Wednesday, November 27, 2013

There's no I in Team

When was the last time you were part of a team? Was it at work? Were you at sports practice? Did you work in a group on a group assignment? How did it make you feel to be part of a team? Did it make you feel invigorated, energetic, and excited? If not, then did it make you feel frustrated, annoyed, and agitated?

Normally, I prefer to work alone. I didn't have much success working in teams growing up. I was the person who was stuck doing at least 90% of the group work. It was frustrating to know that my group received the same credit for doing maybe 10% of the work. Even though I learned more from awful group experiences, it is something I do not wish upon anyone.

Recently, my perception of teamwork has changed. Did I finally comprehend the theoretical conceptualization behind teamwork? No, that happened a long time ago. What I finally realized is that not everyone will always work successfully together. When different personalities are brought into the equation, conflict is bound to arise. Heck, who am I kidding?! I already knew that, too.

The truth is that it took a special person to change my perception of teamwork. My boy friend and I have a goal to be physically fit; we want to live a long, prosperous life together. To do this, we have committed to working out 5 times per week. There are days when he is not motivated and vice versa. On the days we don't feel like going, we can come up with every excuse in the book. Instead, we drag ourselves to the gym and work out.When we're at the gym, we push each other. Sometimes, I don't want to continue because I am pushing myself harder than I ever did in gym class. Other times, his knee bothers him; I keep him motivated.

Through this bonding experience, I have realized the importance of teamwork. We challenge each other and push the other to his or her limit. We pound the fist when we accomplish our work out goals. After all is said and done, I now know that it takes team work to be successful at the gym and in every area of my life.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Push it Good

Do you remember the last time you worked out? During the workout, how did you feel? Were you ready to pass out, give up, or start crying? When it was over, how did you feel? Did you feel energized, tired, and happy? If these descriptions don't sound like you, then I hope you feel wonderful as you workout and after it's finished. Many people I know would say they are frustrated during the workout and feel better post workout.

I would describe myself as someone who enjoys working out, but can feel challenged at the end. In the beginning, I breeze through it like the breeze flowing through my hair on a windy day. As the workout comes to an end, I find it difficult to motivate myself to keep going.

I'll be honest, it's easier to quit a workout when there's only 2 minutes left. Who needs to use the elliptical for 2 more minutes? What will 2 extra minutes actually do for me? What's the benefit of pushing myself to do the last set of obliques? Let's not forget about crunches. Those are a real doozey when my stomach hurts.

As a goal-oriented person who likes to achieve everything I set my mind to, I push myself to finish because I set out to do it. It's not always easy. However, if I follow through on my workout goals, then it is easier to follow through on other goals I set for myself.

I know, I know. If you hate working out, then you may be wondering why working out is even worth it. If I, the person who despised gym class in high school and college, can take my rear end to the gym and accomplish my workout goals, then I know you can do it. Once you accomplish goals that are outside of the gym, then it will be easier to follow through on the remainder of your goals.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Prior Proper Preparation Prevents......

Have you entered a situation where you weren't prepared? How did you feel? What thoughts crossed your mind? Turn it around and think about how you felt when you were prepared. Did you feel different? Did different thoughts cross your mind? I hope so. To finish the statement from the title, prior proper preparation prevents poor performance.

Life will present different situations. Sometimes we are adequately prepared; sometimes we're not. When I am prepared, I embody confidence and charisma. If I don't prepare, then I can become irritated and frustrated. Lack of preparation can cause frustration an interview, in a traffic jam, or when someone says something sudden. 

What do I do to prepare for an unprepared situation? It's simple: I prepare for situations that I can control. For example, I had a phone interview not too long ago. I was asked a series of questions that are meant to get to know someone and designed to weed out candidates. I was asked questions I hadn't expected during the interview, but I successfully answered each question and landed the job. How did I do this? I accomplished this in two ways. The first way was to practice interviewing. How could I become better at interviewing without practicing?! The second way was to improve my impromptu speaking skills. I could practice interview all day, but the ability to think on my feet with no prior proper preparation is a skill that must also be learned. 

Not every situation can be planned in advance, but if you take the opportunity to practice when it doesn't count, and view it as a situation that will allow you to grow, then you can be prepared in an unprepared situation.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

What's In a Title?

Do you have a title associated with your name? If so, how does it make you feel? What did it take to get that title? How many hours did you spend earning your title? Was it worth it? Think about these questions as you proceed through this blog entry.

About five years ago, I thought obtaining a title was the thing to do. Think about it. Medical doctors have a prestigious title as do professors, attorneys, etc. When I saw a title attached to someone's name, I thought that person had more value to society than someone who didn't have a title.

Five years later, I now have a title. In the classroom, my students refer to me as professor. Does it feel good? Yes! I couldn't imagine not being in the classroom with my students. Without my M.A., I could not legally teach at the college level (unless I was a Graduate Assistant). Even though it feels good to be called Professor, I inform my students that they can refer to me as Ms., Miss., or even by my first name (I know some wouldn't agree with this.). Why would I let my students call me a title that is not "professor"? It's simple. I don't associate my worth with my title.

I have learned much about titles within the past few years. Below are the lessons:
-A title is simply a title. A title can get a person employed.
-A title doesn't necessarily prove one's abilities and capabilities. Any field has good and bad professors, good and bad medical doctors, good and bad managers, etc.

Having a title is nice. Without it, I could not teach. However, I don't define myself by it nor do I expect to be treated different from someone else who does not have it. I attended a meeting today. The gentleman made the comment that he now should refer to me as professor. I told him to refer to me by my first name. When I go to bed at night, I don't think about me in regard to my profession. I think about my character and the qualities that make me unique. When the day ends, I will always know what I went through and how much time I've dedicated to the academy. The lessons and challenges I've faced thus far have helped to shape who I am and how I see my worth, not the title associated with my name.