Every adventurer keeps a quest log. I do the same with my career. In games, the quest log is where you track the main storyline, side quests that build strength, and timed events that can’t be missed. Without it, progress becomes scattered, and it’s easy to lose track of what matters most. The same is true in work and life.
The quest log isn’t just a checklist. It’s a map of priorities. It gives structure to the journey and ensures energy is spent where it matters most.
Main Quests
At the top of my quest log are the main quests, the ones tied directly to the overarching storyline. These are the commitments that shape the arc of my career.
Right now, that includes completing my OSCP training, advancing further into offensive security, and building deeper expertise in cloud governance and AI-driven workflows. These quests represent the “main storyline” because they change my capabilities in ways that alter every future chapter.
For example, OSCP isn’t simply a certification. It’s a high-stakes dungeon crawl that demands persistence, creativity, and precision under pressure. The prize at the end isn’t just a badge, but proven skill in offensive security. That kind of quest redefines the adventurer who completes it.
Cloud governance is another main quest. The shift to cloud environments has redrawn the entire career map, and I want to master the terrain so I can guide others safely across it. AI-driven workflows, meanwhile, feel like unlocking a new class specialization: combining automation with resilience so systems can operate smarter and stronger.
Main quests like these are big, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. That’s why the quest log matters. By writing them down, I remind myself what the storyline really is and why each smaller task feeds into something bigger.
Side Quests
Side quests may not advance the main storyline directly, but they make the character stronger. In games, side quests are where you build XP, collect rare gear, and unlock unexpected abilities. The same is true in my career.
Writing posts like this one is a side quest. It sharpens my ability to translate complex systems into stories that resonate with others. Over time, this builds XP in communication and thought leadership.
Experimenting with automation is another side quest. What began as tinkering with small scripts has become a growing set of enchanted tools in my inventory. These experiments often feel like picking up odd trinkets from the road, yet many of them reveal hidden power later on.
Supporting peers is a side quest too. Answering questions, sharing strategies, or helping someone through a professional challenge may not be the headline of my storyline, but it builds alliances, earns trust, and strengthens the entire party.
In the end, side quests aren’t distractions. They are multipliers. They give me strength, resilience, and connections that prepare me for battles I haven’t even seen yet.
Timed Events
Every quest log has timed events. Miss them, and the opportunity disappears until some unknown future. In games, these might be seasonal festivals, world bosses, or limited-time challenges. In my career, they take the form of interviews, application deadlines, or short windows to join new projects.
I treat these with urgency. If I know a certification window is closing, or a role is open that aligns with my skills, I mark it as a priority in my log. These events may not always fit neatly into the long-term storyline, but they can shape the course of the adventure in dramatic ways.
For example, an interview is more than a timed event. It is a chance to step into a boss fight where preparation and timing matter just as much as skill. Missing that opportunity means waiting for the next cycle, and sometimes the map does not reveal when or if that cycle will return.
Timed events keep me focused. They remind me that not all quests can wait. Some must be tackled now, with full energy, because the clock is ticking.
Party Quests
No adventurer travels alone. Some quests are meant for the party, not the solo run. For me, these are collaborations with peers, mentors, and leaders who share the road.
A “party quest” might be joining forces on a project that demands multiple skill sets, like building a new cybersecurity framework under tight deadlines. It might also be mentorship, both giving and receiving. Just like in RPGs, where a mage brings arcane knowledge and a warrior brings strength, each member of the professional party contributes differently. Together, the group can overcome obstacles no one could tackle alone.
My quest log includes these collaborations as clearly as my solo goals. They are reminders that progress is not only about personal XP. It is also about strengthening the party and moving the whole campaign forward.
Keeping Focus
Every adventurer knows the quest log can fill up quickly. Too many open quests and you risk wandering without progress. That’s why I separate main quests from side quests, and I choose which ones to focus on first.
In many ways, my resume is the written version of my quest log. It records the quests I have cleared, but the active log I keep shows what I am preparing for next.
The quest log is not about doing everything at once. It is about making intentional choices, keeping track of progress, and recognizing when to pause or when to push.
Some quests wait in the background while others take the spotlight. A certification may be active, while an experiment in automation stays paused until there’s time to return. The key is that all quests are recorded. Nothing is lost, even if it is not active today.
The quest log also prevents burnout. In games, ignoring the log and wandering aimlessly can feel fun for a while, but eventually the adventurer loses sight of the goal. The same happens in careers. The log keeps the path clear and ensures effort flows toward what matters.
The Next Page
For me, the quest log is a living record of progress. It shows where I have been, where I am now, and where I am headed. Whether I am tackling a major certification, testing a new system, or chasing an opportunity that won’t come again, I can see the path laid out.
The log reminds me that progress is built quest by quest. Even when the storyline feels overwhelming, breaking it down into main quests, side quests, timed events, and party quests gives me clarity and momentum.
What about you? What’s in your quest log right now, and which quest are you focused on first? Every adventurer keeps a quest log; not to prove what they’ve done, but to remember who they’re becoming.
This piece first appeared on LinkedIn. If it resonated with you, join the discussion here.