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Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1

Professional Development Plan

Goal 1: Achieving DBA

Obtaining the DBA will be my greatest academia achievement. I will discuss the motivation to achieve this goal and my plans to accomplish it. I will discuss some of the technology and social media sites that I plan to use that will help me along the way. I will also reflect on my personal weaknesses and strengths as they relate to my pursuit on the DBA journey. I will give a timeline of my plans to complete this achievement.

Goal 1 Narrative

· My motivation to achieve this high academia honor will be the leverage that it will bring to me and my family for the sacrifices made

· I plan to accomplish this goal by focusing, developing PLN, going to residency, completing coursework, and writing dissertation

· I will use technology for the research to do the course writings; I plan to use social media to get connected to a couple of groups that have some of the same interests; and I plan to announce my achievement of the DBA on facebook when I finish

· These steps toward the DBA will reflect my personal strengths of commitment and loyalty to the things I am most passionate; it will also reflect my major strength of being focused in leadership style which should help me conquer being distracted by other passions

· It is my plan to be completed with this goal in 2 ½ years from now

It is my main goal to achieve the DBA degree. I truly was not sure if I would pursue the DBA. I began thinking about it last year around this time and a year later, I am finally enrolled at Walden University. I was hesitant to again have course work, but honestly, this class has been a challenge and is the test for me to see if I can actually “hang” with it. I have to say that I am so glad that I have made it to the 5th week, so I am gaining confidence that I can do this. I am motivated to do whatever it takes because of the self-fulfillment it will bring along with doors it will open that are closed at this time. I only hope that along with opportunities, that there will be an increase in my income so that I can pay off the debt that comes along with achieving this goal.

As part of my PLN, I am looking forward to the Atlanta residency in October. I have received my confirmation to go. I now have to go open-minded and focused. I am already thinking about a topic I could write about for my dissertation; but hopefully a lot of the tools I will need and the questions that I have will be answered at the residency. I am hoping that I can meet some classmates and develop some friendships that will be kept throughout the study and even longer. It is my goal to meet some of the professors and come back with a lot of knowledge to carry with me on this journey. I am also looking forward to seeking out that special “buddy” as mentioned in the video of students (Laureate, 2013). I will use technology by researching for the course work, and I hope to use The Writing Center and the Mentoring Program to help guide me as I am writing the dissertation. I know that these supports will help keep me on track so I do not waste time reaching my achievement. I have already taken advantage of the some of the resources talked about in our first week of class in the scavenger hunt. I am now working in the One Drive to complete my assignments. As the information mentioned on the Walden portal, I am able to access my work from any location (ASC Software Assistance: Computer Backup, n.d.). I also plan to use social media by changing my profile on Facebook and LinkedIn to a more professional profile and better brand the person that I am becoming. I hope to join a couple of social groups such as GradShare and Graduate Junction to meet up with people that have some of the same interests, where one can ask questions and gain support, and where one can also share knowledge and be a support to others in the group (Admin, 2011). Finally, when I have earned my DBA degree, I will gladly announce it on social media to celebrate with family and people in my PLN, and hopefully gain the respect that comes along with accomplishing this high academia achievement.

These steps taken toward the DBA will reflect my strongest strengths of commitment and loyalty. The achievement of the DBA will be a result of my faithfulness to the pursuit of this achievement; and my passion in spite of the hard times and struggles through the journey. My pursuit of this goal will also reflect my major strength of being focused in leadership style which should help me conquer being distracted by my other passions that are not part of the focus. Along with the journey will come distractions, but according to the article, “since leaders must allocate resources that are scarce, they must focus their attention on the pertinent and avoid inhibiting distractions” (Casse, 2014). The pursuit of the DBA is my main goal and focus that I hope to complete in 2 ½ years.

Goal 2: New Opportunity in Career

After achieving my DBA degree, I would like to begin teaching on a full-time status in higher education. I would welcome the opportunity to teach for several colleges, or teach several courses on-line. I will discuss my motivation of this goal and my plans to accomplish it. I will discuss how this goal is reflective of my personal strengths. I will give a timeline of my plans to complete this goal.

Goal 2 Narrative

· I would like to teach full-time in higher education at a university

· My motivation to teach full-time at a university is my passion to help students, and hopefully the increase in pay to help with the student loans

· I plan to put in applications to other universities, and even talk with HR at the college I am teaching now for the opportunity of full-time status

· I plan to use social media to change my profile on Facebook, and LinkedIn to brand myself toward this goal of teaching

· These steps reflect personal strengths toward the goal because I will be pursuing my passion of interacting with students by teaching courses that allow me to bring real life work experiences that relate to the concepts being taught

· I plan on teaching full-time in 4 years

After completing the DBA, I would like to pursue the opportunity of teaching full-time in higher education at a university. My motivation to teach full-time will be my passion to help students and hopefully see an increase in pay to help pay for my student loans. I do plan to put in applications at several universities and will also welcome the opportunity to work for a university doing online courses. These steps toward this goal will reflect my strengths again of commitment to the students. I will have a wonderful opportunity to bring to the classroom real life work experiences that help relate to the concepts being taught. I will have the esteemed title of Dr. being in front of my name…that will bring a level of respect from the students that I may not have now. I also will have an advantage toward this goal because of my years of experience teaching as an adjunct instructor. I do plan to be teaching full-time for a university in 4 years.

Goal 3: To Become a Professional Consultant

It is my goal to become a professional consultant for businesses that are suffering to help them become more profitable. I will discuss my motivation behind this goal, the steps that I will take, and the sources I will use to accomplish this goal. I will discuss my strengths in pursuing this goal and my time line to achieve this goal.

Goal 3 Narrative

· To become a professional consultant

· My motivation to become a professional consultant is the chance to provide solutions to companies that need guidance in leadership

· I would like to create business cards to market myself

· I plan to work toward this goal by creating a professional profile that will draw attention to my unique skills

· These steps toward this goal reflect consideration of my personal strengths of commitment, my leadership style of being focused, and my specialized education of the DBA

· I plan to be a professional consultant in 5 years

It is my long-term goal to become a professional business consultant. My motivation to support this goal is the chance to “create social change” as mentioned in the video of students (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013). I will have an opportunity to provide solutions to companies that need help and guidance in leadership through crisis situations. I will market myself for this goal by creating business cards and a professional profile on social media. I plan to bring out the characteristics that set me apart and “brand” my unique skills (Georgetown University Alumni Career Services, 2009). My steps toward this goal will reflect my strengths of commitment through real life work experiences along with my challenges of the doctoral journey. It will also be a true reflection and testimony of my leadership style of being “focused”.

Conclusion

On my journey of achieving my main goal of the DBA, I know there will be some challenges, tough times, sleepless nights, and lots of worries. I am preparing for those things by working on my PLN and the support it will bring. I feel that through this class I am making preparation toward my main goal. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but for me to get it done; my strategy will be to focus on one class at a time. I am motivated to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal because of the self-fulfillment it will bring along with doors of opportunity it will open that are closed at this time. I only hope that, along with the benefits and the opportunities to complete the other two goals that I have listed, there will come a sense of respect and an increase in income so that I can pay off the debt that comes along with achieving this goal.

References

ASC Software Assistance: Computer Backup.

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ASCsoftware/computer

Admin (2011). 25 Useful networking sites for grad students. Retrieved from

http://www.phdprogramsonline.org/25-useful-neworking-sites-for-grad-students.html

Casse, P. (2014, February). The new drivers of leadership. Training Journal, 27–30. 

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Doctor of Business Administration. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Business_Administration

Georgetown University Alumni Career Services. (2009, August 13). Branding yourself after 50 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5saZopRKgUM Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2013). Voices of DBA students [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.