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Ten Simple Rules for Creating a Successful Career in GISWill HolmesGIS BranchOffice of Information TechnologyKentucky Transportation Cabinet

Warning!!!What I am about to share is DANGEROUS!

This could alter your approach to your career and life.This could do nothing for you at all.The choice is your decision to make.3How the world sees us...

Milton Office Space 4How the world sees us. really.

L to R: Jack Dangermond, Logan Hardison, Scott Morehouse, and SJ CamarataOverviewWhat are the technical skills needed?

What are the soft skills needed to be successful?

Final thoughtsTechnical SkillsNo one can know everything about GIS but... Be a solid generalist. KnowGIS Technology.Analysis Methods.Basic Modeling.Reporting

Develop a specialty.Hydrology, transportation, programming,

Need to be a solid generalist but then go beyond. 8Know IT BasicsIT skillsNetworks wireless vs. wiredDesktops ServersOSSoftware installations

Programming

Software development process Know Your BusinessProject management

Strong Business communication skillsEffective writingEffective verbal skills (listening & speaking)

Strong Office skills

Business etiquetteTalk more about business ettiquette.10Soft Skills for Success.Rule # 1: Dont exist LIVE.You better lose yourself in the music, the momentYou own it, you better never let it goYou only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blowThis opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo-- Eminem, "Lose Yourself 2002

Too many are dissatisfied with where they are. Dont know what they want and dont have a plan to get there.

Jump in. Commit to your life. Dont let it flow by. Seize it. Relish it.12Be passionate.

You can never be successful being complacent. Be willing to sacrifice and make a difference.13Rule #2: Live the present that creates the future you want Define your goals.

Achieve them through every choice you make every day.

Goals

Monuments were first a Vision that became a goal. People focused and made the idea a reality.Great Pyramids (~2500 BC)Great Wall (700 -206 BC) and rebuilt in Ming (1368 1644 AD). It covers ~5,500 Miles, but with all of its branches is 13,000+ miles of barrier.Leaning Tower of Pisa (1173- 1264 AD)Taj Mahal (1632-1653 AD) Mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, built by Shah Jahan (Mogul Emperor).

15Rule #3: No one makes you anything.You choose what you are

and how you become.

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. --Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180)

Mark Horstmans Umbrella Story about being made Mad.16Rule #3Own your emotions & behaviors.successes & failures.

Become introspective.Analyze & understand the why in your choices.

Know thyself.

If you do not understand your own actions, how can you control what goes on around you?

Know thyself was a common Greek phrase as well as an idea promoted by SunTzu.17Rule #4: Build the right attitude.ProfessionalHappy vs. MAD! Elevator or Stairs

I want to cut weight do I choose to grab a burger and fries for lunch and take the elevator and complain about my weight or do I choose the stairs and grab a salad for lunch? I control what happens to me by the choices I make every day.18Have determination.Cant never could.

The only difference between Shaolin Monks and us is they commit the time and energy in this training. Where are you spending your time?

In 621 13 Monks rescued Prince Li Shimin from Gen. Wang. Li later became 1st Emperor of Tang Dynasty. (http://books.google.com/books?id=OdkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=shaolin+monks+rescue+a+prince&source=bl&ots=dSAqe21LOv&sig=rnannT_FHawi8af_L3aSBNwnWog&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BpBcUOC-JYyW8gTfyYGwAg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=shaolin%20monks%20rescue%20a%20prince&f=false)

Grandmaster Ku Yu Cheung 1894 1936 iron palm, Finger punching tree, iron sand training,

19Never, ever, ever quit!Marcus Luttrell

If you go through rough times you are better for it You do more with less. You are more collaborative, innovative and more willing to adapt. You are positioned to serve the people much better than if you had never been through the crucible.20The Barn Story

The attitude you bring to a job will shape how you experience it. I turned the work into a game. What Count am I on? How fast can I get 5 loads to the garden?Every shovel is one closer to done.Sweat is weakness leaving the body21Be entrepreneurialBe bold.

Find/create opportunities.

Take smart risks.

Be adaptive.

Be willing to fail sometimes.

Kaypro with dual 5 floppy drives (http://images.yourdictionary.com/floppy-disk)22Find solutions to problems Not Excuses.Fix problems before your asked.

Dont sit in the box.Stretch yourself.

Solutions

Rule # 5: Live The Process not the goal.

Be purposeful. Give 100% in every moment of your daily life and it will lead to your goals.25Rule #6: Enjoy Your Success In the Moment.

26Then Live the Process Every Day repeat.

Plan, work, collaborate, serve.27Rule #7: Every person is valuable to you.Everyone can help you be successful.

28Some Model The Way or NOT.

Find their gift and appreciate it.

30Rule #8: Its not about you. It IS about them.

Dont be Zaphod Beeblebrox or King Julienne.31Rule # 8"You don't get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the business in that hour".Mark HorstmanIts not that you grace work with your presence. Youre paid to make a difference.32Rule #8 During an InterviewKnow their business.

Demonstrate you understand their businesswant AND CAN help satisfy their customers.

Remember, its not about you

From: http://evilhrlady.org/2012/06/how-to-get-a-job-secrets-of-a-hiring-manager.html 33Company GoalsRule #8 During WorkYour professional goals = Employers goals.

Office GoalsPersonal GoalsTo have a mismatch is to court failure.34Rule # 9: Make work fun.

You spend 23.7% of your life at work. Shouldnt you enjoy it?35Rule #10: Everyone is your customer.At WorkPeers (Co-workers)Supervisor(s)Agency/DivisionCompanyBusiness PartnersThe Public

At HomeFamilyFriendsPeople you meet.

Rule #11: Measure success by the value you create for your customers.Value knowledgetechnical skills

Value = making their life better.Users37Success = Knowledge Technical Skills Positive Attitude Determination applied to help others.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam (Hannibal)Ill find a way or make one!

Have to define what it means for you.38Find fulfillment in serving others.Pay it forward.Make the world a better place.

Julio Jones, Barret Jones, Charles Barkley and Javier Arenas helping out in Disaster Relief.39Rule # 12: Its not about technology. Its about people.Face time is priceless.Texting/email face time

Be collaborative.Build allies not enemies.

Walk in your customers shoes.

Conflicts will occur, but you need to strive for the best outcome for all parties.40Have People SkillsI deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

Tom Smykowski: 41Rule #12Build your professional network.Extend beyond just office mates.Connect people together, not just through you.

Give back professionally.ContributeMentorRule #13: Your most powerful tool is Listening. Listen to be heard.

Listen to non-verbals.

Engage in a conversation not a lecture.Both sides need to gain something.

NOTE: Multi-tasking is a lie. Be In the moment.

http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/03/07/power-of-listening/

http://www.n2growth.com/blog/the-power-of-listening/ 43Rule #14: If you dont know it, be willing to learn it.Never stop learning.Technology changes adapt.

We learn not in the school, but in life.-- Seneca (5 BC 65 AD)

Kapro Mobile Computer (Dual 5 Floppy Drives)44Final ThoughtsWhat stage are you in?

StageMoodExampleTheme5Innocent WondermentIDEOLife is great!4Tribal PrideAppleWere great (and theyre not).3Lone WarriorDoctorsIm Great (and your not).2Apathetic VictimDMVMy life sucks.1Despairing HostilityPrisonLife SUCKS!From: Tribal Leadership, 2008 Final ThoughtsEverybody wants to be a success.Not everybody is willing to do what they have to do to achieve it.Nick Saban

Are you making the choices every day to reach your goals?Final ThoughtsNo single way.

Define your path.Vision and goals.

Live the processWork to your strengths.Recognize and control weaknesses.

Embrace Your Opportunity!

A GIS Professional

Remember the RulesRule # 1:Dont exist LIVE.Rule #2: Live the present that creates the future you wantRule #3: No one makes you anything.Rule #4: Build the right attitude.Be Passionate.Find solutions to problems not excuses.Have Determination.Never, ever, ever quit! Rule # 5: Live The Process not the goal.Rule #6: Enjoy Your Success In the Moment.Rule #7: Every person is valuable to you.Rule #8: Its not about you. It IS about them.Rule # 9: Make work fun.Rule #10: Everyone is your customer.Rule #11: Measure success by the value you create for your customers.Rule #12: Its not about technology. Its about people.Rule #13: Your most powerful tool is Listening.Rule #14: If you dont know it, be willing to learn it.Make the world a better place!Lets create the shared future we want to experience (and have fun doing it)!Thank You!Will HolmesWill.Holmes@KY.GovKY Transportation CabinetOffice of Information TechnologyReferenceshttp://blog.gisuser.com/2012/05/30/portable-skills-every-recent-college-graduate-all-of-us-should-have/

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Learn+Fundamental+Programming+Techniques+and+Design+Skills+that+are...-a0165966122

http://wiki.acm.org/cs2001/index.php?title=Programming_Fundamentals_%28PF%29

http://www.ajula.edu/Content/ContentUnit.asp?CID=1314&u=3590&t=0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

http://training.esri.com/certification/

http://www.manager-tools.com/

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/home/ 10 highly valued soft skills for IT pros http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-highly-valued-soft-skills-for-it-pros/3353?tag=nl.e101