Hanging with my homies on Hangouts

Last Friday our team had a video conference using Google's Hangouts.  It was amusing to see the various states of preparation we were.  I was wearing a hat to cover up my bed-head, Jessie looked like she just showered, Austin looked a little drowsy, and Jacquel was bright-eyed and ready to go.  Regardless, we were able to figure out what needed done or at least get a few starting points moving along.  The one drawback with using Hangouts was that only one person could talk and no one was quite sure how to coordinate between each other for comments.  If we use it again, I may suggest that we have a clear agenda and have questions directed specifically at one of the teammates, that way we aren't tripping over each other.

Keeping afloat

I am well aware that this particular posting is after the Saturday deadline.  In fact I had my "oh crap" moment last night when I was checking what things needed done for Monday morning.  Regardless of the timing, I feel the need to blog anyway.

Last class we worked a bit on our group presentation.  We volunteered or were volun-told what we'd be working on to assist in the completion of the project.  The problem I have with this assignment is that if we were a professional team and this was our job, we'd be collaborating and cooperating a lot more than we are.  It's not that no one is working on it, quite the contrary, but I feel we have only done "forming, storming, norming" and not quite reached "performing" in the utilization of our group's potential.  In 28 minutes from now we'll be meeting together to work on our presentation.  I think that will be a difficult endeavor considering the state our document when last I checked.

Sadly, this is not the only major thing I need to keep track of and work on before the end of the semester.  I still have a few other classes and a few more projects in this class to complete in less than three weeks.  For those that are under 25 years old, unmarried, in good health, and currently finishing their degree - finish the first time, you don't want to try completing this when you have a family and other responsibilities to worry about at the same time.  It seriously feels like I am barely staying afloat with my eyeballs just above water.  My stake president commended me on my efforts right now and encouraged me to stay with it, reminding me that it will all be worth it.  I know.  It's just so hard sometimes.

So what?  This is important to me to finish what I've started and keep the big picture in focus.  Sure, there will be course corrections along the way, but I can't let the imperfection of my path influence my drive to endure to the end.  No matter how hard.

Now what?  I keep going.  Keep working.  Keep communicating with my team so that we can do well on our deliverables and the presentation.

Keep moving forward

This next assignment has me very nervous.  Relying on someone else to complete something that I could do by myself is not something I typically do.  Even at home when one of the boys does not empty the dishwasher in a timely manner and the dishes begin to pile up in the sink, my panties get all in a twist.  On the other hand, when I know someone else is going to do something or take over a project, I feel myself hanging back and waiting to see what happens next.  Does this mean that I work best alone, that I don't play well with others?  Perhaps.

The end of the semester is coming soon.  I feel excited that this semester will be over soon, but I also feel woefully unprepared.  If I don't feel that I know a subject well enough to teach, I doubt the knowledge I have gained.  If I don't score in the mid to high 90's, I feel disappointed, especially if I thought I prepared well enough.  I have learned so much in regards to written communication skill.  I now find myself editing sentences that start with "it" or "there" to conform with what I've learned.  However, much more can still be learned by the time I get a final grade from this class.  I really hope that I can learn to communicate like our guest speaker on Tuesday who was able to land a job with Toyota by demonstrating his effective communicating skills.

So what?  Keep moving forward.  Keep studying and doing what Prof. Middleton teaches.
Now what?  I'm going to work on my assignments.

Practical applications

This week I had an opportunity to use what we practiced in class regarding interviews.  While in court I had the chance to sit on the witness stand and give testimony.  The experience was not entirely unlike a job interview when wanting to say the right thing the right way and really sell one's position.  To say the least I was a little nervous, but it turned out all right.

Anyway, this week in class we began researching for a briefing article.  Research papers are not exactly my cup of tea, but at least this only has to be a page.  However, the trick will be finding relevant material to support a topic I have little knowledge about, so this will be fun.  During class we had a resident library expert on researching.  The experience was a little like drinking from a fire hose - too much, too fast.  The reassuring part was that she was very willing to help during regular hours so that we aren't spending hours doing something that takes her fifteen minutes to accomplish.

So what?  Well, if I can learn how best to perform research and know the right questions to ask, the skills gained will be useful in the business world when asked a question that I don't know the answer to, but intend to find the answer for.

Now what?  I know what I'll be doing on Monday - working on the briefing article.

The video interview

The video interview felt a little weird.  Perhaps when an interviewee makes great efforts to make the environment in which they are being interviewed more professional, the event can feel more professional.  I'm just grateful the boys downstairs were quiet while I was doing the interview upstairs on my laptop computer.  I think if I would have prepared better for the event I would have felt a little more professional.

I'm glad we did it though.  Jacquel and I were able to coordinate how to make Google+ Hangouts work for us.  We initially thought of Skype, but now that it cost money, I was very hesitant to do that.  Why pay money for something of equal or greater quality that is free somewhere else?  Hangouts worked very well for us.  Anyway, I'm glad Jacquel was my partner.  She certainly brought a level of quality professionalism that made the experience very instructive.  Thanks Jacquel!

Employer: Jacquel Tholl
Score: 5/5

In the other person's shoes

Have you ever had a desire to force someone to see reason and reality, because you have already been where someone else is going and you don't want them to end up bitter and angry like you became?

I didn't feel that directly when we were having our mock interviews in MCom class, but I definitely felt like had I had the information twenty years ago that we shared in class this week, I probably would have made some more serious choices about my future rather than allow life to make the choices for me.  Take for instance my choice in major.  When I started school again last semester I had the idea that I could do accounting.  After a semester and a half, I decided it was not for me.  So now I am following the advise I gave not too long ago to just try something and if that doesn't work go with something else.

What has the above paragraph got to do with MCom?  Other than the ability to communicate, not a lot, but I needed to vent a little.


Anyway, besides the in-class mock interviews, we went over types of letters to use and when.  We also talked about how and why to deliver bad news and Prof. Middleton gave several personal experiences of the affects of bad news delivered and not delivered.  The stories were quite entertaining, but I believe the point was made that we have to think about the other person, about how they would feel when they are personally involved in news that is less than favorable to them.

I believe I have become a bit more reflective about what to say when delivering bad news.  We even have an assignment to write about how to deliver bad news in a letter.  This should be interesting.  Hopefully I can glean what I need from the PowerPoint slides to make an effective letter.

So I'll be writing a bit this weekend.  Along with everything else I have to do.  (Studying and accomplishing homework was so much easier when I was in my early twenties - more energy and more time to focus.)

My Crossroads

This past Tuesday's class was very helpful from the standpoint of a person looking for tips on how to land a job.  We learned simple things like being part of Linked In, being prepared for announced career fairs, and customizing a resume to fit with what the employer is asking for.  One thing that impressed me most was the idea of selling who you are with a seven second read of a resume.  How exactly to do that, I don't know, but I'm sure it will be important to figure out when I go back out in the work force.

One of the assignments due for next time is a resume.  I've got one that I'll have to dust off, but the whole point of going back to school was to find something that I'd like to do that would pay well.  I thought it would be with accounting.  My time in Accounting 200 was awesome and I thought I could hack it, but my time in Accounting 320 has shown me otherwise.  So know I have to try for plan "B" while creating a plan "C," and preparing for the eventuality that I may have to go back to the same jobs I was doing before.  I really don't want to do that.  So I've got to do as well in this and all the other classes as I can.

I have to say I've learned some things about accounting in Accounting 320, but the biggest thing I have learned is that accounting does not come easily to me.  I may do some accounting things in my life that seemed perfectly natural, but the hard technical accounting stuff has convinced me that I must rethink my plan.  I just hope my academic chances of getting into the information systems program haven't been hindered by this restructuring.

So what?  I must learn to be as flexible with my school career as I will need to be with my resume.
Now what?  Practice on the assignment.