Peer to Peer Magazine

P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 61 Encouragers: Encouragers also come in many forms. My Dad was my first encourager. I know I was very blessed to have him in my life because he knew all about "girls". He had seven sisters and was actually twin to one of them. They were raised on a farm in upstate South Carolina. One of the sisters died early at the age of 12 but the other six sisters grew into adulthood AND graduated college and most became teachers which what was mostly open to women in that timeframe of the 1920s and 1930s. He saw how smart women were and what women could achieve and encouraged all of his daughters to do the same. He told his daughters above the loud roar of skepticism and negative feedback of the '50s we could do and be whatever we put our minds to and to work and study hard to prove it. I will forever be grateful. The encouragers are those who think like you do and support you when you step off the path of your journey towards your goal. The high school or college friend who is in the class with you when you are the only "you" in there telling you not to give up, "you've got this!" They are also the ones on whose shoulders you stand – do you know who Ada Lovelace, Admiral Grace Hopper, Katherine Johnson, Margaret Hamilton, Adele Goldberg, Stephanie "Steve" Shirley, and Megan Smith are? You should be reading all about their accomplishments because they were creating computers, software, algorithms, tech companies and promoting diversity long before others whose names we know so well. Teachers: There have been so many others that have just walked into my life like my high school science teacher who was a woman, someone just like me, in my own skin. The other two students in my college classroom who were women just like me. I took courage in seeing them there working like me to study the things I loved to do. To say to the naysayers – Oh yeah! You think I won't make it. Watch me do it! As I grew into adulthood, there were those I just watched. I took jobs in various companies and watched and learned from my supervisors, the CEO, my peers. If I wanted to learn something new I asked and got someone to teach me. There were books to read. (Note: A great leadership book is "Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power & Greatness" by Robert K. Greenleaf). I learned from all sorts of great teachers along the way. I took classes in all kinds of technolo whether it was related to my job or not since it is very important to understand how everything fits together (software, networks, firewalls, etc.) and the teachers became guiding forces in my journey. Most were more than willing to assist someone along the path of technolo and share their knowledge with an excited and interested learner. There are very few teachers who are not open to questions and furthering a student's knowledge. There are those at the colleges today I am still in touch with that continue to strengthen and widen my knowledge base whether in the technolo itself or in the teaching of it to others. Mentors: Mentors are those you seek out. I sought them out over the years and you can, too. What did I look for in a mentor? Someone who could listen to me and understand where I was and then question me without any agenda. I had to be willing, first of all, to take advice, guidance, and criticism. I had to be the one to put forth the effort. I was looking for someone I respected and from whom I could learn…someone who could be honest with me and teach me how to reach my goals. This takes courage on both parts and you do have to get along to make it work. In the long run, this is beneficial to both sides. I know because I have been on both sides and I have learned just as much being a mentor as I have being mentored. Once you have chosen the right mentors for you, you need to make sure you are both on the same page about what your goals are and how best to reach them. Do you have a timeline? It's good to have one. Work one up and see what your mentor(s) think of it. Put together a resume and let your mentor(s) check it out to see if they have suggestions. Get together with them over coffee (your treat) and ask what they think your next step should be on your road to success. Should you take an online class on emotional intelligence, speak at ILTACON, write an article on something on which you have a particular expertise? Remember, though, it is your job to do the work! And, even though sometimes it may be hard to hear their advice, it is for your growth and advancement they give their advice and guidance to you. You chose them because you trusted their knowledge, their ability to be honest with you, and the clarity they had to guide you along the pathway to higher ground in your field. I will forever be grateful to David, Michele, Chris, Bob, Henry, Imogene, Steve, Carol, Joy, and so many others who have been a part of my Mentorship Tribe over the years. Your encouragers, teachers, mentors, and, yes, the naysayers, too, are there to give you challenges, guidance, encouragement, inspiration and hope as you continue your journey towards your goals and to help you remember "you've got this"! We are here to help block out the noise of the naysayers and the lies you even tell yourself sometimes. We have walked the path before and can show you some of the pitfalls you can avoid and some of the mountains you should climb and some of the bumps in the road you should walk around. We are here so you can stand on our shoulders and so that someday others can stand on your shoulders. So, are you ready to come along with us on our next journey where you can… Climb every Mountain, Ford every Stream, Follow every Rainbow, 'Till you Find your Dream!

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