Summer Review

As an adult educator, it's a constant focus to implement self awareness techniques and future oriented strategies for motivating adult learners. However, as a typical human, it's easy to make one self exempt from "the message". Implemented personal kanban has really improved my personal abilities for self-reflection, and as such, immediately see the connection point between my small triumphs this quarter that directly apply to my big picture goals. It is good to feel the results of my own efforts with motivational techniques in adult learning curriculum.

That is the message to all of you; however, now I am going to take the time to record my own reflections that the visual controls of kanban has shared with me.

As I have tweeted in the past, my three categories are no longer To Do, Doing, and Done. As an effort to continue self-motivation within the personal kanban process, I switched these out for Opportunities, Active Involvement, and Personal Fulfillment. The subconscious stress of reviewing my kanban board each week quickly turned into excitement over simple name changes because it affected my mindset.

Since my world operates on a quarterly basis being in school and being a director in a school, my three columns get 'wiped' each quarter with a fresh start. The end of August is upon us, and my quarterly celebrations is upon me.

Summer 2010

Opportunities that I was not able to take advantage of this summer...

• Finishing my watercolour of a favourite scene in Rome (personal)
• Research theorists for my next major PhD compilation (education)
• Create the self-directed APA tutorial (consulting)
• Write article on the need for passion and relevance to effectively learn as adults (consulting)
• Incorporate my consultancy (consulting)
• Rewrite CM3000 for Ohio Christian University (consulting)

Action items of which I am still actively involved...

• Teaching CM3000 for Ohio Christian University (consulting)
• Aligning kanban to university needs administratively (director)
• Implementing kanban into curriculum for group learning (case study)

Celebrations!!!!

• Decluttered our Indianapolis home (personal)
• Moved from Denver to Phoenix (personal)
• Registered for Research 8200 for Walden's Fall quarter (education)
• Registered for Chicago residency for Walden's Fall quarter (education)
• Finalized 130 page compilation on adult learning theory and motivational strategies for PhD (education)
• Brainstormed consultancy model (consulting)
• Have professional website specs to developer (consulting)
• Taught ORE100 for Ohio Christian University (consulting)
• Rewrote PS1010 for Ohio Christian University (consulting)
• Assisted the guidance of university client through the accreditation process (consulting)
• Designed 8 courses for university client (consulting)
• Co-wrote GEN322 course for university client (consulting)

A day ago I was completely stressed and feeling that nothing of significance was getting accomplished. Today I feel major strides towards my bigger life goals.

Observe the power of visual controls for self-reflection and goal orientation.

Fashion Rant

I love high fashion.
I hate high fashion.

How can you love and hate something at the same time?

I have to say that it's always fun to look at people's creativity and imagine ways to adjust your personal wardrobe for next season as if I live in Paris. People without the financial resources to get an entirely new wardrobe seem to easily overreact as it is amazing how you can use accessories and a few key pieces to completely change what you have.

However, watching Fashion TV sometimes drives me batty. While loving the catwalks, I can't help but roll my eyes at the interviews of guests and editors before the show as they proudly state that they are wearing the [designer] blouse, [designer] pants, and [designer] boots with the special [designer] belt accessory.

REALLY?

I grant you that I do sometimes say "I love my Gucci boots" or whatever, but quite frankly, I usually identify all my shoes, boots and favourite pieces in some form, whether it's my unique identification such as "Spot" or "Roman boots" or "Rings", all of which are examples of how I name my clothing yet are also designer. However, this was not the case in the interviews. It was simply a mode for showing how uncreative they are personally by putting labels on their back. I'm pretty sure that at least in my own little world that clothes are to be worn for a flattering and fun experience, not to be a walking advertisment. I was especially pleased when an Elle reporter responded to the query "so what are you wearing" with "I am wearing a biker jacket, black jeans and black boots." Go girl! Wear something because it makes you hot, not because you have to list what designer clothes you're wearing.

Also, she looked better than the others who had a laundry list of show-off tags. I have no doubt that what she wore was designer too, but she focused on her composition, not names.

Additionally, it doesn't matter what you wear if it makes you look good. Self-awareness of your body shape and type is essential for good fashion.