What do you need to become a master at your craft? – SCN Encourager

Is “mastery” something you even want?

Or if you’re like me…

is becoming a master in your profession even possible?

I’d plead the 5th if asked this directly.

Because some of my aspirations seem way out of reach, to tell you the truth.

But the wind-down of the NSPRA 2017 National Seminar in San Antonio  has me thinking big.

And I hope it’s not a  temporary kind of “everything is bigger in Texas” affliction that’ll fade away once I leave to return home to Michigan.

I doubt it.

I think I am going to keep thinking a little bigger at least for a little longer.

When you see nearly 1000 school leaders and communicators commit four days to upping their “school PR game” to better serve their students, parents, staff, and communities, you get inspired.

You to want jump on the first plane home and starting trying our your new ideas, tools, and skills.

But everything good takes time.

True “masters of their craft” don’t just do stuff just to do stuff on the speedy kwik.

They create clear “master plans” to focus and magnify their talents and energies.

Now me?

I like to rely on more traditional tools.

And crazily enough, I only need two of them:

– a white board for noting my eventual shifts over to my Plan B, C, D, and so on,

– and a hard hat for protecting the  ol’ noggin from my frequent tactical stumbles and tumbles.

But because of my fresh NSPRA inspired Texas-sized thinking, I can confidently tell you that becoming a master of your craft has absolutely nothing to do with any newly acquired tools.

And it never will.

It’s far more critical to have a proper frame of mind.

As this is the common starting point for every master of his or her craft.

Organizational strategist Tony Jeary says masters of their craft also track their progress using these five key mile markers as well.

•  Do you have a personal vision and the motivation to pursue it?

•  Are you committed to investing in lifelong learning?

•  Do you keep your compass pointed toward the long-term?

•  Do you always strive to do the right thing at the right time?

•  Do you look forward to challenges so you can turn them into opportunities?

What a round-up!

Yeehaw!

But all five jell with most of the communications leadership training provided by the experts here at NSPRA.

That’s a good thing.

Plus, I’m still able to answer each one of them with the same time-saving, two-word response.

“It depends.”

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