Book Review: The War of Art

I just recently blew through The War of Art, an interesting and unique self help book from author Steven Pressfield about the creative process. I'd had it recommend by some people as well as seeing it come up based on my Amazon history, so since it was available for very cheap through the Kindle store, I figured I'd give it a try.

This was a very quick read with some good takeaways in it but the most intriguing part of the book is how it is written. It has several short points to make instead of drawn out chapters and takes a very deep, meta, philosophical view on being creative and committing to creating. It personifies things like "Resistance" and the "Muse" and preaches for a strong devotion to working to create each and every day. This strong devotion that he elaborates on in the book sort of takes on a viewpoint similar to how theories are explained, in a context of all other things being constant, which is hardly realistic but still allows for some helpful advice.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who struggles with creative blocks. While it sometimes lacks practical tips, it makes up for it by going into the psychological and philosophical elements of how we create, and why it can be such a struggle sometimes. The first big step in dealing with a problem can be awareness of it and understanding it. This book is a great place to start in terms of getting towards a more natural creative flow and acknowledging that we're all creative, no matter what we may think, we just need to focus, commit, and get to work refining our craft.

You can check out some more info about Steven Pressfield and The War of Art (as well as his other books) at his website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Michael Chavez

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Michael Chavez, On-Campus Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Kansas.

Here's what Michael had to say about his space:

"My love for Batman (and movies in general) has always been a part of who I am. I'll never forget the day I settled into my current office because I knew that I could deck it out in all the ways I always wanted.

I meet with a lot of students, almost every day. Each time a family or student comes in to my office, they always look to the poster of the Dark Knight or the Legos. That's an instant conversation starter and we could talk for a good 5-10 minutes just on those two things in my office. I always somehow work in a Marvel/DC movie reference into conversations with students and families and it always seems to break the ice quite a bit. It's memorable for them. I think it's also fascinating to see that their reactions when they see how much of a geek I am in regards to Batman."

What I really like about Michael's office is the big impact even just a small item can have. Something as small as a Lego figurine that someone notices and connects with creates a bond of shared interests that allows for a positive interaction to be had. I also love the Ghostbusters stuff and the Back to the Future Delorean Legos in Michael's office (I think I might have to get some of those toys for myself!). Hopefully this post inspires folks to put even a small bit of themselves into their offices so they can help bridge gaps with their students and colleagues.

Many thanks to Michael for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Trainwreck

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 romantic comedy Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader.

Written by Schumer (and directed by Judd Apatow), this movie was one on me and my partner's radar when it came out this summer, but we unfortunately never got around to seeing it in theaters. As it is now available to rent through iTunes, we decided to check it out together this weekend, and we were glad we did.

The story follows Amy as her character enjoys her life of at her magazine job she loves, free of inhibitions, and casually dating men until she meets the focus of a story she is writing, a sports doctor (Hader) who turns everything upside down for her. Supported by a mostly strong ensemble cast and some fun cameos, we go on the journey with Amy as she allows herself to be loved and find true happiness.

Hader and Schumer are really great in this movie. They both bring a lot of genuine emotions and laughs to the story. The comedy in the movie has the usual Apatow spin to it, which I enjoy, but I'm sure others might not or perhaps may have become tired of it. As is also usually the case with Apatow films, the heart in the movie is strong and I was really committed to the proceedings versus just waiting for the next bit. The comedy served the plot and the emotional beats were well done.

I haven't watched too much of Schumer's show on Comedy Central, so I don't know exactly how much of her comedic stylings translate over to this movie, but nevertheless, she is funny in Trainwreck and the movie would have obviously lived or died by her performance. I think this is going to be a great launching pad for whatever she wants to do next. I'm glad a movie like this exists and did so well at the box office. It just goes to show that we need way more female-led movies like this.

I definitely recommend you check out Trainwreak available right now to buy or rent on DVD, Blu-Ray, and your favorite on-demand video streaming service.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 11/13/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Firefox for iOS

I've been waiting for this app for a while now. It has been long overdue and I am a big Firefox fan (I've dabbled with Chrome and Safari, but always come back to Firefox). I just love their functionality and like to support their efforts to continue to have a free, open, Internet for all. I recommend you check it out if you're a Firefox fan like me. I downloaded it on my iPhone 6 and iPad mini and it works great on both so far!

• Nathan for You

The newest season of this show just premiered a little bit ago, and much like the show Drunk History that I talked about last week, it is unique and hilarious. It essentially spoofs shows like Bar Rescue and is very funny. The show is carried by the deadpan delivery of its host, Nathan Fielder. I've been catching episodes as they become available on Hulu, but they are well worth the wait. You can check out all of the past episodes right now on Hulu.

• Student Affairs Spectacular Podcast

Many of you probably know this already, but if you don't, I co-host and produce a weekly podcast for the Student Affairs Collective that is gearing up to finish it's second season in December. We've done (including the episodes yet to air) 90 episodes so far, which is amazing and we're planning for season 3 to premiere in January 2016. If you are a professional who works at a college or university, I recommend you check it out, since we have episodes on all sorts of great topics that can help you be more successful. I'm really proud of this effort and I appreciate all of your support with it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review: The Devil in the White City

The Devil in the White City is a historical narrative written by Erik Larson and published in 2004 that explores the true events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (otherwise known as the World's Columbian Exposition, in honor of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of the "New World"). The narrative delves into the planning and creation of the fair, as well as the evil deeds carried out by one man in the shadows of this magical global event.

I have to admit first off that I have been sitting on this book for a little while now. My partner gave it to me to read so we could share in the story together. I just took my time with it since there were some sort of slow parts to the narrative (more on that later).

The most compelling parts of this book (to me) are the parts that follow the dark realities of Chicago in the late 19th century, focusing mostly on the criminal behavior of one "Dr. H. H. Holmes", the alias of Herman Mudgett, one of the first documented serial killers in modern times. He was a counterfeiter, committed insurance fraud, theft, and murder. He also created a "castle" of sorts in Chicago to be able to commit many of his crimes and destroy any evidence. He was an awful human being but as is often the case, he is the most compelling and interesting part of the book since his character is just so fascinating.

The parts of the book that were far less interesting to me (even as a history major) were the long passages about the tedious planning of the fair. I found myself reading these parts just waiting to get to the next section involving Holmes. The fair planning parts definitely made the book hard to get through at times, but it really picks up towards the end, so I strongly encourage folks who pick up the book to keep with it.

With all that being said, there are a lot of fun little details that add context to the narrative. Both things that were of the time (the cereal Shredded Wheat was debuted at the fair) and the future (Walt Disney was said to be inspired by accounts of the fair). There are sad details and interesting ones as well that make it worthwhile to pay attention all the way through to all of the story arcs and vignettes that are told.

It is said truth is stranger than fiction, and this book supports that theory. Every detail packs so much more of an emotional punch since it all actually happened. While it wasn't strong all the way through, and I would have liked it to be a little bit more concise, it is a full story of the fair and what happened all around it, good and bad.

I recommend this book especially because a movie is in development now which I am very curious about.

You can pick up The Devil in the White City at any of your favorite book retailers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Kevin Forch

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Kevin Forch, Student Success Coach at Southeast Community College.

Here's what Kevin had to say about his space:

"Dustin,

Thank you so much for showcasing my work space on your site. I've been a fan of superheroes and comics since my elementary school days when a lot of my allowance went towards Spider-Man and all those mid 90's X-books (X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, X-Men Adventures, X-Force, Excalibur, Generation X...you get the idea). What I love most about these books is that (even now as an adult) they have been a great way to connect with friends by sharing books, discussing at length our thoughts about plots/cliffhangers/characters, and fiercely debating which of our favorite heroes were the best (Batman/Superman, Wolverine/Cyclops, Krypto/Lockhead).

I started acquiring a lot of the items on my desk relatively recently. Almost all of the items on my desk are gifts from friends scattered across the country. Another big contributor is my mom, who cannot control herself around the stocking stuffer aisle at Target (a lot of the smaller gifts have come with the explanation 'Your work desk doesn't have a Batman, right? I thought you needed a Batman.') (Mom, if you're reading this, you were absolutely right. Thank you!)

There are a couple key reasons I like having these figures at my desk: 1) They are awesome to look at. They're a good pick-me-up for times that I'm frustrated or lagging. 2) They make for a great icebreaker. Even for people who don't like comics, they can make for a starting point for conversation that helps to put a student at ease. Working in Retention and Student Success, I meet with a lot of students who are struggling in their classes or returning from a suspension. My office is not a place they probably envisioned themselves being when they started their academic journey. It's my hope that placing these items prominently on my desk gives a visual indication that this is a safe, relaxed place. If students are more at ease, we can easily work together to plan positive strategies for their academic success.

Additionally, working at a community college means that I work with a lot of adult students, first generation students, and other populations who may need extra support. Reading texts like 'Unequal Childhoods' and 'Educating by Design' allowed me to see how difficult it can be to get at-risk students the support they need, either due to not being aware of the services we provide or not being sure how & where to ask for help. By providing a safe/fun/at-ease environment, it's my hope that our office provides a welcoming space for students who want to get back on track and build their academic skills or find community resources that could help them.

So, that's why I have a giant Wolverine on my desk!"

What I really like about Kevin's office is his understanding of his student population as well as his emphasis on comfort. Serving adult learners and really college students in general often has us as student affairs professionals needing to make people feel less anxious and more willing to ask for help. Many people don't ask because of pride, some because of ignorance of what is available to them or perhaps where/who to go to. Kevin does what he can to compensate for this by simply helping people feel more comfortable with asking for help, which we all need sometimes. It makes me happy that some geeky toys on a desk can do this and how it also allows for Kevin to showcase some of his personality at the same time.

Many thanks to Kevin for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 11/06/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• 30 Day Photo Challenge

I was looking to do another 30 Day Challenge after showing the classic TEDx Talk about the concept to some students recently. I decided on sharing a new photo each day since I've been wanting to post more photos and it felt like something I could accomplish (and one that I hadn't done before). I'm hoping to take some time each day to reflect, observe, and share my life out with folks. Check out my Instagram to follow along!

• Drunk History

I love this show. I introduced my partner to most of the series when she was bedridden after her wisdom teeth got taken out. It is a brilliantly dumb show where comedians tell stories about true historical events while they're completely drunk (as the name of the show implies). It just came back for it's long overdue third season a few months ago, and it's been a nice change of pace from the other shows I watch week to week. You can watch the entire series on Hulu if you haven't already!

•  Star Wars Battlefront

So I've been waiting for this game for a very long time. I really enjoyed both the original Battlefront game and Battlefront II on the PS2 when they came out way back when. We finally have a new Battlefront game coming in the very near future, and I don't have a console to play it. Games like this one, the new Uncharted, Fallout 4, and others are making me consider getting back into gaming with either a PS4 or Xbox One (not sure which would be better for me). I haven't gamed regularly on a console in a long time, but I feel ready to get back into it. I may even want to get a Wii U to catch up on the Nintendo games I've missed since the GameCube (yeah, I know, it's been a while since I owned a Nintendo console or even a handheld).

Thanks for stopping by!

A Geek's Guide to Professionalism

* This post was originally featured on the Nerd for a Living blog.

Finding your professional voice, attitude, demeanor, and style can be difficult – especially when you want to be authentic to yourself. The conventional notions of professionalism often feel stifling, and may tend to turn a lot of nerdy people off. It doesn’t help matters that, if you’re just starting out with a new job search or career, you may have to invest in clothes you might not feel comfortable in – attempting to exist in a professional world that is foreign to you.

Even if you’re someone who has worked professionally for a long time, these things often aren’t talked about head-on. You have to try to figure it all out on your own. This can lead to frustrating results, such as not being well-integrated into a team because you don’t know the dress code expectations or communication preferences.

I hope to convey a few simple concepts that will help you be the proud geek (or nerd) you are while still being professional in your workplace.

Style

How people dress actually carries a good deal of impact in the workplace. It embodies the culture of the office, and (for better or worse) is how you make a first impression on people. How you dress reflects on your work priorities. It may be advisable to follow your colleagues’ lead, at least at first. Adapting your professional wardrobe to fit the general appearance of your peers can help you avoid attention for the wrong reasons.

You might like to showcase your geeky interests with your wardrobe, letting your nerd flag fly and expressing your personality. That’s awesome, but be careful not to go overboard, particularly in a new environment. Sometimes a subtle touch is best, with something like a lapel pin or necklace, or incorporation of an understated tie, socks, or tights into your outfit. Depending on your workplace, you may be able to get away with more casual clothing. Just make sure you look clean, presentable, and wear clothes which make you feel confident – it sends a message that you have put in the effort to look professional when you come into work.

As time goes and you’ve established your workplace persona and reputation, you can evolve your look and personal presentation to closer reflect your personality and taste.

Attitude & Demeanor

How you deal with people is a crucial part of your professional identity. Whether with customers or colleagues, you need to be able to speak to people in a respectful way that properly conveys your intended message. Some people may believe that being “authentic” means having “no filter”, but you can be yourself and still have the self-awareness of what you should and shouldn’t say to people.

Your nonverbal gestures add emphasis and nuance to what you do say. Be mindful of your posture, facial responses, and just generally behave positively towards other people. Remember to treat co-workers and patrons as you would like to be treated, and try to exhibit the enthusiasm you bring to your favorite geekdom to your interactions at your workplace.

Office Decoration

We end up spending a lot of time in our offices, and I love seeing how people decorate and personalize their working spaces. It’s important to me to have a comfortable space that can foster genuine connections with those who come in. I have a bunch of geeky stuff adorning my walls, and have had numerous people come by who see something they recognize. A moment of mutual adoration for that shared passion can help create connections that may later facilitate our working relationship. Rather than having to try to form connections with no context, we instantly know a bit about each other whenever someone comes into my office.

This seems like the most natural pathway for us to bring our geeky interests into our workplace in a professional way. Empty cubical walls and shelf space are a blank canvas for fun toys, posters, and trinkets that allow for authentic bonds to be created everyday. Most supervisors won’t have a problem with people bringing in some fun personal items to spruce up their workspaces, but if you don’t see anyone else with personal items in their workspaces, it may be wise to ask just in case.

Ultimately, while it may seem like a buzzkill for many geeks and nerds to exist in a “stiff” professional workplace, I submit that you can bring your genuine enthusiasm into your work in a positive way each day – and make a world of difference for you, your colleagues, and your customers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Hunger Games - Mockingjay, Part I

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2014 blockbuster, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I, starring Jennifer Lawrence and a stellar ensemble cast.

In anticipation of the final chapter of this film series coming out in a few weeks, I wanted to look back and review the most recent release (read my Catching Fire review too!) to get myself mentally prepared.

We pick up this movie right after Catching Fire and the plot focuses on Katniss (Lawrence) being strongly pushed into being the symbol for a growing revolution against the Capital. She has her reservations, partially being about not knowing how to be a rebel leader, and also not wanting to get the people she cares about (or anyone else for that matter) hurt or killed on her behalf. We see Katniss begin to warm to the idea as she realizes the true reach of the Capital's carnage.

We also see Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) become a weapon of the Capital's propoganda and he serves as their sort of antithesis to Katniss. An interesting part to this movie (since it is mostly slow moving) is the gradual tension, anticipation, and building up towards something more, as well as how much the importance of symbols is explored. People need something (or someone) to believe in, and a lot of times the images we use are very carefully crafted versus being genuine moments, and both sides in this story utilize artificial symbols to achieve their ends, further deepening the shades of grey for each.

While this movie isn't the best of the series, it is a solid movie which definitely is comparable to Deathly Hallows Part I in that it allows for some breathing room and plot development where if this was just one movie, it would feel rushed and/or shallow.

Make sure to catch up on the full story since you can find the other Hunger Games movies available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime right now (the original movie isn't on either service at the moment but you could just rent it from any video-on-demand provider). They're all great and it is a solid sci-fi universe to explore. I've only watched the movies and I enjoy it a lot.

Definitely check back here on the blog to get my thoughts on the final chapter, Mockingjay Part II, when it comes out in theaters on November 20.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 10/30/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Jessica Jones

I finally got the chance to rewatch Age of Ultron the other day, and alongside the recently released trailer for Jessica Jones on Netflix, my enthusiasm for the continued expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jessica Jones continues the awesome work previewed in Daredevil. I hope they connect the Netflix shows more to things like Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter. I'm also really eagerly anticipating Civil War in May 2016, which should connect all of these disparate entities. Hopefully we all get to see a trailer for Civil War here soon (maybe alongside Force Awakens?!).

• HigherEdJobs

As I said last week, I'm currently job searching for a possible mid-year transition, and I just have to give a big shoutout for the resource that's been helping me out big time (and helped me about for my previous search as well). Especially with their recent site refresh, it is the best tool to find jobs in higher education that I've found. I know jobs are posted on other job boards, but I've had great success with HigherEdJobs, so I highly recommend it to anyone else pursuing a job on a college campus.

• The Office (US)

This show is one of my favorite shows of all time. It's one that I have been into since it originally aired and kept up week to week. I've been in a phase recently of preferring to revisit my old favorites versus committing to a whole new series. I've been sharing some choice episodes with my partner since the entire series is available to stream on Netflix. If you've never watched it, definitely put it on your list. It's a modern classic!

Thanks for stopping by!