LEADERSHIP...

This week I had a graduate student request to interview me for a leadership assignment she had to complete for one of her courses. I always love things like this because it offers me the opportunity to share my story. I'm a firm believer that everything that has happened in my life provides a platform that God has given me to stand on. I'm different...and I know that. My path through life has not been conventional. Many people would call me lucky, but always refer to myself as blessed (and highly favored). Now don't get me wrong...I have worked my butt off to get where I am, and to go where I will go, but God has opened MANY doors for reasons I am still trying to figure out. One thing I do know is that I ALWAYS make the best of each situation. I'm not going to sit around and half do anything. If I'm in there...I'm committed. 

So back to this interview. I really didn't know what to expect, but one thing that stuck out to me was a question on what I have taken from the various positions I have been privileged to hold. I had a pretty good answer right away (I am usually pretty quick on my feet), but this week I have found myself reflecting back to this question over and over again. I'm had some awesome bosses and witnessed some awesome leadership styles. But I have always seen some not so great things. I understand the hierarchy and what I won't do is overstep my boundaries...unless necessary. However, from every single position I have been in, I have taken SOMETHING from them...and I hope that I have left them better than I when I came in. 

I ran across this article this week, 10 signs you are a terrible leader, and it really struck me some kind of way. I saved it, so that I can refer back to it often. One thing I say often is that "I'm not trying to be mediocre...or even great. I am trying to be THE BEST." I have no problem being humbled, and the biggest thing is admitting your faults. GREAT leaders do several things. They hire people who are better at them in areas they know they know they struggle. They always have their subordinates' backs. They set a standard by EXAMPLE. They are not afraid of conflict and they realize in the end...it is not about them.

I don't feel like I can pinpoint a specific leadership style or category that I fit in to. But I do know that I'm willing to adapt...I'm not afraid of change...and that although I know I can lead, I can also follow, and that is something that will always help me stand out of from the crowd!
  

Let's try this AGAIN...

Ok, but forreal this time! It's not like I don't have eighty million other things on my plate...why not add blogging AGAIN! 

It's definitely #GRINDseason here. While everyone else is on spring break, I'm sitting in the office trying to get my whole life together. So what's going on in the life of Lacee'...well you can make that Dr. Lacee ;) now?! First and foremost, I finally did it! I got that PhD about a month ago. Ok, not really, more like 9 months ago, but life has been a whirlwind since then. I've moved into full time teaching, part time working with the student-athletes (which might as well be full time because they operate on you being available 24/7), and of course always full time mama'in. My best little dude is now a threenager and he is still the best thing that ever happened to me!

Ace Boogie and I supporting our TOPS!

Ok back to life as a hustler! I get to teach both at the grad and undergrad levels now and boy does it give me a run for my money. Those undergrads are something else and they challenge me DAILY to be better and find ways to keep them engaged while making sure they are grasping the materials. I'm teaching Research methods at the grad level and for someone who once hated all things research, I have found myself waist-deep in research these last few months. God always has a great sense of humor in making the things I once loathed and hated, into what consumes my life on a daily basis. I'm just glad he continues to surround me with some awesome folks who have mentored and guided me along the way. I say it often...I'm not here to be mediocre. I'm here to be great...the best to ever do it, so I have some serious grinding to do to make a difference in this world. 

Even though I moved into teaching full time, there was no way I could leave my student-athletes behind. For the past 3 years (in my blog hiatus), I have been working as an athletic academic coordinator (*cue Last Chance U) doing the behind the behind the scenes work with making sure our student-athletes stay eligible, graduate, and kick butt off the field. Everyday is a new challenge, but the results are so rewarding. It took me two weeks...literally two weeks in the position to know that this was where I was supposed to be in life. And you are probably wondering why I left...we I didn't per se.  I have lofty goals and every move I make in life is a foundational piece to my grand mansion I'm building! Teaching gives me a resource I didn't know I needed. I have access to awesome colleagues who have genuine interests in making a difference. I have access to grant funding that I didn't know existed. And it frankly gives me a breathe of fresh air to work with aspiring professionals to help mentor them to teach and train them to work with the population I am so passionate about. 

Speaking of grant funding...my awesome colleagues and myself received the 2017 NCAA Innovations Research in Practice Grant which allows us to build a 100% online program designed to assist student-athletes in career planning and development! We are so pumped about this project and the potential it has in making a difference not just with our student-athletes but also across the country. 

I am 34 days from the end of my #yearof30, and it has definitely been one for the books. A year ago, had you asked me what I wanted to be "when i grow up," I still had no clue. Now, things are falling into place and are becoming more clear. I have goals to make a difference and change the world as I always had, but now my focus and plans are directing me down a specific path to get there. I'm excited. I'm grateful. I'm blessed. But even more than anything, my ambition and drive are at an all time high...it's #GRINDseason!