Field Trip

When you were in school, did you like to go on field trips?  Did it help you to get a different perspective on what you were learning by getting out of the classroom?  Visits to the museum, zoo, or historical locations allowed you to see and experience things that you read about in books.  As adults, you can also benefit from taking field trips.  There are places that you can go to inform, inspire, and influence your decisions regarding your next steps toward success.  The following suggestions may help you to plan an effective field trip.

1. Identify your field.  What do you want to do?  You are the only person that can answer that question.  You know what fits your interests, skills, and personality.
2. Make connections with people or organizations in your chosen field.  You can call them mentors, role models, or advisors.  The label is not as important as the relationship. 
3. Do your homework.  Know what to expect in the field and be prepared with relevant questions.  Don't expect others to know what you need. 
4. Realize that the field may look different from your expectations.  You may be at the mall, grocery store, or gas station and see something or someone that might be relevant to your field.  Be observant at all times. 
5. You probably can't cover the whole field all at once.  Break it into segments and plan your trips accordingly.  Take notes and write a report when you return from the field.  The data will help you on future trips.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts on this week's post.

Monthly Motto

It is common at the beginning of a year to make resolutions about changes that you want to make.  You may have focus and determination at the beginning, but a year is a long time.  Sometimes you can become discouraged when distractions and circumstances prevent you from working on your resolutions.  Instead of planning what you want to do for the year, consider what you can accomplish in a month.  Decide on a motto for each month.  A definition of a motto is a short expression of a guiding principle.  It doesn't have to be something big.  It can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  You might give time or money to charity.  If you cannot think of a monthly motto, you may want to adopt one or more from the following list.

1. Better Time Management
• Don't hit the snooze button on the alarm clock.  Take advantage of every waking moment.
• Make priority lists, not "to do" lists.  You can't do everything at once.  Decide what is most important.
• Know the difference between accountability and responsibility.  Don't be afraid to delegate tasks. 
2. Reduce Clutter
• Clean out your closets.  Use your space effectively and efficiently.
• Shred documentation that is no longer needed.  Protect your identity.
• Leave room on your calendar for you.  Don't schedule every minute to benefit someone else.
3. Preventive Maintenance
• Body - Schedule regular medical and dental appointments.
• Auto - Get oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations, alignments, and other services as recommended for your vehicle.
• Home - Take care of your roof, water heater, HVAC system, and other core components of your home.
4. Favorable Impressions
• Greetings - Greet people in a way that makes them glad that they saw you.  It could be a warm smile, a firm hand shake, or a sincere expression of pleasure to see them.
• Attention - Pay attention when others are speaking.  Ask follow up questions that reference something that was said. 
• Consideration - Be considerate of others.  Saying "please" and "thank you" is always appropriate. 
5. Learning and Development
• Reading - Make a reading appointment with an article or book on a topic that will help you.
• Practicing - In order to perfect something, you need to do it repeatedly.  Athletes, performers, doctors, and lawyers practice continuously.  Success requires repetition.
• Listening - There are lessons to be learned from those that succeeded, those still trying to make it, and those that failed.  Listen to what did and did not work for them.    

Leave a comment and share your motto for this month.

5 Ways To Maintain Esteem

There was a post last month that dealt with building esteem, Build Esteem.  Five steps were given to help you establish a healthy and strong self-esteem.  Once you have built the esteem, work must be done to maintain it.  The maintenance work can summarized with the word "value".  If you value your esteem, you will take the necessary steps to keep it at a high level.  Think of demonstrating value with these five words:  visibility, association, language, use, and expectation.



Visibility - When your esteem is on display, you are aware of it.  You are held accountable to it.  If you have confidence in your knowledge, raise your hand when a question is asked.  When you believe that you are good at something, do it willingly and with enthusiasm.

Association - Your esteem will be strengthened when you interact with others that feel good about themselves.  Optimism can be contagious.  You want to associate with people that have a positive outlook about life, themselves, and you.  Pessimism can also spread through contact.  If you are constantly trying to pull someone up out of sadness, eventually they are going to pull you down to their level and way of thinking.

Language - It sounds simple but the words that you use do make a difference.  When you are speaking or writing about what you want to do, make sure the following terms are used often:  "can", "will", "progress", "possible", and "opportunity".  The right language helps you keep things in perspective and have a positive outlook.

Use - Your self-esteem is like a muscle.  It needs to be used in order to stay in good shape.  You can use it by doing things that make you feel good about yourself.  For some people, that might be a spa day or other pampering event.  Others may do volunteer work to help people in order to keep their esteem at a high level.  Do what works for you.

Expectation - Have realistic expectations about what is and is not in your control.  Don't beat yourself up when things go wrong.  Have an honest conversation with yourself and others that can give you objective feedback.  Make the necessary changes and continue to grow.  Expect to be able to pursue opportunities; don't expect opportunities to pursue you.  Expect friends and family to be human; don't expect them to be perfect.  Expect your outcomes to be evaluated; don't expect your intentions to represent you.

Leave a comment and share how you will value and maintain your esteem this year.