Advice

[Travel Advice] Amsterdam (again)

Random Observation/Comment #801: I’m okay with not eating healthy while traveling, but this means I really need to be more mindful when eating at home. Getting fat. Why I still Love Amsterdam I visited Amsterdam for ETHAmsterdam in 2022 (travel advice). It was a short few days and I had a lot of work events, but it was still awesome...

30 Pieces of Advice for my 20s

Random Observation/Comment #790: Enjoy the magical period of “roughing it” and “hustling” with a strong metabolism and stamina. Why this list? We have so much expectation for our younger selves. Hindsight is 20-20. 2020 was also a terrible year. If I were to go back, I probably wouldn’t change a thing (besides buy more BTC). The journey was more important...

30 Things My Parents Want Me to Learn

Random Observation/Comment #725: In retrospect, I’ve never gotten bad advice from my parents. Thank you! Why this List? I hadn’t seen my parents in a year due to the pandemic, so I’m ecstatic to show them Colorado. Along with their love and cooking, I’ve also received a lot of sage advice. I might be writing this because I know my...

[List of 30] Steps to Prepare a Speech

Random Observation/Comment #520: When you’re up there, imagine everyone’s on your side and waiting to be inspired and learn something new. A long speech may be daunting to you, but at one point in your life, you’ll need to stand up there and present your ideas. Whether it’s a technical presentation of your work pr the vows to your significant...

Public Speaking is a Marathon, not a Sprint

Random Observation/Comment #497: Get better at being a communicator. It’ll help with almost everything. Everyone wants a shortcut solution to everything, but real mastery and improvement takes time.  I always suggest taking the smaller steps towards becoming a better communicator and gaining confidence in public speaking by following these key ideas: Know your material. Speak about things you know and...

[Career Advice] Figure Out Why

Random Observation/Comment #494: Inspired leaders think, act, and communicate from “why”. What is your purpose, cause, and belief? Why do you wake up? Why should anyone care? These questions aren’t meant to make you depressed (even though they often do), but instead to make you evaluate your speciality, skills, and objectives. This is your life long mission statement that you hope to...

[List of 30] Realistic Resolutions

Random Observation/Comment #492: Don’t set low expectations to not get disappointed – set realistic ones and stick to a plan. Based on no facts and research: the top new years resolutions usually involve getting more healthy, spending more time with family, meeting true love, or taking more awesome vacations. It’s what we all put as the top generic things we need...

[30 Day Challenge] 30 Pieces of Early Career Advice

Random Observation/Comment #467: Blogposts taught me more about lifehacking, confidence, and interviewing more than any professor. Why This List? Those graduating from college often bump into a wall that I like to call “Now What?”  You did what they were told, but now that you’re in the real world, you get to tell yourself what to do and choose whether or not you can have breakfast...

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Random Observation/Comment #446: A step forward could sometimes be a step backwards, but at least you took a step. What is the cost of doing nothing? This was probably the most profound thing I’ve heard after 2 days of training for writing business cases, so I figure I’d address all the random tangents I thought about from this one line:...

[GetMomentum] Prioritizing

Random Observation/Comment #429: I feel old when interns tell me they want to be like me when they grow up. I still haven’t grown up yet. Right? … Maybe? #usinghashtagstostayyoung Let’s say you’re like me and you love making task lists in the morning to know what to expect to get done by the end of the day.  Now what?...

[Advice] Interview questions and tips

Random Observation/Comment #407: The best way to prepare is to know yourself. Take some time and put it on paper. Continuing my interview series of blog posts (Common skills for all careers, Interviewing: being on the other side), I’d like to highlight one of the most important parts: What do I ask the interviewer? Common questions: What are the top...

[Travel Guide] South Africa

[Travel Guide] South Africa

Random Observation/Comment #324: South Africa really needs a radio station devoted to Lion King songs. It would get all the tourist listeners. Is South Africa, as a travel destination, right for you? Things you must like: Adventures Roughing it in the wild Impromptu decisions Driving long distances (~7 hours per day) Animals far away Photography (because someone will be stopping...

Finding Your Perfect Career

Finding Your Perfect Career

Random Observation/Comment #278: Greed is such a terrible thing – especially greed for money. It causes so much pain and suffering around the world for no reason.  Money is such a terrible thing, except when you have a lot of it. When I refer to the “perfect career”, I mean the path you take through your life giving back to...

[Toastmasters] Tips to be a better speaker

[Toastmasters] Tips to be a better speaker

Random Observation/Comment #269: Toastmasters is about being an effective communicator and a better leader.  Name a profession that these skills do not come in handy. Never stop learning; Smarter every day. Happy New Year and best wishes to continuous health and happiness! With the new year starting, I have a call to action to all those wanting to become a...

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Random Observation/Comment #267: Russian is very difficult to learn. I think I’m just going to nod, smile, and drink vodka when I get there. I am a fairly happy person. If you think about it, there’s really nothing to be overly sad about. Maybe there are a lot of #firstworldproblems (e.g. waiting too long for a Galaxy Nexus to be...

[Toastmasters] Simply Inspired – Dana LaMon

[Toastmasters] Simply Inspired – Dana LaMon

Random Observation/Comment #266: If you think of speeches as a series of personal stories to support an inspirational idea, the organization and the delivery becomes much more fluent.  In fact, the best way to practice being a good public speaker is to talk more within your groups of friends.  Use the Toastmasters techniques of voice inflection, hand gestures, and eye...

30 day challenge – Lessons Learned

30 day challenge – Lessons Learned

Random Observation/Comment #264: There are so many consumers in this world. I would rather be a producer. Not the literal producer, but actually a literal one. I thought my first impression of this 30 day challenge thing was profound, but I had only scratched the surface of many little nuances that taught me a lot about life.  My first impression...

Internships: Being on the Other Side

Internships: Being on the Other Side

Random Observation/Comment #260: After being a mentee all of my life, I find it’s rather eye-opening being a mentor.  I never realized how much advice is made up on the spot, but still sounds really profound and cool like you have it all figured out. Sorry, interns. I’m just making it up as I go along like the rest of...

Core Skillset

Core Skillset

Random Observation/Comment #257: “Life does flash before your eyes when you die. It’s called living.” Health and happiness. Let’s be honest – I’ll always be an engineer and a geek.  Nothing can undo what Cooper, A.I., robotics, and Anime has done to me.  But there’s something that I felt was missing from my bottle cap collection and food photography obsession...

Dear Dad: How to Retire

Dear Dad: How to Retire

Random Observation/Comment #254:   “Oh, how time seems to sneak by… Babies you once held in your arms can now teach you how to use facebook. “  –Clemens Wan 1/12/11 Dad, I sometimes forget that you and Mom are not super heroes with the power of knowing everything.  I sometimes forget that your current phase of life is the first time...

Early Career Advice Part 2

Early Career Advice Part 2

Random Observation/Comment #249: I’m surprised at how much career advice is out there for people, but how few people actually take it seriously. Seriously, this advice is helpful… After speaking to my personal board of directors (a.k.a. family, friends, and mentors) about career advice, I had gathered more very useful information about career development that I feel should be shared. ...

Early Career Advice

Early Career Advice

Random Observation/Comment #247:  When a hobby becomes stale, the best way to handle it is to find take small steps to reinvigorate your passion towards it.  Take it one step at a time and it will come back. There are four main things that I learned from the past 9 months of working.  I feel like not sharing it would...

Guiding My Career Choices: From Soldier to Worker

Guiding My Career Choices: From Soldier to Worker

Random Observation/Comment #242: The month-long gap of writing was a test to see how much I could get done when I didn’t write.  The answer, surprisingly, is that I didn’t do anything – well, that’s not true, but I didn’t get as much as I wanted done.  I didn’t know this before, but writing in a blog about what I’m...

The Social Butterfly Follow-up

The Social Butterfly Follow-up

Random Observation/Comment #241: Panel speakers at leadership forums have the most badass introductions.  These leaders have led a fruitful life with a never-ending path towards greatness, family, and – generally – more ridiculously cool stuff.  I am in full admiration, and my mouth’s “wow” expression is hurting my jaw.  New Goal: In 3 years, my introduction will make others’ jaws...

The Social Butterfly

The Social Butterfly

Random Observation/Comment #240: Every event is a networking event.  I’m not the typical engineer with pocket protectors, protractors, and graphing calculators available in my utility belt (although my phone, can do all of those).  I rather wear a smile and chit-chat about random things to work on a closer relationship (Relater on StrengthFinder!).  Some people say it’s a waste of...