2009 Goals... Do You Dare Post Them???

[msmarieh]

June 18, 2009 - All right, the year will be halfway over in less than two weeks. Have you accomplished any of your goals yet for the year? Have you at least made progress on them? If not, what is the next step and when are you going to do it? Remember, the journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step!

Here's an update of my goal list. How about the rest of you??? Come on... Go for it!!! We'll support you!!!

Will anyone be brave enough to join me and make their commitment public???

1) Lead a PowerPoint 2007 Study Group (planned for Jan/Feb 2009). DONE AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 2009

2) Lead an Outlook 2007 Study Group (planning for Mar/Apr 2009). DONE AS OF APRIL 2, 2009

3) Pass the PowerPoint 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

4) Pass the Outlook 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

5A) New Goal Added Lead an Access 2007 Study Group - IN PROGRESS - BEGAN JUNE 11, 2009 AND GOES THROUGH JULY 16, 2009

5B) Pass the Access 2007 Certification Exam by September 1, 2009. (Preparing for this - on schedule)

6) Write an article and submit it for publication (note, my goal is not necessarily to be published - because I don't have control over that part!!!)

7) Review options for returning to college and choose what major I would pursue. (This is looking a lot more promising with the hiring of my mother's new caregiver - as it is lightening up the number of nights I need to spend at her house).



Marie
Peer Moderator

[itsme_calista]

Hi Ladies,

It's been a while since I've checked in but thought I'd update you

Still waiting for my redundancy to be paid out!  I have sent a rather terse email this morning that states I am no longer prepared to accept excuses and any financial costs that I incur will need to be met by them.

Anyhow, my VA (virtual assistance) business is going well, a bit slow and I could do with increasing my income but it's happening.  I have 3 main clients and my work for them is varied and interesting

I've just qualified as a Social Media Specialist with VAClassroom and so loving it.  
I've signed up to get info on starting an Access course at the local Uni in September, after which I am thinking about a a degree in Marketing.
My website is up and running, although the rewrite and blog (which I finished on Friday) I accidently deleted from the server and my IT girl is on holiday
Attending lots of networking events and it's been a real transition from being the PA behind the desk to the Owner/PA having to sell her skills!

My old boss has been seriously demoted and the division I work for has been closed, all the staff under that division have been merged into another division, and the other PA that works for it, has an inkling that she will be next to go as they are trying to move everything to the Head Office.

So glad I got out when I did.

Callie

[msmarieh]

August 20, 2009 - We are about to enter the final third of the year. Have you accomplished any of your goals yet for the year? Have you at least made progress on them? If not, what is the next step and when are you going to do it? Remember, the journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step!

Here's an update of my goal list. How about the rest of you??? Come on... Go for it!!! We'll support you!!!

Will anyone be brave enough to join me and make their commitment public???

1) Lead a PowerPoint 2007 Study Group (planned for Jan/Feb 2009). DONE AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 2009

2) Lead an Outlook 2007 Study Group (planning for Mar/Apr 2009). DONE AS OF APRIL 2, 2009

3) Pass the PowerPoint 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

4) Pass the Outlook 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

5A) Lead an Access 2007 Study Group - DONE - AS OF JULY 16, 2009

5B) Pass the Access 2007 Certification Exam by September 1, 2009. (Preparing to take SOON)

6) Write an article and submit it for publication (note, my goal is not necessarily to be published - because I don't have control over that part!!!)

7) Review options for returning to college and choose what major I would pursue. (This is looking a lot more promising with the hiring of my mother's new caregiver - as it is lightening up the number of nights I need to spend at her house).

Marie

[countrigal]

Don't know why I never posted in this one, but here is what my goal was at the start of the year:
 -- to get promoted.  Towards that end, I was putting in for any position that I was interested in that I qualified for.  And as of July 6, 2009, I was promoted from a GS-11 to a GS-12!  Just went through my first major main office inspection as a manager/supervisor and feel like it went smoothly and I passed with flying colors.  Assistant to the Main Bossie from Central Office remembered my name, as did Main Bossie, from when they'd come through before and met me in my other post and had good things to say about me.  Assistant stated he was extremely pleased when he heard that I had been promoted, and that he saw a lot of positives in what I'm doing.  So... Yippee me!  Tomorrow's outbriefing will be the truth on how our office is doing, but at least I left a positive impression on them all both previously and this time around.

[msmarieh]

Woo hoo! Congratulations countrigal! That's wonderful news... However, that sounds to me like you need to set a new goal for the rest of the year! 

[Cathy S]

Work - My contract runs until October this year and we are working hard to find the right niche for me to stay here in a permanent role; so I have a number of projects which will increase my visibility with the powers that be and I need to complete those really well.

No permanent role; I have undertaken a significant project but am disappointed not to have been able to complete it (yet) owing to office politics ... watch this space!

... taking the IAM Advanced Diploma in Administrative Management.

I am still interested in this but the timing hasn't been right this year - I will reevaluate in December.

I have recently taken over as Treasurer at Church ...  I am determined to get back to some good hill walking with my dogs this year - so I have set myself the goal of a day's walking one weekend each month.

Treasurer's role has been very challenging but is now becoming very productive and an opportunity to use many soft skills ... communication, negotiation and problem solving as well as financial stuff. 

I had a setback with the hill walking when I lost the younger dog in the middle of the year but I have generally done much more walking and my knees are standing up to it.

I have discovered that I am quite skilled as a team working and life coach. The result of this has been a much happier team of people to work with and a new really good friend.  I aim to build on this during 2009 and to set an example I want to challenge myself to do something which overcomes a lifetime of fear of heights...

I still work with a fab team and we have done more non-work stuff this year than ever - not quite got to the 'height conquering' activity but there is still time.

All in all slow progress but at least I am still going forward and smiling.

One unplanned goal is reading - I am on track to read 70 books this year (compared with about 4 last year)

[Atlanta Z3]

Gee I've been around a block oh a couple of times and this would not set off bells for me.  I have watched a particular industry and certain companies in my town.  Certain jobs seem to be constantly advertised.  I know who the position reports to and why they are often open.  I interviewed last summer for a very large tax consutling firm in my town last summer - just recently I saw the same position advertised.  I had done an 8 hour interview (no joke all day interview for an admin position - 4 hours of tests, lunch with the other admins and then a round of interviews with all senior staff members).  I did not get the position and I don't think it was filled for several more months, only to be open in 8-9 months. 

There could be any number of reasons the position yoru position is open: illness, senior staff change, termination, different skill set needed etc.  I would try to find someone in the department to talk to and get more information as to why the position is open.  Then I would decide if this is the right time for a change.

[msmarieh]

Final 2009 update

Here's an update of my goal list. How about the rest of you??? Why not make 2010 the year you set and accomplish some goals? Start small!!!

1) Lead a PowerPoint 2007 Study Group (planned for Jan/Feb 2009). DONE AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 2009

2) Lead an Outlook 2007 Study Group (planning for Mar/Apr 2009). DONE AS OF APRIL 2, 2009

3) Pass the PowerPoint 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

4) Pass the Outlook 2007 Certification Exam by June 1, 2009. DONE - JUNE 17, 2009

5A) Lead an Access 2007 Study Group - DONE - AS OF JULY 16, 2009

5B) Pass the Access 2007 Certification Exam by September 1, 2009. (Decided not to take this exam at this time)

6) Write an article and submit it for publication (note, my goal is not necessarily to be published - because I don't have control over that part!!!) - Two articles submitted in Division Newsletter, writing an article for publication in 2010 in OfficePro magazine.

7) Review options for returning to college and choose what major I would pursue. (Delayed due to mother's illness/passing, but ready to make a decision for 2010).

Marie