I don’t mind admitting that I am by far the oldest member of my team at work and I also don’t mind admitting that I am far from being the wisest!
The knees are going, I now must wear +2 readers (even with my contact lenses in), turn the TV volume up and have a font so large on my mobile phone and Kindle that it is a constant source of amusement for my kids. Apparently, you can read it from Space.
All of this makes me different from the younger people I work with.
However, apparently the one thing that really sets me apart from a lot of the younger folk I know, is that I do not own a gaming console or play computer games. I know – shocking.
You work in IT and don’t have an Xbox? Freak. What do you do with your spare time?!
Well – here’s the thing.
I love computers, I love technology and I would probably love a gaming console. It would mean that I would be able to use my thumbs to play football better than I ever could and climb mountains and drive a racing car without my knee clicking or back giving out. But I also like going outside and doing stuff that doesn’t involve a screen.
My boss recently commented “Oh yeah, Phil – you like to be outside a lot don’t you!?” And it is true – but I like a lot of stuff and even though I am not particularly great at any of it – I have a wide range of things that keep me busy, rather than getting a high score on a screen.
I jokingly refer to my list of hobbies as ranging from astronomy to zoology (see my previous posts) and it’s true – I like birdwatching and wildlife and I also own a neat telescope that allows me to view the rings around Saturn. I play the guitar (badly), saxophone (even worse) and a whole range of instruments that you either strum or blow. I love reading and watching TV but I also like fresh air and doing nothing.
Why is any of this relevant to cybersecurity or IT in any way, shape or form?
Well – in my humble opinion, to be involved in IT, cybersecurity, information security or any other variation on a digital theme you have to be a little bit geeky (but that’s cool) – but you also have to be a person.
You must be able to relate to people – whether it be the users at work, your colleagues, peers, managers, customers or family members – being able to relate to them and communicate with them at any level is just as important as watching ones and zeros evolve on a screen.
It’s crucial to be able to work as a team with a diverse number of individuals all pulling in the same direction. And diversity is a key asset.
Different ages, different backgrounds, different experiences, different cultures, different skills and a different mindset. That makes a team great.
It also makes for a great analytical approach to working. These are key skills in any field of security. Especially at the operational, tactical and technical levels.
There are two things I love to do most in a classroom.
Firstly – I love telling stories and analogies about how things work and relate them to the knowledge and skills we are developing on the course. Most of the stuff I talk about comes from my own experiences or those of my friends and family. I can describe the OSI model by making a cup of tea, explain the Diffie Hellman process by using beermats and extol the virtues of a unified threat management gateway whilst spinning a yarn about my son’s toaster he had at uni. (Book on a course to find out how!)
The second thing I like to do is start a course off during the Induction Session with the questions:
“What do you do in your spare time that doesn’t involve a screen?”
Or
“What have you done in your life that you are particularly proud of?”
These questions result in a wide range of reactions from the course members and a lot of it depends on their ages.
As a general rule of thumb – older members will look quite smug and confident that they can answer whereas younger members will look shocked and worried to find something to say. But no one is left off the hook.
Invariably you can coax some great answers out of the class and increasingly I am being more impressed by the fantastic people who turn up with their diverse talents.
Some outstanding examples include – a national yo-yo champion who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent (and brought a yo-yo with him), a guide dog trainer, national sports players, ball-room dancer and a polar bear warden (from Greenland). And all of them also probably own a gaming console. But all of them had great stories to tell.
How did the yo-yo champion get on with his course? Well, he was a bit up and down.
It’s all about finding that happy balance between work, life and play. So, if you are an IT nerd, Cybersecurity geek or Infosec weirdo – use the weekend to put down your games controller and go outside and do something else with your thumbs.
You never know when you might be asked “what do you do that doesn’t involve a screen?!”
Game long and prosper.
