James Barry

3 Things I Wish I Had Done Earlier For My Workspace

by | Apr 15, 2021 | Random Musings

Just over a year ago many people across the world suddenly found themselves working from home.

A few buckled in for the long haul. They set up their work from home offices planning to be there for a while.

Then… you have people like me. Who worked on a laptop at the kitchen table for longer than I’d like to admit.

6-months into the pandemic I realized that this wasn’t sustainable. It led me to take a few steps to improve my workspace.

Here are the three areas I wish I had upgraded earlier.

Technology

There are a lot of things that go into the technology you use each day, but here are the 5 main categories I think of:

The computer you are using.

This is arguably the most important piece of technology you have. It’s always been important to me, even pre-pandemic.

I’ve been using the same laptop for many years now. It’s a workhorse ThinkPad. Old reliable that is just sometimes a bit slower than I would like. I’ll probably continue using until it gives me a compelling enough reason not to (such as breaking or slowing to a crawl).

Monitor (or Monitors)

It took me 9-months to realize a monitor is important.

After a while, I realized that if I were going to continue staring at a screen for 10+ hours each day, I wanted a nice one that would not hurt my eyes.

I decided to get a 32-inch curved Samsung. It’s not cheap, but I absolutely love it and it’s large enough that I don’t need an additional monitor.

Webcam

It took me 6-months to realize a webcam is important.

This is one that I wish I had done WAY earlier. I actually believe that my low webcam quality (and lack of a front light) hurt me earlier one when I was interviewing.

Now I have a Razer Kiyo on top of my monitor. High quality and with a built in backlight, your face will always be lit up.

Mouse & Keyboard

I’ve been in love with a mechanical keyboard and nice mouse for a few years now, so this wasn’t new for me.

My Keyboard is the Razor Ornata Chroma Gaming Keyboard. While I don’t use it for any serious gaming, I do use it for a lot of serious typing! Plus the backlight makes the workspace just a bit more inviting.

My mouse is the Razor DeathAdder Elite. I actually had no say in this one because it was bought for me as a gift. However I love it. Definitely overkill for what I use it for, but having a matching keyboard and mouse is quite nice.

Audio Setup

It took me 6-months to realize an audio setup is important.

This is still one where I don’t think I have it figured it out. I got a pair of refurbished AirPod Pros and while they are definitely high quality, they aren’t as great as I thought they would be. A headset might be where my future takes me. (Or if I want to get REAL serious, a podcasting mic).

Your Background

It took me 12 months to figure out your background is important.

It’s amazing how much the background people see in video calls can play in people’s perception when they meet you.

I know it’s not possible for everyone (depending upon your work situation, where you live, or if you’re travelling), but for my main office, I wish I had tackled this sooner.

Mine now has multiple bookshelf’s in the back, pictures of my previous teams, and other general nick-nacks that I care about.

As an added benefit, the overall organization of my room and workspace has also dramatically improved.

The Desk & Chair

It took me 5 months to figure out a good chair is important… and 11 months to figure out a good desk is important.

This one also seems SO obvious… or at least it is to me in hindsight.

Getting a high quality chair that you actually enjoy sitting in for 8+ hours each day is lifechanging. It not only makes doing actual work more enjoyable, but it’s great for your back and long-term health / posture.

Add in a standing desk that you can raise up and down so you’re not sitting all day – Suddenly you’re in heaven! Work almost starts to become fun. If you want to go the extra mile here, you can also get a

What I’ve Learned About Consistency

by | Apr 8, 2021 | Time Allocation

When I originally started writing on this blog I had one goal: Publish 52 articles in one year.

Good News: I’m still on track to hit that goal

Bad News: This blog officially has no theme. This is ok though, it’s a personal blog after all.

When I committed to writing 52 articles at the beginning of this year, I did it for one reason: To prove to myself that I could stick with a project.

For most of my adult life I had bounced around from idea to idea, never gaining much traction. These ranged from different jobs, new ventures, the next hobby, and everything else in-between. I even managed to sneak in a road-trip across the U.S. in there (would highly recommend if you ever get the chance).

The one thing I had felt I was missing during this time-period though was consistent progress towards a goal.

To tackle this nagging feeling, I created this blog. What I have learned along the way is that the progress you can make when you set yourself to a clear schedule is amazing.

Where I Fell Short

I failed to pick a concise topic. Which is fine because, again, this is just a personal blog.

When I originally started writing though, I had grand plans for be something more.

It all started when I read the book: Atomic Habits. It’s a great read that can be summed up in one lesson: You’ll accomplish great things if you just focus on making 1% improvements every day.

The book itself started out as a self-improvement blog. After reading through many of the different articles I immediately wanted to do the same thing. (I know, not very original.) This led me to pick the most obvious topic: Self-Improvement.

Turns out there were only so many articles on self-improvement that I wanted to write about.

While I could have spent more time reading and researching new topics, my heart just wasn’t in it. I still love the topic of self-improvement, but just not enough to learn about it week in and week out.

Luckily for me (and maybe for you?), I didn’t set the goal of creating a self-help blog with 52 articles. I set a goal of publishing 52-articles about whatever topic I wanted to write about.

This has taught me one thing about goal setting. Goals should be concrete enough to keep you committed, but flexible enough to keep you growing. Pursuing a goal because you said you would is great, but only if there’s a greater purpose to the goal.

What it has helped me learn

This blog has taught me one thing: Consistency is so incredibly, freaking powerful.

Doing something on a set schedule (that you control) is both one of the easiest, and one of the hardest, things to do in the world. 

For a few of my articles, I was able to write them in under a few hours (such as this one). For others, the process would drag on and I’d find myself putting the finishing touches on them at 1:30 at night.

With each article published, I moved one step closer to my goal.

The biggest thing I gained though, was the confidence that I could accomplish audacious goals

Any goal can be within your grasp. You just need to chip away at it a little bit each day (or each week). During this journey, two major quotes resonated with me.

Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.

– Bill Gates

Rome wasn’t build in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.

You don’t have to do it all today. Just lay a brick.

– James Clear

The biggest difference for me was seeing firsthand with my eyes what I can do with consistency. Every time I look at the number of articles I have published, it is a point of pride.

Where will we be going from here?

To the Moon! 🚀💎👐 (Just kidding, however this pop culture reference will now be a permanent part of this blog).

I decided to tackle one of the most audacious goals I could: Learning to code.

There are so, so many reasons that I did not take this leap earlier in life. The three biggest ones are:

  1. It’s incredibly hard to learn
  2. The time commitment is mind-bogglingly large
  3. I thought I could get by in life without learning it.

The thing I’ve realized in recent months though, is that technology is going to continue to progress forward. Being able to understand and interact with it will continue to become more important than ever.

As I start on this new adventure, I know I’m taking another turn in life and my focus. Maybe in 3-months I’ll have moved onto something new. Honestly though, I hope not.

My Definitive Ranking of The 10 Best Beers

by | Apr 1, 2021 | Random Musings

#1: Sip of Sunshine – Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Why I Love This Beer: It’s flavorful while not being overbearing. A year round winner.

Sip of Sunshine is just that. It’s bottled up rays of sunshine that have been turned into beer for your enjoyment. Brewed out of Vermont, this is a beer for the ages that will never get old. That’s why it’s #1.

ABV: 8%

Ideal Use Cases: Skiing, Dinner Parties, Drinking in the Sun.

#2: Wrench – Industrial Arts Brewing

Why I Love This Beer: It’s a reliably delicious beer. Goes great with life.

Wrench is a beer brewed in one of the best states for craft beer: New York. It’s magical concoction made by power tools, for those who want to drink power tools. Coming in at a slightly lower ABV then Sip of Sunshine, it’s a perfect runner-up for one of the best IPAs known to man.

ABV: 7.1%

Ideal Use Cases: After work drinks, train rides, home projects.

#3: Lil Heaven – Two Roads Brewing

Why I Love This Beer: It’s delicious and it’s light. That’s a hard find.

Fun Fact: Two Roads is produced in a 100-year old iron factory. Back when the factory was optional, there was a small space in the back where workers would spend time with their sweethearts. This little area became known as “Little Heaven” and today, it has turned into a beer. A low ABV which is perfect for day drinking, night drinking, really any type of drinking.

ABV: 4%

Ideal Use Cases: Sports events (during and after), boat parties, and low-key nights.

#4: Guinness – Guinness & Co. (duh)

Why I Love This Beer: It’s everywhere, it’s a classic, and it’s delicious.

Guinness, one of the greatest beers known to man, has gotten a bad rap over the past decade. It looks dark, it looks like a heavy beer, but it’s NOT. It was designed for drinking of all types. Day drinking, afternoon drinking, and night drinking. Really just any type of event where you want something refreshing with a bit of history behind it.

ABV: 4.2%

Ideal Use Cases: Drinking at the bar, St. Patrick’s Day, impressing your irish friends.

#5: Jenny Lake Lager – Snake River Brewing

Why I Love This Beer: This is the best lager known to man.

When people think of a lager, they usually think of a Budweiser. While that’s a well brewed beer, Jenny Lake which is brewed out in Wyoming, is 100x better. It takes all the great things about a Lager, removes everything you hate about the beer, and turns it into a true winner.

ABV: 4.8%

Ideal Use Cases: Drinking in Wyoming, skiing, any other winter sports.

#6: Resin – Sixpoint

Why I Love This Beer: It’s perfect to start off a night. Max 1. Maybe 2.

Sixpoint is one of the greatest Brooklyn breweries. While they have many beers, one of their classics is the Resin. The term ‘Resin’ is part of what constitutes the hop and gives it its bitter flavor. This beer packs a punch both from a flavor perspective, as well as an alcohol perspective. Drink carefully.

ABV: 9.1%

Ideal Use Cases: 1st beer of the night.

#7: Space Dust – Elysian Brewing

Why I Love This Beer: It’s delicious and because it’s produced by Anheuser Busch, it can be found everywhere.

Elysian Brewing used to be a coveted craft brewery… until it was bought by Anheuser Busch. While the small batch craft spirit of Elysian has been swallowed up by its corporate overlords, the fantastic taste of their original recipes has remained. You’ll always be able to find it on the shelves, just look for the cute hop that’s spitting space dust out of its mouth.

ABV: 8.2%

Ideal Use Cases: Sports bars and drinking with friends.

#8: Rise – Whalers

Why I Love This Beer: It’s just hands down a perfectly brewed American Pale Ale. The best.

Whalers, the BEST Rhode Island brewery, has been built off the back of Whalers and for good reason. This beer is absolutely amazing. It’s a must have when you’re in Rhode Island, and pairs well with any nautical acitivites.

ABV: 6.5%

Ideal Use Cases: Drinking in Rhode Island and anything nautical related (whaling?).

#9: Delirium – Huyghe Brewery (Belgium)

Why I Love This Beer: It makes you see pink elephants.

Belgium has a deep history of producing amazing beers, and one of their best is Delirium. While it’s not easy on the wallet, it’s a beer that will make you feel like you’re sitting on the river in Europe without a care in the world. Beware, if you drink too much you will see pink elephants flying around.

ABV: 8.5%

Ideal Use Cases: Celebratory nights and drinking in Belgium.

#10: Pale Ale – Sierra Nevada

Why I Love This Beer: Still family owned. Still amazing.

Sierra Nevada was one of the very first craft beers created in America. Originally brewed in Chico, California, this beer broke limits and changed the taste buds of America. It’s 40+ year old recipe has stood the test of time and it can stand its own against the best beers out there.

ABV: 4%

Ideal Use Cases: Drinking with your parents and with your friends.

5 Things I’d Tell My 18 Year Old Self Today

by | Mar 25, 2021 | Mindset

1. Build something that’s uniquely yours.

It can be a skill, a business, a blog. It can be a social media following, a strong group of friends. It can even be a house (if you know how to build those).

Nothing is more rewarding in life than creating something that is entirely your own. It will take work, but you’ll be better off in the long run for it.

2. Run towards the hard things in life.

A surefire way to be successful is to work on what is hard. It may be doing the project at work that nobody else wants, it may be picking the major in college that requires extra work, or learning a new skill to stay relevant in your industry.

If it’s hard, you’ll have less competition. Life becomes a lot easier without competition.

3. Nobody knows anything for certain.

People will give you advice based on their own experiences (in fact, that’s what I’m doing now). Take all of it with a grain of salt. Do not ever listen to anybody who says “You’ll be successful if you follow this path”. Just because something worked for them does not mean that it will work for you.

Listen to those who teach you how to think, not those who tell you what to do.

4. Become multi-faceted.

For my entire life my sport was my identity. It was why I went to college and it was what I sunk my heart and soul into.

I’ll always remember during the final round of an interview when I was asked the question “So, do you do anything else besides sailing?”. I did not have an answer and I did not get the job.

You are the sum of many parts. Make all of those parts unique and make sure they count.

5. Everything you do is a tiny vote for who you are.

Life is the sum of the tiny decisions and actions we take every single day.

It’s easy to discount them in the short run, but over time they will begin to add up.

Whenever I add something to my schedule now I think “Is this helping you become the person you want to be?”.

Think You Have A Specific Learning Style? You Don’t

by | Mar 18, 2021 | Mindset

The idea of a “Learning Style” was a concept that rocketed to fame in the 1970s. It’s based on the basic idea that different people learn in different ways.

If you went through America’s education system, it’s likely that at a certain point you were tested on your learning style. This was a basic test that at the end would spit out three specific learning styles: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.

If you were a visual learner, you learn through charts & graphs, like to use images to explain concepts & ideas, and prefer graphics over words.

If you were an auditory learner, you learn best when the information is spoken out loud, prefer to attend lectures or participate in discussions, and process information by talking through things.

If you were a kinesthetic learner, you develop skills by taking a hands on approach and would recreate and practice new topics.

The one thing you didn’t learn though, is that none of the above is actually backed up by science. While people may have a personal preference on how they learn, there is zero evidence that links cognitive styles to specific neural systems. 

A 2009 study conclusively determined that even though people thought they learned in a certain way, this didn’t match up with how they actually learned. (i.e. people who were visual learners didn’t remember pictures better than other types of learners).

Don’t worry if you didn’t know this, 90% of teachers in a recent survey didn’t.

Now you might be saying, I’ve been a *insert your learning style here* learner my entire life! That is exactly what I thought before I wrote this article.

If you think you learn better through a specific style, that’s most likely due to confirmation bias (i.e. only accepting evidence that confirms your belief and ignoring all evidence that contradicts it). Once you look more closely at different skills you’ve learned, you’ll realize each was learned through a mix of styles. Based on what the skill was, one style usually dominated. Few examples:

  1. Pottery: If you’re learning how to make clay pots, visuals and instructions will only get you so far. You’re going to have to work with your hands.
  1. Language: If you want to speak a new language, the only way to know what proper pronunciation sounds like is by listening to somebody speak the language.
  1. Anatomy: If you’re studying the layout of the different bones in the human body, you’ll need to visualize it so a diagram is going to be your best friend.

Since specific groups of activities usually benefit from one style, your preference is not linked to your learning style, but to what you enjoy learning. I always thought I was a kinesthetic learner, but turns out I prefer learning skills that require a hands on approach such as woodworking, pottery, brewing, etc.

Whenever I try to learn a new skill, I now take an all encompassing approach. I’ll read articles online, listen to podcasts on the subject, and then put what I’ve learned into practice. At the end of the day we don’t all learn differently, we all learn different things. If you want to truly master a specific subject, profession, hobby, or skill, you need to incorporate every single type of learning style.