Publish or Perish: Writing My First Journal Article in 12 Weeks - Introduction

Ok.  So I didn't post my dissertation journey here.  My Bad.  It was arduous, difficult, challenging and fun as all get out!!!!!!!! Would I do it again?  Oh heck yeah!  In fact, I just might do it again.  If my Bishop can do it, so can I! Where am I now?  I am at the "jumping off point" of finalizing my dissertation and completing my Final Oral Review (which is November 10 at 3pm, BTW).  Such an exciting time for me, but three things are sitting on the porch across the street and staring at me:  Publishing, getting a teaching gig, and finding a place to do post-doc work.

Publish or Perish!!!!
www.free-graphics.com

Thankfully I had an auspicious moment by finding this cool website that gives me a smattering of hope.  Like Ellie Mackin, I will take the challenge to write my very first Journal Article by January, 2015!  I will purchase the booklet and go along with Elle's writings - and write up EVERYTHING right here on My Auspicious Moments.  So follow me into the world of Journal Publishing step-by-step!

The book is sold at Amazon for $55.35.  A bit pricey but hopefully worth it!  I read from Ellie that the book works best with a group of like-minded folks.  Maybe I can start a sort of "salon" of supporters!  I think such support is more than necessary to secure and locate "your people."  All those dudes at the University of Chicago School of Sociology  back in the 20s and 30s got together and changed the way we think about people and interaction.  I'd like to do the same, if only to meet biannually.  Perhaps I can make a Junto of sorts!  At any rate, hers starts my journey.  Like Madame Curie, I'd like to see just how far I can go in my lifetime.

Be Vewy Qwiet...I'm Hunting Habits...

Image from William James Graduate School

While reading William James' book on Psychology, I sidled up next to chapter ten, called Habits.  That is most definitely something I have paid little attention to in my life.  I usually  just woke up, and lived my life, come what may.

Then, I thought about the lessons my parents tried to teach me (bless their hearts...and patience).  Some of the lessons stuck, some didn't.  The ones that didn't are probably the ones I needed to know to get me farther than I am today.  Well, I'm still breathing, and there is no time like the present to put my neural plasticity to the test.

What will I do?  I'll begin the painstaking process of HABITUATION.  I'll start with three:

1. Begin the Habit of Early to Bed, Early to Rise.
2. Live by Design, and not Default.
3. Pursue Personal Leadership.

I'm also reading John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of  Leadership, and I have realized that I've done very little to "lead" myself!  How am I to realize my goals, dreams, and life's work without leading myself through it all?

Then again, how can God lead me if I'm leading me?  It is God who has drawn up the blueprints of my life and ordered how I shall progress...but the path cannot be trod unless I get busy moving while simultaneously pondering the path I am taking!  To quote @BishopJakes, "God uses busy people, not sleepy people!"

So I must commit to a time, er, habituate myself to that time, and come hell or high water keep that which I have committed myself to.  This is personal leadership at its core.  For some of you, you're probably saying, "Why are you so late on knowing this fundamental tenet of success?"
Again...

I am Delayed, but not Denied!

What do you think about Habituating in adult life?  What are you working on for personal leadership?

Setbacks are Part of the Journey!

Image from Unboundid.com

I must say, I hoped to be wrapping up my studies right about now, and graduating in January.  Well, it's not going to happen this time.  I was unsuccessful in getting time off from my job to complete my dissertation.  I was very upset about it for a while - and I desperately tried to change horses mid-stream, and change the ENTIRE FOCUS of my study.  Graciously, cooler heads prevailed, and my committee chair brought me back to earth.  I took a deep breath, and set the clock forward to August, 2014.

I still have a situation, however.  I think I need to find greener pastures elsewhere.  I want a place to stretch my creative wings and find a situation where I can feed my soul and rest my mind a little.  I have no idea what that might look line, but I shall press on.  Keep me in your prayers - I shall prevail.  I am delayed, yes...but NOT DENIED!

ReSetting 4 Life...An Auspicious Journey Begins

In 2010, I had major surgery that put me off work for 2 months.  At the same time, I was knee deep in working on my courses to complete for the doctorate at Fielding.  I opened quite a few courses during my recuperation time, and I found myself to be very stressed out.  How on earth was I going to finish that and recover at the same time?

Enter Set 4 Life - a great book and a wonderful game put together by George B. Thompson.  Essentially, the game is set up for you to be able to achieve any goal in 90 days.  George B. Thompson is Pastor of stewardship at my church, Faithful Central Bible Church, led by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer.  You get coaching and an accountability partner during this game, which encourages you to achieve your goals, and also to embed some consistency in your life.  Oh, by the way, I finished ALL of my goals in the allotted time.  Set 4 Life really worked for me!

If you already have that organization and time management thing down pat and mastered, then Set 4 Life ain't for you.  If you're like me though, (i.e. one with the tendency to be all over the place at times because I have a whole lot of things to do that can eat up time and energy) and need to really get super focused, then Set 4 Life is for you!

So I got an email that George's new game, ReSet 4 Life would be starting, but I didn't have the cash to play the game ($99).  But God is GRRRREAT, and He reminded me that George records his shows on BlogTalkRadio.com.  So although I won't be playing with the group, I will listen to the shows and get my goals met.  

Thus, my mission statement is as follows:

To complete my dissertation, with full committee approval, get ahead on all my work reports, plans, and other required documents, and complete a 10 minute documentary by 10/23/2013. 

Photo by Endless Acres Photography

Sound too ambitious?  Well, some of you can open multinational corporations in that amount of time. 

Some of you can raise millions of dollars in that amount of time.

Some of you can even learn a language fluently in that amount of time.

I can certainly do those three things in that amount of time!  Follow me as I go for it.  I might even invite you to my graduation in January 2014!

Woo!

let the interviewing begin!

today marks a milestone in my academic career. my auspicious research project has begun! interviewed two participants today and they were both eager to share their stories with me.  I really wish I could take a couple of months off, to really devote myself to study.

unfortunately, my agency has quite a hierarchy to surmount in order to even get any time off. time is available for those who have family emergencies and things of that ilk, but it's quite rigorous and difficult to get time off for educational purposes.  nevertheless I believe my project is significant and will greatly contribute to the practice of Child Protective Services social work. I just have to be very accurate in my planning, and really manage my time well.

in the afterglow of my amazing first two interviews, my mind is racing with "what the heck should I do now?"  I think the first thing that I will do, is begin transcription of the interviews. I'm glad I have this week off so that I can really get that going and begin with the data and coding.  Sic Parvis magna!

leveraging the SDI in family reunification, #1

i have identified my first participant to utilize the SDI as part of treatment services' family reunification (fr) process.  mother of 4, mental health issues, under 30, low ses, woman of color, little education, apparent willingness to learn.

so, i hypothesize that her motivation to cooperate with me is solely to reunify with her children, to pretend to learn and want to change, and to see what level of dramaturgical performance she can display in order to convince me of her sincerity to learn and to change.

i will first assess where she is in her "scheme of things," and then mine the ideas and plan she has toward reunifying with her children.

next, i will show her a prezi that i created during the SDI training in carlsbad this year, which is an introduction to the fr process, and will introduce relationship awareness and SDI.  i will observe her attention span and look for signs of overstimulization...yawn, figiting, derailing questions, etc.  this will help me know the window of attention opportunity for future meetings.

my plan is to administer a "pre test/post test" to see if there is any change in mvs during the fr process.

i must overcome serious skepticism, lack of trust, "you represent 'the man' syndrome," and cognitive distortions, if any.

film at 11...

learning to live!!!

"git busy livin, or git busy dyin."  poor english, but excellent advice!  

as part of my scholarly journey, i must bring to the table all of my endowed talents, or risk leaving this earth unrealized, with all the potential locked up in the grave with my body.  to do this, i must work hard to LIVE.  i must unearth and  subject my talents to the fire of scrutiny and examination by those given to train me.  i must put my mind in the right frame to move toward success, and superior utilization of all of my firebrands. 

how?  the idea and will is presesent, but to do remains a mystery.  i am pleased, however that the power to both will and do is within me...i have only to ask, seek, and knock, with all of my strength.