"Now" begins a new stage of my doctoral studies journey: the dissertation proposal. "Now" is a funny word to use because this is not a precise beginning, but an ongoing unfolding of the path ahead. But I need to have a starting point "now" to help me move along the process. I know an end point is out there - my goal to be done this dissertation is May 2014 and that's approaching quickly. The months of August and September have flown past - occupied by work and family life - the ultimate excuses for a chronic procrastinator. And now that I have October in front of me with a comprehensive paper to write (Oct 12-20) and a paper to present at the International Leadership Association Conference in Denver (Oct 23-28)...I'm running down on time.
So I need to begin. I've cracked open my new Moleskin reporter journal (I just love note books, even in this age of blogging), wrote out a commitment to the next 18 months of work, prayed over it, and started writing about the "problem area" that I want to explore. Leadership transitions in higher education: what type of leader is needed? And yes, that is WAY too big, too broad to encapsulate in a research question, so the process of drilling down to the actual research question begins.
In addition to being capable of much procrastination (this blog is one site on which to procrastinate), my strengthsfinder top five strengths (Connectedness, Arranger, Learner, Input, and Restorative) are all screaming at me to be managed. Connectedness - I'm looking at the forest when I need to look at a branch of a tree. Arranger - I'm focused on the next two weeks, especially the upcoming thanksgiving weekend and the renovation project of installing new flooring (no worries, I'm hiring someone to do it). Learner - want to dive deeply into knowing the theoretical groundings of motivation while being distracted by the upcoming comprehensive exam paper on Critical Issues in Higher Ed (US Higher Ed...sadly). Input - books and journal articles are scattered around the house (sorry, Susan)...the collection keeps getting bigger. Restorative - I just want to fix work issues and these are taking way too much of my head space.
Begin. Just begin. On this peaceful start to the new month of October, I will begin to continue on a narrower path.
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