I shipped in 2011 - you can too

This might be a useful exercise. Doesn't matter whether it was a hit or not, it just matters that you shipped it. Shipping something that scares you ... is the entire point.. from What did you ship in 2010 Seth Godin

"What did you ship?" is a great question for all of us to ask ourselves. What, beyond just doing one's job, did you accomplish (not try to do, not intend to do, not think about doing, not hope to get done, not plan to do - but actually DO) in 2011? What did you do that was a little bit scary? That you might have drawn criticism for? That may changed the world just a little bit?

Last year Godin listed a baker's dozen of things he "shipped." I listed nine things I shipped last year outside my day job. (But then he is Seth Godin and I am not, I rationalized.)

I'm thinking this is a good thing to do every year as it closes. Reflect a bit one's own productivity. So here's my 2011 shipping list:

1. I gave presentations and workshops for the Indian Prairie School District in IL, ESC Region XI in Fort Worth, for the SW/WC Tech Conference in MN, for the Minnesota Libraries Futures in Minneapolis, for ECS Region 10, Richardson, TX, for the U of Houston, for ISTE in Philadephia, for the Memphis School District, for the Independent Schools of St. Louis, for the Colorado Association of Libraries, for AASL in  Minneapolis, for the Utica, Syracuse and Finger Lakes BOCES, and for VEMA in Richmond, and TIES in Minneapolis. (Whew!)
2. Presented internationally at the Follett International Library Conference in Dubai, at the AASSA conference in Campinas, Brazil (new country for me), at the ECIS conference in Istanbul, and at the British Columbia Library Assocation conference in Vancouver.
3. Completed a 70,000 word book manuscript. (And finagled a contract for another book for 2012.)
4. Published these articles:
   

   “Stretching Your Technology Dollar” Educational Leadership (ASCD), December 2011/January 2012
   “Libraries in the Cloud," Library Media Connection, April 2011
   “7 Myths About Internet Filters,” AASL Blog. September 11, 2011.
           and designed four new presentations
   Rules of Engagement: Using Personal Technologies to Motivate Rather Than Distract
   Changed but Still Critical: Facility Design in the Digital Age
   School Libraries in the Clouds: Roles and Possibilities
   Developing Creativity in Every Learner

5. Published these columns:
   1. “These Horses Are Out of the Barn - Ride’m” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, January/February 2011.
   2. “Signs of a Welcoming Library” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, March 2010
   3. “GoogleApps and Librarians” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, April 2011
   4. “Are you speaking where people are listening? ” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, Aug/Sept 2011
   5. “Who doesn’t get it? ” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, October 2011
   6. “No more ‘book only’ librarians ” Head for the Edge column, Library Media Connection, November/December, 2011
6. Published 225 blog entries.
7. Chaired a Kiwanis club foundation board, servered as the club webmaster/photographer, participated in a local city leadership team, and volunteered to be a fund raiser for a YMCA building project. Organized and moderated the SIGMS Forum for ISTE in Philadelphia.
8. Hiked parts of the Superior Hiking Trail (4 of 7 "summits"), summitted Harney Peak in the Black Hills with my grandson, and bicycled for six days in northern Wisconsin.
9. Walked 3 miles a day, 5 times a week; worked weights at the Y twice a week; and still gained a few pounds!

Writing and speaking and most of this stuff is more fun than work. Our home contains no small children or other dependents to care for most of the time. My day job doesn't require much overtime and I have a fantastic, self-directed team there. I don't play golf, fish, or square dance. Television programs bore me. My Saturday and Sunday mornings and many an evening are spent writing and designing presentations and workshops. I have, through plain dumb-luck, very good health, a supportive wife, an interesting job with great co-workers, and lots of opportunities work toward the betterment of education. At least that's what I hope I'm doing.

I personally measure my days not whether they were happy or unhappy, but whether they were productive or unproductive. Did I have a fruitful conversation or meeting? Did I get something finished? Did I write something worth sharing? Did I read something challenging? Did I do an hour's worth of physical activity? Did I clean up a mess, revise an article, or organize something for the future? Did I do something that made my own life or someone else's just a tad better?

All of us need to "ship" - do more than is necessary on our jobs and professions (especially librarians and tech integration specialists), at home (as spouse/partners/parents/grandparents), and for ourselves (exercise, healthy eating, recreation, and the occasional reward).

What did you ship in 2011 and what will you ship in 2012?

I am by nature a lazy person of middling intellect - so if I can ship, you can ship.

Comments

[Fran Bullington]

"I personally measure my days not whether they were happy or unhappy, but whether they were productive or unproductive. Did I have a fruitful conversation or meeting? Did I get something finished? Did I write something worth sharing? Did I read something challenging? Did I do an hour's worth of physical activity? Did I clean up a mess, revise an article, or organize something for the future? Did I do something that made my own life or someone else's just a tad better?"

What a great way to analyze each day! What I am getting ready to add sounds very frivolous compared to your other success determiners: Did I laugh with someone?

I suppose this could be included in your last question above. I love to laugh - it is such a wonderful stress reliever and relationship builder. To me, a day without laughter is empty, so I will begin adding this as a success determinant.

May the new year bring you much laughter and success!

[Nathan Mielke]

1. We welcomed our 2nd son into the world two weeks ago. Easily the most important thing in my life in 2011.

2. Got a pilot program for online portfolios using google sites off the ground at one of our high schools. In 2012, we're hoping to get all freshmen on the platform in 2012 - about 350 kids. We'll do that until we have everyone at North up and running on it. Hope South takes an interest - far beyond the technology, this is a powerful reflective way to evaluate a body or bodies of student work. This is probably the project I've most enjoyed in my 9 years in education.

3. Down to 6 credits left in my Admin Leadership Master's. Finishing that off in spring of 2012.

4. Starting in March "glided" on an elliptical for 6 miles a week (at least until our son arrived)

5. Successful pilot using iPods to help build fluency skills in World Language classes. (I think) we've found funding to buy what they need for 2012.

#1 professional wish for 2012, finding more ways to have an influence on real change that positively effects education in whatever district that employs me!

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Fran,

Do you mean making someone laugh intentionally or accidentally? I think I do pretty well on the latter!

Great point and wonderful comment. Thanks so much and best wishes in the new year,

Doug

Hi Nathan,

Congrats on the new family addition! No only is he the most important thing, he has to be your priority. Your list is incredible given that you do have a young family. I know my productivity goes in the toilet when my grandkids are around (but I am NOT complaining.)

All the very best to you and the family in 2012.

Doug