GOAL SETTING

Every January I like to set some goals for the New Year. I don't make resolutions - they seem to get broken before I even get to February. Goals, on the other hand, give me something to aim at. If I don't hit the target immediately, I am more likely to keep trying if I at least know what the target it. Here are some questions that have helped me through the years to determine what I want to accomplish and what things I might want to change in the months ahead.

What is my purpose on earth?

What do I want people to say about me at the end of my life?

What principles am I willing to stand up for?

What are the ethical lines I will not cross?

I know those are some very heavy-duty questions, but remember, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time."

So I recommend that you sit down with a pencil and paper and start writing. After all, "Thoughts disentangle themselves when passing over the lips and through the pencil tips."

This can be a road-map for the year ahead.

HOW IMPORTANT IS EDUCATION?

I was astounded recently to hear a journalist assert that bartenders who have a college degree earn more money than bartenders who do not.

Add to that the anecdotal evidence that people who further their education feel better about themselves. They also enjoy a higher level of satisfaction with life in general.

Even short courses and seminars can be beneficial. Community Business College has many great affordable online courses.

And don't forget to read good books. So, let's be life-long learners! The pay-off is terrific.

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A GOOD QUESTION - Do People Miss You When You Leave The Room?

I came across an interesting question recently that caused me to do some heart-searching.

Here it is: Do people miss me when I leave the room?

That led me to ask myself some other questions, like, what kind of people do I miss when they leave the room?
Here are some of the types of people I miss: People who bring leadership. I have had a boss is like that. He knew how to gives the staff direction and a sense that everything is under control. Instead of concentrating on problems, he seemed to thrive on finding creative solutions. People who bring constructive criticism and new ideas. Even though we might find these ideas uncomfortable, we know we need to hear them out. They make us think deeply.

People who are followers. Leaders are great, but we also need followers. These are the people we can count on to quietly get the job done. They do not ask to be in the limelight; they do not really ask to be noticed; they are content to serve God in the background.

It is a good idea to acknowledge these quiet workers though, and thank them for their service.

People who are peacemakers. These people seem to have the ability to pour oil on troubled waters. Instead of escalating conflicts, they bring harmony and calmness. Gentle people who bring sweetness to the situation.

A lovely fragrance seems to linger in the wake of these people. They encourage and affirm us and help us to aspire to be better.
Maybe you can see yourself in these different categories. I want to be missed when I leave the room. I hope you want that, too.

Being a Lifelong Learner

I get excited each time we start a new class at Community Business College. I never get tired of teaching the same classes over and over because it is such a joy to have a part in students' learning new things.

Every teacher is elated when a student has an aaah-ha moment.

Learning is so satisfying - we know we are alive when we are learning and growing. That's why I am both a teacher and a learner - in fact, I am would say I am a life-long learner. I am curious about so many things.

If you also are a life-long learner, check out our website. I have taken several of these classes and have benefitted from each one. Currently I am taking a course on writing a magazine article. . One assignment was to list 50 things you would like to write about. Piece of cake - I could come up with a whole lot more.

Taking a short on-line course . is a fun way to stimulate your mind and expand your resume. And if you're a show-off like I am, it gives you lots of new stuff to learn about and talk about.

That could be a goal for 2014 - take some classes.

Frana is an instructor and Director of Training at Community Business College in Modesto, California

A Special Season

Today for my Final Thought at the student meeting, I quoted Harriet Beecher Stowe (the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin). “Our gifts and attainments are not only to be light and warmth in our own dwellings, but are to shine through the windows into the dark night, to guide and cheer bewildered travelers on the road.”

H.B. Stowe

That’s a challenge we can all take to heart! We instinctively know that Thanksgiving means a whole lot more than getting together and feasting on turkey, but Mrs. Stowe reminds us that there are many weary, hurting people out there in the dark night. We may not be able to invite them all home to dinner, but by words and deeds and kindnesses we can guide and cheer them on the road and in so-doing can bring light and warmth into otherwise cheerless lives.

The Real and the Ideal

While I frequently encourage my students to "Follow Your Dreams," I think we have to always stay tuned to the reality that each of us is living two lives - The Real and the Ideal.

Yes, you should know what you want, and yes, you should go for it. Find the dream job, the ideal job, and love it. But along the way to that dream job, you might have to take something lesser, something that does not "feel" like you are fulfilled, maybe even something part-time.

For one thing, while you are waiting around for the dream job, you have to eat and pay rent. If you are feeling stressed by the bills that keep piling up, that turmoil can keep you from recognizing the ideal job when it comes along, and might keep a future boss from recognizing you as the ideal candidate for a great job.

There is something about having a job, going to work every day, and bringing home a paycheck you have earned by the sweat of your brow, that makes you feel good. It makes you feel like a productive citizen. It makes you like yourself, which is another way of saying it builds confidence and self-esteem.

So, yes, keep that Dream Job in mind. Keep working toward it. In the meanwhile, though, as you work at the less-than-ideal job that earns you a paycheck, you are building confidence to go forward to the ideal job. When you find that ideal job, you will be less financially stressed, and you will be feeling good about yourself and ready to "wow" a potential employer with your confidence and enthusiasm.
This is a good time of year to snag that temporary job that can be a stop-gap measure , or even a stepping stone, to the job of your dreams.

I say - "Go for it!" Frana

Frana is an instructor at the Community Business College adult school