Preparing for the Next Career Dungeon
Before a dungeon, every adventurer checks their gear. I do the same with my career inventory check.
No one walks into a boss fight without making sure their sword is sharp, their armor is repaired, and their potions are stocked. Yet in our professional lives, it is surprisingly easy to skip this step. The pace of work and the pressure to keep moving forward often push us into action before we pause to ask a critical question: What am I carrying into this next chapter?
For me, the inventory check is not just a metaphor. It is a deliberate practice. I take time to pull everything out of the bag and lay it on the table. Skills, tools, experiences, and even the less tangible items like reputation, relationships, and mindset all come under review. Which ones are still sharp? Which have become dented or outdated? Which need polishing, repair, or replacement? And what new items do I need to seek out before I step into the next encounter? The same way a cybersecurity framework maps risk and control, my inventory check maps growth and alignment.
The Gear I Wield
In the RPG world, every adventurer knows the importance of weapons. For me, these are the core technical and leadership skills I have honed over years in cybersecurity and IT. I know the weight of these tools in my hand. I know how they perform under pressure. Frameworks such as NIST and HIPAA serve as my swords and shields. Threat modeling and vulnerability management are my well-balanced daggers. Leading cybersecurity operations and teams is my battle axe, heavy and tested in the thick of real encounters. Strategic risk assessments are my spear, able to reach across the battlefield. Security architecture, cloud security, and governance are my heavy armor, built to withstand the most punishing blows. My CISSP certification is a crafted emblem, a mark of my mastery. These are not shiny artifacts picked up for display. They are the weapons and armor I have carried into countless encounters and refined through real-world use.
But even the most trusted weapon needs sharpening. Cybersecurity evolves quickly, and what worked well last year might already be blunted by new threats, new regulations, or new technologies. Part of my current inventory check is taking stock of where my technical edge has dulled and where further training or certification could restore its sharpness. Right now, one of my biggest upgrades in progress is OSCP training. It is not just another certificate to hang on the wall. It sharpens my offensive security blade and forces me to think like an attacker, stay sharp under time pressure, and apply creativity as much as technical skill.
The Tools in the Pack
Beyond weapons and armor, an adventurer carries a pack filled with potions, maps, ropes, and gadgets. In career terms, these are the tools, systems, and frameworks I rely on to amplify my effectiveness. For me, that includes building structured workflows, experimenting with AI-driven automation, and developing content systems that help communicate complex ideas with clarity.
Writing has become one of the most valuable items in my pack. It began as a tactical tool for documenting lessons and building shared understanding, but it has grown into something more. It is the compass I return to when the path shifts, guiding thought through fog and recalibrating purpose when noise takes over. Through writing, I distill complexity into direction. It helps me see the underlying patterns in chaos, reconnect with what matters, and move forward with clarity through uncertain terrain.
These tools may not win a battle on their own, but they often determine whether I can move quickly, adapt to new terrain, or support others in my party.
The Resume as the Item Ledger
Every adventurer keeps a ledger of their inventory. In my case, that’s my resume. It’s both a list of the gear I currently carry and a record of the encounters I’ve survived. But like any inventory, it can quickly fall out of date if I don’t review it regularly.
When I go through my resume as part of an inventory check, I don’t just update job titles or bullet points. I ask deeper questions. Does this ledger truly reflect the gear I carry today? Does it highlight the rare items I have collected through experience, such as leading cybersecurity operations during critical incidents, building resilient systems across global teams, or blending cybersecurity with business strategy? Does it show the new tools I’m adding, like AI-driven workflows and automation design? If someone reads this ledger without knowing me, would they see a well-equipped adventurer prepared for the next challenge, or would they see a scattered bag of mismatched gear?
The Party’s Influence
One thing I cannot overlook is that an inventory check is not done alone. In RPGs, every party member brings unique items to the table. The healer’s potions, the rogue’s lockpicks, the mage’s spellbook, all complement each other. In my career, I see the same pattern. Peers, mentors, and collaborators often hold items I do not. Sometimes they lend them. Sometimes they teach me how to craft my own.
When I reflect on my own inventory, I also think about how I fit into the broader party. What items of mine strengthen the team? What gaps might I cover for others, and what gaps of my own can I fill through collaboration? The truth is that no single adventurer carries everything. The party thrives because of diversity in skills and resources.
The Non-Material Gear
Some of the most critical items I carry are not tangible at all. Mindset, resilience, adaptability, and curiosity are not the kind of things you can easily write into a resume, but they weigh heavily in the pack. For me, curiosity has been one of the most valuable traits. It drives me to keep exploring new landscapes, from AI-powered consulting to creative systems design. Resilience keeps me moving after setbacks. Adaptability allows me to use existing tools in unexpected ways.
You will not see these items as sharp steel or polished armor, but they often make the difference between victory and defeat.
The Current Upgrade Path
Right now, my career inventory check has me focusing on a few specific upgrades. I’m sharpening my technical expertise through OSCP training. I’m expanding my toolkit with AI-driven workflows that cut through complexity. I’m polishing my ability to communicate through writing and content creation. And I’m reflecting on how to position my ledger so that others can see not just the items I carry, but the way I use them.
This isn’t just theory for me. I am actively seeking my next opportunity, preparing for the next campaign, and ensuring my inventory is ready for the encounters ahead.
The check isn’t about perfection. It’s about readiness. A prepared adventurer doesn’t carry everything, only the essentials chosen with care and aligned with the journey ahead.
If you were to do an inventory check right now, what skill or tool would you upgrade first?
Every inventory check leaves something behind beyond sword and shield. This reflection first appeared on LinkedIn, where other adventurers are sharing what they’ve learned from their own journeys — how they level up, adapt, and keep moving through the grind. If you’d like to add your voice to the party’s journal, join the thread and share what you’re carrying into your next quest. The campfire’s still bright, and there’s always room in the circle.