Rick McElroy Recounts The Stories That No One Is Telling
By Selena Templeton, host of DiverseIT
Carbon Black security strategist Rick McElroy chats with ITSPmagazine’s Selena Templeton for An InfoSec Life about the industry-wide phenomenon that no one is talking about: defender fatigue – part 3.
In this third and final part of his interview, Rick offers a lot of advice, suggestions and resources for our listeners to help anyone out there get started on your own journey to help yourself and not let the InfoSec life kill you. Though the interview focuses on the InfoSec industry, this list of resources is valuable for anyone, whether or not you’re in the industry. We’ve also compiled this info into a handy downloadable infographic for you!
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to listen to all three episodes to Rick’s interview, in order, because it’s the story of his journey into his InfoSec career. This security strategist, leader, and former Marine shares his successes, failures, struggles and triumphs – and as he says, “It’s one of the most personal interviews I have ever done.”
You can also consider Rick a resource and reach out to him on Twitter (@InfoSecRick), find him on LinkedIn or email him at rmcelroy@carbonblack.com
If you have your own story about this topic you’d like to share, feel free to reach out to me at selena@itspmagazine.com.
Suggestions and Resources for a Healthy Work-Life Balance
PHYSICAL
Massage
Full night’s sleep
Physical therapy (acupuncture, chiropractic)
Exercise regularly (running, hiking, walking, surfing, etc. or even walk around the airport when waiting for a flight instead of sitting there)
Healthy eating
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL
Therapy
Take a mental health day when needed – physical illness is not the only reason you need to rest or recoup
Be self aware so that you know where your “mental sweet spot” and can recognize when you’re starting to sink
Meditate or at least take 20 minutes every day to get off the hamster wheel and do some reflecting
Ask yourself what you can control and what you can’t – and then change even just one thing in your life
Unplug from your personal electronics – it’s hard to be present with people who are focused on their electronics
Laugh more! Watch a funny movie or TV show, go see some stand-up comedy, get together with friends and play goofy board games.
Get your thoughts out of your head by journaling or writing an angry or hurt letter to someone (and then tear it up or burn it!)
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Foster good relationships with people you can really talk to, like your friends, spouse, colleagues
Invest in your personal development by taking a Tony Robbins workshop or attending The Landmark Forum
Let yourself off the hook for failing – and redefine “failure” as “learning”
Be okay with not knowing everything. Say the words “I don’t know” and get used to it!
Learn to recognize when to sit still and when to take action – like quitting a toxic job or relationship
BOOKS
The Mindbody Prescription by Dr. John E. Sarno – not dealing with your repressed feelings can manifest in physical pain
Strengths Finder by Tom Rath – an assessment to help people discover their top five talents (a.k.a. strengths)
Making a Life, Making a Living: Reclaiming Your Purpose and Passion in Business and in Life by Mark Albion – how to pursue your dreams in life, both financially and spiritually
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown – learning to discern what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins – a study that disproves the myth of the superhuman CEO and the cult of IT and shows how great companies triumph over time
Listen to Part 3 of the series
Did you miss Part 1 of this series? Don't worry, you can find it here.
Did you miss Part 2 of this series? Don't worry, you can find it here.
Be sure to read Rick's blog post called "Cybersecurity Ain’t Easy. Let’s Talk About It!" in which he discussed his own experience with defender fatigue – an industry-wide phenomenon that not a lot of people are talking about.
