Defining Career Purpose

The Reality of Being a Chef: It’s Not What You Think Everyone loves the idea of being a chef. The adrenaline, the creativity, the pride of putting out beautiful food. Maybe you’ve watched a few cooking shows and thought, “I could do that.” But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: Being a chef isn’t glamorous. It’s not about fame, fancy plating, or name-dropping who you “worked under.” It’s about grind. Sacrifice. Repetition. Pain. It's a career that will take everything from you if you're not prepared. I work 75+ hour weeks regularly. In at 10 am, out after 11 pm. No weekends. No holidays. You miss birthdays, weddings, and family funerals. Relationships strain and break. Friendships fade. You start losing pieces of yourself, and most people outside the industry won’t understand why. Substance abuse is real in this world. Burnout is common. Mental health? Often ignored. You’re exhausted, overworked, and underpaid for years. And still, you show up, because the kitchen demands everything you’ve got. You’ll be tested. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. You’ll be screamed at, humbled, broken down—until you learn, or you quit. There’s no middle ground. If you want to be a chef, understand this: it’s not just a job. It’s not even just a career. It’s a life. One you have to choose every day, knowing what it costs. And if you're getting into this late in life, be brutally honest with yourself. Are you ready to give up your comfort, your schedule, and a big part of your personal life to pursue it? Still want it? Good. Because the people who survive this life—the ones who earn the title “Chef”—aren’t in it for the clout. They’re in it because it’s in their blood. Because they love the craft, the chaos, the challenge. Just know: this industry doesn’t owe you anything. But if you give it everything, it might just give you something back. Chef Timmins

Burnout in Life | It's Not WHAT You Do, But WHY You Do It Burnout is a growing epidemic in today's fast-paced, high-pressure work environments. Contrary to popular belief, burnout is not solely a result of the work itself, but rather a consequence of the reasons behind why we do what we do. By understanding the neuroscience behind burnout, we can develop strategies to prevent and overcome this debilitating condition. The Neuroscience of Burnout When we engage in work that aligns with our values and provides a sense of purpose, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitters that reinforce positive behaviors. However, when we feel disconnected from our work or perceive it as a means to an end, the brain releases cortisol, the stress hormone, which can lead to burnout over time. Studies show that individuals who find meaning and purpose in their work are less likely to experience burnout. When we feel that our work contributes to something greater than ourselves, we are more likely to persevere through challenges and maintain a positive outlook. By cultivating a sense of purpose, we can build resilience against burnout. Strategies for Preventing Burnout in career 1️⃣ Align your work with your values : Identify the aspects of your work that align with your core values and focus on those areas. If you enjoy supporting and helping others, spend somepart of your day mentoring others, supporting citizenship activities or contributing into ERG activities. 2️⃣ Set boundaries : Learn to say no to tasks that do not align with your priorities or exceed your capacity. Remember here too saying "No" is not an issue, how you say it, context and urgency of the situation will determine how "No" is perceived. 3️⃣ Practice self-care : Engage in activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit, such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones. Blocking your diary for afternoon lunch or ensuring meeting free hour for evening family dinner are some ways. I'm a morning person so my day at work starts with an #metime where I clear my overnight mails, plan the day, review the schedule for the day, before I actually start getting into day's whirlpool of activities. 4️⃣ Seek support : Reach out to colleagues, managers, or mental health professionals when you feel overwhelmed or disconnected from your work. I'm not very good at asking for help and knowing and accepting that helps me stay alert so i can pull the trigger and ask for help before getting completely overwhelmed. Path from stress to thriving is paved with self-care, resilience and a commitment to growth. Each step forward is an opportunity to shed the weight of worry and embrace the lightness of living fully. Remember, it's not what you do, but why you do it - Let this be your #humancompass guiding you to a stress-free and a thriving career. If you want to talk or discuss your career burn out, do drop me a message - we are all together in this.

you want to break into cybersecurity but where do you begin? it’s not as complicated as it seems. here’s the roadmap i wish someone gave me earlier: 1. start with security+ it won't get u the job. but it'll get u in the door. network+ is helpful too, but not required. after that? only specialize if you know what path you’re chasing: • cysa+, sc-200 for soc roles • ejpt, oscp for red team • cisa, cissp for grc or auditing don’t collect certs like pokémon. only get the ones hr recognizes. 2. learn hands-on this is where the real growth happens. platforms like tryhackme and hackthebox let u: • build real-world skills • practice attack/defense scenarios • train your brain through repetition 3. build stuff just don’t stop at “completing rooms.” apply what you’re learning. build a lab. break things. fix them. repeat. some ideas: • siem lab (splunk/elastic/wazuh) for soc roles • vulnerable machine walkthroughs for pentesting you don’t need expensive gear virtualbox + curiosity = a solid start. 4. write it down what you did, what broke, what worked. • start a blog. • post to LinkedIn. • push scripts to GitHub. learning in public = compounding returns. ur goal isn’t to look smart. it’s to be understood by hiring managers. 5. network like it’s a job because it is. most people get hired because someone vouched for them. message with interns, engineers. not just recruiters don’t wait till you need a favor to start conversations. 6. apply smart stop hitting “apply” and praying. start being strategic. • apply to ~150 jobs/month • tailor ur resume to each job • cut fluff—highlight only what matters • write cover letters (real ones u write, not ai slop) cybersecurity isn’t just ones and zeros. it’s about taking initiative, building experience, and making connections.

I used to think cybersecurity success meant collecting certifications. More SANS courses. More cloud certs. More technical skills. But here's what nobody tells you about the security career path: The challenges keep evolving. Master on prem incidents, then cloud security emerges. Learn cloud security, then zero trust appears. Perfect zero trust, then AI security shows up. This is how most security professionals burn out. They chase every new framework. They pursue every new technology. They try to know everything. I've seen countless talented professionals get stuck here. But what if there was a different approach? What if instead of chasing every security trend, you: Built deep expertise in what you love? Focused on business impact over technical depth? Developed leadership skills alongside security skills? I made this shift 6 years ago, and it transformed my entire security career. From stressed analyst to respected security leader. From technical expert to trusted advisor. From career confusion to clear direction. Try it. It works! PS - If you enjoy posts like this, checkout my cybersecurity newsletter for more insights - https://lnkd.in/gXDEmmJ6

The life of a chef is far from the glamorous image of fancy galas and Michelin stars. It's a world of early mornings, late nights, and relentless pressure. From meticulously inspecting deliveries to orchestrating the kitchen chaos during rush hours, a chef's day is a continuous juggling act of tasks and unwavering commitment. Starting well before the first customer arrives, chefs ensure the freshness and quality of ingredients that lay the foundation for their culinary masterpieces. The meticulous preparation, from chopping vegetables to perfecting sauces, is the backbone of a successful service – the behind-the-scenes heroes of the culinary world. As the rush hours loom, the kitchen buzzes with controlled chaos. Chefs lead their teams with precision, ensuring each dish meets their exacting standards. They are not just cooks; they are leaders, problem-solvers, and quality control experts, thriving in a fast-paced, high-energy environment. Apart from cooking, administrative duties like menu planning, cost analysis, and staff management consume a significant part of a chef's day. Handling everything from ordering supplies to liaising with vendors showcases the multifaceted nature of their role in ensuring a smoothly functioning kitchen. The long, irregular hours and physical demands are inherent in a chef's life, often leading to missed holidays and personal sacrifices. Despite these challenges, the rewards are immense. The joy of creating dishes that delight, the artistry of plating, and the strong bonds formed within the kitchen team make the journey worthwhile. For those driven by a passion for food and a strong work ethic, the life of a chef offers a unique blend of creativity, leadership, and the gratification of nourishing both the body and soul. It's a world where passion meets pressure, and the ultimate satisfaction lies in the smiles of contented diners.

People ask me from time to time, what’s it like to be a chef? That’s a complicated and deep answer, worthy of more than just the stock “it’s cool” answer. You work long, odd, hours, oftentimes you started with underwhelming pay and an overwhelming work load. Your environment is hot and filled with dangerous hazards such as razor-sharp knives, searing hot oil, and unpredictable personalities. The stress level during a busy service in an acclaimed restaurant/hotels can be off-the-charts, complete with angry cooks, frustrated servers, arrogant guests and a monstrously hectic environment. Being a real chef is very little like it appears on the Food Network, and even less than it looks like in a culinary school brochure. Being a chef, a real actual chef, is not for the faint of heart. It is for those with thick skin, laser-like focus, an unwavering work ethic, and a serious mind. It is often far less like being a rock star, and far more like being a factory worker. But if you ask most of us, we wouldn’t trade it for anything else. It’s in our blood, it consumes us, and putting out that next stunning plate is what drives us. The kitchen is our operating room, our court room, the knife our scalpel, the plate our artist’s palette, the presentation our architects blueprint, the foundation of flavor our all-consuming master work. Having worked in some of the finest kitchens in the country, luxurious hotels and with some of the influential chefs perhaps in the world, I can plainly tell you that being a chef is a truly unique experience. It is both maddening and intoxicating, both frustrating and soothing, both predictable and enigmatic, both hobby and career, both passion and pain, both love and hate, both rich and poor, both, both , both. That, ladies and gentleman, is the true answer of what it’s like to be a chef. It’s cool. It's great. It's fulfilling.

I'm seeing so much burnout all the time, especially among managers. According to Gallup, about half of managers report feeling burned out at work very often or always. It's a challenge to address, because the circumstances that led to the burnout--long hours, significant responsibilities, rapid change--aren't going away. One thing that can help, an article by Elspeth Kirkman suggests, is remembering why you do this work in the first place. Some advice on that: 1. Connect with others in your field In a study, weekly emails that encouraged 911 operators to reflect on the community they were a part of led to an 8-point drop in burnout and cut resignations in half. Do you have a community? One friend is in a Facebook group of women doctors; another has a monthly Zoom with fellow Dad economists. Look for (or build) a community of your own. 2. See your impact Adam Grant studied fundraising callers, and found they were demoralized by the frequent hang-ups and rejections. When he showed them a video of someone who'd benefitted from the funds they were collecting, their energy bounced back--and fundraising quadrupled. One way I remind myself of my impact is with a Props folder. Whenever I receive an email thanking me or telling me I did a great job on something, I drag it into the Props folder. Skimming through that folder gives a fantastic lift on hard days. 3. Remind yourself Nurses who wrote a short excerpt persuading others of the importance of their work increased their own productivity by 15% and their accuracy by 30%. In turns out that in persuading others, they persuaded themselves. Consider journaling about why you do your work or writing yourself a short mission statement, as a way to remember your larger purpose. The stress isn't going away, unfortunately. The steps we take to connect with the meaning of our work, though, can help. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e9dQzskn #burnout #selfcare

Burnout is not caused by long hours, Here's the reality: It's caused by a lack of control, purpose, and effectiveness. Burnout is like going on a hike with a pebble in my shoe I can't get it out. Think about it like this: ➟ Frustrations wear at you: Initially, the pebble or work problem is not a big deal but step after step it rubs at you until you can't take another step. ➟ It is persistent: Even if I rest, the problem will be there the moment I get back. ➟ A lack of autonomy: I can't solve the problem even when the solution is clear. ➟ A lack of support: If you had someone to lean on, you wouldn't step on the pebble as often. ➟ It feels Unfair: If I'm the only one with a pebble it will quickly create resentment. ➟ Purpose: If at the end of the hike, I will be reunited with my family, I have a reason for putting up with the discomfort, otherwise it is meaningless punishment. Chances are all of us will experience burnout at some point in our careers, it may be caused by persistent or systemic problems, or 1000 little ones that make the experience terrible. If you want to prevent your people from burning out: 1. Ask them what are the most frustrating aspects of work, and find ways to eliminate them. 2. Connect team members, so they feel like they have a support structure. 3. Give recognition to people for dealing with the frustrating aspects of work. 4. Make it fair. If you can, rotate responsibilities so that everyone understands what people are dealing with, this will also incentivize people to find solutions. 5. Give people autonomy to find solutions and take control of their work 6. Connect the work they are doing to what personally matters to them. Help them see the value. Burnout is everywhere, but by applying these ideas you and your teams can be far healthier and more effective. For more behavioral science insights and opportunities to connect, join the thousands of readers of my monthly Newsletter https://lnkd.in/dnKE4zFj