Stay the course
Stay the course, are my three words, or my phrase, for 2014. Chris Brogan et al started this meme a few years ago, and I think that it’s worth participating in. My three words are a reminder to me that if I want to attain professional success in the next 12 months, I have to stay the course that I am on and give it sufficient time to bear fruits. I have talked about this before, that there are times when I do not stick to the plan. We have to be flexible, because that’s how we capitalize on the opportunities that come our way, but there are times when we have to stay the course, despite all the shiny new objects and the many temptations that present themselves.
In August I started working on my non-degreed liberal arts education, which I spent a considerable time thinking about since it is a huge investment of my time. To make sure that I stick to the plan, I developed outcomes for the project. I noticed behaviours that have derailed me in the past – rushing at the speed of light and not always honoring the commitments that I make to myself – so I stopped my liberal arts education for a few weeks so that I could do things the right way. I am taking the time to type my handwritten notes. This serves the two purposes of reminding me what I am learning as well as preparing the information for analysis and synthesis. Some of my strengths include making sense of large amounts of information and connecting disparate pieces of information.
While in Jamaica, I had to take a break from my liberal arts education because there were too many things competing for my time and attention, and if you are going to do something, you should do it well. Now that I have returned to Toronto, there are fewer distractions so I can return to my education with a singular focus. How will I know that I have attained professional success by staying the course? I have timelines and deliverables for myself, and I am thinking of formalizing the process further by creating a Gantt Chart, a project management tool that I was introduced to while studying computer science and management information systems.
As you prepare for 2014, what are three words that are your guiding light? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Liked this post? Share it and subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Author Bio: Avil Beckford, an expert interviewer, entrepreneur and published author is passionate about books and professional development, and that's why she founded The Invisible Mentor and the Virtual Literary World Tour to give you your ideal mentors virtually in the palm of your hands by offering book reviews and book summaries, biographies of wise people and interviews of successful people.
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