Dolphin Encounter from Joe Vaughn on Vimeo.

Back in highschool, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do career wise. I was always good at history, science, and computers, but hadn’t found that one thing I absolutely loved doing. I knew that I loved computers, but wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. While still in highschool, at age 16, I actually studied on my own time to earn an A+ Certification….. which is a standard certification for those looking to be become a computer repairman.

After passing the two tests, I actually became more engaged in the computer field. I started learning more about networking, the internet, and building websites. At this time, I was certain that the IT industry was the career path for me…. until I got my first job. In 2000, I got a job at Sears selling electronics. It wasn’t until this time period did I realize how much I love working with people, overcoming objections, and learning to influence people’s decision making.

Now, I pretty much have my dream job. I work in sales for IZEA, a web based social media marketing company….. which means I get to deal with both IT and sales simultaneously.

Do you have a dream job? Have you ever considered IT Security? Right now, one of the most trendy (and lucrative) jobs in the IT landscape is ethical hacking. An ethical hacker is someone who is legally hired to break into various computer systems/networks to test their levels of security. The first step to becoming an ethical hacker is becoming certified. EC-Council offers various online classes that are both flexible and reasonably priced to help you achieve the certification in a timely manner.

Just think about how cool it would be to tell all your friends and family members that you are a real life hacker! If you are considering a career change and are interested in computers, this may be a good option for you.

I have wanted to get a puppy for a few months now, and finally pulled the trigger this weekend. I wanted a dog that was medium to large, didn’t shed a whole lot, and was not going to be overly hyperactive.

I had originally wanted a goldendoodle (half golden retriever half poodle), but thought they might be too hyper and high maintenance for me. After doing more research I thought a Bassett Hound would be the perfect dog since they are so lazy, however they shed a ton…. so definitely not a good fit.

After searching around a little bit I found the cutest dog that matched my criteria at a local rescue. She is half Shar Pei half Boxer and will grow to be around 45 pounds. The reason why I picked the dog is because Boxers are relatively mellow and Shar Pei’s don’t shed.

Her name is Liberty. I love my country very much so I thought it would be a fitting name

Here she is about five minutes after we decided to buy her:

Liberty, Shar Pei / Boxer Mix

Here she is playing around in my house shortly there after.

So far, I have had Liberty for two days and we have had three accidents inside the house. I try to take her outside often and reward her everytime she goes. She is only 11 weeks old, so I am sure she will get the hang of it soon. This is my first time raising a puppy on my own so I am really trying hard to do a good job. Is having puppy daddy anxiety normal?

When checking out some videos on YouTube I came across the below. This guy basically goes on a diatribe about how most business cards are crap and forgettable. The guy is pretty intense, but engaging at the same time. “Life isn’t about being well liked, it is about being effective.”

Luckily my cards are kinda unique, though they are normal sized:

Gourmet food for an awesome bday celebration:

Watching the Super Bowl the other day, I couldn’t help but to dream about what it would be like to run onto the field with millions of people watching. To know that you were about to participate in, what would probably be, the most important event of your lifetime. To exacerbate the pressure, the entire escapade to be captured by millions of roaring fans, both present and via the television.

After all of that, my thought process had a slight shift to my own life. When is my “Super Bowl”? At what point will my life/career climax? When it does…. will I have the foresight to even recognize it? Will it be as obvious as a football game? Will I only know upon reflection?

How will the choices and actions I take today impact the scale and scope of my big day?

I don’t really believe in destiny, karma, or luck. I think things happen to people based on the choices they make. Those who employ good judgment and hard work often bear the fruits of their labor. For me, it is as simple as cause and effect.

That said, I think everyone experiences that climactic moment in time. Some are bigger than others of course. Perhaps it’s the wedding day, the birth of a child, or the multi-million dollar IPO. Either way, I often catch myself dreaming about what my future holds. I know what I want out of life and where I want to be….. it’s the journey I am still trying to figure out.

Sorry for those 5 readers of you

So, I am clearly not very good at this blogging thing. I have totally been slacking off on all my web 2.0 stuff. I haven’t really been using twitter, reading my fav blogs, and especially not updating this site.

I am not sure why really. I have been busy at home doing other stuff, like working on the car and cutting the grass. Plus I bought annual tickets to a local waterpark, so I have been going there every weekend.

Not to mention my crazy travel schedule. Texas this week, Atlanta next week, then NC after that.

I hope to do better….but no promises.

Joe V

I just bought my first house about 6 months ago and I am absolutely loving home ownership. It’s just a very rewarding experience. I don’t intend on staying at my current place for more than five years, even though I just went through an extensive kitchen remodel.

I am the type of person that likes to change things up and try new things. For the next one, I think i am going to build a place instead of buy. But the place I want to build isn’t going to be a traditional home.

I have always wanted to just buy a 10,000 sqft pre-engineered warehouse, and call it home. I plan on sectioning off around 4,000 sqft with a removable wall…. kind of like what you see in big conference halls. This section would also have four big garage doors, two on the front and two on the back. This area would be dedicated for a garage / workshop.

I come from a family of machinists, so its pretty much a traditional that I have a machine shop in my house. My dads current house has a 1400 sqft garage where he keeps his mills, lathes, presses, etc.

I plan on owning my own business someday, so this will provide adequate space for this purpose.

The rest of the house will be dedicated to living space. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I am pretty sure i can come up with some cool ideas for such a wide open space. Of course, i will build interior walls for all of the bedrooms and bathrooms…. but I have some logistic issues like wiring, air conditioning, insulation, and dry wall that need be figured out.

I also need to come up with a plan to make the outside more appealing. Even though the place would be nice on the inside, i would rather the outside not look like an industrial park. Perhaps there is a way to use siding or some other material to give it a more residential look.

Sounds exciting… my own warehouse house…