Dreaming of February 1, 2012
As you may or may not have seen me mention on an Eff Em Friday, I’m in the process of studying for my Professional in Human Resources certification exam. Back in January 2010 when I was spiraling downward in a job I hated, I made the investment in the study materials so that I could take the exam in May 2010 and add to the credentials on my resume to make me more marketable. At the very least, I could look for jobs in the HR field in the interim and confidently say I was studying to take the test and committed to being the best professional cookie baker and benefits questions answerer on the block. That was then and this is now.
I ended up with a new gig in May 2010 and transitioned from Boston to New York City. And with the new job secured and a ridiculous amount of transition-related things to worry about including a rapidly deteriorating relationship, I ate the exam cancellation fee and focused on what was to come in a new and dirty city full of aggressive people and Halal food trucks. That was then and this is now.
My manager spoke to me a few months ago and shared with me that part of the reason he hired me was because I was planning to take this exam. It showed drive and dedication to becoming a professional in my field. When he found out I hadn’t yet rescheduled the exam, he added it on as a goal to accomplish by January 31, 2011. To make it even more official and urgent, the cost of the updated study materials and exam fees came out of my professional development allotment. That was then and this is now.
So here I am doing something that I initially wanted to do for my own self-improvement, but now have to do because I committed to it when I interviewed and because the company is watching. It’s November 3rd and the clock is ticking. With each day that passes, my focus increases at the same rate as my stress. And just like I normally do when I get flustered, I revert to cleaning and getting organized. My discipline comes back and I find myself returning to the same habits that got me into college and my last 3 jobs.
Here I am returning to a focus I haven’t seen in some time not because I really want to, but because I have to. As you get older, the consequences of your actions increase tenfold. If I choose to come home and watch hours of television instead of write, my new writing gig becomes old news and I’ve lost a reference in a field I ultimately want to pursue. If I don’t study at least 1 hour every day and burn through 150 pages of HR material per week, I’ll create an insane amount of anxiety around test time and most likely fail. If I fail (I test poorly in general, not just in relationships intentionally), I not only lose credibility at work but I will have also wasted the company’s money.
When it’s my money and my project, it can be with lackadaisical effort. But when someone else is impacted by my efforts and ability to come through in the clutch, it’s full-steam ahead until a job well-done. It’s something that I can’t afford to fail monetarily or otherwise. The aha epiphany here is:
How do I get from things being urgent because someone else is watching or requesting them to things being urgent simply because I set the goals for myself?
It’s an ongoing question and one that is slowly but surely starting to get answered. Motivation isn’t always easy, but if you can find out what fuels it then you won’t be cramming the day before the test. And the less you have to cram, the more likely you are to pass with flying colors.
Mind in these books and in the gutter when I’m done,
P.S. Check out my guest post on Ashy2Classy titled 4 Things We Can All Learn From Rick Ross other than #thatgrunt. More positivity and goodness.
P.S.S. Yes, I wrote a post with redeeming value based on Rick Ross.
really its tooo difficult
“And just like I normally do when I get flustered, I revert to cleaning and getting organized. ” < I do this too. Or I'll work on minor projects while the major project looms in the background.
Have you joined World at Work? Their classes are really helpful when studying for the SPHR. Best of Luck though, you can do it!
I’ve heard of them. I remember looking up something with them before and it was OD expensive. I’ll keep them in mind for the SPHR when my current org or a future org is paying for it.lol
You COMPLETELY motivated me in my grad school studies…I’m in the middle of the semester and all I wanna do is #OccupyMyBed It’s tougher than I thought but I am almost there!! Gotta finish strong! Go hard or go home! *pauz*
Good luck with your studies and YOU CAN DO IT! (I knew that cheerleading in undergrad would pay off! Don’t you feel all motivated now??!!)
#OccupyMyBed has been added to my lexicon. Thank you for that. I wish I used it in the post!
Omgosh, I am right there with you. I should be graduating with my master’s in HR and Labor Relations in May 2012. But there are days when I just want to quit. Time and again I ask myself the purpose and reasoning behind my going back to school. I guess my motivation comes from knowing that my hard work now will pay off in the future, not only for myself, but also for my future family.
Do you like the actual material, though? I want to do my MIR next year, but I’m growing less and less fascinated with the idea of Industrial Relations. Not a fan of having to deal with unions and such, even though that’s where the money is.
*fingersnaps* this was great.
I find that now that I am out of college I have to motivate myself for intangible things like trying to be “successful”.
Once you find the clear-cut plan for self-motivation please let me know.
Once I find that, I’m cashing in.lol
I’m in a similar situation I plan on finishing my degree in Med. Lab Science in a year and need to do well, and pass a certification exam before being employable. I too feel the need to clean when I’m stressed, but once everything is in order I’m unstoppable lol! Good luck to you and everyone else!!
When it’s my money and my project, it can be with lackadaisical effort. But when someone else is impacted by my efforts and ability to come through in the clutch, it’s full-steam ahead until a job well-done.
Story of my life. *whispers* i blame some of it on pledging lol
Man, the study grind is no joke. Im so done after this Masters. I almost slapped this girl for asking me why i wasn’t going to go for my Ph.D or Ed.D!
I feel like pledging has had some residual effects. Actually, I’m sure of it. But yo, I can’t even fathom getting a masters right about now. Makes me shiver in fright.
I.Feel.This.! I’ve put off taking the MD Bar for various reasons (family illnesses / death) and now that there has been another death in my family that has rocked the family business, now I HAVE to take the Bar and step in. I was supposed to join the family business years ago and then just took a different path. Now that I’m needed, I have to step up. With all that I have going on, adding Bar study kinda freaks me out, but I figure if Orly Taitz can pass the California Bar, anything is possible! Philippians 4:13: “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ that strengthens me!” Good luck to you, as well!
Not gonna lie, I had no idea who Orly Taitz was until I employed the services of google. I was sittin here real confused and feeling insecure about now knowing who it was.lol.
The Bar though? You just been delaying on taking the Bar? So you went through all that school and just haven’t taken the Bar? Giirrrrrrrllll, you trippin. Then again, no you’re not. You just walked a different path for a while like you said.
I recently went through a situation that evoked similar feelings. I just took my qualifying exams for candidacy in my doctorate program. My book list numbered over 100 and continued to grow with every meeting with my committee members. I literally had to tell myself everynight: “if you don’t go study, then you will fail and the 3 years of coursework you successfully completed will go out the window.” I share this to say remembering the reason you started the process and the goals it will help you achieve for future usually will be the best source of motivation.
First and foremost, I applaud all those who are striving to do better. Your drive makes me want to head back to school, although my sanity won’t allow it right now lol
Secondly, Slim – I can’t help you with being motivated when someone else is depending on you, because it seems we’re completely opposite. I have to be motivated for my own will, or else I just won’t put in enough effort to succeed. If your certification is something you want for your own self-improvement, then I think you should forget about the added pressure and just do it for you. If you put your all into everything you do, then regardless of the expectations others have for you, the result is a reflection of your best effort and that’s all they can ask for.
I hope you find your motivation (or it finds you) and you do well on your exam. All the best!
I feel you. You’re better than me, though. My procrastinating ways still get the best of me, so my level of discipline is not that much higher when I’m accountable to someone other than myself. Only thing is, I test well and don’t really stress. I have to thank God every single time I pull a crazy stunt and come out with an A because, man…it’s almost like I hate myself sometimes. All kinds of self-sabotaging at work.
I’m wondering whether writing our National Knowledge Exam shortly after school would be better than after experience on the job. We have to work for 3 years before getting the Certified Human Resources Professional certification, but can do the exam anytime it’s offered after the required courses have been successfully completed. Meh, we’ll see. All the best on yours!
I stimbled across your blog and I can identify with this post. I tend to be a crunch-time person and the stress kills me. I’ m in a similar situatin of needing two certifications for a career move. I’m praying I get myself in gear and get things moving.
Welcome and thanks for commenting. I’m praying the same thing over the next 27 days.lol