tera wozniak qualls

Over the past couple months I have been through a lot of transition.  I got married, bought a house, and my job description is in flux.  I tried to prepare as much as possible for these changes.  I planned, set up a series of blog posts for my absence, thought through new work structures, and packed up our apartment.  Even with all my planning, I found it is almost impossible to stay entirely ahead of huge life changes.

I was able to get used to the idea that I was going to be married.  I’ve moved at least 10 times in five years, so that was pretty easy, but I was unaware of how some of the changes would change my career outlook.  Throughout these transitions I have been trying to focus on how my life will morph in the future.  With a new husband to think of and house to pay for I have taken a strong look at my priorities and how they have changed since college and how I may still keep my home.

When I left college after my bachelor’s degree three years ago I wanted to make a big change.  I was naive then and thought it would easy.  I had dreams of helping millions of people with their rights and keeping them healthy.  Since college I have worked in two places that aren’t making direct change the way I wished I could in college. My first position was the closest to change, but fund raising wasn’t for me.  Now with my current position we are helping to shape the nonprofit sector, but I am feeling the void of making direct change for individuals.  I have been making up for this by volunteering a lot, but I am not sure that is satisfying either.

I remember now back to my senior year of college.  I attended our state nonprofit association’s superconference.  During the conference I was discussing my ambitions of becoming a lawyer and making policy changes at the federal level.  The women I was speaking with had actually worked in the federal government and warned me against the drain of not making change at that level.  Now I know what she meant.  I’m not exactly working at the federal level making policy, but I am multiple steps away from making the direct change I had hoped to in college through my job. (my dreams of going to law school have also slightly diminished)

With all the shifts I have been experiencing, I have decided it was a crucial time for me to change my career outlook.  I am starting on a plan to making these changes happen for myself.  I know it might not be the best time to make a shift, but if all the cards fall right as the plan I have established (they never do) everything should work out.

The first step in my plan is to restate my values and goals for my career and life.  These establishments will help me make the tough decisions when it comes to my career.

Values: community, family, innovation, accomplishment, diversity, knowledge, leadership, timeliness, faith, collaboration, continuous improvement, and commitment

Goals:

To work in a career where I am able to directly change the issues that are affecting my community.

To keep focused on and help support our family, along side my husband.

Whatever I do, always keep my work or volunteering about social change, women’s rights, an d community impact.  Community impact could mean through affecting local food, buying locally, and participating in community events.

Further develop my skills and knowledge about organizational and program development, social media, personal leadership and generational dynamics.

Work on my own personal leadership skills and develop strong partnerships/networks with in the community.

Continue blogging with a stronger focus on leadership development and organizational change.

As my career develops, my goals will become more focused.   The ones I have stated here are very broad.   I am keeping them that way, so that I have room to develop a career that fits my needs as I grow.

Do you have thoughts on goal setting?  How do you hold yourself accountable for keeping your goals?

gavinandrewstewart

My interest in social movements has heightened a lot in the past few months.  Maybe its the increased civic engagement during the election.  Maybe its the amazing session I attended at Independent Sector about creating your own social movement.  Either way, I have become fascinated with how social movements work, how they get started, why people join them.  So many great things have happened because of social movements.  The fact that people can gather to solve some of life’s worst problems is rather amazing.

Today, there are many social movements working side-by-side.  Some of these movements have been working for decades, while others are just beginning.  Some current movements are Service Nation, the LGBT Movement, the Reproductive Justice Movement, and the Environment Movement, just to name a few.

I think, now is the time to take our social movements to the next level.  All the pieces are ready, the people are ready, everything’s ready!

What do you think, in economic times like those that we are experiencing right now, is there room for social movements to take precedence again?  I think so.  I’ve heard more than a few times, that the greatest things happen in times of crisis.

As part of my new year’s resolution, I am going to take some of the passion I have to move some of my own community’s movements even further.  I am specifically excited about the We Vote project with the League of Women Voters.  We began the project last year to get neighborhoods interested in voting in their local elections again.  The Voting Movement (if that’s what we want to call it) is increasing, and I think we are going to be able to make it explode this year. Heck, you never know if what you’re doing is going to make a decades of difference.

So, I want to hear from readers.  What social movements do you want to be a part of in the next year?  What issues are driving your passions right now?