Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit whose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Oct 28, 2019 – Nov 1, 2019
What I’m Learning:
One cool thing I learned at work last week: I have a greater feel for how my boss organizes and categorizes things via the edits she made to my to-do list. Being able to see her thought process laid out helped me tremendously since I now have a more professional way of organizing my tasks, projects, etc, and a better understanding of how she thinks.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: A nonce is a computer that correctly guessed a number to add to a hash. Hashes are one-way functions and cannot be decrypted meaning you can’t go back and change the function.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I added new processes to the Internal Controls Operations Associate document, which details all my current responsibilities and steps on how to do them. Basically, this document is a training manual for my role like a dummies guide tailored to the Zcash Foundation operations team.
Additionally, I also added new tools and services that we use, and the description of its purpose, to Zcash Foundation’s Master Operations spreadsheet. The Master Operations spreadsheet is the go-to sheet for finding important links or documents relating to operations (or business side of things). My boss and I created this spreadsheet as a backup for the operations team in case a disaster falls on one of us or both.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: I’m currently working on planning the Nola retreat for the Foundation. I searched for activities to do, hotels, meeting rooms, and flight details for everyone, then entered the information into the spreadsheet that I created.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: I’m brushing up on my networking skills. I had the opportunity to network in-person about a week ago at this art festival I attended with my dad and struck up a friendly conversation with the artists who were selling their work.
Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit whose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Oct 21, 2019 – Oct 25, 2019
What I’m Learning:
One cool thing I learned at work last week: I learned the process of how to run payroll and the procedures associated with it. Before payroll is finalized, Zcash Foundation requires signed approval from the executive director and operations director. This prevents mistakes from happening.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: Nodes are older technology than Bitcoin.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I’m now in charge of processing reimbursements for our employees.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: Right now I’m back in planning the company’s annual retreat and this project is almost entirely my responsibility.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: I’m currently learning about Excel through Coursera and continuing learning the basics of Bitcoin, Zcash, and the blockchain. Learning these things will help bring me up to speed with my coworkers and help facilitate discussions with common interests.
Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit whose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Oct 15, 2019 – Oct 19, 2019
What I’m Learning
One cool thing I learned at work last week: The blockchain and accounting have more similarities I wasn’t aware of previously. The blockchain is basically a ledger of all the transactions in the system and just like accounting, it’s nearly impossible to hide money or transactions from the ledger.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: If you travel frequently, get a travel rewards credit card with travel insurance. It’ll be easier to get a refund if your flight is canceled and if the airline refuses to budge. You won’t have to go through the trouble of fighting for your refund, the credit card company does it for you.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I added more items to my detailed to-do list. This list helps by boss check in on my onboarding progress and it’s another way for us to communicate and ensure that we’re on the same page (pun intended).
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: I’m back to planning for our yearly company retreat and I’m using Google Sheets to list all the recommendations and suggestions for fun activities, bars, dining, hotels, and meeting rooms.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: In my personal life right now, I’m sprucing up my personal email and organizing or deleting things I don’t need anymore. Cleaning up my inbox was mundane at first but the results are quite satisfying, just like cleaning your room.
Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit whose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Oct 7, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019
What I’m Learning
One cool thing I learned at work last week: I was introduced to QuickBooks and learned how to process and file away expenses.Eventually, I’ll learn the ins and outs of accounting but for now, I’ll take it slow and accurate since my boss doesn’t want me making costly mistakes.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: Alpacas sleep on the ground in weird and often hilarious positions with their necks looking like it’s broken. Many first-time alpaca owners panic thinking their alpaca was killed.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I sorted through the dozens of expenses in QuickBooks, then found the corresponding invoices for the related expenses, and filed them away in the appropriate folder in our Google Drive folder.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: I’m currently planning out a detailed weekly to-do list, which will help my boss get a better idea of my thought processes. It’ll also help me record the new things I learned.
I’m still working on the Master Operations spreadsheet and it’ll be a work in progress. The Master Ops sheet is a sort of backup for the Foundation’s operations role so in case my boss becomes incapacitated we’ll have a blueprint of how to run the business side of things.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: I’m still learning more Spanish and getting the hang of the grammar. I’ve also signed up for an Excel/Google Sheets course on Coursera which will help me learn my responsibilities better.
Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profitwhose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Sept 30, 2019 – Oct 4, 2019
What I’m Learning:
One cool thing I learned at work last week: Monero is a competitor, so to speak, to Zcash and they’re also a privacy coin. The main difference between the two is how they approach encryption; Monero uses an older technology called Ring Signatures to encrypt the sender’s data. Zcash uses a newer technology called zk-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge) to encrypt both the sender’s and receiver’s data.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: I’m currently learning Spanish via Duolingo. I wanted to learn Spanish to better connect with my Puerto Rican and Cuban friends and it’s commonly spoken here in Florida.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I alleviated my boss’s workload by processing bills and adding pieces of information into each grantee’s folder. So these grantees are given money from Zcash Foundation and each one needs a copy of their government ID, tax form, a signed contract agreement, and a screenshot of their name in the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control).
The OFAC information is especially important. We are a non-profit and it’s imperative that we’re transparent and double-checking to see if the grantee we’re giving money to isn’t on the terror watch-list. We will most likely never find someone on the watch-list but in case it does happen we’ll need to report it to the government.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: My boss, Antonie, and I are currently building a database for our main event of the year, Zcon, which is our yearly conference. Additionally, I’m adding new responsibilities to our Master Operations spreadsheet such as how-to steps on domestic and international bill pay, and what to do in SignEasy.
I’m also working on another spreadsheet that I created, with some guidance from Antonie, for our company retreat to Nola. Right now I’m researching places to eat, drink, stay, and activities to do in the French Quarter of Nola.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: I’m continuing to use time management apps called Pomotodo and Todoist to help me maintain a balanced work-life schedule, which is essential for remote, stay-at-home jobs. I’m also making time to step outside of my home and interact with friends and people at conferences or other events.
Adventures in Crypto is a weekly series focusing on my journey as a Zcash Foundation operations apprentice. Zcash Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit whose mission is to build a truly private financial payment infrastructure for public use, and they support Zcash and the surrounding cryptocurrency community with research grants.
Sept 23, 2019 – Sept 27, 2019
What I’m Learning:
One cool thing I learned at work last week: I learned about a new breakthrough in cryptography, Halo which is a new technology that could solve the issue of scalability in the crypto realm. Basically, Halo built upon zk-SNARKs and computes an entire blockchain with one math problem, thus increasing the number of transactions per second, which is the scalability issue. Compare that to Bitcoin, where it currently can only process seven transactions per second.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: The difference between llamas and alpacas is similar to alligators versus crocodiles. Llamas are bigger and more aggressive than alpacas.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I created a new section in the database for our conference that the Foundation is planning and processed mail in our electronic inbox, which freed up more time for my boss who is currently busy with auditing.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: I’m currently helping to plan Zcon, a yearly conference hosted by the Foundation.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: I’m continually learning new things and documenting it in the Master Operations sheet.
Weekly Monday Workshop:
What Praxis Monday session did you attend last week (ie. what was the topic & who was the guest)? Working Remotely with Amanda Kingsmith, Praxis advisor and alumna.
What was your favorite highlight from the session? I appreciated the actionable takeaway that Amanda suggested and the steps needed to successfully work remotely. The steps are listed below.
What was your biggest takeaway from that session? I learned the importance of Pomodoro and taking short, frequent breaks to prevent burnout.
How do you intend to apply that takeaway to your life? I will implement Pomodoro often and learn more discipline with it’s use.
I’ve officially begun my apprenticeship on September 9 and that means I’m both a full-time employee and a student of Zcash Foundation learning my craft which is operations. Every week I’ll post an update about the progress I’m making in my apprenticeship and things I’m learning or any setbacks.
Zcash Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to create a payment system infrastructure for the general public to use, a similar concept to public utilities like electricity or water, and gather and fund the research to advance the cryptography for cryptocurrency.
My first week on the job was absolutely thrilling and quite fun. The foundation paid for my travel, food, and part of my Airbnb to onboard for two days at their main office in Washington, D.C. But the rest of the job will be remote and I’ll work from home.
On a side note, I’ve been to D.C. four times prior but this would be my first completely solo trip, so I was a bit nervous about figuring out the logistics of transportation to and from the airport and places I needed to be.
The office itself was located in Chinatown, which coincidentally enough I had passed through the same block this past January when I was in town for LibertyCon. Funny how life draws me back to D.C. This trip brought back a lot of nostalgia and good times with my friends when I was at LibertyCon.
Onwards to week one and two summaries.
What I’m Learning
One cool thing I learned at work last week: I started the week learning how to input reimbursements via Google Sheets, which will be helpful and efficient for my boss when she runs payroll and setting up my work gmail with a YubiKey which is a two-factor authenticator key that plugs into your computer.
Week two, I learned how to organize and clean up multiple databases and combine them into one spreadsheet in Airtable and how to set up a password vault in 1Password.
One cool thing I learned outside of work last week: I’m beginning to become more familiar with zk-SNARKs ( zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge), a privacy-related technology used to encrypt cryptocurrency. I’ll give a very simplified and primitive explanation from a layman’s point of view.
Let’s say you want to send money to someone but wish to remain completely anonymous. Likewise, the receiver also wishes to conceal any clues about their identification.
When zk-SNARKs are applied, it’s akin to finding Where’s Waldo without ever seeing the character himself. Imagine yourself opening a Where’s Waldo book and you see everything on the page except for a cut-out in the shape of Waldo. Basically that’s how a zk-SNARK work, through the use of proofs.
What I’m Creating:
One example of how I created value at work last week: I helped my boss create a new database that will later be used to plan for our yearly conference. Most of the data were scattered across three Google Sheets, making it difficult to find information in an easy and efficient manner.
The delegation of repetitive tasks was assigned to me which allowed my boss to focus on more complex tasks that specifically require her attention.
What project I’m currently working on at my BP: I’m currently creating and organizing a database of contacts, grants, and companies that will be attending ZCash Foundation’s conference.
What I’m doing to become a better version of myself overall: Organizing my day and week via Google calendar, getting into the habit of using the Pomodoro technique frequently, and file all shared documents and spreadsheets in my Google Drive, that way it’s faster and easier to find all my daily tasks and responsibilities.
Hello everyone! You’re probably wondering where and why I disappeared and stopped blogging. I’ve got a big update and I’ll relay the exciting news to you!
First off, where did you go? I decided to take a break for three months due to a deluge of work and new Praxis program obligations. My workplace at the time increased my hours, which I was grateful for since I needed the pay, and the placement process of Praxis changed with new requirements.
I decided that a break from blogging and juggling too many things at once was much needed for a healthy headspace.
What did you do during this time? Previously, placement (the phase in the Praxis program where participants start looking for a job to apprentice at) required just one weekly video pitch and presentation slides that would be sent by a Praxis advisor, to prospective employers.
Now, placement has upped the ante and introduced Crash, a new company launched by Praxis to help job seekers, both within and outside of the Praxis network find jobs.
What is Crash? Basically, Crash is Praxis-lite and it’s like LinkedIn on steroids, except more fun and interactive for both the job seeker and recruiter.
Since I was in placement, I created a Crash profile, which includes an “about me” video introduction, a portfolio proving competency in skills relating to the roles that I’m interested in, and tech stack of various tools.
You can view my Crash profile as an example, here.
How does Crash help you with your job hunt? Crash approaches the job hunt drastically different compared to the traditional way of “spraying and praying,” mass sending resumes to employers and hoping for the best.
Instead, their mission is to make the job hunt fun and tailored to your prospective employers. Crash profiles are also a way to stand out from the crowd and with proof that you can back up claims about ideal work qualities that an employer seeks.
For example, many job seekers claim they take the initiative but employers feel uncertain because of the lack of evidence. So now prospective employers can see solid proof of a future employee’s skills and value they bring to the table.
Crash is definitely a win in increasing your chances of getting hired. Think of Crash as the dating service of the hiring industry.
What exactly did you do with Crash during placement? Instead of one weekly video pitch of why company “X” should hire me, the Praxis placement process now requires five video pitches per week, then posting them to my Crash profile (please note that these pitches can only be seen by a private link).
Then, I sent out cold emails, with my pitch, to the respective employer/business partner. For companies that are business partners with Praxis, my advisors emailed them instead.
Additionally, each week I also received feedback from my advisor with suggestions of how to revise each pitch if it needed any changes. So in addition to finding five new companies to target each week, I also had to revise one to five videos.
Each of these five pitches targets a different company, usually startups, and the pitches look similar to this.
If you weren’t aware, the Praxis program is similar to having a part-time job and each participant is expected to carve out ten to fifteen hours a week to complete weekly tasks.
Did you get hired after creating a Crash profile? Yes, I actually did!
It all started when the Crash and Praxis teams posted my Crash profile on LinkedIn, Twitter, and reached out via email to their various connections. After I had gone public, I received an outpour of companies wanting to interview me.
At one point I had SEVEN interviews in one week! And about thirteen companies who scheduled interviews with me.
This was all the result of launching my Crash profile.
One of the companies called Zcash Foundation requested an interview with me in late July, then a follow-up interview two weeks later. During the first interview, my interviewer gave me an assignment; create a database for event planning then present it to her in the follow-up interview.
Keep in mind I had no prior experience nor familiarity with building databases or planning events like conferences. But I was eager to show my worth and learned a new tool along the way. I used Airtable to build my database, which was tremendously helpful since they provided templates to work from, thus saving a lot of time and energy.
The follow-up interview rolls around and I will admit I was slightly nervous presenting my database because I was uncertain if it was good enough or if it wasn’t what the interviewer wanted. But I presented with confidence and explained why I added certain details such as colored tabs to help stay organized.
After I had presented, the interviewer tells me that my database was completely different from how they plan events. Uh-oh. But I persevered and charged on with the rest of the interview.
Then the interviewer asked me if I would like to join the team and wanted to hire me. On the spot.
What. Did I hear her correctly? During this time I had gone through dozens of interviews and was constantly getting rejected, and I was starting to feel hopeless.
But now, almost seemingly out of nowhere I got hired on the spot, in a role that I genuinely wanted to launch my career in, and with a super rad crypto-related non-profit.
I was absolutely thrilled and over the moon when I landed a role as an operations associate for Zcash Foundation!
And I have many thanks to give to the interviewer who is now my boss; I thank her for seeing potential in me and extending this generous offer.
So what’s next? I’ll continue updating my progress as an operations associate for Zcash Foundation. Additionally, I’ll be posting more frequently and adding some of my Crash pitches to my portfolio.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
A few days ago, a close friend of mine lost his grandpa and his passing has been particularly difficult since it happened so suddenly. I also lost my grandpa back in December and it hurts realizing that he never saw me in-person, all grown-up. To help my friend, I decided to write an open letter to him and offer my condolences.
Dearest friend,
If you’re reading this just know that those who have accepted Jesus into their hearts will go to heaven, and receive a new life and new body as promised by God in Revelation. If you were to see your grandpa in his renewed life, he might appear as a young man in the flower of his youth; robust and full of vigor free from the shackles of his old body, which was a part of the fallen realm, our world.
You’re going to feel pain more acutely now and his passing might cause you to reprioritize your values and the things that are truly important. I’ve realized that small everyday moments with my parents have become more valuable now and I spend more time with them. I’ve also accepted sacrificing a few days of work and choosing instead to spend all day with my parents.
I try not to cry about the loss of my grandpa mainly for my grandma’s sake. Although she is in Beijing and won’t see my tears I still try to be strong for her, in case I visit her I’ll be prepared and have control over my emotions.
When I called my grandma after I found out about my grandpa’s passing, she said, “Please don’t cry or I’ll cry even more, a good child shouldn’t cry.” This was her way of saying, “I don’t want you to suffer and feel this type of pain.”
Likewise, stay strong for your grandma and mom because they will need your love more than ever now.
If your grandpa believed in Jesus, take comfort in knowing that he will be there waiting for you. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, I know you struggle with your faith but once you are baptized, both physically and spiritually, you will no longer fear permanently dying.
A baptism is more than just a pastor dunking you underwater; the spiritual side of it occurs when you feel Jesus’ presence washing your sins away and that might come after you’re physically baptized.
My heart reaches out to you and this loss is a mutual feeling and I will pray for your family. Mourning alone makes life more difficult so don’t be shy in reaching out to family and close friends. Your grandpa would want you to continue living as normal and celebrate his life by cherishing all the memories you’ve made together.
Love is truly a powerful thing and you’ll realize how much stronger you’ll be after the initial stages of mourning end, especially with family and friends supporting each other.
I recently learned how to use Excel and different ways to clean data. Organized data is important to prevent mistakes from repeating. I created this simple manual on ten different ways to clean data in Excel and you can take a closer look at the screenshots here.
