Harrison College

Today is an exciting day because I now work for Harrison College! No, I didn't switch jobs, we've changed our name from Indiana Business College to Harrison College.

This is a big change for the institution as it has been known as Indiana Business College for a significant portion of its 107 year history. It is also just another example of the college's ability to adapt and change in a very dynamic time in education. It makes me very proud to be associated with an institution that is looking seriously at the needs of the communities and students it serves and making the necessary changes to best meet those needs. The rate of positive change has been incredible over the past couple years, but the commitment of the staff and faculty to students and each other has made them all possible.

So, it's a new name, but the value structure and commitment to student success and excellence in the classroom remains. The first 107 years have been very good to the students, alumni, and employees of Harrison College. Today was another step in the right direction to ensure the next 100 years are as well.

Harrison College Press Release

Harrison College Website

Working toward Accomplishments

In looking at my Outlook calendar, I could half-jokingly say I need to figure out how to add more hours to the day or maybe another entirely new day to the week in order to fit everything into my schedule. On the surface it may sound like complaining or a pity-me-party because I have so much to do, but the truth is: I like being busy and if I'm really honest, I like the feeling of being on the brink of being too busy.

I said "on the brink" though, and as I flirt with that precipice I can sometimes find myself mismanaging my time and priorities by allowing various meetings, tasks, and people to pull me in directions that are not the best use of my valuable and precious time. It's a common problem that many of us share and I see it happen to people all around me.

At it's core it's a time management and prioritization issue that I am working to improve on. In the past I have often begun my day by asking myself "What do I have to get done today?" More recently I have been asking a different question: "What do I want to accomplish today?" My day has lots of "have to dos" in the form of emails, phone calls, and reports but rarely are they truly important or could be called accomplishments in the grand scheme of my long term goals. Focusing on what I want to accomplish means spending my time, energy, and efforts on important items that bring me closer to specific long term goals I have - working with an end goal in mind.

We're all a work in progress though and accountability can help us in our journey. If you start your day by asking yourself what you want to accomplish, make sure you circle back at the end of the day and see how you did. Find someone you work with to share your goals with and hold each other accountable. In fact, do me a favor and next time we talk or correspond, ask me what I accomplished today. I'll be sure to return the favor.

Family Tradition: The Easter Spider

Moving 2/3 of the way across the country away from all of our family has given us the opportunity to establish our own family traditions. We have a few that have become special, but one of the favorites occurs Easter morning.

The spiritual significance of the day is given and we spend a good deal of time discussing what the entire weekend means to us individually and as a family, but we have a lot of fun with Easter baskets as well. Not so much Easter eggs or even the candy, but Marcy puts a lot of energy into making themed "baskets" each year and I put my energy towards hiding them.



The tradition we've started has involved us hiding the Easter baskets somewhere in the house and then tying yarn to the basket. We then wind that yarn all over the house creating somewhat of a web look throughout our house and eventually finishing at the top of the stairs. When the kids wake up they find their color of yarn and wind it up, eventually leading them to their Easter baskets. The web of yarn has caused the kids to refer to this as the work of the "Easter Spider." It sounds a little more scary to me than bunny, but it works for them.

Father and Son Time

One of the good things about having a struggling NBA franchise in your city is that you have the opportunity to get tickets on the cheap for some quality (visiting) teams.  This afternoon I had the impulse to get a couple tickets for the Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers and decided to surprise Caleb after his own basketball practice with a night out with Dad.  

He is a big Lebron fan and we had a blast!  It was a competitive game down to the last minute with some pretty good highlights to watch later on ESPN.  I don't remember the last time just He and I did something like this, but the experience was a great reminder of how important these dates with Dad (or Mom) are.  

Unfortunately, there were three kids left out of this surprise that were a little upset, so looks like I have three more dates coming up. :-)

It's not cheese...it's Tillamook.

A couple months ago I found a facebook page for Tillamook cheese and quickly signed up to be a "fan".  I signed up for the Tillamook newsletter and in doing so shared my Tillamook story.  After a couple months of waiting, I got the call - actually, an email - congratulating me as April's Fan of the Month!  So, this last week through the jokes and kidding from friends and co-workers, I have been spreading the gospel of Tillamook.

It's difficult to explain to people who have been eating Kraft singles or the generic brand at the local grocery store what makes Tillamook so good.  In fact it really has to be experienced.  I've committed to creating a Tillamook experience for everyone by bringing in a cheese platter or having a taste comparison, but for me and my family I believe the experience of Tillamook extends beyond great taste and texture.

It's our connection to a place we still call home, although we're a couple thousand miles away.  A reminder of family trips to the Oregon coast with a stop for "squeeky cheese" and a couple scoops of our favorite Tillamook ice cream.   Standing on the observation level, looking down at the factory floor and asking the question "where do all the cheese scraps go" as the baby loafs are being cut, and then answering that same question when my own kids ask it 20 years later.  

So while my taste buds are certainly appreciative of the great products the good people of Tillamook have been producing for 100 years; the rest of me is grateful for the field trips, experiences, and memories I am reminded of each time I slice open that shrink wrap packaging. 

It Won't Be Like This For Long

A co-worker of mine forwarded a video of Darius Rucker's song It Won't Be Like This For Long to me and others today because she was moved after hearing it as it relates to her experiences as a new mother. I have heard other songs like this (Father/Daughter relationship): Butterfly Kisses, Ready, Set, Don't Go, or (my favorite) Cinderella but today this one really hit me.

The last part of the song, especially, really spoke to my experiences as a parent right now. When my daughter, Makela, was born and through those first couple years I was so scared to have any more children because I couldn’t comprehend HOW I could love another one as much as Her; but that’s the real miracle of being a parent because somehow you do! Your heart doubles in size in an instant and you just do! You hold on to those memories of the early years with each "first" experience and just try to cherish each memory as they are created.  

Fast forward to today and Makela is at that stage now where she’s a tween and all the conflict with Mom and Dad is happening more frequently. I am so fearful of doing things that drive her away, but trying to balance that with the responsibility I have to teach and guide her. It’s tough and seems to get tougher each day, but this song is a great reminder that it won’t be like this for long and I need to enjoy/appreciate/cherish/celebrate EVERY moment with her.

It Won't Be Like This For Long (Lyrics)
He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all nite
Lay'n there in bed listen'n
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laugh'n
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
It won't be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now don't you worry
This will only last a week or two

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll drop her off
And she wont even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It wont be like this for long

One day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times you'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And he'll raise her veil
But right now she up and cry'n
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watch'n her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows
It wont be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah this phase is gonna fly by
He's try'n to hold on
It wont be like this for long
It wont be like this for long