[Cialug] a question

[Josh More]

This is going to come off of a bit harsh, but you're not going to find that mentor until you've put in a fair amount of work yourself.


Work options:

1) Find a nonprofit that needs some admin time.  (Check out volunteermatch.org)
2) Find a startup that allows you to do admin stuff at night and on the weekends.  (Talk to Mike at bizci.org)
3) Join an open source project.  (TroubleMaker can always use some work)
4) Start a blog, write up what you learn as you learn.
5) Pursue a degree.  Even an associates would help.  (DMACC, Hamilton, etc)  There are funding/loan options if money is an issue.
6) Pursue a certification.  RHCE is pretty much the only game in town for what you want.  TroubleMaker is a good option there.
7) Become active in user groups.  Give presentations.


Learning options:

I learn best from books... so here are some good ones:

1) RHCE Study Guide by Michael Jang
2) Time Management for System Administrators - O'Reilly
3) Don't Send a Resume - Jeffrey Fox
4) How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
5) What the CEO Wants You to Know - Ram Charan
6) Meditations - Marcus Aurelius



In the end though, if you're not working at least 20 to 40 hours a week on self improvement outside of work, you're not going to rise to the next level.  The more you put in, the faster you move.  Build a schedule.  Track your time.  You have to control yourself before you can controls systems.


-Josh More, CISSP, GIAC-GSLC, GIAC-GCIH, RHCE, NCLP
morej at alliancetechnologies.net<mailto:morej at alliancetechnologies.net>
515-245-7701
________________________________
From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [cialug-bounces at cialug.org] on behalf of chris [c.rheinherren at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 08:43
To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
Subject: Re: [Cialug] a question

I'm looking for that mentor.


On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 08:40, Matthew Steven <matthew at geniusweb.com<mailto:matthew at geniusweb.com>> wrote:
You'll also find more doors open more easily to you if you complete a
bachelor's degree, perhaps in information science but not necessarily.

The hard skills can all be earned on your own if you have the knack.

But the ability to communicate effectively and manage relationships with
people are what make the difference between a merely competent SA and an
excellent one, and going to college (or apprenticing with a truly
excellent mentor) can help get you there too.


>     On 8/23/2010 9:25 PM, chris wrote:
>      > I would like to be a linux/unix system admin. Some have said that is
>      > crazy but its where my passion seems to be taking me. And of course
>      > having the skills and pay that goes along with the title, in the
>     40k or
>      > higher ranges.
>
--
Matthew Steven
http://www.geniusweb.com/
(515) 999 0842
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