Back in 1996 I went back to school to learn the latest in-demand skills. Best decision of my career.

Internet access wasn’t a given yet, so after commuting home from class I’d get on my own computer and practice what I’d just learned. Bought a new machine, installed Windows Server, got to work.

Today people call that a homelab. They’re popular for a reason: they work. Ask anyone in IT about their best lessons, and a lot of them will tell you about something they broke at home and had to fix themselves.

I got my Microsoft MCSE and Lotus PCLP Admin certs and landed my first IT job. Whenever I needed to pick up something new, I’d resurrect that home setup to learn it first.

Almost 30 years later I’m doing the same thing. Right now that’s a 3-node k3s cluster on my desk, working toward Kubernetes certifications.

Technology never stays still. If you understand that, you know that pivoting comes with the territory.