Snapshot of Day 2.

Critiques, exercises, information and challenges can describe today.  One of the most important things a person must do in life is continually stretch the mind.  Now this "stretching" may not come easy.  Often one does not want to hear about or be challenged in an area where some improvement could or should be made.  There is a difference.  A person may be fully aware of their weaknesses or failures and simply refuse to do anything to remedy them.  With this attitude one does not grow in life.  Imagine if everyone conducted life in this manner.

Two words come to mind.....boring and sad.  The giant society cookie would eventually crumble into little crumbs on the floor.  Yes, this may be a bit extreme but one gets the general idea.  Change and overcoming failures only serve to make one grow stronger.  So what does one do?  How does one come to this decision?  Reflection. 

To properly reflect one must look inside to find and eventually accept the truth.  Most people are aware of their own faults and failures but making the choice to accept the challenge to change them is the hard part.  Also learning to accept criticism from others when they recognize the same faults is very tough.  No one wants to hear the "bad" stuff.  But to truly change and do the tough stretching it is very necessary. 

Today our presentations and exercises were designed to make each of us look in the mirror and focus on that reflection.  Some did not like what they saw.  Others may have heard the words but only took a quick look.  Time will tell who did what.

Personally I found several areas in my professional brand and several areas in my library's brand I will focus on improving.  No big changes are needed as I am on the right track but I did learn some things that will help to smooth the road a bit along the way. 

I will continue to improve my personal brand.  This is something I have always naturally done but now I have a word for it and a better understanding of how to further draw attention to it.  My focus will be keener now.  As for the library and it's brand, well, it is still a work in progress.  My first two years have been very geared toward making it the happening place in town.  It was not previously a friendly place to visit and that has changed.  Depending on the data (and taking into consideration that it was not being reported honestly before) then library patronage nearly doubled the first year.  People are excited about coming and the brand is growing stronger each day.  But as always there is more work to be done and this class is going to become a big catalyst in this.  You cannot put a price on good solid information like we learned today.  I plan to take this knowledge and put it into action immediately. 

What will day three bring?  I don't know but I'm quite sure there will be more reflecting and growing to be done.  Stay tuned. 

Pam's Point:  Sometimes we have to strip down naked and go stand in front of that mirror and gaze straight into our soul......we usually already know what we need to change....we just need to decide to do it.