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Home > Archive: September, 2016

Archive for September, 2016

An hour of stillness

September 23rd, 2016 at 11:20 am

I stayed in bed this morning with a cup of hot coffee to update my budget and catch up with things. Since the school year started I have been on the go nearly every hour, until bedtime. Things should simmer down soon, as we all get into the groove of jobs and extracurricular activities.

My new position has kept me very busy. You all were correct, the leadership role has gotten easier with practice! It does feel better to just make a decision and say it directly, rather than put things off or try to say things in a round-about way. It feels good to be making progress in this area. The class that I am currently taking is about professional, ethical behavior in the field. There is a lot of information about how to develop leadership behaviors. Like any other behavior, leadership behaviors need to be taught and practiced until they feel natural. So I have been keeping that in mind as I face anxious situations at work.

Despite the crazy busy schedule during the week, I am fortunate that I don't work on the weekends. That is a good thing, because it give the girls and I moments to just breathe and recharge. I don't feel "ready" to plan any elaborate weekend activity, still adjusting to the year.

Financially, I should get a better feel for my budget next week, when I find out what my paychecks will look like. This will be my first check with my pay raise!

Just Do It...

September 8th, 2016 at 11:18 am

Instead of just talking about what I "need" to be doing, I need to Just Do IT. Do the "hard" stuff that makes a huge impact in my life.


At work I accepted a promotion, which is very exciting, but slightly terrifying. I know I can do the job. I have been studying this field for quite a while, and have lots of experience behind me now. I just have some bad habits regarding how I deal with conflict and giving directions.

My professional goal is to be more direct at work. This means having self confidence in what I am saying, and changing some of my communication habits so that I come across as a credible leader. I know that speaking more directly will save time, keep little problems from becoming big ones, and should help everyone perform better. It will also help me feel better. It's no fun to always second guess your decisions, or to be constantly hesitating before saying anything, it's anxiety-producing. I am ready to build some better communication skills!

Goal for this week: Give directions directly, not in a "roundabout" way. Say it confidently, because it is nothing personal, it's about doing the job.