How do you stay motivated?

[Guest_imported]

I'm relatively new in the IT industry and still in my first year of learning about how to administer Linux servers. Its been about 8 months since I got into Linux, and I've definitely learned alot compared to what I used to know before I got started. However, my experiences with server admin continues to be rocky and stressful to this day. And many times, I find myself clueless in how to solve a problem, or perform a basic task. Or I do something that is theoretically supposed to work, but doesn't for some unknown reason. Sooooo frustrating. Thats when I am reminded how much I dont know and get overwhelmed and discouraged that Ill never get the hang of this stuff. I find it difficult to stay motivated to learn cuz it feels like it would take centuries to really get good at this. It doesn't seem like a light at the end of the tunnel even exists. Have any of you out there ever felt overwhelmed by all this stuff and gotten discouraged? And if you have, what kind of things did you tell yourself to stay motivated to keep learning and trekking ahead in this seemingly endless tunnel of IT?

 

[russellhancock]

Hi,
I have just started a job as a network admin on NT4, i am a web developer by knowledge so it was a jump in the deep end (i had never even looked at NT4 server before!!)

I always make sure that even if i have a hard day, where nothing works, thats windows for you, i take some time to relax, do what i enjoy and forget about the day i've had. I find a drink can help a lot!!!.

The easyest way to get discoraged is by worring about everything, OK you can't fix everything, not many people can, just give it time and enjoy it.

Well thats my thoughts anyway.

Russell

 

[garwain]

As another linux administrator I'd say is consider what other people have to go through.

if you are not the Emergency Response Personnel for the server you can be glad that you don't have to worry about getting home at 11:00pm just to be paged that the server is down and drive back to work ad spend the next 3 hours trying to find the problem.

Be glad that you arn't standing in an assembly line for 8 hours a day

Be glad you arn't just sitting at a desk doing data entry. (did that once... first day boring, 2nd day make a game to see how many records can be entered in a hour, then try to beat it. somewhat amusing for the next day or 2. 4th day fed up with it, quit)

If things are going poorly (can't get that program to compile, script to work, etc) thing of a worse case senario, like the power supply bursting into flames destroying the server and then finding out that the tape backups had not been written properly for the last month...

When you get depressed with how much there is to learn, take a minute to think of all the things that you HAVE learned, and think of how much trouble someone else would have with the problem if they didn't have that knowledge.

Another approch with linux is to consider everything a personal challange from Linux Torvalds, or the team that has worked on the distrobution of linux being used. Say to yourself "I will beat them at their own game".

an remember, there will never be nothing left to learn, and the rest of us have to struggle for the knowledge as well. Some day you will be the one who can laugh at others struggling through the same thing you went through.

 

[Kjonnnn]

When you have problems, write what the problem is. Then make that your goal. Im gonna learn how to fix so and so this time.

The most important thing is to remember to start "where YOU are." If something is confusing you, dont be afraid to go back to the basics, or to the point from where u DO understand.

When you start a new career or get thrown into IT, sometimes you miss the fundamentals and are always playn catchup.

 

[chiph]

And, it helps to have an outside interest to blow off some stress. Golf, mountain biking, full contact kickboxing. ;-)

Chip H.

 

[LesleyW]

When I have "bad" days, they are likely to be where I bust a gut to get something done, then it wasn't needed after all (can you tell I work for a big corporation?)... I just remind myself, "Well I still get paid anyway"

 

[mmorancbt]

Motivation is largely an internal trait. Part of it comes from having a big picture mentality. What I mean by that is, look at a current problem and view in light of what it will mean 5-10 years from now.

It is not to minimize its importance but to put it in perspective.

Also, I believe you have to find things that you have a passion for. Or develop a passion. I love I.T. but decided to move into writing. I am up every morning at 4:30, start writing at 4:45 and finish around 6:45-7:00.

It isn't something I need to force. In fact, I do it happily 7 days a week. It drives me in a positive way. I think people need to find that thing for them, or find out why nothing does that for them.

I have 4 kids and they believe I'm a tad geeky because they have heard me recite a poem by Wordsworth that I memorized in High-school. It is about having that passion throughout life or life not being worth it.

My heart leaps up when I behold;
A rainbow in the sky.
So was it when I was a lad;
So is it now I am a man;
so be it when I shall grow old, or let me die.
The child is the father of the man;
And I wish all my days could be
bound each to each in natural piety.

Which is why, to this day, when I see Yosemite Valley or Niagra Falls I am wowwed. If I lose that, what is the point.

That's all. Matthew Moran
The I.T. Career Builder's Toolkit

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[KenCunningham]

Always found Wordsworth a bit of a wuss myself, too much wandering lonely as a cloud for my liking. You could always go with the Dark Side:

http://bofh.ntk.net/Bastard.html

Have a good weekend folks ;-)

 

[garwain]

reading Dilbert (

http://www.dilbert.com)

and Userfriendly (

http://www.userfriendly.org)

can really help put your job in perspective.

 

[gurner]

being part of a Software Development/Database Consultancy with 1000s of customers with a Free and Priority support line and only hand full of tech guys and incompetant Sales e.t.c. staff.

We find that stocking up on large amounts of Coffee and bread (for toast) is the best thing to get through the day.

Then when you get home after a days blurrr!!! sleep til tommorrow

You find more and more these days the tech guy is not the geek slumped in front of his computer on a friday night, he is the one absolutly bladdered in the nightclub at 2am trying to forget the week.

"Life is one long In-tray" - Me

I get Dilbert emailed to me everyday (definatly works)

 

[cfalcone17]

I have the following posted on my cage wall:

Success
(probably inaccurately attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

I also have Tom Peters' "50 Ways to Get Lucky", but the content is too voluminous to post herein.
Anyway, good luck! Christopher *
We bring the mis-manage to MIS Management.

 

[BFOJ]

You might find some comfort in your Bible. See II Corinthians 1:3-5 and
II Corinthians 1:16-18.

 

[BaddaMoFo]

You've got to LOVE THE CHALLENGE!!! Life is about learning. What you know is old, what you don't know is exciting!! That's the great thing about information technology, not only is it progressive, but at blinding speeds.

My advice: ENJOY THE CHALLENGE!! You will constantly surprise yourself in meeting the challenges successfully. It's very rewarding, especially since the information you have gained is very useful and lucrative to your personal financial well-being. If you work at it long enough and hard enough... someday you too will be a BaddaMoFo!

 

[chiph]

Y'all might be interested in reading these articles, which ask: "Is it possible to have a lifetime career in IT?"

The original article:

http://editorial.careers.msn.com/articles/itlifetime/

Commentary on slashdot:

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/01/28/2144213&mode=thread&tid=126

Chip H.

 

[smittytech]

Sometimes it's hard to stay motivated, regardless of your own inner strength, especially when you're the last rung on the ladder.

 

[KenCunningham]

Don't you mean the first rung on the ladder? Although I guess it depends on which way up you're looking at the ladder! ;-)

Have a good weekend.

 

[Lozbinator]

sawnik, Yes, definitely feel this way. In fact, I have felt the same way for the last 6 months or so. I too, am trying to find ways to pick myself up, dust myself off, and carry on.

I find the love of my partner and family helpful, when I remember that it's ok to spill all the details out to them.

I also find my animals theraputic - how can a lick on the nose from my cat not make me smile?

I try to change my mindset, this might be working, too early to tell.

But one thing is true, those who have posted that you should try to find something else to enjoy are right - and maybe a drink does help - I'm not sure, I'm not brave enough to drink when I feel unsatisfied at the end of the day. I think the value of family and friends is definitely underrated.

I hope you start to feel better about your work soon. Try not to let it grow to affect your whole life - its just not worth it.

 

[packdragon]

How did a person with a degree in Hotel Management end up in IT? Well it happened and, though there are highly frustrating days, there are also highly rewarding days as well. I am constantly reminded that there is a lot I don't know, but I am getting better at finding the answers.

I once worked with a network administrator that my bosses considered to be the best they've ever had. He was efficient and seemed to know all the answers. Well in working with him I learned that he never knew all the answers. He was just effective at finding them. I went from being a discouraged IT onlooker to a useful and productive IT member. I have since taken the network admin's place and the bosses are happy with my work.

Staying motivated means recognizing that you are growing in your skills. It also means recognizing that there are more skills to be had, and questing for them. I find that participating in Tek-Tips is a great way to do both. I often encounter questions that I know the answer to. I happily provide an answer with the knowledge that there are plenty of people who know less than me. It makes me feel good. Then before my hat-size epands another user will often post an even better answer. It humbles me, but I also learn from it and grow as a result.

I don't know if my ramblings have a point here, but the bottom line is that I still look forward to a good day of solving network issues.

- Zoe, that's ZOH-EEE, get it right please
- Just a little ol' MCP at Solien Technology
-

http://www.solien.com

 

[Maxxos]

Think about it this way.

Bad days make good days even better.

 

[varocho]

Or think about it this way:

The good thing about a bad day is that it has to end.