Why is a fork-lift truck driver not a geek?

I have always been interested in computers and technology. Even when it wasn’t very technologically advanced – it amazed me.

Like a lot of people of a certain age – we have seen the technological revolution unfold in front of our eyes and continue to be amazed at how it develops.

I was taught on a BBC Micro, I grew up playing with Basic on ZX Spectrums and Atari home consoles.

Early working environments took me into the world of Unix and DOS, mainframes and terminals.

Home took me into the world of PCs and working out how to fix a PlayStation and it all amazed me.

My career allowed me to develop my security skills into these new technologies and now I teach it and look after apprentices who are hopefully, being amazed every day – just like me.

If this resonates with you – we are all geeks – right!?

When I was in the military – I was very lucky to have a wife and family that kept me reasonably sane and grounded. We had friends ‘outside of the wire’ – which kept us in touch with the real world and we were very lucky to be involved in local organisations and most importantly, some great people from all walks of life. We did stuff that wasn’t just on a military base.

Some of our closest friends would not have guessed that I was actually in the military and some just saw it as some strange joke I was playing on them! Admittedly towards the end of my career I was seconded to a post out of uniform and sometimes had to remind myself that I was still ‘serving’! It also became very normal for military personnel not to advertise the fact that they were serving and this was very easy for me!

Don’t get me wrong. I met some fantastic people in the military and formed relationships and bonds with soldiers, sailors and airmen/women and I am very proud of what we did together and the stuff we got up to both in and out of work.

But I was lucky that I was able to maintain a healthy balance between military and civilian life and so the transition out of uniform for me was quite gentle and I am grateful for everybody who has helped me along the way.

However, I dislike being referred to as a squaddie! For one thing – I was in the RAF and in the rare event that we actually marched anywhere – we did so as a ‘flight’ not a squad. (It used to get me in trouble doing drill!) ‘Squaddie’ might be a term of endearment for some – but it irks me and I never refer to myself as a former squaddie and correct people if they do!

In my new career – I am referred to as a geek (and I have a thermal mug to prove it!) That’s because I like technology and work (albeit loosely) in the World of IT. It’s a term of endearment – right?

I am not so far up myself that I don’t use the word to refer to myself and others that I work with. And anyway, it is now trendy to be geeky! Call me a geek and I won’t take offence or correct you!

However, I am comfortable with the fact that I know that there is more to me than the outer geek!

Google the word ‘Geek’ and see what the first hits are:

I love how language changes over time – so now someone who is socially inept can be cool. It’s cool to be a geek.

I am still very blessed by the fact that I have a great family and set of friends who don’t work in IT or Cyber and although they show some signs of interest – they are not very geeky.

I am also very lucky in the fact that I have a LOT of hobbies and interests – ranging from Astronomy to Zoology! It drives my wife mad but means that when I shut down a screen at the end of the day – the geek shuts down and Phil emerges (kind of!).

So what’s my point?

Why isn’t a production line worker or a fork-lift truck driver called a geek? (not a Christmas cracker joke?)

Perhaps because when they leave work – they leave work and the tools of their trade are left behind also. Work is work and there is a life beyond it. They also probably don’t bore their mates to death in the pub talking about the latest conveyor belt technology or the new gear box flange control unit as reviewed in Fork-Lift Truck monthly. (Other Fork-Lift related magazines may be available).

Everything in life should be in balance. Work life balance, healthy eating, rest and exercise, sleep and awake, Ying and Yang, Ant and Dec – there has to be a balance.

Geek and not-geek. There has to be a balance.

Most people that work in the world of IT, Cybersecurity, Information Security and related areas – live for and love what they do. They might be IT Technicians, Cyber Security Engineers, Risk Analysts or Auditors. It doesn’t matter – because they all have skills and talents which set them apart. But so do fork-lift truck drivers.

One big problem however – is that it is very easy to bring your work home. All you need is a laptop and the Internet.

When I advise people on CV writing and going for interviews etc – one key piece of advice I advocate is that you need to have other attributes – like people skills and outside interests as well as the geeky stuff. Don’t just rely on your passion for technology to open the door.

Organisations want you to be good at what you do and be an asset to them but they also want you to be a person and focus on what is important outside of your geeky world. Unless they plan to lock you in a darkened room away from other human life forms – It’s a balance between geek and non-geek.

I recently saw a post on LinkedIn where a geek was boasting about his home ‘set-up’. He listed a whole heap of racked servers, screens, NAS, firewalls and stuff that he had in his house (I have no idea why!?) and proudly commented that it also included a single keyboard and ‘mouce’.

All the gear and still couldn’t do a spell check.

I wonder what he does for fun. Probably not a lot of balance in his life?

So my message is – by all means be a geek. That’s the easy part. But also be a person who is not seen as inept or some kind of circus freak.

In my opinion here is the key to success. Regularly do something for a hobby or for fun that doesn’t involve a screen and most importantly something that gives you a buzz when you are doing it or makes you proud when you have completed it.

Here are a couple of ideas (if you need them) to get you started.