Pathways to Lasting Success

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Pathways to Lasting Success

• Patsy J. Reeves
• April 2007

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Success
Doing With Excellence The Things You Are Gifted
To Do
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Success Please Give Me a Map!

• Where do I want to go?
• What are my talents and resources?
• What opportunities should I seek?
• Whats it going to cost?
• What outside support is available?
• What are realistic expectations?
• How about life balance?
• What are my priorities?
• What legacy will I leave?

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Pathways to Career Success

• Old Path to Success
• One employer for life
• Stable work environment
• Guaranteed retirement plan (CSRS)
• Company-managed career
• Low-technology skills
• Loyalty, hard work, follow the rules, outlast
  your rivals

• New Path to Success
• Series of employers over time
• Downsizing, mergers, buyouts, reorganizations
• Self-directed retirement plans (401Ks or FERS)
• Shape your own career
• High-technology skills
• Flexibility, unique talents and abilities,
  outgrow your rivals

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Where Do I Want To Go?(Vision)

• Assess yourself
• When are you at your best what gets you charged
  up?
• Where do you already excel?
• What new skills might be fun to acquire?
• Identify opportunities and unmet needs
• Where could you contribute/improve things?
• Would you be happy/fulfilled on this path?
• Establish a personnel roadmap

If you dont know where you are going, any road
will take you there. Lewis Carroll
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Identify the Opportunity
1102 Retirement Eligibility
As of 24 Mar 07
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Whats It Going To Cost!(Preparation)

• What education/training do I need?
• Develop a plan
• How can I practice my skills?
• Seek out those opportunities
• How can I stand out from the pack?
• Seek unique, complementary experiences

There is no comfort in growth and no growth in
comfort.
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Contracting Professionalism

• Seek education/training
• APDP certification to match your grade/rank
• 41 of 1102s have masters degrees
• Developmental Education (PME)
• Develop your skills
• Depth mature contracting knowledge experience
• Breath a variety of related experiences
• Differentiate yourself
• Volunteer for the hard stuff
• Complementary career experiences
• Complementary related experiences (NCMA,
  Toastmasters, etc.)
• Consider mobility

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Resources to Support Your Journey

• Tuition assistance
• Degree Completion Program
• Long-Term Full-Time Training
• Civilian Tuition Assistance Program
• Developmental Education (PME)
• Residence, seminar, correspondence
• AF Contracting Career Broadening Program
• Annual 1102 vectoring for GS-13s above
• Seek insight from those you respect (mentoring)

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What Are Realistic Expectations?

• Your Part
• Master skills at your current level
• Technical, interpersonal, attitude
• Job performance work ethic is imperative
• Perform, behave, dress one level up
• Be patient excellence takes time!
• Compete with yourself not others
• Continually seek growth self-improvement
• Assess your predecessors careers

Preparation Patient Persistence ? Sets the
stage for success
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A Look Through theBosss Eyes

• What is your work ethic?
• Your attitude positive or negative?
• What demonstrated skills do you bring?
• Do you invest in your own improvement?
• What success do you have so far?
• How could/do you contribute to my team?
• Do you bring solutions or just problems?
• Do you research alternatives independently?
• Do you make my job easier or harder?

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What About Life Balance?

• Personal Life
• Work Life
• Spiritual Life
• Family Life
• Community Life

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Character Matters

• Courage
• Loyalty
• Diligence
• Honesty
• Meekness
• Gratitude
• Modesty
• Frugality
• Reverence

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Its Not Just About You

• People will not remember you for what you did.
  Theyll remember you for what you did for them

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Core Values for Success

• Integrity
• Service Before Self
• Excellence In All We Do

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Helpful Resources

• SAF/AQC Force Development Website
  https//www.safaq.hq.af.mil/contracting/restricted
  /force
• Now, Discover Your Strengths Buckingham
  Clifton
• Character Matters Dr. Mark Rutland
• How Full Is Your Bucket Rath Clifton