Tomorrow's class includes a deliverable of a paper to discuss what's next after graduation. I've been putting it off a little because I have to be honest and say, currently I really don't know. Through my MBA program I've seen a real transition in my thought process. I came in as a doer/ postitioner, looking for that next challenge that would lead to the next opportunity. Throughout the last two years, I've been challenged by the idea, that what I do really flows out of who I am. This statement I am about to make may not make sense to anybody else, but- who I am is a state of being present, rather that the eye that is always planted in the future.
Throughout my MBA, we've had incredible guest speakers. The President of American Airlines, Founders of Golfsmith and Founders of Impact Austin. In each of these sectors, the story that connects each of these individuals was that they were fully present and did what they were currently tasked with to the best of their abilities. They didn't have their eye on the next promotion or what their company or organization would be in the distant future. They sought the full allocation and utilization of their current resources. And it was on that platform that they embraced "what's next".
This last week took a bit of an unexpected turn for me. I had been serving in a voluntary position for a local organization, and at a recent board meeting I was presented next year's slate of officers. It was to my surprise that the only name not listed was my own. As quickly as a chairman can say "all in favor" and the crowd responds "Aye", my involvement was sealed. I received several calls from other board members and upcoming leadership (I am blessed with such caring and supportive friends). What appears to have occured is one group was tasked with the 3 year appointments, and another the 1 year appointments. Individuals in both groups made the assumption that I was on the other's slate.
Immeditately, I was hurt, feeling my involvement or services were no longer needed, and I wasn't given a heads up as a courtesy. However, over the weekend I've found grace and peace in where God is leading. I sense change all around me, like David Crowder's song that talks about God's love like a hurricane. There have been opporutnities recently presenting themselves, such as the conversation I recently had with a Supreme Court Justice. I have to believe that God knows what I see as opportunities that I would find it near impossible to walk away from, and then help me release those so I can be present and ready in the moment for the next thing He brings to my journey.
So perhaps a starting place for my paper isn't what is in the future so much is taking the time to be present. To fully invest in the opportunities life presents us, and in those "opportunities" to fully embrace and extend grace. To know in the moment how we respond to pressure and awkward circumstance, so that in the future we can be better leaders. To revere the times when life can provide pain or hurt, to know it only deepens our human experience and allows us to connect with others in ways we wouldn't have been able to previously. And largely, to be at peace with the abiss of the future- the beautiful enigma, which we can try to shape and craft with our skills, tallents or labels of plans. To sit and rest in the hurricane of what may be, finding grace for the moment.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Advice when it comes to Capstone
We're over half way through in our last semester, and I can't believe there are only 7 more weeks of this MBA journey. My team is really close to completing our Capstone Deliverable, and I thought I might share some insight from our current perspective.
1. Consider a Capstone team of atleast 4 members.
While 2 or 3 may do, you still have assignments for class in which you break into your groups for presentations and paper writing. Smaller teams mean more work.
2. Consider a Capstone project/deliverable that can flow with outcomes expected in the final semester. A student from the current 6th semester should be able to provide you a syllabus. Noting, items may change, it would help to determine what work you will already be expected to do, and see if you can match that up with your outcome or deliverables.
3. Frontload your semester. Currently the final semester is a 15 week Innvovation and Entrepreneurship class with 10 weeks of "capstone" sandwiching a 5 week leadership class. While the Leadership class does have a paper due pretty much every week, it's important to continue working on your capstone project throughout this time. Its important to manage 3 classes at once, even though only two are currently meeting. We scheduled calls with our company every other week. On call off weeks, we put together documents with their added input and documents for them to review for our next call. This next week should be our final call, already, and we will be finalizing our Deliverable 3, which for our group is the third section break out of the Program Strategic Plan that we are creating. All that will be left is compiling the paper from our three sections, and finalizing a presentation.
4. Stay on top of it. Our group has an established meeting time on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30, and we utilize WebEx to do something similar to a skype call while we can switch to eachother's screen and show documents and agendas. We also utilize Google Docs for a timeline I set up at the beginning of the semester where I combined the syllabi togther for each class. Column headings are the weeks of classes, and rows list each class, project mile markers, and each team member's names so they can update their schedules of when they are available or out of town.
5. Don't get bogged down. Currently the Capstone project is only a 2 hr credit. I know this will be changing in the upcoming semesters to a 4 hour credit (sorry future cohorts), but for now, keep this realiziation. For some companies, this really means they need more than what you can offer. Keep your scope narrow, so you can do well with what you take on.
If you have any other questions, or are a student working on your Capstone and have additional ideas, please feel free to comment and add on!
1. Consider a Capstone team of atleast 4 members.
While 2 or 3 may do, you still have assignments for class in which you break into your groups for presentations and paper writing. Smaller teams mean more work.
2. Consider a Capstone project/deliverable that can flow with outcomes expected in the final semester. A student from the current 6th semester should be able to provide you a syllabus. Noting, items may change, it would help to determine what work you will already be expected to do, and see if you can match that up with your outcome or deliverables.
3. Frontload your semester. Currently the final semester is a 15 week Innvovation and Entrepreneurship class with 10 weeks of "capstone" sandwiching a 5 week leadership class. While the Leadership class does have a paper due pretty much every week, it's important to continue working on your capstone project throughout this time. Its important to manage 3 classes at once, even though only two are currently meeting. We scheduled calls with our company every other week. On call off weeks, we put together documents with their added input and documents for them to review for our next call. This next week should be our final call, already, and we will be finalizing our Deliverable 3, which for our group is the third section break out of the Program Strategic Plan that we are creating. All that will be left is compiling the paper from our three sections, and finalizing a presentation.
4. Stay on top of it. Our group has an established meeting time on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30, and we utilize WebEx to do something similar to a skype call while we can switch to eachother's screen and show documents and agendas. We also utilize Google Docs for a timeline I set up at the beginning of the semester where I combined the syllabi togther for each class. Column headings are the weeks of classes, and rows list each class, project mile markers, and each team member's names so they can update their schedules of when they are available or out of town.
5. Don't get bogged down. Currently the Capstone project is only a 2 hr credit. I know this will be changing in the upcoming semesters to a 4 hour credit (sorry future cohorts), but for now, keep this realiziation. For some companies, this really means they need more than what you can offer. Keep your scope narrow, so you can do well with what you take on.
If you have any other questions, or are a student working on your Capstone and have additional ideas, please feel free to comment and add on!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
New Developments
When I began my MBA I knew I was setting out to test my limits like never before. I was already providing the single income for my husband and I and supporting him through grad school. Taking on 6 hours additionally each semester seemed like a mountain... a surmountable challenge, but a challenge none the less. I knew I was putting myself in the position of pressure cooker, but it's funny how the mind can rationalize things... When it came down to it, the "truth" I bought into was "you can do anything for two years".
And you really do find, that the uncontrolled variable in life that you can always count on is that time continues. No matter what you do, two years from now, you will be 2 years older, 2 years of life will have passed, assuming you're alive. And here I stand, 22 months later. What I've gained is invaluable, and I've SURVIVED! I've almost done my two years.
Matt finished his grad program several weeks ago, and has nailed down a contract for this next year. In August I'll graduate from this MBA Program, Matt will be salaried, and we can count on two incomes again, and the newest developments??? Well I wanted to test my limits once again, and I now find myself navigating papers and group projects with the constant threat of nausea, because our newest little development is due on Christmas Day! I'll actually find out the sex of the baby the week after my graduation, and plan to do some type of graduation party/ gender reveal in one of the two weekends following graduation.
I'm not going to lie- This has been the biggest challenge through the whole program. I've been sick for almost 6 weeks straight, and currently get sick 1-2 times a day. It makes it hard to function at a basic level, and on top of that working through the capstone and all the assignments of this final semester is certainly challenging. But hopefully, I can continue to give it my best shot, and who knows, I might just make it through this program with my 4.0 intact.
We're 7 weeks through the final 15 weeks. Only 8 more weeks, and one of those is the Capstone Presentations. So hard to believe this chapter, no, this book is coming to an end.
Last night in Leadership-Making a Difference, we took turns looking back over the program and talked about the take aways.. why a personal leadership philosophy is important. It was like a moment we could all look back and see the value in the journey. It was a big surreal and really marked, for me, the beginning of the end. But as I've often noted, one's ending is just another's beginning, and I am so excited about the new journey that lies before me.
And you really do find, that the uncontrolled variable in life that you can always count on is that time continues. No matter what you do, two years from now, you will be 2 years older, 2 years of life will have passed, assuming you're alive. And here I stand, 22 months later. What I've gained is invaluable, and I've SURVIVED! I've almost done my two years.
Matt finished his grad program several weeks ago, and has nailed down a contract for this next year. In August I'll graduate from this MBA Program, Matt will be salaried, and we can count on two incomes again, and the newest developments??? Well I wanted to test my limits once again, and I now find myself navigating papers and group projects with the constant threat of nausea, because our newest little development is due on Christmas Day! I'll actually find out the sex of the baby the week after my graduation, and plan to do some type of graduation party/ gender reveal in one of the two weekends following graduation.
I'm not going to lie- This has been the biggest challenge through the whole program. I've been sick for almost 6 weeks straight, and currently get sick 1-2 times a day. It makes it hard to function at a basic level, and on top of that working through the capstone and all the assignments of this final semester is certainly challenging. But hopefully, I can continue to give it my best shot, and who knows, I might just make it through this program with my 4.0 intact.
We're 7 weeks through the final 15 weeks. Only 8 more weeks, and one of those is the Capstone Presentations. So hard to believe this chapter, no, this book is coming to an end.
Last night in Leadership-Making a Difference, we took turns looking back over the program and talked about the take aways.. why a personal leadership philosophy is important. It was like a moment we could all look back and see the value in the journey. It was a big surreal and really marked, for me, the beginning of the end. But as I've often noted, one's ending is just another's beginning, and I am so excited about the new journey that lies before me.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Greater Things
Last Friday I had the fortune of presenting to the graduating class of Leadership Round Rock. This incredible group of people banned together for the sake of others, and as a result, the Texas Baptist Children's Home's central kitchen was completely renovated, with donations totalling over $65,000.
As soon as I arrived at the dinner, I strategically found a chair (nearest to the bathroom, if I'm being honest), and little did I know, it was the head table and I sat across from Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright. Throughout the evening both Justice Wainwright and Mayor Alan McGraw talked of love for the community, and my heart began to grow with this new ache God has put in my heart for my community through my MBA program. As it came closer to time for me to stand to this group for what was next in the program, I began to pray. I wanted the words that I said to address the group to be words that were filled with gratitude. That these astonishing individuals in the room would know to the fullest what would be the impact and beyond of their actions for our great community.
At the close of the night, I went to say goodbye to Justice Wainwright and thank him for his attendance.
To be honest, he was someone who is going to leave such a lasting impression on me. For God to have given him such honor, and the man chooses to embrace grace, humility and a witty sense of humor. Its a great example to aspire to.
As the clamor of goodbyes rolled around us, Justice Wainwright handed me his card and asked that I call him the next morning related to a commission focused on children and families as they relate to our justice system and cases of abuse and neglect.
I called, and we spoke. He asked me to check out the website for this particular commission, and if I had interest, he asked me to consider following through with a letter to another of the Justices to pursue a role on that commission.
For now, it's a matter of prayer, but I can't help but see God's hand leading through my MBA to this very moment. During our call Justice Wainwright discussed several items related to the current Foster Care and Adoptive Systems of Texas. Thankfully, through my work in my MBA, I had already been doing policy briefings on the Foster Care Redesign, and was able and ready to share with the Justice.
Today, after picking up some lunch, and on my drive back to my office I was struck by a moment. A moment to realize that at age 28, God is potentially opening some doors that carry the weight of responsibility beyond what one might even think of in a lifetime. I remembered back to age 5 or 6 when I took God up on his offer to have plans for my little life, and that I would be ready for wherever He called.
Two songs then came on- Casting Crown's new song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" and Chris Tomlin's "You're the God of this City." A couple years ago, on my way to a Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, God gave me the second song to sing over my community. To strongly believe that "greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here"... it's as if God is whispering this greater plan to me, and I'm seeking my part. Then the first song hit in... its a song that brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it, really taking aim at the line that so many Christians have drawn between "us" and "them".
We are all "them."
I thought again of even the chance to serve on this commission at a state level. The children and families represented through this commission... they are us. The chance to work hand in hand collaboratively with others from all different perspectives, beliefs and backgrounds is an incredible opportunity. To rally in our diversity to have a great perspective and potentially a greater solution to the hurts and needs of our families... our children.
There is still much to pray about, but I'm just so thankful for the careful cultivation God has been doing through my education to embrace the greater things that are yet to come, and the greater things that are still to be done here.
As soon as I arrived at the dinner, I strategically found a chair (nearest to the bathroom, if I'm being honest), and little did I know, it was the head table and I sat across from Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright. Throughout the evening both Justice Wainwright and Mayor Alan McGraw talked of love for the community, and my heart began to grow with this new ache God has put in my heart for my community through my MBA program. As it came closer to time for me to stand to this group for what was next in the program, I began to pray. I wanted the words that I said to address the group to be words that were filled with gratitude. That these astonishing individuals in the room would know to the fullest what would be the impact and beyond of their actions for our great community.
At the close of the night, I went to say goodbye to Justice Wainwright and thank him for his attendance.
To be honest, he was someone who is going to leave such a lasting impression on me. For God to have given him such honor, and the man chooses to embrace grace, humility and a witty sense of humor. Its a great example to aspire to.
As the clamor of goodbyes rolled around us, Justice Wainwright handed me his card and asked that I call him the next morning related to a commission focused on children and families as they relate to our justice system and cases of abuse and neglect.
I called, and we spoke. He asked me to check out the website for this particular commission, and if I had interest, he asked me to consider following through with a letter to another of the Justices to pursue a role on that commission.
For now, it's a matter of prayer, but I can't help but see God's hand leading through my MBA to this very moment. During our call Justice Wainwright discussed several items related to the current Foster Care and Adoptive Systems of Texas. Thankfully, through my work in my MBA, I had already been doing policy briefings on the Foster Care Redesign, and was able and ready to share with the Justice.
Today, after picking up some lunch, and on my drive back to my office I was struck by a moment. A moment to realize that at age 28, God is potentially opening some doors that carry the weight of responsibility beyond what one might even think of in a lifetime. I remembered back to age 5 or 6 when I took God up on his offer to have plans for my little life, and that I would be ready for wherever He called.
Two songs then came on- Casting Crown's new song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" and Chris Tomlin's "You're the God of this City." A couple years ago, on my way to a Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, God gave me the second song to sing over my community. To strongly believe that "greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here"... it's as if God is whispering this greater plan to me, and I'm seeking my part. Then the first song hit in... its a song that brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it, really taking aim at the line that so many Christians have drawn between "us" and "them".
We are all "them."
I thought again of even the chance to serve on this commission at a state level. The children and families represented through this commission... they are us. The chance to work hand in hand collaboratively with others from all different perspectives, beliefs and backgrounds is an incredible opportunity. To rally in our diversity to have a great perspective and potentially a greater solution to the hurts and needs of our families... our children.
There is still much to pray about, but I'm just so thankful for the careful cultivation God has been doing through my education to embrace the greater things that are yet to come, and the greater things that are still to be done here.
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