260: Be Ready for the Next Big Tech and Stick to Your Plan with Broadus Palmer

Phil's guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Broadus Palmer. He is a Google Cloud Training Architect and Cloud Career Coach. Broadus is focused on helping individuals who are strongly committed to changing their lives by advancing or transitioning careers in the cloud industry.   He's an in-demand coach, specialising in hands-on coaching with the industry's hottest tools and skills along with motivation aimed at changing your mindset.   In this episode, Phil and Broadus Palmer discuss how to be ready for the next big thing, so your skills are always in demand. They talk about the importance of having a plan and sticking to it. As well as how to leverage what you are learning to help others, build a community and move your career forward.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (11.41) TOP CAREER TIP Sometimes success loves speed. At times, you will need to fast track your learning to take advantage of new opportunities. To push yourself to be ready.   If something new comes out and you think it is going to be hot, go for it. Learn all you can, when it takes off you will be ahead of the game and be in high demand. At this stage in the podcast, they also talk about how to improve your ability to see the whole picture and problem solve using the tech you already know.   (13.18) WORST CAREER MOMENT When Broadus wanted to switch to an IT career he was advised to secure cloud certifications and was told that if he did that he would easily get a job. He secured the AWS solutions architect, developer, and sysops associate certificates. Only to realize at his first job interview that it was not enough. He could not answer most of their questions.    It was pretty embarrassing and deflating. But, this did not stop him. In the podcast, he explains what he did to fix the problem.   (17.00) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Building his own business and creating his first few courses, which enabled him to start helping people to change their life.   (18.23) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that there is always something new means it is always possible to change direction, which enables you to find your purpose. You can create whatever you want in the IT industry, there are no limits.   (21.00) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The opportunity to change my life. What's the best career advice you received? – Learn it, Lab it, Cert it. What's the worst career advice you received? – Just getting certifications is not enough to get you an IT job. They are just the start; experience matters far more. What would you do if you started your career now? – Create content and share what you are learning from the very start. It is critical to building your brand. What are your current career objectives? – Building out his cloud coaching business and help at least a 1000 people take things to the next level. What's your number one non-technical skill? – His ability to connect with people and being able to create content that helps others. How do you keep your own career energized? – Broadus is a continual learner. It keeps things fresh and gives him new material to create courses about. What do you do away from technology? – Broadus enjoys spending time with his family creating new memories and making sure they know they are important to him.   (30.11) FINAL CAREER TIP Stick to your plan. Too many people jump from one thing to another. If you do that, you cannot capitalize on what you are learning and move forward.   BEST MOMENTS (11.21) – Broadus - "Success loves speed. When you see an opportunity to push yourself and accelerate your learning so you can take advantage of it." (12.27) – Broadus - "When new technology comes out if you think it will be hot, learn it immediately. Get ahead of the curve." (16.14) – Broadus - "Learn to look at the problem from an aerial view. It is a skill that will make you a valuable asset regardless of your role." (16.20) – Broadus - "Get out of your silo and look at the whole picture to understand exactly what a company is doing." (22.17) – Broadus - "Learn it, Lab it, Cert it." (25.27) – Broadus - "Create content, share and help others, to build a community and your brand fast." (30.16) – Broadus - "Stick to your plan. If you keep jumping around you will just be confused and not get anywhere."   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:     Phil is also reachable by email at [email protected] and via the podcast's website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – BROADUS PALMER Broadus Palmer s a Google Cloud Training Architect and Cloud Career Coach.  He is focused on helping individuals who are strongly committed to changing their lives by advancing or transitioning careers in the cloud industry.   Broadus is  an in-demand coach, specializing in hands-on coaching with the industry's hottest tools and skills along with motivation aimed at changing your mindset.   CONTACT THE GUEST – BROADUS PALMER Broadus Palmer can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/BPalmerLA LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/levelupwithbroadus Website: https://www.levelupwithbroadus.com/