate. Took a while to convince someone to take a risk on me (I had a technical Biz Dev/PM background prior to my current job) but finally got a company to interview me the right way...they had me present to 20 bitcoin devs about their API as part of the process, and I happily can say I knocked it out of the park. Barring any sudden discovery of me as a stand-up comedian/writer (unlikely at this point) I'm very very happy to make a long, fruitful career of this role.

Anyway, TL;DR: there are always ways to combine software with other skills. The hard part is finding the role that incorporates all of them (whether you invent it as a founder or join someone else).

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#33

Post by harlanlewis »

kelukelugames wrote: post #5

Scott Adams used to give great career advice and cartooning tips. I think he got bored a few years ago and decided to become a professional troll. I will write some examples after work.

Is this how he trolls? http://misogynistdilbert.tumblr.com/

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#34

Post by petke »

kevindeasis wrote: post #30
petke wrote: post #26

That's good advice. Find a niche basically. It don't think it works for every career though. Being good or even being the most skilled at a niche. Musicians and actors, any job that has as much to do with popularity as with skill. Very few make it and the ones that do, don't seem better than most of the ones that dont. I have been listening to enough open mic nights and small time bar gigs to think so. Its sad really…

Scott says: 1. Become the best at one specific thing. 2. Become very good (top 25%) at two or more things. You raise a fascinating point. Following Scott's format. I wonder if a person can: 1. be the very best musician. 2. Be very good at networking (top 25%) or playing at events . Now my question to you, petke. With those two things, would any person wanting to be a musician be a successful musician?

Good point. Those musicians that made it, maybe they where just better at networking.

The music I tend to like most is these folk type singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar singing sad songs. A lot of those musicians seem quite introvert and shy, and are probably bad at networking. So it might explain why so many of them don't make it despite their talents.

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#35

Post by geowwy »

putlake wrote: post #9

Scott Adams is very entertaining. He predicted Trump's staying power way back in the summer when everyone (including me) thought his candidacy was just a joke. In fact, he has predicted a landslide for Trump in the general election. He says it's based on his training as a hypnotist, which gives him an insight into the art of persuasion. Over the years I've learned many things from following Adams' blog. He recommende…

Here's one of his articles on TRumP: http://blog.dilbert.com/post/135324448866/the-lucky-hitler-h...

His blog is a lot of fun when you realize he's doing it for fun.

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#36

Post by bitJericho »

petke wrote: post #34
kevindeasis wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scott says: 1. Become the best at one specific thing. 2. Become very good (top 25%) at two or more things. You raise a fascinating point. Following Scott's format. I wonder if a person can: 1. be the very best musician. 2. Be very good at networking (top 25%) or playing at events . Now my question to you, petke. With those two things, would any person wanting to be a musician be a successful musician?

Good point. Those musicians that made it, maybe they where just better at networking. The music I tend to like most is these folk type singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar singing sad songs. A lot of those musicians seem quite introvert and shy, and are probably bad at networking. So it might explain why so many of them don't make it despite their talents.

Haha one of my fav indie singers didn't even bother to reply when I told her her domain was expiring. It's now lost to the shitty secondary market. I guess she gave up. Let me know your email if you'd like to know the artist.

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#37

Post by kelukelugames »

kelukelugames wrote: post #5

Scott Adams used to give great career advice and cartooning tips. I think he got bored a few years ago and decided to become a professional troll. I will write some examples after work.

Okay I'm home now. Let's dissect the most famous example.

1) Adams compares women to children and people with mental disabilities.

2) Claims he didn't and that everyone who thinks that has bad reading comprehension. Also plays the victim card anytime someone accuses him of misogyny.

3) Writes article about hypnosis. Adams says he can convince people that two things are related without doing it directly. Gives example similar to the time he did with women and children.

4) Praises Trump for being a master wizard, whatever that means. Gives example where Trump associates two things without stating it directly.

5) Claims everyone is an outragist for thinking that Trump associated Mexicans with rapists.

And a quote: "They [Gawker] love me. And I love their hate-traffic, so everyone wins."

https://twitter.com/ScottAdamsSays/status/669004328326172673

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#38

Post by sdenton4 »

monochromatic wrote: post #25
dhmholley wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a guy who doesn't take himself too seriously, he sure creates a lot of sockpuppets to argue with his detractors and sing his own praises.

[citation needed]

I was around for the fateful Metafilter thread where Scott Adams sockpupetted vigorously until he was found out: http://mefiwiki.com/wiki/Scott_Adams,_plannedchaos

It's a pretty........... interesting read. http://www.metafilter.com/102472/How-to-Get-a-Real-Education...

Re: Career Advice from Scott Adams (2007)

#39

Post by kelukelugames »

sdenton4 wrote: post #38
monochromatic wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[citation needed]

I was around for the fateful Metafilter thread where Scott Adams sockpupetted vigorously until he was found out: http://mefiwiki.com/wiki/Scott_Adams,_plannedchaos It's a pretty........... interesting read. http://www.metafilter.com/102472/How-to-Get-a-Real-Education...

Damn, this is some extra crazy. https://www.reddit.com/user/plannedchaos

Good thing PG only updates his footnotes when people "misunderstand" him.

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