Strength is not in the numbers
But in how you control the flow
The life patterns you choose
And the pace that you grow
Allow the strength to manifest daily
And mitigate the weakness
To eliminate potential turmoil
To get you where you belong
Stop chasing outward things
And take advantage of the strength within
“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark”.
(Michelangelo)
Decided to check my 2021 goals in December to see how well I did to accomplish the things I projected to get done back in January 2021.
Yearly goals are a big part of my planning process and I love checking things off my list. The written goal is a way to ensure success and provides clarity on things to get done in the new year.
2021 presented some unique opportunities for me and I am happy to grow on a professional and personal level.
There was only one area where I did not meet or exceed my written goal. I started 2021 with a written goal to cook weekly and I started the year off well. I made a point to meal prep and utilized my crock pot for convenience. My cooking goal lasted about two months before the wheels fell off on my progress. Working late and my scheduled after work runs are the excuses but the convenience of the drive-thru is the real reason. Turns out it is a lot easier and quicker to pull up and order something without having to come home and cook. I realize the drive-thru is not the healthiest option for me, but I rationalize this process with an extra run or two to combat. I will do a much better job with this goal in 2022!
Travel
Travel was an area I wanted to hit specific marks in 2021. COVID-19 eliminated most travel plans in 2020 and I wanted to get back on the road once it was safe again. I was leery of the vaccine process early on but fully embraced the concept once the vaccine was available. I wanted to be able to see family and friends again without the concern of bringing the virus with me. I understand vaccinated people can still carry but felt a sense of relief once I received the Moderna doses.
I routinely took monthly excursions prior to COVID-19 and looked forward to doing this again. Clearwater, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Melbourne were targeted cities for my monthly getaways and happy to report I hit them all. Orlando and Melbourne were regular visits for me in 2021. I also made it back to Jasper at least once per month to see my mom and family.
My visit to Clearwater Beach back in January was my first time there. I always saw pictures and heard about the area but never took time to visit. I am happy I made the trip over and will return October 2022 to run in the inaugural Clearwater Rock N Roll Half Marathon. Plan to get more sightseeing in when I get there.
Got in a few running tourist opportunities too: Virginia Beach, Savannah, and Orlando.
My last 2021 travel adventure got me back to Nashville, Tennessee to listen to live music and enjoy a great city. The Wild Horse Saloon was closed on this trip, but I will be back for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April. I will get my line dancing in when I return. 😊
Exercise program
Exercise is a huge part of my daily routine. This is an area I take a lot of pride in and hit all my goals in 2021.
The first thing I wanted to hit was 1,000 training miles. Happy to report I was able to finish the year with 1,055 training miles. Building training runs into my daily schedule allowed me to hit this mark without feeling rushed to get training completed. I will leverage my 2021 training routine to build an aggressive 2022 training goal to help me challenge myself. Will share this number in a later post.
I set a goal to break my Personal Record (PR) in a 10k race and beat my friend Lauren Kume’s time in 2021. I ran a PR of 55:57 (Fifty-five minutes and 57 seconds) at the 2021 Winter Park 10k in March 2021. I did not run faster than Lauren, so I get to try again in 2022. I am registered for the same race in March 2022 and will work to get closer to 54 flat—still more work to do but headed in a good direction. Seems I am always chasing Lauren, but she inspires my running program—thank you! 😊
My workouts in 2021 were much improved. I still make it to the gym for weight training at least two times per week and upgraded my home equipment to enhance my strength training. I got in 5 body weight sessions weekly to complement my work in the gym. I was able to add more muscle definition and maintain my weight even though I do not eat the healthiest. I will correct my eating habits in 2022.
Writing
I maintained a consistent writing program throughout 2021. I published several articles on LinkedIn and added my poetry to the Walk into The Future blog. My blog library allowed me to publish weekly content to share my thoughts, views, and travel with readers. I gained a few more blog followers and incorporated content several friends requested. I plan to continue to build new blog content in 2022—don’t know how much longer I will use this platform, but I have other areas I want to explore for the blog so keep sending me your ideas. I will work to build content to keep your interest.
I did not publish my Leadership ebook in 2021 but did work on content throughout the year. I talked with a designer to build the cover art but will need to reengage with him to finalize the cost for the project. This will be a rollover goal for 2022.
Happy with my 2021 goal progress and excited to launch my 2022 goals towards another successful year.
How did YOU do on meeting your 2021 goals? What big things do you have planned for 2022?
Make it great!
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.
(C.S. Lewis)
“Remember, the second most important thing to choosing the right shoe is choosing the left one”.
(Unknown)
Decided to exercise one of my 2020 race credits for the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon over the Labor Day weekend. I targeted this race in 2020 before COVID-19 shut down running but never got a chance to explore Virginia Beach.
I have traveled to the state of Virginia before, but it was in the Washington D. C. area—never the coast. Starting and finishing a race on the Virginia Beach boardwalk was an appealing draw for me and wanted to explore the area as a running tourist.
Happy to report the race, festivities and weather were fantastic and I enjoyed my adventure.
I have been training but knew my current regimen was not where it needs to be to run a Personal Record (PR). Most folks know I am always chasing my next PR, but it appears I am getting wiser with my mental focus. My goal for Virginia Beach was to take a measured approach to the race and then determine how fast my pace would be for the rest of the race.
Booked an early Southwest airlines flight out of Orlando to get to my race destination. This was my first plane ride since my Rock N Roll half marathon and cheesesteak adventures in Philadelphia back in 2019. I did not know how I would react to being back on a plane but felt safe since everyone in the airport and on the plane wore their masks. I have seen horror stories on the news about people not wearing masks but did not experience this at all.
Settled into my exit row seat with extra leg room and enjoyed the two-hour flight to Virginia. This was a perfect opportunity for me to catch up on my reading. I currently have two books going—Eat that Frog and Start With Why. Both books speak to my current work situation, so I bounce back and forth between the books. May need to just finish one so I can tackle the other one with more energy—we will see!
The flight to Virginia Beach was uneventful—nothing special happened but was excited to finally arrive to get the adventure started.
Hotels close to the race venture were booked or too expensive for my taste. Ended up staying in Chesapeake, Virginia which is close to a lot of shopping and entertainment. Made the most of this fact and did some light window shopping and got a pedicure. Nothing like having your feet rubbed prior to pounding the pavement for 13.1 miles. 😊 Completed my carb loading process with extra pasta at The Olive Garden and made sure to drink extra water.
The weather was projected to be hotter than normal so drinking water was necessary to stay hydrated.
EXPO
The Rock N Roll EXPOs are always a highlight of the weekend. The excitement of being so close to race day puts a smile on the face of most runners. I was happy to be back around runners again and experiencing a new city. The Virginia Beach Rock N Roll EXPO was light on merchandise and vendors—believe this is because 2021 was the 20th Anniversary of this race and also the last year for the event.
The Virginia Beach city leaders decided they did not want to host the race anymore and wanted to leverage the Labor Day holiday weekend for other activities. There were vendors available but not as many as I am used to for the Rock N Roll series. I made sure to shop and buy a new set of leg compression sleeves since they were marked down 50%–got a pair of white CHEP compression sleeves. I am sure you will see picture of me rocking them soon. 😊
Boardwalk
Made my way over to the boardwalk after the EXPO to get a taste of Virginia Beach. Got a chance to take some pictures at the King Neptune statue that sits right on the boardwalk. King Neptune is popular with running tourists so had to ensure I got the photo. The beach was crowded—this could be because it was Labor Day weekend, and the local schools start the following week. There were a ton of families on the beach enjoying the sun, surf, and weather. Decided to find a spot to get a drink and food.
Found Catch 31 right on the boardwalk and pulled up at the outdoor bar to enjoy the beach and the view. Ordered crab cake and beer so I could people watch and enjoy college football on the TVs. This was a popular place, and everyone was friendly—I would recommend visiting Catch 31 if you are in the Virginia Beach area.
Race
Left Catch 31 with the intent to get to bed early so I could get up the next day to run the half marathon. I hit the bed to get my rest and get off my feet. I always set my race outfit out the night before since this makes life easier on race day. Decided to rep the Orlando Track Shack running club again during this race. My Track Shack race shirts always get attention from other runners and give us something to talk about before the race.
The race start was staggered to ensure we maintained a safe distance prior to crossing the start line. I was assigned Corral #4 again based on my projected finish time. Happy to report my start position has improved over the years which means I am running faster than most of the runners in each race. 😊
My goal was to run a steady pace, enjoy the process and not hurt myself by trying to do too much. Mission accomplished! The race started one block over from the beach and we made our way to the boardwalk within the first mile. It was great running next to the beach with a nice sunrise coming up over the water.
The course brought us back onto the main drag and then we headed south through neighborhoods for most of the race. My plan is always to run to each water stop and then walk through them when I get water or Gatorade. I take off running again and head towards the next water stop. This approach has allowed me to complete multiple races and set PRs in the process.
I ran with a smile on my face for the first 8 miles then my quads and hamstring started to scream at me. Again, I have been running but not putting in the correct number of miles to build the lactic acid threshold needed for a half marathon. I knew this coming into the race, but it never seems to help when your legs are burning—you just keep moving forward. I continued my game plan even with the pain, but I was not moving very fast.
Mile 10 is where I decided trying to run a PR was not happening so slowed my pace to enjoy the rest of the race. Luckily for me I decided a PR was not worth the pain—Mile 11 is where runners faced the problem of running up a steep bridge to get closer to the finish line. Most of us let out an audible ‘Holy Crap’ when we saw the bridge and the knowledge we had to get up and over to finish the race. My pace slowed down even more while making my way over the bridge. The downhill portion was great and led us back to the boardwalk to finish the race. There were race spectators along the boardwalk and they cheered us to the finish line.
Very happy and proud to finish this race considering my training program was subpar—I can improve and will put more effort into my preparation.
Realm Brewery
The reward for completing the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon was a trip to New Realm Brewery. This spot was highly recommended and did not disappoint. Realm Brewery is an open air and inside sitting establishment. The outside sitting is covered and there is plenty room to social distance while enjoying food and drink. I got the Acai and Blueberry Seltzer and New Realm Burger which was outstanding. There was live music in the afternoon and the environment was fantastic. They did not have TVs outside to watch football but that is a small thing considering how great this place is. Yes, I will visit again when I am back in the Virginia Beach area.
Unfortunately, the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon will not be run again. Great location, course, and entertainment in the area—guess I will have to explore other Rock N Roll locations to continue this running tourist program. 😊
Savannah is next on the list!
“If found on the ground, drag to the finish line”.
(From a runner’s t-shirt)
(Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay)
“There is no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated”.
(Richard Branson)
Psychology Today identifies intellectual curiosity as a deep and persistent desire to know.
Betterup.com dives deeper by defining intellectual curiosity as curiosity that leads to an acquisition of general knowledge.
At this point I am sure you are wondering where I am headed with intellectual curiosity. Glad you asked! 😊
This has become a major characteristic I look for when working with others. I was never able to find the exact term until recently but intellectual curiosity in the workplace provides a foundation for success.
Interestingly, this is not something everyone is able to display easily. I see people who practice this trait when something is near and dear to them on a personal or professional level. The key for me is for everyone to translate intellectual curiosity daily in the workplace.
Why you ask? Great question!
People who display intellectual curiosity can find new ways to get things done. There are multiple work environments where the mindset is we have always done it that way. This may be true but organizations and people who cannot evolve are doomed to fail. It may take time for the demise, but it will happen.
Intellectually curious people understand how things are done and continue to look for ways to improve the process daily. I love being surrounded by these type people because they understand the concept of moving forward. Processes and techniques change daily, and organizations need to be able to pivot. Pivots and adjustments are needed quicker as we introduce more technology into the workplace.
COVID-19 allowed intellectually curious people and organizations to make the necessary adjustments to ensure services were provided. Most of my work colleagues had never heard of Zoom prior to the pandemic. Turns out the Zoom platform in the hands of intellectually curious organizations increased the ability to provide services and made meetings more efficient. Staff did not lose time driving or walking to meetings anymore—they simply logged into their computers and joined the meetings via their laptops.
I never imagined university career fairs could be done completely online. Intellectual curiosity has allowed people in my career field to find more efficient ways to connect students and employers. There are some organizations that have been slow to adapt to the changing world and they are rapidly being left behind.
I challenge staff to become intellectually curious daily. This is the only way to ensure an organization has a growth mindset. The way we did business two years ago is not coming back so organizations need the ability to adapt, grow and move forward.
I propose organizations staffed with people with intellectual curiosity will thrive—those without will slowly fade away.
How do you display intellectual curiosity? I welcome your thoughts!
“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding an answer”.
(Denis Waitley)
(Image by Devanath from Pixabay)
“Authentic leadership is revealed in the alignment of what you think, what you say, and what you do”.
(Michael Holland)
Authentic Leadership continues to be a driving force in my daily interactions. Amazing how I stumbled across this leadership style during my dissertation process back in 2013 but it is something I genuinely believe makes a difference in the work environment.
I am also amazed by the number of folks who only know about this leadership style after talking with me or sitting in one of my presentations. Looks like I need to do a better job of spreading the benefits of Authentic Leadership. 😊
I was asked back in January if I would be willing to be the guest speaker for the local Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) monthly professional development program. Inspiration Man was quick to say yes, and the topic they requested was Authentic Leadership. I had to dust off my files but thought this was an excellent opportunity to share Authentic Leadership with colleagues at my new school.
This was one of the first time I was able to stand in front of a group of people since early 2020 due to COVID-19. I was excited to be in front of live folks again in my efforts to move the crowd.
I started the presentation with a brief introduction to Authentic Leadership and the benefits it brings to the work environment.
Authentic Leadership is rooted in positive psychology and allows leaders to improve their self-awareness and regulated behaviors. The importance of self-awareness becomes more evident daily as I interact with others.
All Authentic Leadership variables are important but none of the others come into play if a leader is not self-aware. This was a major feature of my presentation to my AFC colleagues. There were several head nods when I made this point and a couple folks asked if they could expand on how self-awareness helps them daily.
The four variables were shared: self-awareness, relational transparency, internalized moral perspective and balanced processing. The variables were highlighted together as a quick overview and then I did a complete breakdown to show how each enhances the work environment.
I spent extra time on balanced processing because I want to train new leaders to understand how important this is in the work environment. Staff will speak up with new ideas IF they believe input is wanted and will be acted on (as applicable). Leaders who want input from staff need to let them know they are willing to listen but there are times when something truly cannot be done. Nothing wrong with this because it enhances relational transparency in the work environment.
The AFC members had a lot of questions about Authentic Leadership and how they can improve their self-awareness. I am happy with the dialogue we started during the AFC event and look forward to sharing Authentic Leadership with other organizations soon. Got a couple requests to bring my presentation into departmental meetings and I will say YES when the invites come in. 😊
How has your Authentic Leadership knowledge grown?
“The power for authentic leadership is found not in external arrangements, but in the human heart”.
(Parker J. Palmer)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/05/12/what-is-authentic-leadership/?sh=6f7ed67fdef7
(Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay)
Motivated?
What motivates you?
I would guess things quite different from what motivates me
The drive I seek comes from things I have seen
Some good, some bad
Some fair, some foul
The secret here is to use them all
Never let the opinion of others sway your desire
To reach the pinnacle you aspire
Continue to work to meet and exceed your goals
Remind the doubters that you are in control
Dreams will become reality soon enough
Got to keep working because life can be rough
Find your motivation, live your dreams
A motivated life is a wonderful sight to be seen
Knowledge
The series of daily challenges presented
Provides a template to view
How to conquer the challenges?
It is all up to you
Life provides many opportunities to grow
The direction you chose, only you will know
Continue to strive through the growing process
Knowing that you hold the key to it all
The knowledge you gain
Helps to move your journey forward
And makes the challenges easier to maintain
Note: All original verses by the author.
(Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay)
“When in doubt, zoom out”.
(Reggie Watts)
I like starting Walk into the Future articles with a quote to inspire my thought process and get me going. Well, the quote above is the best I could find with zoom in it but has nothing really to do with this article. Forgive me but thought it was funny and had the appropriate word (zoom) I needed to move forward.
The last several months have been productive, exciting, and frustrating (COVID-19) but progress has been made daily. The Zoom application has become a popular way for the workforce to keep making positive things happen considering the COVID-19 pandemic. More people are using this platform to ensure daily operations and tasks are completed in this new way to go to work.
Zoom interview
My first foray using the Zoom application came back in February when I was introduced to it for a first-round interview. I have used Skype to interview for past positions and to interview candidates for openings on my team. Did not know much about Zoom but found the process a lot more seamless than the Skype application. Simply receive an email with a link, click on the link at the appropriate time and you are meeting with the folks on the distant end. Zoom provides the capability to host multiple people in multiple locations so this appears to make getting a team together to interview candidates a bit easier than Skype. I am sure there are still uses for the Skype platform but thought Zoom took pressure off me as the candidates since I did not have to test my computer/software as in the past.
Zoom team meeting
Leveraged my newfound appreciation for Zoom by hosting my first team meeting with my new team at Indian River State College prior to starting work. Again, COVID-19 has most organizations working remotely to avoid large meetings and practicing physical distancing. I wanted to get a head start on teambuilding prior to moving to Fort Pierce and Zoom was the perfect application. We were able to host 10 people in 5 different locations (physical distancing) and build a team foundation to help us find ways to ensure students, faculty/staff and employers continue to receive world class customer service. I have talked with tree branches who are using Zoom but found it to be an even better platform than described.
Zoom work process (onboarding, team meetings, teambuilding)
Realize there are several who will read this article who have been using Zoom for a while. I am just getting my feet wet and see so many useful ways to use this platform even after we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff on satellite campuses can continue to participate in meetings, workshops, and teambuilding activities without having to drive to the main campus. There will be times when they need/want to be present, but Zoom can save time and driving to and from the main campus. Also, see the benefits of conducting one-on-one sessions with distant students, employers, and staff. Just getting my thoughts together but I am sure I will leverage Zoom to find ways to ensure our students have the best employment opportunities available. Zoom appears to be setting the pace for a new world order! Stay tuned as I will continue to share how I am zooming into the future. 😊
How does your organization use the Zoom platform? Do you have tricks of the trade you can share? Thanks!
NOTE: Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Collaborate are three platforms I am actively using at work. The three platforms are easy to navigate and provides similar functionality.
“If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.”
(Audre Lorde)
Really love the words presented by Audre Lorde. The concept of creating your own definition of self is vitality important to truly progress in life. There are people who look in the mirror and automatically see bad examples staring back at them. Please know, the mirror can lie and the bad examples from the past do not have to hinder the present and/or future.
Bad examples can manifest in multiple locations. I will focus on two specific areas to help highlight how bad examples can and should be used to fuel a positive Walk into the Future. The two areas I focus on are leadership and personal development. I’m sure everyone has a story on bad examples in these areas as well. My attempt will be to show how these bad experiences can be leveraged for a positive tomorrow.
Leadership
Would like to say everyone I’ve worked for has been an outstanding leader but that would not be true. It may not even be realistic to expect EVERY leader to possess the capability to be outstanding. Turns out the leaders who were not the best provided me with enough tough lessons to sharpen my leadership skills. Please note, I’ve had some great leaders/mentors in my life who I lean on even today. Their lessons are with me daily, but the few bad leaders impact my leadership style and methods as well.
I gravitated towards the Authentic Leadership style because I’ve seen organizations destroyed because the so-called leader wasn’t authentic. They profess being a genuine and transparent leader but then their true self comes out and it is the opposite of authentic. Seeing these type leaders in action reinforces why the concepts of authenticity, self-awareness, having a moral compass and relational transparency are so important in my leadership style.
I’ve seen leaders who walk by their direct reports’ multiple times in a day and never say hello. Seems like a small thing but how can you say you care about your people and can’t acknowledge them? Not saying a leader must stop and talk every time they see someone but it’s a lot easier leading people when you are relatable and engaged. Also, only talking with direct reports when something is needed or due signals the leader only cares about the bottom line. Staff will do more within a positive and nurturing work environment.
These are two leadership examples I leverage to help build my authentic leadership platform. I proactively do the opposite of these leadership examples because I’ve seen them in action and how they deflate staff and organizational morale.
That’s my approach, things I don’t like or disagree with from a bad leader, I simply don’t repeat—not rocket science but it works. No need to subject others to these habits—create positive energy and blaze your leadership trail to enhance the work environment.
Personal development
There are instances where environment can hinder personal development but many more where great outcomes occur almost against all odds. Life is impacted by choices (good or bad) and we have the capability to choose not to mirror bad examples but learn from them.
I love working with college students from South Florida. They routinely tell me they’re the first person in their family to attend college and they want a different outcome for themselves. They don’t want to forget the struggles from home but use them to continue to grow. They also strive not to repeat some of the bad neighborhood examples others succumbed to.
They tell me of proactive actions they took to avoid running with the wrong neighborhood friends. These people may have been well intentioned but set bad examples of how to truly progress in life. They experienced family and community situations that potentially could hinder growth, but they didn’t let these things stop them. These things were used as inspiration to overcome obstacles.
Environment is an important element in personal development but can be overcome—I’ve seen it done. Mentors and positive examples can help with personal development. Self-awareness and learning from bad examples can increase the ability to blaze a personal development trail.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be”.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
How do you define yourself for you? What does your personal or professional mirror reflect? How can you leverage bad examples to enhance your Walk into the Future?
(Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay)
“Love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning”.
(Carol Dweck)
What is holding you back from accomplishing what you want out of life?
This question and subsequent answers can be applied to your personal and professional life. I’m a huge advocate for positive energy helping us meet or exceed our life goals so, begin the process to remove anything that would limit your progress today!
Dictionary.com defines progress as forward or onward movement toward a destination.
Let your daily thoughts, actions and words lead you toward the progress your desire in all areas of your life.
I’m a firm believer we can talk ourselves into or out of anything in life. I’ve started answering the question how’s your day? with the response fantastic. I use this response to trigger the destination I’m seeking and ensure my thoughts match the destination. I know this is a simple explanation but how many people have you heard say the following:
They have just created a negative thought pattern for the highlighted activities. Not saying simply putting a positive spin would make everything work better BUT it can’t hurt. Why create these roadblocks for yourself? Positive self-talk can be used here to get better outcomes. It takes time to adjust your mindset but should be worth the attempt.
“There is no elevator to success. You must take the stairs”.
(Unknown)
Next, put the necessary actions in place to match your positive thoughts. Identify the things needed to reverse the identified roadblocks. Using the same thoughts listed above can help highlight how actions can help with your thoughts:
Finally, put the appropriate words in place to ensure your thoughts and actions move you towards the progress you seek. I leverage reggae and specifically Bob Marley songs to get me in an Irie state of mind prior to speaking engagements. This may seem like a small factor, but I’ve found sustained success when I do this. Playing reggae also enhances the mood and mindset of my audience.
I routinely write the following words in my notes prior to speaking: eye contact, speak clearly, move the crowd and have fun.
These words are consistent with the outcomes I want from every presentation. I mentioned in an earlier post I still get nervous prior to speaking even with my experience level. Writing these words prior to an engagement give me the focus needed to ensure a successful presentation. My words in this example influence my thoughts and lead to positive actions. Simple, huh?
This is not an overnight process! It takes time and self-awareness to fully understand how your thoughts, words and actions impact your daily interactions.
What roadblocks have you created that limit your progress? What thoughts, actions and words can you leverage to remove these roadblocks? Thanks!
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right”.
(Henry Ford)
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
“We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark”.
(Whoopi Goldberg)
Had an interesting conversation with a good friend today about why I consider myself a People Builder. My explanation comes down to this is something I was destined for—my purpose if you will. There it is—I’m a People Builder!
Got invited to speak with 3 Student Success classes at Tallahassee Community College in December 2019. The professor and I worked together at FSU years ago and reached out to see if I could energize her students. I never turn down speaking roles so decided to work on some new material to help students find the why in their studies.
The invite came the week prior to finals so most students were ready for the semester to end–then I enter the arena. Always love a challenge and the end of a semester provides plenty of them. Didn’t let this deter me as I prepared for my full day working on the TCC campus—I’m built for this! 😊
The main message I wanted the students to take away is they control their destiny.
Education and life are active endeavors and the more they participate, take charge and act the more empowered they will feel in all aspects of life. Wanted to ensure the students understood empowerment by having them create a life and educational why statement while I was with them. Some never heard of this concept but were quick to embrace it since the professor made this an extra credit project prior to finals—it takes all types of motivation. 😊
Had several students share their why statements with me during the class sessions—came away impressed with what they generated during our time together. Also introduced the concept of SMART goals (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to the students to help them with future educational and life pursuits. Leveraged SMART goals to help the students understand how written goals would impact their why statements.
The professor conducted a survey to get the students to identify what they took away from my visit. See a sample below.
Sample student survey results:
Happy to report most of the students I spoke with left with the same energy and got active making positive things happen. Several reached out to me on LinkedIn to stay connected for mentorship opportunities. Got invited to coffee recently for additional insight on goal setting—progress was made at TCC!
People building closely resembles being a superhero—Inspiration Man strikes again!
How can you become a People Builder? Who in your circle would benefit from a little construction?
“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can”.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Walk Into the Future 