Last night's NABA/NBMBAA Joint Meeting and today's divisional meeting enhanced my professional insight. The Joint Meeting was held at an accounting firm at Tysons Corner. As I walked to the building, I remembered my fear about being around upwardly mobile people. Yes, although I had a degree, I wasn't rich like those people. However, after paying off my creditors and being on my job for nine months, I realized that I belonged here. No question about that!
The Joint Meeting had a panel discussing career mobility issues. One of the panelist mentioned that helping others is the importance of networking and that he had received more help from people outside of this company than inside. Another one commented that the best time to change careers was when you were on top because that when you had everything going for you with the least amount of risk. I carried those sentiments with me to today's meeting.
The boss discussed several measures but the most importance to me were the federal approval of tuition reimbursement, training classes, the spring policy conference, and the personal project. Since I am still contemplating between the two schools, achieving residency, and weighing all relocation costs, it is heartening to know that the agency has the money! Also the spring policy conference offers an abundance of opportunities to hone my craft and network by joining economic organizations which spark my interest. This past weekend I updated my wardrobe by purchasing a matching suit and slack set that I wore at the Joint Meeting. In my closet I have two suits but will review my budget tonight to see if I can buy another one. For these two days, I will wear both of them to display an air of professionalism (I might even buy business cards!) Also the boss informed us that we should be working on our personal/developmental project(I guess mine is the SAS work!) and to submit it by the end of the month. Working on my project presents another opportunity to shine and receive my promotion. Even with budget tightness, I will still excel at my position!
With three months until my annual review, I see myself becoming the consummate professional by exceling on my job, networking and branching out to learn new things.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Conversations with my father and other empowering chats
Two profound things occurred during this President's Day Weekend. The first occurred early Monday morning while talking to my father. He asked about my graduation date. Until then I did not think about an actual timetable. My thoughts just drifted to transferring out my current school into another. Passively, I would graduate next year in 2008. Unbeknownst to me, his question challenged me to fully analyze my current situation.
Right now, I am at AU and am enrolled in calculus I. Visitng the graduate school's site, it has the spring 2007 quarter course offerings. Calculus II is offered only electronically meaning that I would have to rely more on the tutoring center for personal help. However, I also realize that I can use both my current calculus and the online statistics courses as opportunities to prepare for calculus II's in-person final exam. My calculus final is the only test offered in-person. And the online statistics class will be my guinea pig of sorts since stats is way easier than calculus-based math!
Factoring in the fact that I will be finished with calculus II by late June, allows me consider taking my remaining course work and graduate during the summer or by this fall. I will see if AU offers microeconomics and mathematical economics this summer; and, if so, I will register and start evaluating my options. Microeconomics requires calculus II so my success will my barometer to gauge the landscape. After writing the initial draft, I fear that maybe this including my master's thesis is too much to bear; yet, I realize that completing calculus II by summer has always been on my agenda because it liberates me from spending over $1200 at the local community college because I do not have residency.
My father's conversation perfectly coincides with Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, a wonderful movie about responsible black fathers. I totally loved the film and all of the actors, though I must admit that I could never have acted like Gabrielle Union towards any man like that. Get therapy!
Second happened this morning when I checked my account balance and realized that one of my creditors has cashed my check and my account will no longer incur finance charges! Immediately I emailed my counselor about this. She confirmed and reduced my total account balance. Afterward, I called my smallest creditor about paying off my account. The rep. provided me with the amount, a cost savings of over $100, and immediately mailed it. The exuberance and elation that I felt upon accomplishing my two biggest financial empowerment initiatives, was unimaginable at the beginning of 2007; however, I was serious about trimming down my debt, boosting my credit scores and remaining solvent.
These two episodes have tought me a lot about listening to others as well as myself.
Right now, I am at AU and am enrolled in calculus I. Visitng the graduate school's site, it has the spring 2007 quarter course offerings. Calculus II is offered only electronically meaning that I would have to rely more on the tutoring center for personal help. However, I also realize that I can use both my current calculus and the online statistics courses as opportunities to prepare for calculus II's in-person final exam. My calculus final is the only test offered in-person. And the online statistics class will be my guinea pig of sorts since stats is way easier than calculus-based math!
Factoring in the fact that I will be finished with calculus II by late June, allows me consider taking my remaining course work and graduate during the summer or by this fall. I will see if AU offers microeconomics and mathematical economics this summer; and, if so, I will register and start evaluating my options. Microeconomics requires calculus II so my success will my barometer to gauge the landscape. After writing the initial draft, I fear that maybe this including my master's thesis is too much to bear; yet, I realize that completing calculus II by summer has always been on my agenda because it liberates me from spending over $1200 at the local community college because I do not have residency.
My father's conversation perfectly coincides with Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, a wonderful movie about responsible black fathers. I totally loved the film and all of the actors, though I must admit that I could never have acted like Gabrielle Union towards any man like that. Get therapy!
Second happened this morning when I checked my account balance and realized that one of my creditors has cashed my check and my account will no longer incur finance charges! Immediately I emailed my counselor about this. She confirmed and reduced my total account balance. Afterward, I called my smallest creditor about paying off my account. The rep. provided me with the amount, a cost savings of over $100, and immediately mailed it. The exuberance and elation that I felt upon accomplishing my two biggest financial empowerment initiatives, was unimaginable at the beginning of 2007; however, I was serious about trimming down my debt, boosting my credit scores and remaining solvent.
These two episodes have tought me a lot about listening to others as well as myself.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Realization
Yesterday while riding home from school in a cab, I realized that I was a winner in one of the most competitive economy because I muscled my way into an Economist position and earn an economist degree from a top tier university.
Today's meeting with a financial advisor made me realize that I am on the right track .
When I arrived at 1pm for my appointment with the original financial advisor, a client associate met with me and informed me that advisor’s main clients had more than $250,000 in the bank account. Wow! I initially thought to myself “I only had a fraction of that!” Then I realized that this was a goal. I already know that I will amass no less than $1 million with my TSP by age 65 so why not to aim that high? He informed me that he didn’t have that much. But he helped me a lot. He was thirty and was extremely positive throughout the meeting. The conversation made me realize for the first time that I did really know what I was doing. He even mentioned that my credit card debt was not a lot which boost my confidence because I realized that I could pay all of this off by December.
Also I completed three SAS/AF chapters placing me right back into the certification race! Attaining this will increase my chances of receiving a promotion. The support staff also needed to be commended for assisting me.
Accomplishing all of my goals today made me realize that I can achieve anything! I know want I have to do with my life and I will document it in my new diary that I have bought this afternoon. I will publish my autobiography this summer chronicling my triumphs and tribulations. These first thirty have passed me by with somehwat of a blur but I have deciphered it and have finally stand on firm ground. Now that I am traveling in the right direction, now it is time ensure that I reach my destination: to become the first black Fortune 500 CEO!
Today's meeting with a financial advisor made me realize that I am on the right track .
When I arrived at 1pm for my appointment with the original financial advisor, a client associate met with me and informed me that advisor’s main clients had more than $250,000 in the bank account. Wow! I initially thought to myself “I only had a fraction of that!” Then I realized that this was a goal. I already know that I will amass no less than $1 million with my TSP by age 65 so why not to aim that high? He informed me that he didn’t have that much. But he helped me a lot. He was thirty and was extremely positive throughout the meeting. The conversation made me realize for the first time that I did really know what I was doing. He even mentioned that my credit card debt was not a lot which boost my confidence because I realized that I could pay all of this off by December.
Also I completed three SAS/AF chapters placing me right back into the certification race! Attaining this will increase my chances of receiving a promotion. The support staff also needed to be commended for assisting me.
Accomplishing all of my goals today made me realize that I can achieve anything! I know want I have to do with my life and I will document it in my new diary that I have bought this afternoon. I will publish my autobiography this summer chronicling my triumphs and tribulations. These first thirty have passed me by with somehwat of a blur but I have deciphered it and have finally stand on firm ground. Now that I am traveling in the right direction, now it is time ensure that I reach my destination: to become the first black Fortune 500 CEO!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Can It Be All So Simple?
All I tried to do was arrive to work on time to eat my breakfast and be prompt to the American Fact Finder class and what happened. There was an 11-minute delay on the blue line forcing me to take the yellow line. Then there was another orange and blue line delay at Capital South meaning that I missed two trains due to overcrowding. Then my badge was stuck in the bottom of my bag forcing me to miss the elevator but whom did I catch: my boss. We discussed the American Fact Finder class (he said that he forgot) and to train on the SAS/AF database (I will after reviewing SAS macro.) Well, at least I was on time to the American Fact Finder class but my computer was locked so I had to reboot by pulling the plug out of the wall to restart it.
However, my day did get better because I was able to retrieve SAS information ensuring me that I can adequately prepare for my new SAS class and to achieve certification. Thus far, I have finished half of my SAS I lesson and it will be completed by tomorrow.
However, my day did get better because I was able to retrieve SAS information ensuring me that I can adequately prepare for my new SAS class and to achieve certification. Thus far, I have finished half of my SAS I lesson and it will be completed by tomorrow.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Super "Soul" Bowl
Yesterday's super bowl was historic because this was the first time that both coaches were black! Furthermore, I was happy that Tony Dungy won especially after being dogged and disregarded in Tampa Bay. He practically built that deplorable franchise (while hiring his mentee, Lovie Smith, who later became Chicago's head coach) into a Super Bowl contender only to be fired after leading the Buccaneers to three playoff seasons (Gruden later became coach and Tampa Bay won immediate after Dungy's departure.). In addition, I am happy that both coaches showed grace and respect for the players and the game. May every Super Bowl possess the same level of decorum that these tow coaches displayed!
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