CPD 23 - Thing #23 - Reflection

As we come to the end of this professional development program, we have been asked to reflect on what we have learned and to project the next step in our career development.

One idea was creating a "six word story" that descibes our experience with CPD 23. My story is: Signed-up, Read, Investigated, Reflected, Blogged, Applied.

What does the career future hold for the next 3-5 years. I currently work part-time as a specialist, and apart from the library, conduct and manage a very talented adult concert band. My career future involves juggling both entities. Although pushing 65, the magical age of medicare and retirement, I could continue to develop my library career by completing my MLS degree and applying for full-time positions. However, to do that would be to limit the growth of my "volunteer" musical organization--certainly a strong "bliss" area for me.

Nearing retirement, and with a growing musical organization, I've decided to remain at the part-time specialist level, and continue my professional development through activites like CPD 23 and those sponsored by my state library association. I need the hours-off to manage all the business for my adult band, and to study the musical scores I have to conduct. This in itself is professional development.

From the CPD 23 program I have gained exposure to some software, like "Jing," that I have already put to good use, and insights into presenting oneself throuh resumes and job interviews. I will use concepts contained in the latter as I promote my adult band. Other relevant "things" I have used are Mentorship, Evernote, LinkedIn, and facebook and Twitter social media. Perhaps the most significant topic for me was in developing your personal brand.

This program has been valuable to me as a person, it has covered a variety of topics, and presented some new ideas. I'm very glad that I took part.

CPD23 - #3 Your Personal Brand

I've been aware of branding, especially for organizations, for awhile, and I have even checked my name on google a couple of times to see if I'm even listed. Surprise! My new google+ account profile comes up first on the search page. Who knew?

I show up most often under my full name and secondly under my self-assumed nickname. Often there are links between the two. There is some consistency with use of name, but less so with images. I like two professional photos that I display on Facebook, google+, and my blog, but for some reason have chosen a "Flat Stanley" for Twitter. Perhaps because when I first started posting Twitter was more a newsy "here's what I'm doing" kind of app. I need to change my old photo on LibraryThing, and maybe Twitter, too.

Since I work in the library field, but really live in the wind band world, I guess I'll have to live with a little inconsistency to my total brand. Does this mean I'm schizophrenic? Should I consider separating my two identities? How does that work on Facebook where I crossover?

For now, I think I'll clean up photo images and pay more attention to what I write, and how I write it.