AAR of 2011

Happy new year everyone! Every year comes with lots of changes and interesting experiences. There's a small recap of I've been through this year.

In June I transfered from the surgical ward to the PACU. It's a different change from being on the floor. It's a much faster pace and I like it. I found out after the first couple of weeks taking care of PACU patients is like taking care of random drunk people - you don't know how they're going to wake up. During my orientation I've taken care of the criers, the flailers, the sleep talkers, the party animals, and more.

Still no word of a deployment. I've given up obsessing over it. I did turn down a CSH postion at Ft. Lewis. I wasn't interested in being with a CSH that was coming back from deployment. The position was offered to me months after HRC put it online as a priority fill. Now it was not a deployable priority fill. Not interested.

In the meantime before going to my next duty station and if I ever deploy I've been keeping myself busy with projects around the hospital. I am the marketing director of our Junior Officer Council in charge of promoting and distributing information about our organization events. I'm glad to work with a team of LTs and CPTs who believe in developing ourselves to be better leaders, learn new tools of our trade, and to exercise them to help our community.

I am happy to meet so many new people this year. Most of them are friends of my other friends I've made in my travels and in courses. I'm glad we are able to still keep in touch even though they are deployed, at new duty stations, or living their lives outside the Army.

My goals this year? Keeping my expectations low with deployment. PCS? Been trying Korea for 2 years. In the meantime JOC has finally given me an outlet to finally let some of my creative ideas take place. Since there hasn't been a real JOC established at WAMC our team gets to set the bar. I'm able to implement the things I've been reading from the books that I've been reading related to business management, marketing, and social media.

Speaking of books here are a couple of books I've read in the past year that have been helpful to me.

Poke the Box - by Seth Godin - This book is about not waiting for permission to do something you know that needs to be done. Ideas are great, but sometimes you need to poke to get your idea into action

Tribes - by Seth Godin - There is a difference in being charge of a team and leading a team. This book has let me use the interwebs as a way to connect with other JOCs in our AMEDD.

Purple Cow - by Seth Godin - This book is about being remarkable. Being average is boring. Be different. Find a purple cow.

Free Prize Inside - by Seth Godin - A great follow up to Purple Cow that has ideas and tips on how to be remarkable with your new idea.

48 Days to the Work You Love - by Dan Miller - This book is about finding your passions, dreams, and turning them into reality. It's your life so make it happen.

Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey - One of the best books on leadership, management, and team building.

That's 2011 wrapped up in a blog. 2012 is going to bring some interesting changes, especially that our military is officially fighting one war. The CPT board is now a best qualified board, 140,000 troops will be cut, and there is still talk about our 20 year retirement plan.

The quote that I'm carrying throughout 2012 is this:

Regret doesn't remind us that we did badly, it reminds us that we can do better - Kathryn Schulz

Happy new year and God bless!