Wisdom Requires Focus

We swam in data (lakes). Gathered information like we would morel mushrooms if we knew where to find them.? And we built the models of knowledge.

The series thus far can be found here:

??Data: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/dikiw-start-data-heather-noggle-u4tec/

??Information: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/411-heather-noggle-onocc/

??Knowledge: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/what-do-you-know-heather-noggle-0aovc/

For today’s edition, we talk about focus coupled with wisdom, as wisdom requires that focus. Analyze gained knowledge and determine how, where, when, why, and with whom to apply it for impact.

Use your knowledge and make good judgment. The first is whether to put the “e” in judgment. (Both are right). I learned this from The Universal Judgment, which is great thinking music, this version courtesy of the US Marine Band - https://open.spotify.com/track/1Xz2urVV78fqURwhA4gkBl?si=e1fe48c1a45a49de

I digress.?

Gaining wisdom requires relating knowledge and building strategy.? I don’t think you reach wisdom without insight – or context – applied to the knowledge you gain from your data->information journey. For that reason, I like to add insight into the DIKW pyramid – data, information, knowledge, INSIGHT, wisdom.

Insight is the level that helps narrow into focus how to use the knowledge to find wisdom and build strategy and excellence…and then maintain them. Context.

There are a few suggestions to take with you on this journey to wisdom - a quick list.

?Don’t apply gained wisdom in a broad manner outside the domain in which you derived it without a series of thorough tests and boundaries. It might not extend.

Some software development conceptual books seriously stand the test of time.? I mentioned Martin Fowler’s Patterns of Enterprise Architecture a few weeks ago – (you can find it on Amazon). Cybersecurity principles don’t change much either, but execution and protection and scenarios can change DAILY.

Yes, in software we’ve switched from mainframe to client/server to web and then into modern languages and architecture and DevOps and I’ll quit now so non-technical people can follow…but it doesn’t change as fast, so that’s my example.

?Keep at it; don’t quit too early.? There are few lightbulb or Eureka bathtub moments that don’t require permutations to be called solutions. The beginning of wisdom is the catalyst moment when you think you find the path, not the final answer. ??????

?Also on the topic of keep - keep a record of insights.? Sometimes those moments of great insight that lead to wisdom flit away from us because we find them at inopportune times.? Record your insights and revisit them.? The subconscious applies all sorts of lenses to the things we learn and then know long term. ?Voice memos are good.? A notebook works.? Carve those bathtub, er, shower thoughts into soap if you have to.

?Share proven wisdom with your stakeholders.? Wisdom is only helpful when it’s applied.? Doesn’t do much stuck in your head or in a journal. Yes, this can be difficult – putting new ideas out for scrutiny and criticism.

?Go back to the data and continue in the process and journey about related, adjacent quests and questions. Wisdom seeks more wisdom.

How do you define wisdom and know when you glean it?? Any different or additional advice for the process to seek it?

P.S. A server room is a poor location for a bathtub.? It’s probably a poor location for a cat, too.

PSSST! It’s Skills and Experience. (Cybersecurity)

And certs help, too. If you’re working to build cybersecurity education opportunities for others, please don’t limit your focus to K-12 and colleges. Your earliest and best workforce success goals can target the self-taught curious learners and the community colleges.

Here’s my wisdom to share. But, first, a few caveats.

I love college.? I scrabbled together scholarships to go almost free, and I enjoyed the entire experience.? If I were independently wealthy, I’d have a bunch of degrees.? College is great.

But you don’t need cybersecurity tightly coupled with four-year universities as the best and only path.

So set universities aside a moment.

Walk with me into Ozarks Technical Community College as an example.? I taught there for a semester – A+ Core 2, the software side.? The IT and cybersecurity paths at the two-year college converge for some classes, and this is one of them.

If you opt for the cybersecurity route for the Associate’s degree, you might graduate with A+, Linux+, and Security+ certifications.? Some may also add Network+, but I don’t know if that’s part of the curriculum. In two years, you can start with zero experience and may not even know what a command line is and does. It’s not a boot camp – it’s practical and workforce relevant.

Then meld that in with the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence , and we can reinforce those skills and help connect the skill dots into operational knowledge and growth. Build additional writing and presenting skill.? Add elements of penetration testing, cybersecurity assessments, and work in an actual SOC.

That’s a powerhouse of training, and it can happen concurrently.? OTC students earn their security plus early in that cybersecurity program. It’s natural.

Select self-taught individuals can join us too. Bring skills, aptitude, and a serious quest mindset.

Back to universities.? Again – I love them. I worked for 美国密苏里大学哥伦比亚分校 when I was in grad school, only leaving because my future husband lived in St. Louis, and we got serious.

We fit there, too!? A Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree is usually a good option for everyone in the field – when the time is right for the person.

So, if you’re a university or non-profit looking to build a program like Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, please incorporate the community colleges, and you’ll fill your ranks early.

Community colleges and universities, keep those relationships between you strong in this field, too.

Write On

My sons learned to diagram sentences in the 6th grade.? It’s an older way of teaching grammar, and the creative sorts among us…well, we hate it.

For the engineering minded, though, it’s a way to make grammar and sentence structure seem more like math.

Not familiar or only vaguely knowledgeable, here’s a good guide. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/sentence-diagramming/

Write well.? Write often, and learn the rules of writing engagement in a way that works for YOU.

Writing’s a skill, and it can be mastered.

Keeping Up (with) Appearances

Some writing here and some upcoming podcasts, one conference appearance.

Articles

??Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Consequences – the Small Business Edition - https://elnion.com/2024/09/09/cybersecurity-threats-vulnerabilities-and-consequences-the-small-business-edition/

??The Technology Hype Trap - https://elnion.com/2024/09/17/the-technology-hype-trap/

Podcasts

I have a couple of podcast appearances scheduled, so stay tuned!

Conference

Will I see you at CornCon?? I’m speaking at high noon on Saturday, October 5th at CornCon. Topic: I Think We’re Swimming (They Told Me It’d Be Crawl, Walk, Run)

It’s the story of the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

Full Agenda here: https://corncon.net/2024/CCCX.Full.Agenda.pdf

The End of the Line

The byline stops here. If you’re new here…

Heather Noggle is the Interim Executive Director for the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. After 25 years of working in software development, she transitioned to cybersecurity because security is how we enable business in the third decade of the 21st century.

Small business cybersecurity is her passion – training, tips and tricks, and reframing cyber hygiene activities as fighting back. Training the next generation of cyber practitioners requires this mindset. Testing limits of Generative AI is a new interest as well.

Heather offers more than 30 years of expertise built from experience as early as Commodore 64 tinkering; software development, requirements, and project management; human resources; extensive writing; HR; cybersecurity; and so much music. She effortlessly connects all of these things together with engaging and humorous storytelling with analogies and AI pictures of black cats. She's passionate about what we people can do to protect ourselves and the information we seek to hold private.

?Heather currently serves as Vice Chair of the Springfield Tech Council and also volunteers with the board of Redeemer Lutheran Church.

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I still do some consulting and am happy to talk with you about it – find more information about me at https://www.codistac.com (business) and https://www.heathernoggle.com (speaking and writing information).

Let's talk!