OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II - Discussion Topic #1

The Three Questions, Managing Oneself, and Personal Identities

Prompt #1: Take a moment to respond meaningfully to the “three questions” that

are discussed as key to vocational discernment, and provide any additional

perspective that you may feel is necessary. Don’t just settle for short, one sentence

answers. Try to be very specific, aiming for a couple of cohesive, well-written

paragraphs in response to each of the three questions. Also, write vividly and

descriptively – paint a “picture” with your words here. Your responses to these

prompts shouldn’t read like a resume or take the form of “bullet points” – use

analogies / metaphors, engage and inspire us by “painting a picture” with your

words, and make some connections to the Father Himes videos.

The Three Questions:

What gives me joy? (What kinds of things am I doing when I’m most naturally

content and happy?)

Leadership: I thrive on the feeling of leading others to success. I feel a sense of ‘achievement’

when overseeing a team, we come together as one, and prosper. For example, when I worked

at GameStop® as a Senior Game Associate, my shift included closing or opening, and never

swing. So I was the manager that either wrapped things up, or started the work day. When the

Microsoft® Xbox® 360 was on the verge of being released, our company decided to hold a

midnight launch. Our real store manager was unable to attend this event, so I was in charge. I

coordinated the shipment arrival, handled the staffing for that night, and distributed the pre-

sell tickets. The release went smoothly for our store, and it was because of quality leadership

and organization. It’s been over 10 years, and to this day I’m extremely proud of what I

accomplished that night.

Teamwork & Collaboration: I enjoy working with a team toward a common goal. Even when I

watch movies like Batman, The Avengers, Rainman, and other films that focus on

brotherhood/sisterhood and cohesion, it brings me joy in watching the comradery. For

example, my wife, and myself, are a team. We recently banded together to purchase a house.

She was pulling together papers, I was finding inspectors, and it was stressfully. We closed

escrow on 04/07/2017, and we did it together.

What am I good at? (What are my strengths?)

Management: Not to be confused with leadership, I feel one of my greatest strengths is my

ability to manage resources, and situations. While in retail, it seemed the sector was trying to

tell me I had a knack for this skillset. For example, at GameStop®, I applied for an ‘Associate’

position, and they flipped that around into a ‘Senior Game Associate’ role. At Sun Coast Movies

& Music®, I interviewed for a ‘Customer Service Representative’ title, but entered the

company as a ‘2nd Assistant Store Manager’ position. Even my current employer only kept me

in a ‘Client Officer’ position for a short amount of time, before making me the ‘Assistant Vice

President’ I am today. I finally came to the conclusion that I have quality management skills,

and need to use this ability to reach my true potential.

People Skills: I’m good with people. I have a way of making people feel comfortable around

me, and sometimes, their environment. Every role I’ve possessed has revolved around

‘customer service’, which is a synonym for ‘people service’. For example, this week a client

entered my bank that had incurred fraud on her account. She was frazzled, and disappointed.

I advised her we would cancel her debit card, order a new one, establish a substitute checking

account, and file a claim. Within a few minutes, you could see a change in her attitude for the

better. It was the formulation of a plan in front of her that allowed for that 180-degree change

in emotion.

What does the world need me to do? (What can I contribute?)

The world needs my leadership, kindness, and outgoing personality. Everyday seems to

bring us closer and closer to war. Right now the world needs people to step-up, away from

upper-leadership, and help this nation move in a direction of hope. I need to create a non-profit

that will make a difference, and help others achieve their goals.

Prompt #2: Consider this week’s reading, Managing Oneself, by Peter Drucker.

While we do not have the time in this course to conduct a thorough feedback

analysis, we can consider some of our key decisions thus far in our lives

reflectively. Although, admittedly, this isn’t quite as objective of a process, it is

helpful in light of the qualitative self-assessment we’ll be doing later in this class.

First, consider several decisions /goals you have made over the last few years – ideally one or

two that worked out well, and one or two that didn’t work out as well as expected.

Briefly list those decisions / goals here:

• Joined EHarmony®. (Success)

• Applied to work for City National Bank®. (Success)

• Started an insurance company. (Failure)

• Worked for a DVD editing company. (Failure)

Now, reflect on the ramifications / results / successes / failures of these decisions / goals, and

respond to the following questions:

What results are you skilled at generating?

• Observing, and Creating the Brightside of Outcomes: I am skilled at producing

a positive result out of what would be deemed as a negative outcome by the

norm. For example, I obtained my insurance licenses in 2011, and started a

small insurance company. Unfortunately, the industry became saturated, and

the internet had become a bigger player in this field. The company never gained

steamed, and we ended up closing shop. We never got to deep, so we ended up

breaking even financially. Rather than being destroyed over this failure, I

utilized my licensing to obtain a promising opportunity in banking. I’ve been

working in this sector ever since, and am now the ‘Assistant Vice President’ a

substantially sized institution. Every failure has resulted in my utilization of

those results to build on a new opportunity of potential success.

What abilities do you need to enhance in order to get the results you want?

• Faster & Often Assessments: Giving opportunities to much time, and need to

assess their worth faster, and more often. For example, I knew that our

insurance business was on a downward spiral, yet I continued to pursue its

success. I should have assessed the situation more often, and executed a closure

much earlier. Maybe I would have finished in the positive, as opposed to in the

black, had I accepted its demise earlier than later. Essentially, I need to see the

writing on the wall much sooner, and be willing to pull the trigger on re-

inventing myself much faster.

What unproductive habits are preventing you from creating the results you desire?

• Lack of Research: Most of the failed situations described were the result of my

omission of thorough due diligence before implementation. For example, I could

have researched the insurance industry better, before diving into it with my

own company. Another example, before joining that DVD editing company,

which I ultimately quit within a few weeks, I could have studied its job

description beforehand to determine if this was something I could really do

successfully. My preliminary research is on an incline now, most likely because

of age and prior experience, so moving forward I think this habit will be

something of the past soon.

• Too much Pride: I must stop the stubbornness toward asking for help. For

example, my first attempt at college resulted in myself dropping out before

completion. Had I asked for help, beforehand, maybe I would have finished. I’m

actually happy with the outcome because I’m proud to be an Arizona State

University student, but it is a habit I need to kick for future success.

Prompt #3: Now consider the following questions also posed in the Drucker article. Give each

one some thought, and provide a brief response to each.

Am I a reader or a listener?

• I am 100%, a reader. This is the reason I chose an online education. I live in

California, and I was accepted to two CSU institutions, but I still chose Arizona

State University. Yes, it works with my schedule better, but it’s also because I

am a reader. The data supports this information. My first attempt on a physical

campus, I failed and dropped out. In community college, I achieved a 4.0 via my

online classes, and a ‘C+’ average within physical on-campus sessions. At

Arizona State University, which was completely online, I currently have a 4.0

grade point average. I’m a reader, and not a listener.

How do I learn? Make some connections to OGL 498 Pro-Seminar I (Assignment #1 -

Plus / Delta – Significant Learning Experiences – Structure and Transfer)

• I learn best from others, and visually. Since I’ve categorized myself as a reader,

it’s a not brainer that I am a visual person, that utilizes a symbolic mental

model for acquiring knowledge. (Bolman & Deal, pgs. 243 – 300, 2013) I also

learn better via second hand channels. I am referring to reading material

written by others, rather than acquiring information from the source. A

scholastic journal article works better for my knowledge absorption, contrast to

an in-person interview.

Do I work well with people (and in what relationship), or am I a loner?

• I’ve worked in two call centers, and as a computer programmer. Those were

loner positions. That was a long time ago. Every job since has required working

with others as a team, and I have excelled at my work over the years so I clearly

possess this skillset. I work well with others in a leadership role, or as a team

member. For myself, it’s whatever works for the group. For example, in out

COM 430 Leadership Group Communication course, we were broken into

teams. Each week we had to appoint a new leader of our group discussions,

conducted via Google Hangouts. When I lead, our grade resulted in an ‘A’ for

that week, and the rest of the session’s resulted in ‘A’s as well, with me as a

teammate. It’s whatever works for a successful outcome.

Do I produce results as a decision maker or as an advisor?

• I am more of an advisor. My reasoning for that choice stems from what I have

been accustomed to a majority of my employment history. I’ve been in sales

almost 50% of worker life, which is another word for ‘advisor’. My definition of

this role: “One person disclosing to another their options, and providing an

opinion of which path should be selected.” I am #1 in sales within my

organization, so I have a good handle on advising others.

Do I perform well under stress, or do I need a highly structured and predictable

environment?

• I perform well under stress. I have been attending Arizona State University for

the last three years, while working full-time. College is stressful, and I was able

to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Sales is stressful because it includes quite a bit of

rejection, yet I am #1 within my company. I married my wife in 2011, and

family life can become stressful, sometimes; we’re still happily married. I am

definitely a person that thrives in stressful situations.

Do I work best in a big organization or a small one?

• I work best in a smaller organization. You’re more noticeable within small to

medium sized companies, and I like immediate recognition. It’s the reason I was

promoted so fast with my current company.

Set-up for Identity Exercise Prompt (Prompt #4):

First, carefully read the instructions for the Identities Exercise (page 22 of your textbook), and follow those instructions. Remember to be specific and detailed in your responses – at least as detailed as the example given. Included at the bottom of this document is a template / table to help you organize your thoughts. Feel free to use it or to create your own. Note: While this template suggests some specific roles / categories, you may have more than one role in many of these areas (such as two different jobs, with two very different influences on your identity). Be sure to define (and separate out) each role as applicable to you. Prompt #4: For this prompt, complete (and include) the identities exercise / table, and then answer the following questions.

Areas of identity / Life role

I am a…

How does this role define your self-concept or

views?

How does this role influence your priorities

and your actions? Husband 1.) Makes me feel wanted by

someone. 2.) Eradicates my loneliness. 3.) Allows me to see myself as someone of importance. 4.) Induces pride in myself for finding that special someone.

1.) Forces me to balance time at work, an at home, because someone is waiting for me. 2.) Makes strive to be a better person, as not to disappoint another.

Assistant Vice President 1.) Makes me feel appreciated for my work. 2.) Forces others to view me as someone important, and maybe formidable. 3.) Provides evidence that others are watching me.

1.) Encourages me to be a leader while at work. 2.) Magnifies my desire to do quality work. 3.) Inspires my consistent attendance.

African-American 1.) Reinforces my sense of pride in my culture. 2.) Provides a notion of accomplishment for the things I’ve done while representing this group.

1.) Makes me want to be the best that I can be at everything I do to inspire others. 2.) Encourages me to make smart choices in an attempt to join the ranks of other trailblazers of this group someday.

Gamer (aka: Video Gamer) 1.) Provides friendly competition that boosts self-esteem. 2.) Online gaming introduces new people into my life, building virtual friendships.

1.) Inspires me to learn the rules of each game, and practice to be more effective for my virtual team.

Christian Faith 1.) Fills heart with love and hope.

1.) Encourage me to be a good person every day.

2.) Provides a feeling of belonging. 3.) Allows me to feel closer to a higher power.

2.) Reinforces my idea that I should help others whenever possible. 3.) Forces me to study the teachings of this religion on a daily basis.

College Graduate 1.) Provides a sense of accomplishment. 2.) Reinforces that I am knowledgeable in a particular category, and maybe, a specialist. 3.) Helps me feel that I belong to a higher echelon, and exclusive, group.

1.) Helps me use newly acquired knowledge for a boost up the professional ladder. 2.) Inspires me to chime into discussions I never would have before college.

• How do your various roles influence how you see yourself? My various roles help me strive to be a good person. As a Husband and a Christian I am faithful. As an Assistant Vice President and College Graduate I’m accomplished. As an African-American and a Gamer I get challenged. At the age of 38, I see my life as half-full because of all my roles, instead of half-done.

• How do your various roles influence how you see the world? I see the world as one big opportunity. I’ve been dealt some rough hands in life, but I’ve always managed to overcome them at some point. My current roles allow me to not see myself as a victim in this world, but as a winner with the world as my oyster. Even at my age, I can still be anybody I want to be, and stop being what I don’t want to be.

• How do you currently prioritize your roles? The role of ‘Husband’ is always first, ‘Christian’ is second, ‘Assistant Vice President’ is third, and the rest are interchangeable for fourth through the remainder of the order.

• Which roles are most (and least) attended to? ‘Gamer’ is the least attended to role.

• Are you happy with this prioritization? I am extremely happy with this order.

• What changes would you like to make?

No changes are necessary. It’s perfect as is. How do you see your roles changing in the future – and how will that affect your identity?

I only see the addition of the role of ‘Parent’ in future someday. It will most likely remove

the role of ‘Gamer’ from my list, and reduce some of my time spent reinforces my values for the

other categories, but that’s because I will be helping a little person develop their “Identity

Table”. Hopeful theirs will be similar, if not better, than the one I presented here today.

Reference(s):

Drucker, P. F. (2008). Managing oneself. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Bolman, L. G. (2013). Reframing organizations. Artistry, choice, and leadership. San Francisco:

Jossey-Bass.

Harrington, B., & Hall, D. T. (2008). Career management & work-life integration: using self-

assessment to navigate contemporary careers. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II - Discussion Topic #2

Values, Desires, Structures & Inertia

Prompt #1: Values Worksheet: What were your top 5 values? What kinds of

defining characteristics did you associate with your values as you crossed them off

the list one at a time until you had only one value listed? What did you learn about

your values hierarchy through this activity?

My top five values were the following:

1. Growth

2. Having a Family

3. Knowledge

4. Stability

5. Wisdom

As I was crossing each value off, it was clear that my list possessed a focus on self-

improvement, using that betterment for a brighter future, and to benefit others. Sull & Houlder

stated, “Most people who undertake the self-exploration process we’re describing here find that

it’s relatively easy to identify their own values, and somewhat more difficult to analyze the gap

between their values and the way they actually live.” (2014, p. 9) This sort of dilemma was not

the case for my analysis. My top value was ‘growth’, and it was easy to eradicate the previous

ten, and the final four to arrive at this end result. My reasoning, you can achieve every other

value on our worksheets checklist, if you constantly strive for the number one importance on

my list, ‘growth’. For example, I decided a high school diploma was not enough education for

better employment. I needed to increase my knowledge to find the right opportunity for a

brighter future. I enrolled in college courses, and furthered my education. I now have a new

skillset, and experienced ‘growth’ as a person. This change has resulted in an increase of

‘knowledge’, and ‘wisdom’. The new skills developed should translate into a higher-paying

opportunity, which would equate to a greater chance of ‘stability’. With this example alone,

you can visibly see how ‘growth’ converted into the achievement of three additional values on

my list. This information tells me that my hierarchy is completely intertwined, and that’s

exactly what I’m looking to achieve at this point in my life.

Prompt #2: Take a moment to revisit your Identities Table (you completed this as

part of last week’s discussion topic – Prompt #4). Take a look at each of your

“areas of identity” and reflect on your responses there – in light of your core

values. What are your core values in each of those “areas of identity?” Highlight

several key “areas of identity” that guide you in life and think about whether the

values you ascribed to these areas are values that you truly live by or simply talk

about. Discuss any “values gaps”.

As a ‘husband’, my cores values are the following: ‘Growth’, ‘Having a Family’, ‘Knowledge’,

and ‘Wisdom’. I omitting any of these values would reduce my chances of being a great

‘husband’, which is a status that I’m striving for regarding this identity. Learning what makes

my spouse happy, and what she believes are qualities of a virtuous husband fall under the

‘growth’, ‘wisdom’, and ‘knowledge’ values. Being a husband, and being there for my wife

every day is the ‘having a family’ portion. I drop everything when needed to make sure the

values attached to this identity are always adhered to, thus, I see no ‘value gaps’ for this

distinctiveness.

The other identities: ‘Assistant Vice President’, ‘African-American’, ‘Gamer’, ‘Christian Faith’,

and ‘College Graduate’, all carry the core values of ‘knowledge’, ‘wisdom’, and ‘growth’. For

example, to excel as an Assistant Vice President requires the continuous acquisition of new job

‘knowledge’, which equates to ‘growth’ as an employee. The same core values apply to the

‘Gamer’ identity, except it’s applicable to ‘gaming’ knowledge, contrast to ‘job’ knowledge. The

same goes for the others identities described in this passage, but for their target focuses.

The only value gap I possess at this time resides in the ‘Christian Faith. I could always acquire

additional ‘knowledge’ for this identity. This can be changed by attending church more often,

and reading scripture consistently.

Prompt #3: Dreams and Desires Worksheet: What underlying meaning did you

discover through exploring your dreams and desires in this manner? Can you see a

connection between what you desire and your inner sense of purpose? Explain.

My five desires are: ‘financial stability’, ‘to have a baby’, ‘a health second half of life’, ‘remain

married to the same woman for eternity’, and ‘to work for a successful company’. I’ve learned

that my dreams and desires have changed dramatically with age. I am way more family

focused, in addition to, life betterment oriented than ever before. It’s a natural progression.

When you’re a bachelor, everything is about yourself, and once you get married, a 180-degree

turn occurs on that thought process. This observation leads me to conclude my dreams and

desires are intertwined with my inner sense of purpose. For example, as a bachelor, I had a

dream of creating a business that would be well known, and generate a product that satisfied

a need. After marriage, you can see form this passage and omission of that dream from my

new list. Reasoning, as a bachelor my inner sense of purpose was to be wealthy, and popular.

As a married man, my inner sense of purpose is to take care of my family. I became more

conservative married, than the risk taker I was as a bachelor.

Prompt #4: Lemming Debrief: Think about the structures in your life – select two

or three and discuss how each of these structures influence your life, the way you

view the world, the way you relate to others, and your ability to be effective.

Education: This has been one of the largest structures in my life for the last eight years, and

will continue to be so for at least another two while I pursue my Masters of Business

Administration. Since starting this journey for college degree(s), I have added confidence, and

feel more capable in life. When I apply for a job, I no longer have that sense of it being in an

uphill battle to obtain an award letter from targeted companies. I have a feeling of being right

in the mix of the pact, on an even playing field, with other potential applicants. That new

sensation of ‘qualified’, has reduced a lot of my stress, which should equate to a longer life

span. Employment is not the only reason education has become an important structure in my

life. It was the reason for starting this endeavor, but surprising second reason, ‘self-growth’,

has been added to this list. Somehow, during my trek for a college education, I became an

‘Academia’ and love learning. It’s now a passion of mine, and even after my degrees have been

achieved, will continue to quench my knowledge thirst with continuous education, and growth.

Family: There was a time, as a bachelor, that I began to lose faith in starting my own family.

Then I had a moment life Emmy, on page 26, where she stated the following, “At that moment,

Emmy decided she would no longer look to others to tell her who should be or what or what

she should do with her life. She would just have to figure these things out for herself.”

(Hutchens, 2002) Once I came to that conclusion, and determined the apparatus utilized then

was not the right system, my entire life changed. I joined EHarmony, found a great woman,

got married, we purchased a house together, and someday, we’ll start our family. This is my

most important, and focused on structure. Having a family is a lot of work, but it’s very

rewarding. It makes me feel good to have someone to come home to, share achievements and

downfalls with, and spend the rest of my life with.

Prompt #5: Make some connections between the Lemming Dilemma and the HBR

article “Do your commitments match your convictions?” In particular, comment

on “inertia” with respect to the structures in your life. Elaborate on the positive

and negative aspects of inertia with respect to living a values-centered life.

When comparing articles, one statement from Sull and Houlder stands out above the rest, and

it was that of, “gaps between your commitments and your convictions can develop and widen

with time. Understanding how these gaps can emerge is helpful in preventing them from

growing to large.” (2014, p. 9) With Emmy’s situation the gap became too large for her to

ignore any further, and created her question of the “why?” This was a good thing, because had

the gap not materialized between her commitment to jump off the cliff, and her conviction to

want to know the real benefits of this action, she would have encountered the same fate as

other Lemmings that refused to look beyond a ‘just do it’ methodology. This was an example of

inertia, because once her mind became set on discovering the truth, only a final answer could

satisfy this object in motion. Others tried to talk her away from these opposing thoughts, she

was lead to groups that sort of felt the same way, and even a crying friend before she

catapulted herself over the cliff could not prevent her need to know the truth. For myself, once

inertia is in play, I cannot stop either. For example, sometimes my wife is upset at me, and I

keep pressing until she tells me why. Sometimes it’s best just to let someone work through their

thoughts, but it’s tough for me to see that when in the moment. It’s a positive to find out what

you did to anger someone, so you don’t do it again. Other times, not allowing someone to

breathe could make matters worse. So inertia could be good, or bad, it all depends on the

context.

Prompt #6: Imagine that your life exists exactly the way that you want it to be,

right at this moment – regardless of what you believe is actually possible. What

do you see? Where are you? Who are you with? What do you do with your time? Be

specific. Also, what underlying personal meaning, values, personal

characteristics, desires are represented and/or satisfied in that life?

My life is currently at the point of perfection. I have a wonderful wife, our own house, family is

healthy, we both have stable jobs that pay very well in this economy, a two car household, I’m

graduating from college this December, just promoted to Assistant Vice President at work, and

I’m number one in sales for my current employer. In this life, I am satisfying the core values

of: ‘Growth’, ‘Having a Family’, ‘Knowledge’, ‘Wisdom’, ‘Love’, ‘Stability’, ‘Money’, ‘Freedom’,

and ‘Loyalty’. I am content right now, and that is why I work hard every day to keep my life

exactly the way it is currently.

References:

Sull, D., & Houlder, D. (2014, July 31). Do Your Commitments Match Your Convictions?

Retrieved October 29, 2017, from https://hbr.org/2005/01/do-your-commitments-match-your-

convictions

Hutchens, D. (2002). The lemming dilemma: living with purpose, leading with vision. Waltham,

MA: Pegasus Communications.

OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II - Discussion Topic #3

Personality / Leadership Assessments Collection, Career Anchors & 10 Years Out Activity

Prompt #1.1: With respect to self-assessment data – briefly discuss the “Self-Assessments & Reflective Writing” section of your e-portfolio (or equivalent), and what sorts of data were you able to pull together (beyond what was assigned). I completed four additional non-required assessments, and they were the following: Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test, DISC Personality Test, Keirsey Temperament Sorter – II, & The Big Five Personality Test. All of the results of these assessments were included within the "Self-Assessments & Reflective Writing" section of my e-portfolio. Prompt #1.2: With respect to any additional self-assessment instruments that you included (beyond what was assigned), write briefly about what you learned about yourself (cite the new assessments you took, and briefly describe your findings, and how those findings relate to how you see yourself in the world). Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test: This assessment was founded on a different belief system than others. It analyzes a person’s attitude, and uses that data to match the subject with an optimum career path. An evaluation consist of four separate criterions: Extraverted (E) vs. Introverted (I), Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N), Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F), and Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P). Out of sixteen possible combinations, my results labeled me: ESTJ or Extravert, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging. This tag specifies that I am orderly, outspoken, and someone that likes to seek out like-minded people to connect with in life. Possible careers: Management, Technical/Science, Social Services, and.or Health Care. This assessment was spot on with who I feel I am, and strive to be. Keirsey Temperament Sorter – II: This personality test focuses on defining the type of personality a person carries. It's somewhat similar to the Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test, except in the way it categorizes final output. Results are completed with the subject tagged as one of the following four basic temperament groups: Artisan, Guardian, Rational, or Idealist. My data labeled me as an 'Artisan'. This one got me completely wrong. I am really more of a 'Rational' or 'Idealist'. But these assessments are not perfect, and do feel that I exhibit some 'Artisan' traits. Just not enough to place me in that genre. DISC Personality Test: The DISC assessment is one of the most interesting personality tools on the market today. It focuses on rating a person’s behavior type using four different traits: dominance, inducement, submission, and compliance. My results specified that I am a blend of 'Cautious' and 'Supportive'. The 'Cautious' trait slightly overshadows the 'Supportive' trait. Some words that would describe my behavior type are the following: critical thinker, cautious, focused on quality, and helpful. The results also state that I am reserved/slower-paced. I agree with all of this information. The only factor I disagree with is the notion that I am more task-oriented than people-oriented. I've excelled in customer service and sales roles for too long to be considered task based. Some very interesting results for this one. The Big Five Personality Test: This is one of my favorite personality assessments. Its organization and ease of use really hit the mark for someone such as myself. It uses the five basic dimensions of personality that most modern psychologist believe exist: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. My results found me low on openness and neuroticism. Essentially, this makes me all of the following: carefree, optimistic,

relaxed, self-confident, calm, practical, traditional, conventional, and most comfortable in familiar surroundings. I agree with those matches completely. I was moderate in all other categories. This rating tells me that I am not someone that seeks social rewards, not impulsive, and can balance my interests with the interests of others fairly well. Again, I agree with that information. Prompt #1.3: Throughout your personal or professional life, what have been the most useful self-assessments tools for you, and why? None were useful to me until I began my journey toward an Organizational Leadership degree. Honestly, I never gave them a chance until now. I just believed they were a waste of time, and just did them to move on in a class, or get down with work. Now that I see their value, and possible use, I believe that I cheated myself out of some important data throughout the years that could have helped me find the right path earlier in life. The most useful assessments for where my life is going would have to be all three of the Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test and the Big Five Personality Test. I am intrigued by tools that can help me determine what type of personality I possess, and potential career paths based on that data. Prompt #2: Discuss your primary and secondary career anchors. Any surprises? Make some connections between your current work / life and your scores on the career anchors assessment. What was your lowest scoring career anchor? Comment on your perceptions about that (and the career anchors instrument, in general).

My results for the “Motivations and Careers Anchors Assessment” were the following:

• Primary Careers Anchor: “Technical/Functional Competence”

• Secondary Career Anchor: “Security, Stability, Organizational Identity”

No surprises were found from the results of this assessment. I want to be very knowledgeable on the job, and as efficient as possible when it comes to my work. It’s these traits that helped me obtain the Assistant Vice President title, in just four years with my current employer. I am the type of person that wants to know what I am doing as soon as my foot touches the floor of the company. The “Motivations and Careers Anchors Assessment’ got this first part correct, because I sit in a managerial role with my current employer, and all of this fits the description of a “Technical/Functional Competence” career anchor.

The secondary anchor of “Security, Stability, and Organizational Identity” is another match for myself. I’m married now, with a house, and more responsibilities. I’m no longer a risk taker. The house surely ties myself to the area, so I’m not really looking to uproot somewhere outside of that when looking for employers. I like working for the same company, and feeling like I’m a part of a tightly knitted group for a long duration. This description fits my comfort zone.

My lowest career anchor, ‘Entrepreneurial Creativity’, hit the mark as well. When I was a bachelor, this rating would have probably been number one. During those years I was seeking greater wealth with start-ups, and ideas. Now, with a family, I have to be grounded. I have someone else that I need to think of before making decisions, so it’s expected this category would be one of the lowest.

This is a powerful assessment. It was very accurate about my current persona, and I think everyone should give this a try if they every questions what’s important to them regarding their career life.

Prompt #3: Please respond to each of the following 12 questions – as you hope to

be answering them 10 years from today’s date). Be sure to give the questions some

deep thought, and demonstrate your engagement in the process by responding

thoughtfully to each one.

1. What is the date today? How old are you?

The date is November 3rd, 2027, and I am 49 years old.

2. Where and in what kind of environment are you living?

I live in the same house we currently own, located within the outskirts of Inglewood,

California. With the addition of the new football stadium, a new basketball arena, and

the increase in size of the Los Angeles International Airport, the city is thriving, and

has become reminiscent of downtown Los Angeles. We get all the benefits of an

energized city, but live away from the smog and congestion.

3. What is your family situation?

I have the same wife, Angela Hawkins. We’ve been married for 16 years. We’re still

very much in love. We’ve renewed our wedding vows every five years, just like we did

for our 5th wedding anniversary, in Maui. We have a child, conceived through

surrogacy. She’s eight years old, and we love her very much.

4. What kind of work are you doing?

I left banking a few years ago, finally, and currently work for myself. I own and

operate a leadership consulting company. It’s very rewarding, uses the skillset

obtained in college, and pays very well. I could not be happier with how my work life

has turned out.

5. Describe the institution/organization you work for.

The name of my company is Hawkins Global Consulting, and our web address is:

http://www.hawkinsgc.com. We’ve been around for just over seven years now, and

our target market is the Los Angeles, California region. We offer leadership consulting,

executive coaching, and organizational structure assistance.

6. What does your work place look like? What kind of building do you work in?

Where is it located? Is the environment urban, rural, etc.?

Since a majority of my work is accomplished at the client business, my office is more of

a virtual environment. When office space is needed, I utilize the WeWork

(http://www.wework.com) system for temporary space. This apparatus is considered

co-shared office space, and it features a network of locations. Because of this

characteristic my location one week could be in Culver City, California and New York,

New York the following week.

7. Describe a typical work week/day.

Monday – If not at a client’s office for a business appointment, I spend the day calling

an emailing leads acquired online.

Tuesday – Similar actions to Monday.

Wednesday – Either in the office, open for potential clients to visit for a free

consultation, or taking time for a networking event to build brand awareness.

Thursday – Similar actions to Tuesday.

Friday – Similar actions to Thursday.

8. Do you work standard hours or is your schedule flexible?

The schedule has to be flexible for my line of work. Office hours will usually revolve

around a schedule of 9 AM to 5 PM. If needed for a late night consultation, or coaching

session, I make room. You have to take business wherever you can get it.

9. Describe your lifestyle.

Still a simple life, just like years past. I earn a better living, but I did not let it go to my

head and spend beyond the means of the family.

10. Do you have much leisure time and, if so, how do you spend it?

My Leisure time usually falls on Saturday and Sunday. I spend that allocated time

helping my wife with the house, or with my daughter just being a father. I watch an

occasional sporting event, or still play a video game or two. Sometimes I get to catch

up on my television shows. Essentially, I spend my leisure time being a family man.

11. What is your current financial situation?

The Wife, and myself, each make a decent six figure salary, and live comfortably. Only

student loan debt hovers over me; slightly at this point.

12. Are you as happy as you thought you would be? Why or why not?

I am extremely happy. I’m my own boss. I get to live a comfortable life. I have a great

family. I’m leaving something behind for when the unthinkable occurs. I have what

everybody wants in their life, joy.

OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II - Discussion Topic #4

Ideal Organization Exercise

Prompt #1: Follow the instructions for the “Ideal Organization Exercise” in your

textbook. Use each of the headings provided and briefly “sketch out” your

conceptualization of the ideal organization. In responding to each heading, you

can write a brief paragraph or “bullet” responses (as in the textbook example). Be

sure to see the specific questions posed under each heading in the text. Elaborate,

and be specific – let you mind wonder, and you can include your responses here as

one of your data sources for Assignment #4.

My “ideal organization”

Products / Services

• Would be in the executive, sales, and leadership coaching industry.

• Would serve any corporation, big or small, from the east to the west coast. California

would be a starting point.

• Some of the solutions offered:

o Sales solutions for individuals or teams.

o Enterprise selling solutions.

o Business solutions for professional service providers.

o Training for hiring ideal candidates.

o Solutions for leading sales teams.

o Sales coaching.

o Solutions for maximizing sales performance.

o Organizational assessments and resolutions.

o Executive search services.

o Leadership consulting.

o Culture shaping.

Structure

• The organization would be a sole-proprietorship, or an LLC; between 1 to 10

employees. Only one manager, myself.

• Our first year would see revenues of close to $40K, with the following two years

witnessing a doubling of revenues each year.

• The organization will operate on a local scale in the beginning, followed by national

and global markets in later years.

Culture

• Our mission: to help our clients build organizations with a strong leadership

infrastructure, fair culture, and a teamwork first mindset.

• In the first year, our goal would be to establish ourselves as a player in our business

market, locally. Later years, we would be looking to build market shares, and innovate.

• The office would be located with a popular shared work-space environment. Inside the

office would allow for a relaxed dress code, while outside is dependent on the type of

client visited. For example, if the customer is a bank, suit and tie is needed, while a

turtle-neck and khakis would be ideal for a start-up tech company.

Management Style and Values

• I would be the only manager, and every other member of the company would be

considered employees.

• Despite a single ownership, I would foster a transformation leadership model. Every

employee should feel comfortable sharing ideas, and thoughts, with each other for

ultimate performance.

• A 360-degree feedback philosophy would be intact from day one of the company

inception.

Job Scope

• My job would be to lead others within the company, sell our solutions in the field

alongside fellow colleagues, and be the face of the organization.

Evaluation Methods and Rewards

• The company would appraise the status of the organization through the use of year-

end-results data. This information would include the number of new clients, customer

retention quotas, and accumulative revenue.

• We would have a round-table meeting each quarter to discuss goals, and milestones

reached.

• All employees will have a base salary, and the number one through three sales

associates at the end of the year will receive a bonus.

• If an employee shows real promise and commitment, maybe a partnership opportunity

could be presented to that colleague.

OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II - Discussion Topic #5

Career and Life Orientation Index & Purpose & Mission Statement

Prompt #1: Follow the instructions for the “Career and Life Orientation Index” in

your textbook. What was your average score – and what category (from “highly

organizational” to “highly protean” did you fall into? Based on what you have read

about the organizational versus protean career models (review Chapter 1 / Our

Career and Work-Life Model / page 11), do you feel that the instrument accurately

captured your orientation? Why or why not? Please provide an example or two

from your own life.

My “Career and Life Orientation Index” Score: 3.06 (“Highly Organizational”)

My assessment results personify my current career orientation perfectly. As a bachelor,

I’ve held numerous positions that allowed for a protean based attitude. For example, as an

Internet Programmer, I was in charge of my own path. We had the freedom to come and go as

we pleased, and complete tasks anyway we saw fit. As a “DVD Encoder”, I had the same

qualities. I lasted a year and a half in the first role, and less than a year in the second. Today, I

am a family man, with more responsibilities than ever before. I have a wife to consider before

making any decision, additionally, a house, property taxes, and car insurance; it’s safe to say,

I’m not a gambling man,” especially when it comes to these aspects of my life. Traditional

careers are my chosen route, at this time. Allowing the organization to be in charge removes

additional decision making from my already busy life, and this orientation contains all the

elements I need to feel successful. For example, I was recently promoted to Assistant Vice

President, and incurred a salary increase. Those two level increases provided enough

motivation for further confidence in my work. Currently, I am driven my ‘advancement’ in my

place of employment, and that’s a core values of the traditional career. Throughout this

discussion, I continue to use the word “currently”. I’ve always worked for an established entity,

and still see a future where working for myself is a reality. If my goal of opening a leadership

consulting firm reached fruition, my career orientation will most likely result in a 180-degree

switch along with this change. In the end, this would be a welcome change. Striving for

‘psychological success’ in the work place, along with freedom, and growth, equates to a

healthier person than just the ones just focused on position, salary, and level. I want to feel

good at work, and in my personal life.

Prompt #2: As you review the hypothesized career and life facets, (self direction /

organizational orientation / values expression / whole-life balance / family focus /

community involvement), comment on your scores / priorities there. Which of

these are most important to you? Which are least important to you? What

implications does this have on your career choices? (Make some connections to

your self-assessments).

My Hypothesized Career & Life Facets Scores:

• Self-direction: 3.16

• Organizational orientation: 3.20

• Value expression: 3.30

• Whole life balance focus: 4.60

• Family focus: 4.83

• Community involvement: 2.25

These scores provide additional proof of the assessments accuracy. As stated within my

answer to prompt #1, I am a family man. My score above confirms my statement, and

reinforces my need to find a balance between work, and personal life. My career choices are

based on if an opportunity can co-exist with my family life, and can there be a balance. The

data even supports my ‘DISC Personality Test’ findings, which state my personality is a blend

of 'Cautious' and 'Supportive', with the 'Cautious' trait slightly overshadowing the 'Supportive'.

The only disappointing aspect of my results would have to be the score achieved in the

‘community involvement’ category. The unacceptable portion is the truthful reality of the

category’s outcome. I do not devote enough time toward community involvement, and this

omission will be worked on in future years.

Prompt #3: Please provide your own Personal Purpose Statement and Mission

Statement here.

Also, please reflect on the process you used to develop your purpose and mission

statements. Explain what you learned from the mission statement development

process and any approach, strategy, or tool(s) specifically, that helped you craft

your own statement.

Purpose Statement:

“I am here on this planet to bring joy and happiness into the lives of others.”

Mission Statement:

“I will help others find the leader inside themselves, and use that confidence that has

always been there as a tool for doing great things.”

It was a three step process that I utilized for creating my mission and purpose statements:

1. I looked at my work life, for the past eighteen years, and asked myself, “At what points

during each line of work did I smile, or feel self-gratification.” Every situations

identified that could be connected with this question focused on ‘helping others’.

2. The next step involved analyzing why I chose the Organizational Leadership major.

After all, college is the apparatus that helps a person determine what they want to do

with the rest of their life.

3. Lastly, I evaluated why I feel people want to include someone like me in their lives. This

last observation caused me to conclude that others like my attitude towards life, and

how I treat everyone as a human being with no labels attached.

These three internal assessments allowed myself to build the mission and purpose statement

above. I am very satisfied with the final results.