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Accelerating Your IT Career: Lessons from Blake Johnson (Part 1)
As technology professionals, we’re always looking for ways to improve our skills and advance our careers. But sometimes it can be tough to know where to start or how to take that next step. That’s why we’re excited to share some insights from Blake Johnson, a fitness enthusiast who has applied his passion for health and wellness to his IT career.
In this two-part episode of the Nerd Journey Podcast, we sit down with Blake to discuss his education, early career, and how he became obsessed with fitness. We also dive into some incremental ways to become more fit, both physically and mentally.
Blake’s Education and Early Career
Blake’s interest in technology started at a young age. He recounts how he would spend hours tinkering with his computer, trying to figure out how it worked. This curiosity eventually led him to pursue a degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin.
After graduating, Blake landed a job at a large enterprise company, where he worked as a software engineer for several years. However, he quickly realized that his true passion lay in helping others achieve their goals, rather than just writing code. This led him to transition into a pre-sales technical engineering role, where he could use his technical expertise to help customers find the best solutions for their needs.
Becoming Obsessed with Fitness
Blake’s journey towards becoming obsessed with fitness began when he was in college. He had always been interested in working out, but it wasn’t until he started studying computer science that he became really passionate about it. Blake recounts how he would spend hours in the gym every day, experimenting with different workout routines and diets to see what worked best for him.
As he delved deeper into the world of fitness, Blake discovered that there were many parallels between his fitness journey and his IT career. Both required a deep understanding of how systems worked, as well as the ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve. This realization helped him connect the dots between his two passions and see how they could complement each other.
Incremental Ways to Become More Fit
So, how can you apply Blake’s approach to your own IT career? Here are a few incremental ways to become more fit, both physically and mentally:
1. Start small: Don’t try to overhaul your entire lifestyle at once. Instead, start with small changes that you can maintain over time. For example, if you’re looking to improve your physical fitness, start by going for a short walk or doing a few push-ups each day.
2. Focus on progress, not perfection: It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that we need to be perfect in order to succeed. However, this mindset can actually hold us back and prevent us from taking action. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on making progress towards your goals.
3. Find a support system: Having a supportive community around you can make all the difference in achieving your fitness goals. This could be a group of friends who share your passion for fitness, or it could be a professional mentor who can offer guidance and support.
4. Embrace failure: No one is perfect, and we’re all going to fail at some point or another. Instead of letting failure hold you back, embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Use each setback as a chance to refine your approach and come back stronger than before.
5. Keep learning: Finally, never stop learning. Whether it’s reading books on fitness and nutrition or attending conferences and workshops to improve your IT skills, there is always room for growth and improvement. By continuing to educate yourself, you can stay ahead of the curve and achieve greater success in both your personal and professional life.
Stay tuned for part 2 of our conversation with Blake Johnson, where we’ll dive deeper into his fitness journey and how he’s applied his passion for health and wellness to his IT career. In the meantime, what are some ways you can apply these incremental steps to become more fit in your own life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!