Embrace a Challenge

Become fascinated at the prospect of a challenge as opposed to frustrated.  

Today’s life can be very noisy. If we allow it, all of us can live stressed, uptight, in a hurry and on edge. In the midst of the whirlwind of activity going on around us, we’ve got to learn to not let the busyness, the frustration and stress get on the inside of us. It may be hectic on the outside, but in your mind and spirit you can have peace. When life is coming at you from all directions be excited about the challenge. Frustration only leads to more frustration, which becomes a distraction, which will cause you to fail. Welcome the challenge. Get excited about it. Look at it as an opportunity for growth. See it as your time to show what you are made of. Leaders love a challenge.  Be a LEADER!

Welcome Back UWP!

UWP faculty, staff, and students,

As the beginning of the Fall semester nears, I would like to welcome you.  Whether on our physical campus or virtually, our D2L support team is committed to providing premiere service and support to ensure your Parkside experience is #realamazing.  If there is anything we can do to make the learning experience here transformative for our students please let us know.  We are here to help create incredible learning experiences for our students so they can go change the world!

Let's get started...TOGETHER!!!  

THINK TRUTH

If you get to a place where your thoughts are concrete, simple, and focused, and you take deliberate action, then your thoughts become reality.  

Transforming something in your life whether it’s your attitude, mindset, financial situation or bringing change into a relationship can seem like an overwhelming task. But as the old saying goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” The way you change your life is one thought at a time. Your thoughts set the direction of your life. If you need to change the direction you are headed, you simply need to change your thoughts in that area. When a thought comes to your mind that “you’re never going to get well; this is your lot in life,” don’t dwell on that. Don’t sit around and have a pity party. No, immediately reject it and replace it with the truth. I encourage you to be aggressive in taking every single thought and making it stand in truth. Stay determined, stay focused and keep stating the truth because you can change your life, one thought at a time. 

Create an Inspiring Vision

People need a compelling reason to follow your lead.  

This is why you need to create and communicate an inspiring vision of the future. Your vision sets out your team or organization's purpose as to why you all get up in the morning to do what you do. You develop this partly by understanding the values of the people you lead, partly by understanding the capabilities and resources of your organization, and partly by conducting an intelligent analysis of your environment, and selecting the best way forward within it.

 This is the subject of unit strategy; developing a coherent strategy takes a lot of hard work and careful thought.

If you're developing a vision for your organization, use Mullins' Seven Domains Model to analyze your environment. Then, use tools such as Lafley and Martin's Five-Step Strategy Model to develop your strategy. This is usually then expressed in a business plan, and summarized in a mission statement. If you're developing a vision for your team, start with the school’s (company’s) mission and vision, and explore the ways in which your team can contribute directly to it.