Thanks for visiting my site. This site showcases my professional career in the IT and Security industry.
I have had a very diverse career with many different roles. Once I felt that I conquered a role (or the role conquered me 😉) I would seek out a new challenge. I enjoy being a leader, mentor, strategist, builder, collaborator, unconvential, and a learner.
I'm currently an Executive Consultant at IBM in the IBM Security Group. I specialize in Cloud and Infrastructure Security. Lately, focusing on Zero Trust, SASE, SSE, ZTNA and every other ZT marketing term you would like to use. Cloud security is becoming of greater focus with our clients and mine.
Thanks for the visit - Chris L Carson
Qualifications
Strategic Planning with Tactical Execution
Solutions Development and Execution
Rebuild IT Departments and Teams
Profilt and Revenue Growth
Leadership by Empowerment
Global Sales Management
Extremely High Bar with Fairness
Team Building and Leadership
Business Optimization
Account Management
Direct Selling
Relationship Building
Contract negotiations, LOA's, MOU's, MSA's, etc.
Impressive written and technical document skills
Team player, motivator, and outgoing personality
Great ability to figure out complex problems
Certifications
In 1999, I began to achieve industry certifications.
Throughout the many years of my experience I have achieved multiple career certifications and continue to achieve new ones. The IT industry changes by the hour so a dedication is necessary to stay on the bleeding edge. This requires many hours committed to reading, studying and testing for new certifications and technologies.
I currently don’t pursue technical industry certifications as I have focused on management and leadership.
I still read, study and engage in technical discussions, planning and bleeding edge technologies. My days on the keyboard have past, even though I still code and troubleshoot things. I guess my technical mind will never quit.
Below are some of the many IT certifications I have achieved.
Being a workaholic left many of my personal interests behind.
I was never one to take real vacations and when I took time off, it was not to relax and replenish.
It was to do some other interest that was typically like work e.g. going to a week long convention
where I walked the convention floor and met with people to make connections.
I also enjoyed doing things that were dangerous, serious, and high adrenaline which makes it difficult
to relax.
A time in late 2017 came were I started evaluating my priorities.
Thankfully, no major event happened to cause me to evaluate things.
I like to think I am very self-aware and knew at some point it would be too late.
Time waits for no one. So, in March of 2018 it was time to act.
My biological father whom I have never been on a vacation with asked for the last few years to take a trip
with him. At first, I was not interested and made excuses to not go (mostly I was too busy at work).
Then, he and I were planning a trip abruptly once I went on my sabbatical.
First on my list of things I needed to accomplish while on my sabbatical was traveling the world.
The trips were great and I have lots of memories I hope to never forget.
And because I am me, I always found ways to turn an average adventure into a worthy story.
One adventure involved an alley, basement, and a feeling I was going to lose a kidney.
Another involved what I am pretty sure was an “agency” “tailing” my father and I.
I will leave those stories for another time.
Besides the traveling, I had a host of other things I wanted to accomplish pertaining to old hobbies and interests.
I’m guessing most of us have things we did throughout life and when we grow older we think about doing them again.
A few of those things I did seriously for years prior to putting my career first.
I thought those things like billiards and golf would be the things that I would spend a lot of time doing on my sabbatical.
They weren’t; my deprioritizing them years ago was because they weren’t important and that part of my life was different.
Then some things that I really enjoyed years ago that I did not have on my list became the priority on my sabbatical
like cooking, woodworking and yard work. I’m guessing age plays a part in my interests (even though I’m not that old)
but I don’t consciously feel age played a role in those decisions.
My sabbatical is one of the greatest decisions I have made. Leaving a great company and compensation with no intention
of thinking about my career for a year was not a hard decision. The day I announced I was taking a sabbatical was so freeing
and empowering. I was fortunate to be able to take a year off to travel, relax, meditate, learn, listen, and become balanced
(even though I took a position in the middle of my sabbatical for a few months).
The lessons I learned or validated from my sabbatical are:
Do it before it is too late, we're not guaranteed tomorrow
It does not need to be well planned but make sure you are not financially
restrained so you are not worried about your livelihood while you are trying
to replenish the batteries
Your mind will guide you to what is important, try lots of things new and old
Expect your sabbatical to affect your relationships with the people
around you, both positively and negatively (it helped grow my relationship
with my wife)
Don't come back from the sabbatical before you are ready!!!
Follow your gut, I typically always follow my gut. But one time during my
sabbatical I didn't and it was not my best decision-making
Now that I am ready to end my sabbatical, I am energized to take on the next challenge
and chapter of my career. I feel more self-aware, compassionate, driven, knowledgeable,
and respectful thanks to this sabbatical.
Chris L Carson is an IT account executive with a deep technical and security background.
Chris has also been an author and technical editor on multiple IT books.
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
Chris is open and ready for his next challenge. He is looking forward to networking with
new and old contacts to determine the possibilities. Let’s GO!!!
Thanks for visiting my site. This site showcases my professional career in the IT and Security industry.