Horizon Point Consulting

Author: Taylor Simmons

  • Space to Focus

    Space to Focus

     

     

    It has been a busy month. We call it Maycember, busy like December but without the gifts. Focusing during a busy month or busy season can be tricky. Not only is May a busy work month, wrapping up one big project to begin the next, it is also a busy season for me personally. My daughter’s high school graduation is tonight and focusing is something I’m struggling with right now. Juggling so much makes it difficult to focus. However, this isn’t my first rodeo with busy seasons. Working moms do this time and again. We are fortunate at HPC to always have the flexibility to incorporate space to focus when we need to. Here are a few ways we do that:

    1. For the most part, we set our schedules. We plan work when we feel we are most productive (early morning for me).
    2. Whenever possible, I intentionally incorporate downtime every week. I typically don’t schedule appointments on Friday and instead, I work most Sunday afternoons to prepare for the week ahead.
    3. I work wherever I feel most productive. I have a home office, but I prefer my screened in back porch on most days or sometimes a local coffee shop. 

    Just last week, our team attended a conference at the beach. We all incorporated work in between conference sessions. The beach is always a great place to focus. Emily and I walked on the beach a couple of mornings; we talked about work, family and busy seasons. 

    Do you have space to focus? If not, find a way! Here a couple of tips:

    1. Make an outline of your schedule the week before. Find space to focus. Do you have an extra hour in the morning, at lunch or after work to take a walk or enjoy quiet time in one of your favorite spots?
    2. Identify a “focus” partner who will hold you accountable for finding space to focus. It is always easier to stick to a habit if someone is counting on you to do it.

    Check out The Point Blog to read more about our series on “space.”

  • FACD

    FACD

    Last week, HPC met with our contacts with the state department of education. The meeting centered around current training, plans for a focus group and specific grades that could potentially be our next area of focus. In reflection, we have worked in partnership with them for more than 10 years. What began as a grant funded training project grew into a wonderful partnership that has allowed us to provide professional development with educators across our state year after year. Currently, we are training 100+ educators on career development and providing state and program specific resources. 

    Here are the benefits I’ve seen from this partnership that continues to develop professionals who are literally preparing our future workforce.

    1. Teachers, counselors, administrators, and career coaches learn from one another, sharing resources that are most helpful in their area(s).
    2. Training content is being soaked up and is finding its way into lesson plans, field trips, and career days.
    3. Collaboration flourishes as participants have the opportunity to create a group within their cohort to work on an assignment about an in-demand career. The assignment ultimately becomes a resource library of presentations that anyone in the training can access.
    4. Completers of the course seek credentials and have the opportunity to receive continued education on topics most relevant for them and the students they serve.

    Do you have a need for training or professional development in your school or organization? If so, let us know and I’m sure we can help or point you in the right direction!

  • What I learned from Student Leaders this Month

    What I learned from Student Leaders this Month

    I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate workshops with three student leadership groups over the past month. Check out Student Leadership – How are You Leading Today? to read more about the programs we facilitate and recommendations for student leaders. 

    Today, I’m reflecting on three things I’ve learned working with these amazing students.

    1. They are grateful for the opportunity to learn from others. One leadership class took time to write personalized thank you notes after I met with them. They were all grateful for different things, but the common theme was gratitude in general. Here is one of my favorite notes:
    2. Students “don’t know what they don’t know”. I love that they felt comfortable asking questions about careers, college, and anything else they thought I might could help them with. With a total of 75 or so students in three groups, diversity in background and experience was evident. Not all students had a clear path planned for high school and beyond. Some had mentors and direction while others didn’t necessarily have that. At HPC, we do our best to help them along, with next steps in college, career, and community connection. I hope our time together helped them with their unknowns.
    3. They remember what we talked about. I did trivia with one leadership group. We spent a morning packed full of information about employment. Then, I divided them into groups and challenged them by asking questions about what they’ve learned. I’m always amazed at how much they retain. I’m excited to see these kiddos join our future workforce!

    Do you know any student leaders? If so, take time to talk to them. You will be surprised at what you might learn!

  • Another Year Around the Sun; Focus for 2023

    Another Year Around the Sun; Focus for 2023

    I celebrated my birthday last week. The older I get, the more I realize there are only a handful of things
    in life that are truly important. Since my birthday falls in early January, it is a great time to reflect on what
    went well and what didn’t the previous year, and to set intentions for focus for the upcoming year.

    Prior to writing this post, my daughter, a high school senior, asked me to proofread a college scholarship
    essay. I may be biased, but it was wonderful. She gets it. It helped me realize that maybe I am doing
    something right, and also confirmed my thoughts on what goals and intentions are truly worth my effort.
    Here is just a small blurb from the essay:

    …as I try to listen to my teacher explain the economical state of our country. After I finish my homework
    during class, I watch the tiny seconds hand of the clock tick by as I wait for the class to end. When the
    day is done, I let out a sigh of relief as I know I am about to go home to the most important thing in my
    life: my family, the people I know without a doubt believe I can achieve whatever I set my mind to, no
    matter the circumstances…

    At Horizon Point, we determine an annual theme every January. As a team, we talk through business
    development, focus, and direction for the year. I have decided to do the same in my personal life. A few
    areas I hope to focus on this year are health, financial wellness, career goals all while keeping my faith
    and family at the center of it all.

    Do you set goals or action plans for the new year or on your birthday? Here are a couple of previous
    blog posts to inspire you to take action.

    4 Things my Goals Taught me in 2022 about how to be Brave in 2023

    Do You Have a Plan of Action to Reach Your Goals?

  • Ending the Year with New Habits

    Ending the Year with New Habits

    How is it already December! It was 4th of July just yesterday. As I sit here by the lights of my Christmas
    tree, I reflect on what I’ve accomplished this year, what I haven’t and what I should do heading into the
    new year.

    I’m reminded of an article I read a few weeks ago on social media by House of Investors that identified 7
    Habits That Can Fix 80% of Your Problems. Here is the list:

    1) Create a morning ritual
    2) Do a social media detox
    3) Have non-negotiable (20-minute walk, no food 2 hours before bed, etc.)
    4) If something takes 5 minutes or less, do it
    5) Get enough rest
    6) Follow the 80/20 rule (20% of tasks yield 80% of results)
    7) Plan your day the night before

    I love this list &  have especially worked to incorporate number 4 into my daily habits. For 2023, I want to
    focus on number 3. We should all have non-negotiables.

    There is one thing I would add to the list, and instead of adding it to the bottom, I would add it to the
    top. The number one habit I hope to continue to focus on this December and for the new year is
    gratitude. That will be the first thing on my to-do list daily. What are you grateful for? Who are you
    grateful for? What can you do today to show your gratitude?