Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Professional Improver 101

Welcome! I've created this post to support a class that I taught. It's so cool that I can just direct the women from the class to this site and provide links to everything that I referenced! So I'm going to embed the links into words here (it's not as painful as it sounds, but go ahead and be impressed that I can do it. It's really the cutting edge of technology, in my world.). Click on the colored words and they will take you to all of the places that you need to go on your journey to becoming a professional improver. "Always improving" is a wonderful mantra!

Firstly, you should read about this idea. I labelled my blog "Professional SAHM" because that's where I am in life, but it can apply much more broadly, hence the title of "Professional Improver 101". Read up on my original concept if you're in the dark.

Now that you understand the concept, you need to write down your professions. I like this "Goal Chart with Details" from Chartjungle. Check it out, and if you like it, I recommend printing out 12 so that you can plan out a full year. Then hole punch them and put them into a binder or a duotang (that's just a great word so I had to work it in because, really, now that I'm done elementary school, when do I ever have good cause to use it?). Keep your professional goals somewhere handy so that you can focus on improving.

Finally, don't get discouraged. Click here and here to go to the lectures that I based my comments on. Most of my professions are thrown together as I work on them. I'm not very accomplished at setting specific goals and keeping on track (that would be called self-discipline. . . say wha'???) but this program still has value because it keeps me improving. Some months all I do is read at the end of the month what my profession was (Oh, YAAAAaaaaaaa. . . ) and then reflect on what I did that month and record my accomplishments in the area. The value is that I'm recognizing where and how I succeeded rather than focusing all of my mental effort on where I failed. I avoid becoming discouraged. BTW, if you could earn a gold medal in negative thinking; you're THAT good, a real live method to overcome it is to wear an elastic on your wrist (well, OBVIOUSLY not a tight elastic that will cut off the circulation to your hand and then it will have to be amputated - like I didn't listen to my mom, too!) and the psychologists actually instruct that you should snap it every time you have a negative thought. And once you snap, you stop being negative and replace it with a positive thought. Not that I've ever tried that, but it'd be amusing to watch someone use that method.... But my point is that it's important to be positive, and that your mind is powerful. Maybe this month you could be a professional optimist.

3 comments:

Julie said...

Your comment section doesn't like me. You did a great job with your class! When I grow up I want to be all put together like you. Maybe I should try and be you for a month. Does that count? ;-)

Gilly said...

I wish I could have attended your class. I loved the post.What a good idea to put everything on your blog...I'll have to remember that.
an aside - my mother never told me anything about the dangers of wearing elastic bands around my wrists - so I have made quite the habit on it - which is always worrisome to my poor husband.

Niki said...

So inspiring! I just love your humor and down to earth sensibility!