behind the scenes (living your best/worst life)

[@SavageScientist]

Fo sho, social media been a toxic environment. But thats life - i ran across folks who laughed at the fact that i started as a janitor and worked my way up to IT manager.

[@lazardz]

key factors that kept me going : working out / reading books/ family / meeting new people-helping people. if you ever need someone to talk to don't be afraid to open up man, you have been such an inspiration to me and helped me a lot on this IT journey, thank you.

[@brianarneson7905]

From a 43 y/o dad who thought he had it all together. Thanks for sharing.👍

[@NDynamite409]

Holy crap man, Great job on your weight loss journey! I seen you years ago when I first got into IT and you helped a lot with that. Then I haven't watched in years. I seen an old video of yours pop up (I am still subscribed) in my feed and thought, Hm, I wonder if this guy is even still making videos. So I clicked on your channel and found this. Great job man. Great job taking care of yourself the best you can, great job for helping hundreds of thousands of people be the best they can be in their IT careers, great job for speaking up on the struggles of just being a human and waking up every day. It's not easy man, its not. I went through a tough time with alcohol, I almost quit my IT career multiple times in the only four years I've been doing it. I have been sober 19 months and I am just now finding my interest in IT again. I'm working on good projects at work, I am excited to study in my free time again, I am excited to watch videos like yours to stay up to date on the IT and certification industry. What keeps me going? I am not sure most days, other than the fact there is no other option. I woke up this morning, now what? Just keep going, just keep pushing, just keep working. There's no other option. I am alive, I am awake, I am young and healthy. Actually I know, the Lord keeps me going. He helps me be the best I can be every day. But most days, I feel like I fall short. But doing things that I can see progress in helps keep me going. Studying for a cert, seeing how much I am learning, then getting the cert. That's progress. Right now I am going through the book, Learn Powershell in a Month of Lunches. I am seeing progress every single day I go through a chapter and learn something new about Powershell. Working out with goals. I do calisthenics, I have goals to learn new moves, get stronger and see how my body changes. I have goals for getting married and having a family. Focusing on my relationship with my girlfriend of 8 years. We have a bright future together. Even things as small as drinking a gallon of water a day. No matter what happens that day, I drank a gallon of water. That's a win for the day, no matter what. Do things that you can see progress in.

[@terrybooth9203]

thank you for your videos. I am trying to change careers and get into IT, I constantly feel like I am not good enough to do this, but many times your videos have helped me to have a better perspective on this and to keep on. I find strength in God and family, but it still definitely helps to come across real people like you. Thank you for all you do.

[@Sebastianbaraj5]

Thank you for being authentic and real as you can be Zach. I found your channel because one day I decided to search KZbin for guidance on where to start in IT. I still do. I'm still working on the IT part to this day.

[@nikkibix5493]

So true. End the stigma, save lives 💚

[@Marc_Masters]

Thanks for making this video. What works for me is taking it one day at a time. I was literally thinking about this last night. I know journaling for me had been very powerful. You may want to try this

[@thesexrace]

New follower. Love seeing videos like this. They are important. Thank you very much

[@NathanWithem]

I’m in the middle of a huge struggle in my life now. It’s a daily fight but nobody sees it because I’ve stopped allowing people to. I’ve noticed it gets used against me more often than someone trying to help/make me feel better, which is worse than the stigma IMO. I will say I see a therapist for things from my military service, things that have happened since, and things happening now. What keeps me going are the kids and the fact I want more out of this life. On my worst days, I’m the guy that’s going to try to make someone laugh and smile so they don’t have to feel like me. "I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anyone else to feel like that." -Robin Williams

[@MarkdeMoras]

The key factor that keeps me going is the sheer fact of definitively knowing that cybersecurity is where I am supposed to be. It's one of the major reasons I was even put on earth to begin with.

[@davew0322]

I always appreciate your videos. I am sure it is not easy to share feelings and be open to millions of people like that on the internet. Just continue to be yourself and not worry about what other people think or like you stated say in the comments. There will always be people that support you & also haters who hate their lives so they have to share their misery. Like Metallica "Misery loves company".

[@dlengelkes]

Inspiring Zach, keep doing what you doing with your videos, Sometimes it is good to open up about mental health, mental health is important

[@user-ot8vb2qc2o]

That hard core goal of the perfect life, with an early retirement @ 45 . Where I can do what I want , in an eco beach hotel I run and doing unofficial science in the hotel basement.... I'm kididng about the basement in the hotel, that would be in my house or separate shed. But that is what motivated me in my darkest moment. I did a perfect day exercise. A lot of stuff I didn't realise I wanted was in that.

[@joekaminski8161]

Zach, that looks like the Rock River near Rockford, IL. Do you ever come to Chicago? There's a LOT of interesting computer tech places here and the Midwest Vintage Computer Fest is coming to Elmhurst next month!

[@m.little888]

On my bad days, I remind myself that better days are coming. I use an app called Daylio to track my mood each day. It's kinda like a journal, too. I can make notes about the day, attach pictures, etc. It helps to see the big picture and that every day is not a bad one. Or I can look back on days I considered bad and look at the note to see why I counted it as a good day. Sometimes I need to get out of my head and gain some perspective from outside of myself. While I'm not medicated, I am in therapy. And I don't know what I'd do without it. She talks me off the ledge every time and helps me realize things that... my brain just doesn't work that way. It feels like my brain is against me and that upsets me, but it is what it is. I have to train my brain to be kind to me. My therapist reminds me of wins and triumphs that I've had. She knows ALL of my shit, and she is still able to point out the good that I typically fail to see. I have committed to not making permanent choices based on temporary circumstances. And I want to see what I can achieve. I can't do that if I don't stay here. So I take the necessary steps to be a person that I like and believe in and have confidence in. I let me son see ALL of this. I want to make sure that he grows up knowing that mental illness is no different from physical illness and it all has to be addressed, but it doesn't have to be a death sentence. I choose. That's a song by india.irie that I recommend. It is my mantra when I start to feel like a failure. I can choose to quit or I can choose to keep going. I choose. We all have a choice. CHOOSE LIFE!!! 💖💖💖

[@stlphil4187]

First off, I wanna start by saying, I am glad you are here Zach. Thanks for sharing. Glad you are capable of using your soapbox to talk about real things, whether its in cybersecurity or just something more personal like this video. I go through this every other day with my own self. We are human, and you just showed that to atleast 265k subscribers. Everybody has a bad day everyonce in awhile but its our choice to make it out, to be better the next day. Like you also mentioned fake it till you make it. It's not just a smile, because we seen those don't mean nothing (i.e Robin Williams). Its not money. What shows a person is happy anymore? What shows a person is sad anymore? People have gotten good at hiding behind smiles. But nonetheless, I enjoy this video and I wanna end this comment, the same way I started it. I'm glad you are here Zach. Thanks for sharing.

[@michellerose3796]

I have struggled with suicidal thoughts my entire life, and it got really, really bad a few years ago. I am now taking Wellbutrin, and it literally saved my life. I had a plan for my death, I was just working out when it was going to happen. It was like fighting for the steering wheel of a speeding vehicle, and you are fighting yourself. It was truly awful. Now, I still have mental health struggles, I try to look at situations objectively and tell myself that I am allowed to feel whatever I want, but I have to ask myself if that feeling is appropriate for the situation, or if I am just catastrophizing.... which I am prone to do. We do need to talk about mental health, and I am glad you are doing so here. Mental health is just like physical health, it is part of your everyday life, a lot of things can be treated with diet and exercise, and beyond that, there are therapists and medication. No one should have to feel shame for taking care of themselves. I am open with everyone about my time in the mental hospital (suicide attempt), therapy, suicidal thoughts, and medication. I never want someone to feel like they have to struggle alone.

[@FulcanelliRosetta]

In addition a great self help book is Marcus Aurelius Meditations. I've read it several times because I always need a reminder.

[@eddier2k9]

Needed this

[@abdatruthteller5895]

We all have ups and downs in all our lives but for me..... What keeps me going is that i know that every day that the lord see fit for me to live is another opportunity for me to make even the smallest positive impact in someone else's life. It's all about stewardship and making a good impact on and in other peoples lives and in return the gods or heavens will provide and make way for you. Being negative is so damn easy to do and i think thats why you see so many thinks on social media thats bad because a lot of misinformed people think that you have to act or be negative to get attention in this world when that's far from the truth...... Be the best version of you could possibly be and you will draw in positive people in your life that become apart a strong support group, family, network or what ever you want to call it.

[@lazardz]

happiness comes from within

[@michaelanthonygutierrez]

thanks brother

[@FulcanelliRosetta]

Money solves problems Purpose brings happiness Self reliance brings confidence Goals bring direction Discipline brings results You've taken time to talk to me before when I was losing my mind in our career type. Thank you for all your help Zach!

[@backroad55]

Life is hard

[@Mattznick]

Rock River?

[@Itcareerquestions]

Correct!

[@phiberknight]

As men we are expected not to express our feelings. What does society expect from a Man? We are expected to be the one that scores the winning touchdown. We are the one that plays the lead guitar in the band. We are the one that is the homecoming king, and we get the girl that we want. We are the one who jumps on the top of a grenade in a foxhole to save our buddies. And then we are told that we are toxic. Go figure, I start my day with a caffinated drink, and I turn on some tunes. And tell myself that the day is going to be ok,, It Doesn't mean anything it is just a thing. Hit the road go to work work 8 to 10 hours and come home. Turn on the PS5 and some tunes and play games.. And sometimes I cry about the past, and ponder the future I live in the moment. And I don't give a rats ass about what other people think,,

[@catman8623]

Humans are dumb. Live your best life. The opinions of sheep should not bother you.

[@yvonnegreen9336]

removing web of mypc