by Ian Felton | at MinneBar 10 | 10:15 – 11:05 in Challenge | View Schedule
The technologies we use are constantly changing. As consultants, the race to keep up doesn't end. However, other more important things don't change. Drawing on millennia-old lessons, this talk is an explication of Bushido-inspired aphorisms to remind us how to walk the IT career path gracefully.
This presentation is tailored for those interested in a career as a software consultant or those who already are. However, full-time employees can also find plenty of value in this series of "reminders." This presentation isn't about how to set up an S-Corp or which CPA to use. It’s about how to stay relevant and not lose yourself. It’s about a code of conduct to strive for that benefits you and those around you. It’s something to take with you on the path from someone who has taken a similar path.
Plus, I will be aided by my pet cat.
-- Photo credit, Ian Felton, Kunming, China
A consummate beginner, I have 20 years professional experience building PC's, administering systems and writing software while working on initiatives for NASA, Mayo Clinic, US Dept. of Defense, Thomson Reuters, Best Buy, US Bank and many, many more.
I started building PC's with my dad in 1990. At the same time I broke open a Turbo Power C book and compiler on a 286. From Pascal and ADA, I moved on to Perl, JavaScript, Java, PHP and C#.
In 2008, I founded a non-profit, Marching Mountains, to obtain musical instruments for struggling band programs.
I enjoy writing, philosophy, playing in a band, brewing root beer, world travel and nature photography. I'm also a student of Chinese culture, with an intermediate proficiency at speaking, reading and writing Chinese as well as a practitioner of several Chinese martial arts including: 太极拳， 八卦掌，and 形意拳
