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The next project in my 50 projects in 50 days course

Carl Setzer
photo of people sitting near wooden table

Finished another one! Today’s project s titled “Random Choice Picker“. You enter choices in the text area, then press enter, and a random animation will change change colors. This one was a bit challenging, as I didn’t catch some of the automated choices that Visual Studio made for me. (I guess, properly, it’s the plug-ins that are out to get me, but I digress.)

A few weeks back I posted about some additional certificates that I applied for. Well, two of them are officially approved!

  • Database Theory & Design
  • Requirements Analysis

Still waiting for 5 others, but they’re coming, I’m sure. With that, I went ahead and did a few of the LinkedIn assessments:

  • Excel (top 15%)
  • PowerPoint (top 5%)
  • Outlook (top 30%)

I’m not sure if I’ll take any others. I’ll need to see if these really added any value.

Anyway, as I wrote last time, my current contract is quickly winding down. There is still talk about a possible extension, which would be nice considering all the layoffs in the news these past few days. However, I am not counting on anything until I have an offer in had. So, if you know of anyone looking for a business systems analyst, data analyst, web developer, or project manager/coordinator, please let me know!

Moving Forward

Carl Setzer
person using silver macbook pro

Today was busy. Did a few more modules in my Google Project Management Certificate, as well as two projects in my 50 Projects in 50 Days course. This on top of spending my morning as part of my church’s tech team (our crew that manages sound, media presentation, and live-streaming). Also, my wife and I zipped up to the Everett Farmer’s Market (one of our favorite things). And we managed to cram in a walk (thank goodness the smoke from the fires has been washed away).

Today’s projects included Event Key Code, where you can type a key and get the underlying code. Also, I got the “FAQ Collapse” project done. This one we click on the down arrow, which changes the background color and expands out the box to show the answer (to answer dad joke).

For Project Management, we dove a bit deeper into starting successful projects. This all-important phase is where many projects are made or broken. Mastering the tools to ensure projects are successfully completed is critical to my future, and probably yours, too.

As my current project wraps up at the end of the year, I’m starting to scope out my possible next steps. There is the potential that my role will continue, perhaps even become full-time. But there’s no guarantee! And I like to hedge my bets, as the adage goes. What do I want to do next? That’s a great question! Ideally, I’d do something within IT, though I’m keeping my pride in check. I’m still being actively recruited as an executive assistant, which is what most of my career has entailed. For a dying career, it’s interesting how much energy recruiters have funneled my way. Anyway, I’m exploring and please let me know if you come across any leads.

I hope your weekend met your expectations. And that you got some rest. Time to call it a night and get ready for another hard-charging week!

My next project in the 50 Projects in 50 Days course

Carl Setzer
ethnic father and kid relaxing in bedroom

Though I’m working on my Google Project Management certificate, I’m also continuing on with my 50 Projects in 50 Days Udemy course.

With today’s project, I got to fetch from an API. This API, perhaps dangerously perfect for me, is from the I Can Haz Dad Joke site. As I’m rather famous for Dad Jokes, this one seemed perfect.

So, I enjoyed diving into API calls deeper. This is something that I want to know better, so diving in deeper made me happy.

Here’s the link to the project, and here’s the link to my developer site. Let me know what you think.

I’m upping my Project Manager game

Carl Setzer2 Comments
people in a meeting

Project Management work has been part of every role I’ve done. Early on, while in the Navy, I tracked planned maintenance evolutions on my ships, coordinated with the different departments onboard as well as shore-based teams, and ensured supplies were on-hand in order to complete that work in a timely manner. Things expanded from here. Whether managing event logistics at AARP, Starbucks, or Microsoft, tracking budgets with the same orgs, negotiating time with key executives, project management has been a core skill of mine.

My studies over the past year have shown that I have solid skills and that I really enjoy PM work. So, I’ve started working on Google’s Project Management certification through Coursera. I want to up my game, and this seems like the best way to move forward.

Yet Another Project, 50 Projects in 50 Days

Carl Setzer

Today’s project we got to play with audio files. We used JavaScript to do the heavy lifting. The buttons, as well as the play action are done via JS.

Getting to explore JavaScript and coding more was a key desired function of this course, so I’m pleased with it.

Anyway, please check out the project. And take a look at my hand-coded web page. I am fond of them both.

Future Proofing Careers

Carl Setzer1 Comment
man in suit

A few days ago, this post came through my LinkedIn feed: “These Jobs Are Disappearing“. For me, the key thing are all the administrative roles declining (which has been the focus for a good deal of my career). Administrative assistant roles are expected to decline by 19.2% over the ten years from 2021 to 2031. Executive admin assistant roles are expected to drop by 20.2%!

What I find interesting in this: I’ve seen this coming for a while. However, right now, the trend SEEMS to be going the other way. I’m getting near daily recruiter calls for executive support and team admin roles.

This, though, is one key motivating factor for changing professions. As I love technology, these trends just drive me to cement my knowledge and work harder to transition.

Things like web development, project management, and systems analysis are key future-centric roles. My studies are my attempt to future-proof my career.

Today’s Project: Input Form Wave

Carl Setzer

In today’s project, I created some animated text for a faux login form. I really enjoy the effect of this one when you click on the input fields.

Though I am really tired (it’s been a long few weeks), I’m pleased that I was able to fit this project into my evening. I really want to become a better coder, and coding is the only way to get there.

I want to fit in some review of project management and systems analysis. I’m quite confident that these will be important parts of my career’s next steps.

Finished another code project

Carl Setzer

Today I completed the “Split Landing Page” project from my 50 Projects in 50 Days Udemy class. This one was pretty fun (yes, I’m a nerd).

Built a (mostly) CSS based animation effect onto the webpage. When you hover over half a page, it expands out to 75% of the page.

Check it out here. And you can check out all my web dev work on my developer page.

Focus and Choice

Carl Setzer2 Comments

I think the greatest challenge for people with any greater than zero amount of ambition is choosing what not to learn. For me, there are so many things I want to learn. About three lifetimes worth. Finding focus is hard. Focus means saying no to other, often great, opportunities. My goodness, that’s hard.

Insights On Blogging Insights

Carl Setzer2 Comments
blog icon information internet

Fandango, a blogger I’ve been following for a bit, posted a reply to Salted Caramel’s blogging insights prompt from Monday of last week.

As I’ve been blogging since 2005, both personally and professionally, I think I have something to add. Let’s explore, shall we?

First, let’s look at Salted Caramel’s caveats.

  1. It is also fine for your “quaint passions” to change over time.
  2. This quote applies only to personal/hobby blogging

For point 1, I actually think they should change over time. Especially for a personal blog, you want to show your evolution. Changing interests point to explorations and make for a more interesting read over time.

Point 2: I agree somewhat. Depends, ultimately, on the professional blog’s focus. If it’s for a company, sure. But if you’re a sole proprietor (say, freelancer, or real estate agent) there’s value in having a broader sampling into the person you are. My professional blogging was, mostly, focused on real estate. Real estate industry centered blogs can get…boring. I find it valuable to write about the bigger you, and the bigger community around you.

  • Why do you live where you do?
  • What do you love about it?
  • What are the challenges?

So, more than just “housing starts are up, prices are, too…”. In these cases, the client is hiring you. Why should they be interested in you?

Anyway, that’s my fast two-cents. What do you think?