Give Yourself A Gift for the Holidays

Most of us experience a bit of downtime during the holidays. I realize that it can be tough balancing work and family commitments, particularly as many of us are engaged with winter storm response. But, generally, things slow down a bit and it's a good time to get in a bit of professional development.

Here are some easy ways to improve over the holidays:

• Take one of the many independent study courses offered by the Emergency Management Institute. Most are fairly short and can be taken for college credit. There is also a certificate awarded for completing the seven courses in the Professional Development Series.
• Read a book on a topic of interest to you. From the Bookshelf below has a link to my bookstore where you kind find all the books I have reviewed and others that are suggested reading. Most are available through your public library system.
• If you subscribe to professional journals like the Journal of Emergency Management or professional publications such as Emergency Management Magazine, you probably have a whole bunch of back issues with articles you've been meaning to read. Now would be a good time.
• Catch up with your favorite blogger's articles. Once you've done that, consider checking out my blogs through Blog Highlights in the left column.
• Surprisingly, YouTube offers a lot of interesting documentaries and original disaster footage, as you've probably guessed from my Monthly Video. If you find any really good ones, let me know. I'm always looking for good material.

You get the idea. You don't have to take a lot of time for any of these. But a few minutes here and there spent on your professional development can pay big dividends in the new year. who knows, it might even get to be a habit. Wouldn't that be a great gift!

Last month I wrote about the importance of passion to being a success. Consultant Alan Weiss addressed this same topic in a  a recent blog posting, reprinted here with his permission.

Finding David

by Alan Weiss

At the recent Million Dollar Consulting® College I told the (probably apocryphal) story of Michelangelo buying a piece of discarded marble and creating the incredible masterpiece, David. When asked how he could do this from a single piece of stone, he said, "I just carved away everything that didn't look like David."

I told the participants that their careers should be based on what they love doing and are passionate about, and all else should be "carved away." Michelangelo didn't add a nose or hand or leg, he culled the marble that didn't fit his representation. Similarly, we shouldn't patch on elements and interventions that are in vogue or can make us a few bucks, but rather cull anything that doesn't represent our passion and excellence.

Lisa Gaffney, a member of the class who is launching her own practice, said on the last day when the group compares advice, that she was intent on "finding David" for herself. I think that's well said and a highly apt reminder.

Base your future on your passion and excellence, carve away all else. Make your career a work of art.

From Alan's Blog 

http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/finding-david/

© Alan Weiss 2014
 Reprinted with permission