Re-inventing Myself

A Baby Boomer Recreated?

By Doug Berube

I was debating the title of this essay and my first thought was to name it, “Will a 29 Year Gap be a Hindrance?” or “Midlife Recovery”, but I thought it would be more appropriate to ask the above question instead. This essay is about my decision to go back to college and complete my undergraduate degree in Business Management. You’re probably thinking that going back to college is no big deal and most would think not, but my thinking is marred by a 57 year old perspective and 29 year absence for my last full-time education enlightenment. “Baby Boomer Recreated” as a question has the potential to cause a cognitive awareness to the reality of my situation and a positive change to my consciousness.

Currently I’m unemployed and during tuff economic times I’ve had plenty of excuses to blame others for my situation. I’ve had plenty of time to ponder my predicament and wallowing in the mire of self-pity is not a way to get out of the muck. It’s not healthy to let the muck take up residence in my brain, so the best thing to do is to let go of the past and see the lessons that can be learned that will help me frame a plan to get myself going in a positive direction. I don’t know, at this time, which direction is best, but going in a direction is better than standing in the muck of indecision. My first decision was obvious and that was to start applying for jobs and my job search is including job outside construction industry. The second decision was to go back to college to complete my undergraduate degree to make myself more marketable. These first 2 steps have me headed in a positive direction.

Now that I have accepted the responsibility for my current situation, I will have some control of the outcome to this part of my life. Education is always part of any solution and my hesitation was based on the 29 year gap and a full time student as something for youth. This perception is so far from accurate; I couldn’t be any more wrong. Continuing education is for everyone and there is a good mix of generations, these days, going to college. Personal computers were in their infancy and the only social networking was by phone, mail, or letter. All meetings were in person, which today is not always the first choice. The good thing, I’m very well connected by social media and I been using PC’s from the availability for purchase. This reflection became very comforting as I re-thought the way I was thinking and it appears I’m just part of the normal.

I developed a map by using mind mapping techniques that will help me see options I can take to determine a path and I prefer mind mapping my plan. There are three major components needed for this plan. The formula is System Thinking + Creativity + Vision = Strategic Thinking. The three components have subsets that are part of the equation and I mapped out these subsets because they are a strategy to drive into my brain, peel back the hard shell layers of self-denial and see the real me (well, what I see as the real me). For the current situation, it is always good to review your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Once I make my way through the self-evaluation, I will use the map to set clear and focused goals with prioritized criteria, for my career part of the plan, which can be qualified and quantified. This information will be setup to track and evaluate weaknesses or threats that are becoming a hindrance to my goals. I’m the hindrance most of the time.

A well structured map is just one component on the path to success; motivation is the catalyst to that success. Motivation is the brain activity that takes the focus and understanding of how I work. I have a couple of quotes I like to use for motivation when it appears I’m struggling.

“Never, Never, Never Quite.” Winston Churchill

“When under pressure, your performance level will sink to your level of preparation” Anon

So here is the work skill map; just do it!