One of the things that I’ve heard from people, since I’ve started yammering on about the February cohort of Building Effective Security Architectures in response to the course requirements of 5-10 hours per week for 7 weeks, was a concern about how they would fit it in to their existing workload. And it’s a truly valid concern—that’s why I’m so adamant about making sure you can allocate the time required to succeed before I want you to register for the course.
Here’s the thing: if your company would send you on a training for a week, out of the office – and which is often regarded as a “work holiday” by some of your more envious colleagues – and you can pitch that successfully to your boss, your internal security customers or whomever else it takes to actually get your butt on a plane and in a seminar somewhere for a week…
…then my answer to those of you who’ve asked is: it’s the same—but different.
However, I do admit it’s a bit of a Catch-22, because if you have difficulty articulating the value proposition for a slightly lighter workload for 7 weeks, then you do really need the part of Module 2, and in particular, Lesson 9, which is all about identifying the value you provide to your customers.
But the catch is, of course, that if you can’t articulate the value proposition, then you won’t learn how to articulate the value proposition – of this, or anything else – as part of the course.
It reminds me a bit of that part in the Doctor Who episode Castrovalva when Peter Davidson had just regenerated, and Tegan and Nyssa are trying to figure out how to fly the TARDIS. Tegan comes up with the brilliant idea of looking for the “Index File” because that’s where you go to find all the things you want to know.
Which, unfortunately, devolves to melted lipstick and the classic line, “If we had an Index File, then we could look it up in the Index File, under Index File.”
Soo…if you’re interested in taking the course, and you know that it’s going to be a hit of 5-10 hours a week (including just a little bit over the weekends), then you need to ask yourself who, besides you, is going to benefit from it?
And then…how are they going to benefit from it? I mean, what is it you’re hoping to be able to accomplish after you attend the course?
Then there’s the whole, “But it’s only a week’s disruption if you went to a live course,” argument. And there’s some truth to that.
Because if you generally to a live course (or a conference) for a week, then yes, you’re only gone for a week, but it’s up to you to figure out how to “work around the edges” as part of your own, highly lauded “professional development” to figure out how to put all that great information you’ve learned to work on a practical basis when your feet hit the lobby of the office the week after.
Now, I’m not speaking for you—because I can’t. I’m not you.
However, I can relay what some other people have said about this kind of hamster-wheel…and that’s the general theme of…
“Yeah, I learned a lot. Haven’t managed to put a lick of it into practice though.”
Or maybe another one I’ve heard which goes, “Yeah, I’ve never used it. But it’ll look good on the CV.”
Back to the question in the subject of this email: who owns your calendar? I mean, who is actually accountable for the commitments you make regarding the work that you need to do?
I’m not sure about you, but I can say for me that there’s only one person ultimately in charge of my activity and behavior, and that’s me. I may choose to do what other people would like me to do, but that’s a choice I make.
I can always say no. And if you do it correctly, then you can do it without (generally) putting your job on the line.
Wisdom is being able to know the difference.
But if you’re struggling with creating the kinds of security architecture you believe you’re capable of creating, and you’ve been through training…or you’ve read books…or you’ve worked with “experts”…
…I can’t guarantee you that I’ll do any better.
Why?
Because, ultimately, it comes down to about 30% structure and 70% you. I’m pretty confident of the structure of the course—and it’s ability to make sure you put what you learn into immediate practice (and have the chance to ask me about how to apply it to other problems too).
But that 70%. That 70% is the wildcard, and that’s well outside the boundaries of my control.
As always, it’s a choice you need to make. If you choose to invest in your skill development – or you choose to get someone to invest in your skill development for their benefit – then time’s running out. At 11:59pm US/Eastern, 60% discount disappears for the February cohort—ne’er to return.
If you want in at the steep discount, now’s the time. Here’s the link: https://archistry.com/besa.
If it’s not for you, then that’s totally fine too. It’s like Smokey the Bear’s famous saying, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” And that’s by controlling your activity and behavior when you’re in the forest.
You’re in the driver’s seat, Coach. What’s it going to be?
Stay safe,
ast
—
Andrew S. Townley
Archistry Chief Executive
P.S. I can tell I’ve been writing a bit of code again over the last couple of days because I want to immediately edit this email using the ESC key and h, j, k and l to navigate around the text. Go figure… 😉
