Goal Setting, Time Mgmt Review, Expert Interview, Ethics Paper - Week 4

Goal Setting

Lecture topics this week include goal setting and mission statements.  My initial reaction to these topics was thinking they are 'corny'.  But it could be that I'm thinking that as a jaded 40-something working professional with half or more of my life behind me.  It is frustrating to think that goal setting could be very effective and that I've missed out of ~25 years of its benefit.  

(This sounds like what I was reading earlier for the ethics paper, a motivational bias called adverse thinking where I have anxiety that not-p might be true.  I may be biased against goal setting because I secretly know it is effective and I'm in denial.)

Educational Goals:

Of course, one of my educational goals is to learn about software development.  To reach this goal, I am enrolled in the CSUMB CS Online program for Software Engineering to earn my bachelor's degree.

In the past, I have also studied Japanese at different levels and intensity, but now I remember very little.  Perhaps another goal could be to pass the JLPT N3 language proficiency test.  I would aim to pass this in four years as I cannot make a strong effort to study with my current degree effort and work.  To achieve this, I must attend classes or tutor sessions as well as practice, practice, practice.

Another goal is to earn the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI within the next five years.  To do so, I should first pursue the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), also from PMI.

Because my current career involves sales and business strategy, I would like to learn more about this topic.  This goal is not fully set as I haven't done the research to see what learning tools or curriculum are available that would fit my lifestyle. 

Career Goals: 

Currently I am an associate product manager.  I would like to achieve product manager level two in the next five years.  In order to do so, I must first earn my bachelors degree in any field.  Once earned, I can be promoted beyond associate level.  That means the next promotion will be to product manager level one.  From there, I can work toward level two.

• Earn bachelor's degree
• Work toward promotion to PM level 1
• Work toward promotion to PM level 2 

A parallel career goal is to work for a software development company in or adjacent to the printing industry.  This would be an alternate career path.  My current pursuit of a bachelor's degree in software engineering and certificates in project management should help my marketability in this industry.  The more software products I manage and launches I participate in at my current company will also help.  This is an open-ended goal; it is nice if it happens or an opportunity occurs, but it is not my primary goal.

ETS Computer Science Test: 

I currently do not feel one way or the other about taking this test.  We will take this test in 18 months so I am considering it a problem for another day.  Our education up to the time of the test will be preparing us for the topics covered in this exam.  Some preparation may include noting which topics in the test are showing up in current coursework.  Perhaps I will achieve an 80% or higher on the test as I typically perform at this level when taking an exam.

Ethics Paper:

Lecture material in the GWAR course is interesting this week.  Learning about ethical frameworks, different types of biases, and how to construct an argument is probably something I learned about in high school and completely forgot.  This paper will be challenging; I expect to have a hard time finding reference to support both positions.  The course provided some good tools to build up positions for and against an argument.  Who, what, where, when and why are important when arguing a position.  One must watch out for logical fallacies that weaken one's argument.  I mentioned one of the biases, adverse thinking, above in this journal entry.  Two others are wishful thinking and fretful thinking.  These three can easily occur in one's argument, even when they think they are being diligent against bias.