my work travel EDC

There are two bits of tech that I make sure that's always in my work bag whether I'm running out to the coffee shop for a change of scenery or when I'm at traveling to the client site. This is beyond the standard cell phone, work laptop(s), and all that other stuff.

The first is a Belkin Power Strip + USB. I've added a short power cable because I've found that it always won't plug into the outlets in conference rooms. Conference rooms never have enough power outlets for laptops and cell phone chargers. The 2 2.1A USB ports are an added bonus so I don't need to carry the little USB chargers. There is a newer model that does 2.4 A USB ports.

Amazon Link - Power strip - $14.99
Amazon Link - Power adapter -  $16.99 for 10

Unless I need a personal laptop, I usually just travel with an iPad Mini with a keyboard. My last iPad Mini had a Logitech keyboard that only protected the screen but this time I opted for a Zagg one because this one would better protect the back and edges of the iPad. This iPad size is a better form factor for reading and handling e-mail. It's also great for watching content from whatever streaming service you have.  The keyboard is pretty good and responsive.

When this is combined with a dongle for Lightning -> HDMI, it makes watching movies in the hotel that much better.  The dongle is pricey, but trust me you'll thank me when you're otherwise stuck watching the content on a smaller screen or be stuck with the options at the hotel. It also does let you charge while using the dongle.

Amazon Link - Zagg Keyboard+ case  - $44.99
Amazon Link - Apple iPad 4 mini - $300
Amazon Link - Apple Lightning / HDMI dongle  $50

Other stuff I'm usually traveling with:

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st Generation) in a Timbuk2 case - Great battery life and screen quality. I've had it for ages and it's still  alive and kicking. 
• Anker or an Aukey powerbank - gotta keep those gadgets charged. 
• If my flight is 2+ hours, I usually travel with my Nura headphones. They've got great sound quality, isolation, and noise cancellation. 
• If it's a shorter flight, I usually just travel with my Anker bluetooth earbuds that I use in the gym too. 

living the best #consultantlife -a series

After spending 6+ months on the road traveling Monday - Thursday or Monday - Friday, I've been slowly tweaking my kit and how I do things to make things easier on the road.  So I'd like to share my tips and tricks, but I'd love to hear other people's.


I'll break it into the following topics:
1. Gear
2. Travel
3. Food and Drink
4. Fitness
5. Misc

On Moving from industry to consulting

As some of you know, I moved from industry to consulting within the security space just over a year ago. My focus has been and will continue to be Data Protection. Most of what I've done has been design and implementation but will move towards strategy. I'm also getting my feet wet with Security Analytics, hence the sudden interest in Splunk.

My experiences are different from most I've met in security consulting. It's been a refreshing change from me and I'm definitely not regretting it. In fact, I wish I'd done it sooner.

-Most folks I've met are road warriors that travel nearly 75 %. I'm between 25-50% tops.
-I'm working a ton less. I was averaging 50-60 before I left my last company. Now I'm at a pretty consistent 40 hour week. Huzzah for work-life balance.
-My last company had a pretty nuanced view towards remote work which is bonkers while at a global firm and having calls consistently with other corners of the globe. With a little planning, I'm able to work anywhere I've got an internet connection.
- I get to work on all kinds of projects and engagements so I'm developing more professionally. My last year and change at my last company I was in a rut where I wasn't growing.

#consultantlife