Twitter Reform!

@JoshSkillman & @MylesTweetz

Good morning!  Hope that you have had a nice weekend.  I just finished up a 6 mile run and now Myles sits in my lap as I type my first blog post in a couple weeks. 

Twitter reform!  Despite my self-denial I knew that the day would come when I'd have to make a decision to more clearly define myself on Twitter.  Each day my personal world and professional world become more and more intertwined and it's becoming difficult to use Twitter the way I had intended, which was to freely express my opinion, sports rants, and political commentary.  I have struggled with this as I've read tweets from the people I follow in sports, the professionals I follow in the Student Affaris Community, and the friends and family that I follow.  Truly, I have three sets of audiences and my tweets are not always appropriate or relevant to all three.  You see, the friends who follow me follow me because they know me and they probably find the stuff I tweet funny.  However, the people from my professional life that follow me, but don't know me, may really not understand my tweets about IU, running, or just plain silliness.  It's tough for me to maintain my authenticity as an individual while at the same time maintaining my reputation as a professional on Twitter without an organized strategy.  So...yesterday I decided to change my Twitter approach. 

Like many others, I have decided to use Twitter in a more intentional manner.  Yesterday, I went through all the people I follow and who follow me and created lists that will better help me read through the information that is relevant and important.  I have a list for sports, friends and family, SA Professionals, news, and IUPUI HRL Staff.  Not only will this help me sort through information, but it also helped me realize that nearly 60% of my audience was from my professional community.  This was all the more reason to make this change.  Additionally, I have decided that my @JoshSkillman account will be used to share encouragement, information that is relevent to student affairs and running, and to share tidbits about myself that may reach my whole audience.  I have a Twitter account for my dog Myles, @MylesTweetz.  Myles (aka Josh with Myles on his lap) will tweet back and forth with my fellow Indiana fans during games and share some more traditionally "Josh" banter.  While I'm never going to want to stop tweeting about Indiana Basketball or quit sharing my opinions, I'm sure that some of the folks who follow me have stopped paying attention because they don't want to read about my thoughts on certain referrees or opposing teams.  This doesn't mean I won't tweet "Go Hoosiers" from time to time, but I won't be filling up the twitter feed with nothing but IU basketball stuff or tweets about random stuff. 

This has been an interesting decision that I have wrestled with for some time.  However, the more meetings I attend on campus where Twitter is mentioned and the more I hear about Twitter at conferences I attend, it has become apparent that people are going to read what I tweet and make a judgement call on it.  Therefore, I must make the change so that I don't cost myself in the long run and damage my professional reputation.  While for a long time I tried to ignore the power of Twitter and have tweeted whatever I wanted, it's become crystal clear that I must change up that strategy. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog post.  Have a great day and happy running to you!

"Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose!"

I love these two.  Lucky guy am I!

It's Saturday morning.  Yeah!  I'm sitting here drinking some coffee with Myles in my lap and I'm ready to blog.  This morning I awoke at 6a and ran 14.25 miles in about 1hr42min.  It rained--the kind of rain where you are soaked to the bone--the entire time.  Ten minutes into the run I was drenched.  By the end of the run I was I was dripping wet, covered in mud/sand/rock (from the TowPath), and just flat nasty.  I loved every second of it--okay--almost every second of it.

Last night Sarah and I watched the series finale of the show Friday Night Lights.  We absolutely love that show and we identify with Coach Taylor and his wife Tammy Taylor (Guidance Counselor/Principal).  One, their relationship banter reminds us of how we sometimes go back and forth.  Two, what they stand for--helping out young students and pushing them to reach their potential--resonates loudly with us both.  The show is outstanding if you love the underdog, believe in the good of young people, and just love watching examples of how you should deal with character and ethical issues in your life. 

Coach Taylor always tells his players:  "Clear Eyes.  Full Hearts.  Can't Lose!"  I thought a great deal about that phrase on my run this morning and how it applies to my life.  For me, "clear eyes" refers to how you represent yourself to others and to the world.  It's all about being honest, telling the truth, and working hard.  It's about working through the end of your contract, it's about running in the rain, it's about doing the right thing.  I had one of the most powerful conversations with a student yesterday and we talked about how much better it feels to live life with no hidden skeletons and just open.  I know we all get into situations where we have a skeleton--some bigger than others--in the closet.  It always feels better when the skeleton is out.  Again--clear eyes means you can totally focus on your goals because nothing is blocking your vision--which leads to "Full Hearts."  When I think about "full hearts" I think about putting everything you have into what you love. It's running and pushing yourself to reach your potential.  It's caring about something so much that you feel unrivaled elation when everything goes well and you feel profound disappointment when things go wrong.  It's living with emotion and laying it on the line.  In my job at IUPUI in HRL I approach my work this day.  There is not a person who would doubt that I put everything I have into work and the people I lead.  In return, 98.5% of them give me their best everyday.  You cannot beg people to work hard.  But...when you work with a "full heart" approach many of the folks you lead will come right along with you.  Finally, "can't lose."  This is not about an actual win or loss or reaching some professional milestone.  "Can't lose" is about being able to look at your self in the mirror and be very, very proud of how you reached accomplishments--even if you come up a bit short.  We cannot all win the game.  I'm not going to go out and win an Olympic Gold Medal.  But...My goal for the Monumental Marathon on 11/5 is to run a 2:39.  For me, that would be about as well as I think I'm capable of running a marathon.    However, if I put in the miles and train with integrity (clear eyes) and I train hard and push the limit of my physical capabilities (full hearts), then no matter what happens I'll be proud (can't lose).  The same applies to life.  I would rather go all out and try hard for something and come up short, then to settle for the easy path and never really push myself to the limit.  So...my challenge to myself will remain to approach everything I do within the spirit of the phrase:  "Clear eyes.  Full hearts.  Can't Lose."

I hope you have a great day and weekend.  Mine has really gotten off to a good start and I'm happy about that.  Myles and I are getting ready to do some cleaning.  Happy running to you...

Run Your Race...

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day to the Veterans and Troops out there.  I ran a nice 10 miler this morning around 6:20a.  Why so early on a Holiday?  Have to BEAT THE HEAT!  Today's post has been on my mind for a few runs now and today it all came together.  Here goes.

Run your race.  Simple sentence, yes.  Easy implementation, no.  What I mean by "run your race" is simply to live and evaluate your life based on the guidelines you set rather than the expectations of others.  Think about that for a second.  How many of you who read this blog allow what you think about your accomplishments to be defined by a boss, an industry, a profession, or by what your friends or family may accomplish?  I'm as guilty as the next person and I have sometimes compared my accomplishments in life to the accomplishments of others and allowed that to somehow change how I felt about my own accomplishments--sometimes in a bad way.  A very valuable lesson that running has taught me is that if I choose to run another person's race, then it's going to be one long struggle--and the longer the race the longer the struggle.  I firmly believe that we were all meant to run our race, but much like running in the woods sometimes choosing the right path to run down can be unclear.  It takes some careful thought and planning to make sure you head down the right road.  Once you are on the right road, then you have to make sure to allow yourself to navigate it by your own standards so long as those standards do no harm to others. 

Here are some of the standards I use to determine whether or not I am running a successful race:

Effort:  In running and in work it's my goal every single day to give my best effort.  It's pretty simple, but I expect my best effort every single day no matter what.  Sure...the wind may be blowing when I'm running or there might be some crazy stuff going on at work, but I can still give my best effort.  On any given day my best effort will get me different places, but giving it should always be a priority.

Honesty:  I don't play games and I put all my cards on the table.  With me, you know where I stand on something and I will never allow someone else to deliver a tough message.  It's so important to me that I am always transparent in what I do and how I act.  I know that if I am honest no matter what, then I'll be able to sleep well each night.  I once got caught up in the games of my profession and it was awful.  I'd rather be honest and a step behind than dishonest and two steps ahead.  In running, it's as simple as running the correct route in a race or reporting the correct miles you run during training.  Sure, you could lie about the number of miles you run, but when it's time to race then you'll reap what you sow.  At the end of the day, honesty always wins out.

Day Maker:  I'm blessed because every day at work I have the chance to make a person's day better.  I can either add value (Being a Plus One) or subtract value.  This concept not only applies to work, but all areas of my life.  Now...I'm not perfect (just ask Sarah) and I can be a grumpy guy, but more often than not I am a Day Maker instead of a Day Breaker.  At it's core, I ask myself each day whether or not I went the extra mile for the students and staff that I lead.  In running, I try to answer all of the questions that fellow runners have for me and I try to help as many people with their running as I can.  There's always a chance to surprise people with kindness and I try to do that. 

Be Uncommon:  I can think Coach Tony Dungy for this one.  Coach Dungy wrote a whole book about being uncommonly good at what you do.  That's a scary concept because it implies that you have control over what you achieve.  But...I LOVE this simple concept and try to be uncommon daily.  In work, that means I am trying to lead my team to be the best it can be and to be a model for others to achieve.  In running, that means setting goals like trying to run a 2:39 marathon, putting it in writing in a public forum, and then having the discipline to go out there and train to do it.  Many of us want to be unique or stand out in a positive way.  For me, striving to be uncommonly good at what I do is the way I try to achieve that.

At the end of the day I am a husband, father to Myles, a runner, a Res Lifer, and an Indiana University Basketball and Football fan.  All of those entities are on the path I run and I love "running that race" each day.  The real key in life is not to try and run another person's race or what society says your race should be.  Rather, it's important to run your race in the best way that you can. 

Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

Blessed...

Good morning.  This is one of those rare times when I write a blog entry on a day I did not run.  I ran 10 miles on Monday and 5 miles yesterday and thought a lot during those runs.  I just did not have time to write.  So...here's a delayed entry.

I'm blessed.  Plain and simple.  Each day I am able to get up, head to a job I love, and work with outstanding people.  This is my second entry in a row about work, but it's the end of the academic year and that means lots of reflection and time spent celebrating our team.  Last night we had our Student Leader Banquet and it was amazing.  The appreciation our team has for one another and our department is beyond what I would have ever hoped for when I entered the Student Affairs field back in 2001.  Every single staff team decided to say something very nice about their supervisor.  Each supervisor had very nice comments to make about their staff members.  It's nice when you can tell that there is a genuine appreciation between students and the leaders who lead them.  We gave out awards, recognized those members of our team moving on, and had a ton of laughs--some planned and others unplanned.  I spend a lot of the 15 miles I ran on Monday and Tuesday thinking about my comments and thinking about what I would say and I definitely had a great time thinking about the year while on my run.  Here are the three things I will remember from 2010-2011:

• Never stop believing in your staff.  It's true.  We had a rough year with early departures, but the team rallied and just kept going.  They never stopped believing in me and I never stopped believing in them and because of that we accomplished nearly every major goal we set out to accomplish.  As a leader, the lesson is to never stop believing in the people you lead.  That, alone, goes a long way when the chips are down.
• CISS Conference:  We hosted the state Student Staff Conference for Indiana (Conference for Indiana Student Staff) in October.  Our committee went all out and we ended up hosting a fantastic conference.  It truly was an effort shared by 50 or more people and they all worked hard to make sure our 100+ guests had an outstanding experience.  I'll remember that for a long time (and we are hosting it again).
• Extra Effort:  This year could be defined by simply those two words, "extra effort."  I felt like 95% of our staff team did not just try to do their job, but really tried to go above and beyond in doing their job.  We had staff volunteer extra for every major event from move-in, to Welcome Week, to CISS, to the Ice Storm, to Closing and many, many more.  Every single time we had a large event, I was blown away by the staff.  And...on a day to day basis, they did the same.  It's walking that person to an office on campus instead of just telling them where it is.  It's dropping by a student's room when you know they've had a rough go of it.  It's helping clean up your teammates program.  The list could go on and on, but I felt like each and every day that the staff just really went the extra mile.  I love that.

Well.  I think that is enough for today.  I hope you have a fantastic day and happy running to you...

Honoring Our Grads...

Left to Right:  Brian, Josh, Drew, Danielle

Good afternoon.  Yesterday a person "who shall not be named" pretty much stated verbatim in the van ride to Bloomington my blog post for today.  Yes, he was right.  And...here goes. 

Had a nice 6 mile run this morning.  I did not run the mini-marathon, but I ran the last mile of the course and cheered for people.  I did not see who I was looking for (Erica, Theresa, Dan, and others), but I cheered none-the-less.  It was fun cheering for people.  To run the mini is a BIG DEAL.  Congrats to those who ran.

Last night was simply amazing.  I was able to attend the graduation ceremony for our three Graduate Staff Members who graduated from the Indiana University Higher Education and Student Affairs Program.  I am SO proud of them and it was just almost too much for me to handle.  You see, 10 years ago in 2001 I sat in the same room, the Wilkie Auditorium, and graduated from the HESA Program.  George Kuh gave the keynote address and he challenged us to "work at a school like you will work there forever."  I remember leaving Bloomington the next day and just feeling an enormous responsibility to do my best work every single day.  To sit in a room 10 years later, to be working in the profession, and to see three people (Brian Gallagher, Andrew Bennett, and Danielle Miller) who I care deeply about  and supervise graduate from the same program I graduated from was amazing.   More than that, though, I was simply humbled and awestruck by the fact that four of our Resident Assistants (Ose Agho, Nick Estrada, Stephanie Powell, and Danielle Bell) took time out of their schedules to come and cheer for their supervisor, Brian, and for Drew and Danielle.  It's one thing for me as their supervisor to be excited and proud.  It's another thing all together when our student staff feel so moved by their supervisors' performance over the past couple years that they chose to come and cheer them on.  For me, that leaves no doubt that the three people graduating are ready for their next step.  Students "vote with their feet," as the former Executive Director of Housing at UGA Jim Day used to say, and these students decided to come and honor their grad staff.  I could not be any prouder and right now I'm just overcome with pride and positive emotion. 

At IUPUI in Housing & Residence Life we have built a culture of success, support, and outstanding work.  Tralicia (former AD) and Hayward (Director) and then Vicky (AD who hired me, Brian, Drew, & Danielle) and Hayward help lay the foundation for what our program has become.  It's been an honor for me to come and benefit from their work and then build on it.  What we have is a special program where our student staff work hard and often exceed expectations without being asked.  The Supervisory Team Members are successful and they give me their best effort every single day (okay 98.5% of the time).  When all of that happens, then the people we are responsible for, our residents, benefit greatly.  I'm so proud that our student staff members are headed to jobs in business, to medical school, to law school, to higher education programs, the teaching profession, Peace Corps, and to many other careers.  All three of our grad students have landed great jobs that they wanted badly.  Our program is about working and doing a great job, and also about us as a Supervisory Team preparing our students for their next step beyond graduation.  Our staff often refers to IUPUI HRL as a family, and it's so true.  It's a family that cares about each other, a family that helps each other reach their goals, and a family that works it's tail off everyday.  I'm so proud to be a member of the IUPUI HRL Family and I'm looking forward to continuing to build on our success.  

Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

400 Miles for the Year...

Hello.  Short post for this morning.  I ran about 6 miles in the pouring rain.  Seems like it's pouring rain every time I run these days.  None-the-less, I ran anyway.  I told a friend over twitter this morning that "you know you're a runner on a day like today."  That's an old New Balance advertisement. 

Today I eclipsed the 400 mile mark for the year.  I'm a little off where I'd normally be, but I think that will actually be a good thing.  I tapered out near the end of last year so I think that having a strong April-November will be just fine.  After all, I want to be a life long runner and not just burn out.  I officially signed up for the Monumental Marathon on November 5 in Indianapolis.  Woo Hoo!  I cannot believe I'm signed up.  I'm like Brett Farve and Michael Jordan--I just cannot quit and keep coming out of retirement (marathon retirement).  ;-)

One little thought for the morning:  "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain."  I never forget this quote--especially when my team is struggling.  If they are struggling it's on me and it's my responsibility to get them back on track.  Fortunately, my team does not struggle often, but when it does I never forget it's on me to get it fixed first.  Sometimes, it's a person or a couple people, but it starts with me.  As David Cottrell says, "until you accept total responsibility, you will not be able to reach your leadership potential."  Happy running to you!

Nice Long Run...

Happy Saturday!  Hope you are well.  I'm am ecstatic this morning.  I just finished up a 10.25 mile run in about 73 minutes in 28 seconds.  Not too shabby for my first double digit run of the year.  The week of TPE I ran 9 miles in 7 days.  Today I ran 10.25.  So...needless to say I'm getting serious about my 2011 training and am ready to keep up the good mileage and build the base to rock the Monumental Marathon in November.

This week was a week full of lessons, challenges, and successes.  I think the best way to discuss these is through the lens of running.  Here goes.  When you run, your plan constantly is adjusted based on the elements, terrain, and how you feel internally.  It's rare, that all of those fire in your favor at the same time.  Sometimes, the terrain is inviting and is begging you to run and saying the road is yours.  However, sometimes the elements and how you feel prevent you from really taking advantage of the terrain.  Sometimes, the terrain is rough, uninviting, and is saying don't even try to run here.  Yet, you feel great and confident and the elements are all pointing to giving it a go (sunny, slightly warm, small breeze of encouragement).  Sometimes, both the terrain and the elements are perfect, but you just don't internally feel it.  It's smooth terrain, perfect conditions, but you just feel like junk and cannot feel good about running.  It's rare that the terrain, elements, and your internal feelings all line up, but when it does--like it did for me today--the run is great.  When it doesn't--you have a choice, run or keep the shoes in the closet and sit on the couch.  Mostly, I choose to run and go with the elements, terrain, and what my body gives me.  In life, I mostly choose to do the same.  Point is, no matter what the conditions (elements + terrain + internal feelings), I'll be running and getting after it.  In the end, those who "stick to the fight when they are hardest hit" prevail.  Same goes for life.  Same goes for last week. 

A great day lies ahead and a great start to the week could happen (cross your fingers).  Our team could get two outstanding additions--even you know what I mean.  Happy running to you...

30 Percent Chance of Rain My Tail...

Good morning!  "It's the freaking weekend baby I'm about to have me a run..."  Ha Ha Ha.  ROTFLMAO!  This morning I woke up excited about running.  It looked like it was going to rain.  I've learned over the 17 years of running that when the sky looks a certain way--no matter what the forecasters say--it's going to rain.  However, I looked at my Weather Channel App on my IPhone and it said 30% chance.  I thought, "well, there's a 70 percent shot it won't rain."  Just in case, I slipped on my water and wind proof jacket and went for it.  Let me tell you something:  There is a 100% shot it rained the ENTIRE time I ran.  Not just rained, but stormed.  Once again, I should trust my gut.  I always get into trouble when I don't.  I guess I really did not get into trouble, but I really did get very, very wet.  Overall, I ran a little over 8 miles in about 59 minutes.  Not too bad. 

This week has been a great week.  It's been busy as I've been leading the charge in recruiting a couple new staff members to work in our department.  I am always very appreciative of candidates who choose to spend time with us and really give us a look.  Over the past month or so I've spoken with some outstanding individuals and I wish we had more spots available.  A candidate gave me a huge compliment this week whether this person knew it or not.  The person said to me, "I interviewed with over 20 schools at TPE and not one school asked the sorts of questions you asked and that's what kept me interested in your department."  For me, this was a fantastic observation as I did rewrite our questions with the thought of just asking exactly what we needed to know to see if the person would be a good fit.  Job searches are about fit, and to steal a quote from a coach whose name escapes me, "we are who we say we are."  Or...to steal a line from Lupe Fiasco, "if you are what you say you are..."  I love that about the folks that I work with daily--we are transparent, sincere, and really focused on students.  At the same time, I feel we are a group always trying to get better and improve.  That's key.  As soon as you think you are perfect and don't need to get better, then you get knocked on your tail.  No doubt about it.



One of my favorite Myles pictures

I love to present at conferences and I'm thinking of submitting a program proposal  again this year for GLACUHO (Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers) titled:  "What I Learned about Working in Housing and Residence Life While Running."  Yeah, I know it's a spoof of my blog, but it's so true for me.  The work I do is so deeply personal to me and I'm so proud of it and focused on it (and I'm sure others feel the same way).  I'm a Blue on the True Colors and a Feeler on the Myers Briggs and a Get Along on the Lens of Understanding.  What this means for me is that I'm deeply impacted when things change, or tough decisions get made, or I upset someone.  Without balance, I am vulnerable to making a hurtful comment or making a dumb decision.  Running balances me out, helps me process possible decisions, and really provides me with a way to explore my feelings before acting.  In Housing and Residence Life work making good choices and staying calm is SO KEY to your leadership.  For me, I've seen good people just lose it because they became so invested in their work that they lost perspective.  I know I could do the same, and that's why running helps me so much.  Yes, I was already a runner, but running truly helps make me good at what I do.  So...Maybe I will submit a proposal and see what happens.  Have a great weekend!  Tomorrow will be my three best for the week.  Stay dry, stay balanced, and happy running to you....

Celebrating Running Tights...

Good morning universe.  Just finished up a very nice 6.25 mile run this morning.  It is brisk once again in Indiana proving that you can have winter and summer in the same week (mid 70s one day and high 20s the next).  I very much enjoyed my run today despite another cold run--but I was in my tights that I've had since 1994 and I love these things.  I cannot wait to celebrate the 20th anniversary of my black running tights.

My Aunt Grace & Uncle Brian (UK Fans) w/ Sarah & I at RUPP

You cannot really have a blog without mentioning March Madness.  Wow Butler!  I'm very excited for their team and fans and hope the can make the Final 4 again.  And...Wow UK.  Last year I thought they'd win it all and they stumbled.  This year I thought they'd lose in the first round and they end up knocking off Ohio State.  Great for UK and their fans.  As I stated a couple blogs ago, I've taken on a new approach to UK.  Rather than seeing UK as the enemy of Indiana, I've decided to see UK as a team Indiana competes against but can respect and be civil to the rest of the year.  I have a lot of friends and family who feel as strongly about UK as I do about IU, so I think the best thing to do is be competitors respectful of each other.  In many ways, this is a lot like the philosophy of running.  I've known some guys over the years that I really respected and got along well with even though we competed against each other in local races.  In running, it's about competing hard on the course or on the track, but being good to each other outside of the competition.  I've never really thought about applying the philosophy of running to being a basketball fan, but it makes sense.  Why not just really want to beat UK when they play IU, but be respectful friends outside of that one day?  For me, I'm so competitive and I let my basketball emotions get the best of me at times, but I'm working on it.  One day we will have kids and I'd want them to be good sports.  So...I need to do the same. 

Today is our New Staff Welcome event for our team for next year.  I look forward to this every year even though it's always with mixed emotion.  On one hand it's exciting to assemble the new team, but on the other hand you have to say goodbye to some of your current team members.  We have been so fortunate this year to have an outstanding team and it's humbling to have the staff give everything they have to our program and team.  I'm excited about the team we have coming in, but also EXTREMELY PROUD of the current team.  If you work in the Res Life and Housing World then you probably understand.  We become so close to the folks working in the Residence Halls and it's tough sometimes to let folks go.  One thing I'll be talking about today is the phrase, "people become what the most important people in their lives think that they will become."  In the Res Halls there are times when that "most important person" is the student staff member, the graduate residence director, or the RD for the building because they really come through for a student in a time of need.  We may not be that "most important person" all the time, but in Res Life you have the chance to be that "most important person" during a time in which a student may choose to stay in college or depart.  There are many times when the Res Life staff makes the difference in a person's college experience and there are times when Res Life staff make little to no difference.  I'm proud to say that in our program at IUPUI we are ALWAYS trying to make the positive difference in our work.  I know for me at IU, my RA made the difference just by asking me to get involved.  I know that our staff at IUPUI make the difference by connecting, encouraging, and supporting our students.  Very proud of them.  Maybe I'll show up in my black running tights and spandex shirt.  ;-)

Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

"I need a Doctor..."

Good morning.  Myles, who is sitting in my lap, says hello too.  Time for a short blog.  Ok, the title.  I rarely talk about the title because the blog entry usually speaks for itself.  But...I love that Eminem and Dr. Dre song that is on the radio all the time.  I love it. 

Had a great run this morning and on Tuesday morning as well.  I mentioned in my last blog that I was just feisty and grumpy on Sunday.  That continued into Monday and Tuesday as well.  I was sooooooo frustrated with myself for feeling so antsy.  So...on my runs today and on Tuesday I really concentrated on that negative energy while I ran and just ran it out.  I ran hard and the more I felt grumpy the harder I ran.  I know that this might sound strange for folks who do not use running as a stress management tool.  Me?  Well, I am competitive and I work hard and I am a perfectionist.  When I think things are not the absolute best that they can be then I get frustrated--even if I should not be; even if perfection is a silly goal.  So...I run.  And running really helps me burn energy and process information and feelings.  Last year I ran 40 miles/week for 40 consecutive weeks.  I am now only running about 20 miles a week.  So...I've got a lot more energy and less time.  So...I've decided to really push the runs--even if they are shorter.  Basically, it's run in the morning before work and then walk with Mr. Myles in the afternoon. 

We have our New Staff Welcome for our new student staff this weekend.  I've been working on a PowerPoint presentation that will get folks FIRED UP about being on our team.  I'm pumped about getting the undergraduate staff team together for the first time.  We've had an exceptional group this year and the future looks to be bright as well.  I'm so very fortunate to work with some of the most talented students in all the land!  We have a lot of "Prime time Players"--to steal another Dick Vitale phrase.  We continue to have a really good run of outstanding staff performance at IUPUI and it starts with the students and is really hammered home by our supervisory team. 

OK.  Time to go to work.  Myles is ready for a nap in his crate.  Happy running to you...

"I need a Doctor, Doctor, Doctor..."  (Good thing I have one)  ;-)

I needed a run...

Sometimes, I get inexplicably cranky.  It's odd that a normally calm and easy going guy can become a pain in the butt.  After my trip to Target today for weekly shopping, I came back and was just flat out cranky and I was driving Sarah crazy.  Finally, I told Sarah that I needed to run and she said something to the effect of "yeah, I think that would be good."  So...I headed out the door and went for it.



I love this hat...



My picture today is fitting as often times I do become much happier after a run.  Additionally, there are days when I'm running that I just have the biggest smile on my face as I'm running down the street.  Sometimes, I'm thinking about something that makes me laugh.  Other times, it might be a song that elicits a memory that makes me smile.  Currently, that's the "This is Indiana" song as I just cannot help but smile when thinking about how much I love the Hoosiers!  In either instance, the hat I'm wearing in the photo that simply says "Run Happy" often times describes me perfectly.  On a day like today when it was sunny outside and there was a nice breeze I just felt great.  And...I returned from my run a lot less crankier, which is good me and my ability to stay out of the dog house.  Thankfully, I'm married to a person who understands my inherent need to run.  I'm sure being married to a runner has it's frustrations and it is such a sport for compulsive and obsessive type individuals.  Those two traits can be great (as it helps get you out of bed to run) and bad (as you feel guilty and/or cranky when you don't run).

On my run today I was thinking about work and and just prepping mentally for the next two months.  It's going to be a sprint as we get ready for our day to day business, closing, and preparing for the summer.  I'm ready and excited as we will be recruiting two new professional Residence Directors and at the same time closing out the year with an outstanding group of graduating undergraduate and graduate staff.  I've got to make sure to remember to have fun, enjoy these two months, and "run happy" on a daily basis.  Happy running to you...

Pacing myself...

My Little Blogging Assistant

Good morning.  It's become a habit of late to blog with my boy, Myles, on my lap.  In the mornings before I go to work he just loves to be close.  So...we are blogging together. 

I had a nice four mile run in the light rain this morning.  While on my run, I could not help but think about the importance of pacing oneself, both in running and at work.  This week is our Spring Break at IUPUI and it would be a good time for me to scale back just a bit--go in a bit later, leave a little earlier, and not work at night.  I have a tendency to go full throttle all the time in running and in work and I have to be careful.  In a race, if you go full throttle, then you look great in the beginning but end up sucking wind for the last part of your race.  Usually, the first race I run each season is like that--I forget sometimes that pacing is so key despite over 15 years of running.  In the Housing and Residence Life world on a college campus, you are in a full throttle sprint from July through September (training and opening) and then again from mid-January to Spring break (selection time).  I've learned that one cannot really control how much you have to work during those periods and the team needs everyone working hard like that.  I think that is why when you have a chance to scale back the pace--like over Spring Break, Winter Break, on certain weekends--it is so important to do so.  If you go full out all the time--both in running and in life--then you won't have the energy to really come through when you need it most.  Pacing, my friends, is key. 



I have applied this concept to working with my graduate students as well.  I have pushed them for the past year or so to get better, to work on their improvement areas, and to address areas that I know would hurt them long term if they don't get them fixed.  With all three of them, they have really answered the bell.  I had a great chat with one of our grads two weeks before The Placement Exchange and said, "you are ready and it's time to scale back, let you mentally prepare for interview season, and to make sure you feel great heading into TPE."  We had such a good chat that day and it was great for me to be able to tell that person that I thought they were ready to go.  I've pushed all three as much as they need to be pushed, and now it's time for them to reap the rewards of their hard work and dedication.  After the Oshkosh Placement Exchange and TPE, it's so clear that they are ready and I'm proud of all three of them beyond explanation!



Have a great Tuesday.  The teams I'll really be pulling for in the NCAAs are:  Georgia (for my wife), Louisville, Butler, Notre Dame, Belmont, Vandy, St. Johns, UAB (I wish Mike Davis well), and Michigan State (I love Tom Izzo despite thinking they will lose in the first round).  Have a great day and happy running to you...





Priorities...

Reunited after four days!

Hard to believe another week has come and gone.  It was a busy week for me and I cannot say I did a very good job running--only making it out for two runs.  But...I can say that I made very good decisions about my use of time--maybe something I would not have done a few years back.

We only have 24 hours in a day and if you are like me then you need every second of your 24.  For me, I'm juggling spending time with Sarah, spending time with Myles, work, fun, running, sleep, and relaxing.  Over the past few years, I've pushed hard with running and probably run when I was too tired or run at the expense of spending time with Sarah or making time for friends.  However, as much as I love to run at the end of the day life is about the people you give your time to more than the number of miles you run.  Sarah has helped teach me this lesson over the past few years and Myles has driven the point home.  For instance, on Monday and Tuesday of last week when I got home from work I had every intention of running.  However, Myles had been couped up in his crate all day and I knew I could not just leave my buddy.  So...he and I took a walk on both days to the park and ran around and just spent time together.  Myles is such a good dog and I feel so responsbile for him and I just cannot bear to ignore him.  Having a dog is a huge responsibility and dogs are meant to get out there and really enjoy being with their owners.  And...Sarah had long days of work and tests and I was not just going to up and leave for a run after walking Myles when I knew I was going to be gone Wednesday through Saturday.

This week I went to Philadelphia to The Placement Exchange to recruit talented new professionals for a couple Residence Director positions we just created for IUPUI.  While I missed Sarah and Myles, I had a great time meeting some talented future professionals, seeing old friends, and just hanging out in Philly.  Again, I could have stayed off in the corner and just been focused on getting some miles in, but I instead interviewed from 9a to 7p, ate dinner with friends, and slept in instead of running because I was tired.  I wanted to run and felt a bit guilty about not running, but I knew my body needed rest--as did my mind.  And...after thinking about it, I'm fine with it.  I'll pick up the running this week.  All in all, TPE was great and I genuinely feel like we found some individuals who could be great on our team.

I knew that the day would come when I would not be able to run 40-50 miles a week and run marathons or races all the time.  I told our undergraduate staff in August that we all have time to do 4-5 things really well and after we pick up 6-7, then we look average at them all.  For me, it's Sarah, Res Life, watching IU sports, and Myles.  Running is in there, but when it comes down to it it's really between running races and Myles.  And...it's not a choice for me.  Myles wins.  I will still be able to run (so long as I get up early) and I'll still race (during the late summer and fall), but at the end of the day when I decided to become Myles's Dad I committed to being the best Dad he could have. 

NCAA tournament selection is tonight.  Keep in mind I'm typing this before seeing the brackets.  I predict the four number one seeds go to Duke, Ohio State, Kansas, and Notre Dame.  I think that the teams to watch besides those four to be good in the NCAAs are: San Diego State, Kentucky, Louisville, Pitt, and Purdue.  Teams I would stay away from picking to go very far:  Wisconsin (too slow), Butler (everyone will be hyped to play them after last year), Michigan State (usually a good pick but Izzo does not have this team), UCONN (Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type team), Florida (seem soft), and North Carolina (not tough enough and they have no player who just takes over).

Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

Coach Josh...

Good morning.  What a moment for me to enjoy:  typing up a blog while my dog lays in my lap chewing on his toy.  I absolutley love it.  The theme of my blog entry today is "Coach Josh" and it was inspired by a comment made by one of my Graduate Hall Directors, Brian, yesterday in our meeting.  I was talking with him about what's next in our two year plan together and I after I finished he said, "wow, I think I was just talking to Coach Taylor (from Friday Night Lights."  His comment really got me thinking and reminded me of this picture below of when I coached cross country at Analy High School in California.

Running w/ the team, Clipboard in hand!

Brian's right, I do approach everything as a coach when it comes to my supervision style and life.  I love the picture above because it completely captures my style:  hands on, in the trenches, working beside you to get better, pushing you to the max.  When I coached, I ran every single mile with the men and women on the team and pushed them all further than they had been pushed before.  With our staff, I am right there in the trenches with them helping develop training sessions, assisting when needed in crunch time, and really asking them the tough questions that will help make them better.  For me, I build a team like a coach.  I recruit like crazy, sell our program as an experience that will help you get to the next level, and then really work to help people achieve success once they get here.  I give speaches, pep talks, and cheer sessions.  I call people on the phone when I'm proud of them or worried about them.  I talk all the time about how our collective goal from professional to student staff member is to be the best and to "expect the best, everyday, all the time, no matter what."  I know I'm not easy to work for becaue I always push folks to reach beyond what they think they can do.  The more I push means the more potential I think someone has.  At the end of the day, I am a Coach and I love every second of being that.  It's a perspective that allows me to always be very proud of our accomplishments and look at disapointment as something to build from rather than be upset about.

Had a fantastic five mile run this morning on the first day of March!  My first two month of running have been rough with the nasty weather and such.  But...we are getting ready to head into prime running season:  March-October.  I'm so jacked up and ready to go.  Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

Mile 23 at Big Sur...

Good morning.  This will not be a very long entry.  Just wanted to jot down some thoughts.  I had a very nice run this morning at 5:45a.  Another day of ice and temps in the teens, but I ran through it.  The ice now, at least, is not falling but rather deeply embedded into the sidewalks.  Anyway, it was a nice 4.5 mile run.

At work things have become very busy lately and we are down three key staff members.  Much of the workload falls to our Res Life Supervisory Team--and a good deal falls to me.  I have been asked if I'm going to get tired, warn out, or burned out.  My answer is always, "no."  My "no" is generally met with the shaking of the head and some disbelief.  But...I know I won't get tired.  I know it as sure as I know we need oxygen to breathe.  My capacity to handle fatigue is tested daily when I run and I have learned so much about handling fatigue through running.

In April of 2006 I ran in the Big Sur Marathon (that's me in the red hat).  This was my comeback marathon after being out of running for about three years.  Big Sur is beautiful, but also extremely hilly.  Extremely.  It generally chews people up and spits them out.  At mile 23 of Big Sur I was hurting!!!  My quads felt like someone was slamming bricks on them and I just wanted to quit.  I stopped for a second, regained my composure, and devised a plan of walking and running to the finish so I could make it.  And...that got me through mile 23, and then I was able to run all of mile 24, 25, and 26.  I mention Mile 23 because that was my wall in the race and I had to figure out how to get around it.  Sure, it would not have mattered in the scheme of life if I hitched a ride back to the finish, but I was not about to do that.  Similarly, if I hit a wall at work, and hit them I have and will, I'll find a way around it or a way through it.  I do it every day when I run.  Consequently, I'm ready to do it everyday in my work.  And...at Big Sur I gave my absolute best effort on the course and finished in 3:08--qualifying for the Boston Marathon, which is tough to do on the Big Sur Race Course. 

Have a great day.  Get out there, go for a run, and practice breaking through walls.  If you practice everyday, you'll never run out of steam (NOTE:  you have to allow yourself an appropriate amount of rest, patience, and common sense as well).  Happy running to you...

Passion baby...

Passion.  When I used to teach a first-year seminar class at Sonoma State I would always ask the students to share with me "what they were passionate about."  I was amazed how they often times struggled and said "what do you mean?"  I rephrased for them, "what gets you out of the bed in the morning?"  I continued, "what is it that you lose time doing, that makes you feel on top of the world, that you just get up ready to go and do as quickly as you can."  Often times, I was met with only a handful out of 30 that could answer the question.  So...our challenge became over the 18 week semester to help them find at least one of those things.

You see, I'm big on passion--going all in.  There are four thing for me:  Family (Sarah, Myles and our family), Running, Residence Life at IUPUI, and Indiana Basketball.  If you had to sum me up you could say, "oh, Josh...that's that crazy runner who loves IU basketball, seems married to his job, and he cannot stop talking about his wife and dog, Myles.  For me, passion and being passionate about those things just makes life so enjoyable.  I really never struggle to wake up and get going because I truly look forward to those four things.  Of course, there are other things as well, such as my friends, the Colts, etc., but passion is being so excited about something that you feel GREAT when it's going well and you feel TERRIBLE when it's going bad.  I think it's the feeling TERRIBLE part that people are afraid of and that sometimes prevents them from being passionate about things in life.  When things to go wrong, then it can feel just awful.  Most of us don't ever want to feel that way.  Yet, if you don't allow yourself on some level to feel bad or sad because of something, then you truly will never feel that GREAT feeling when things go so well. 

Anyway, I was thinking about passion on my run today.  The first thing I did this morning was take out Myles to the bathroom.  The second thing I did was drive Sarah to work at 6a.  The third thing I did was go for a run and I actually sang the IU fight song down White River PKWY because we play tonight, and now I'm about to head to work.  I've already hit all four and it's 7:15a.  Well...I am off to get ready for work.  Yes, I really did sing the IU fight song down White River PKWY across from the VA Hospital, and no I'm not crazy.  Just passionate.  Have a great day.  Happy running to you.  GO HOOSIERS BEAT the illini.  And...if you've not found what you just have to get out of bed for very single day, then my hope is you find it...

Lost in the Run...

Good morning!  Hope that you are doing well.  I just finished up a very nice five mile run in the dark.  I left around 5:45a and am back here in time to take Sarah to work--and then get ready for work myself.  I'm afraid that I cannot write a very long or insightful blog today as something is bothering me and it's confidential.  So much of my blogging is me talking about my life so it's difficult to be authentic here when I have to hold back a bit out of professionalism.

So...it's a great thing I'm a runner.  There have been so many times over the years in my career in Housing and Residence Life where work becomes stressful and tough challenges present themselves.  I've processed so many challenges during my daily runs and usually end up reaching the right conclusions.  I really think it's the rhythmic movement of my feet and arms that calms my brain and just allows it to explore frustrations, challenges, and possibilities.  It's almost like the "free association" writing exercises my English teachers in high school used to make us do for brainstorming.  Anyway, I'm a big proponent of running when I'm stressed because I find my brain truly does get to process the stress and I generally feel better afterwards.

Every now and then, though, I also benefit from a little day dreaming when I run.  Sometimes, I'll create an entire story in my head and play it out on my run.  This morning I was the Indiana Basketball coach and I was leading us to multiple national titles.  Sometimes I'm a runner on his last chance to make the Olympic team and I surprise everyone, make the team, and then win the gold.  Other times, I just play out the next 3-4 years in my head and how I'd like them to go.  The point is...sometimes I just like to get lost in the run and see where my mind takes me.  It's fun.  It's silly, I know.  But...it's me and it's how I find my best ideas, make logical life plans, and sometimes just be me.

I have been reading Tony Dungy's book Quiet Strength.  It's a great book.  Coach Dungy was the coach of the Colts when they won the Superbowl and he's widely considered an outstanding coach and person. Last night's chapter had a quote that read, "It's always easier to do things the wrong way, but it's always best to do them the right way."  I find that to be so true and something to think about and take with me.  I love reading books about people and about Leadership because I often find helpful quotes or stories I can use with my staff.  I know that I will definitely use this one at some point.  Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

An Unexpected Honor...

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the United States and millions of people pay tribute to the man who was largely responsible for ending racial inequality in America.  Growing up as a kid and studying history in school I was always enamored with Martin Luther King Jr. and absolutely in awe of the fortitude it must have taken to lead the way.  He was met with hateful words, water shot at him through hoses, arrests for "civil disobedience," and ultimately he was killed standing up for what was right.  Perhaps, no one in American history serves as an example of what the concept of "America" is supposed to be than Martin Luther King Jr. 

Last night I had the good fortune to attend IUPUI's Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner, which was planned and hosted by the IUPUI Black Student Union.  This event has been an IUPUI tradition for over 40 years and the students really do a great job with the dinner for nearly 500 people.  The food was fantastic, the speakers were inspiring, and the entire event was simply first class all the way. 

There is a part of the evening where the Black Student Union gives out some special recognition to people who have been considered to be "Advocates of the Dream."  One of the students who serves as a Resident Assistant in our department, Ose Agho, started reading about how the award goes to someone who tries to promote diversity, social justice, and human awareness on campus and tries to really help all students--someone who not just says it but lives it.  Then...she said something that nearly made me pass out.  She said, "and our Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life..."  At that point, I'm thinking wow that's me, and before I could process it she named me as one of the winners of The Advocate of the Dream" award.  She called me up to the stage and several of the students in our program were standing up and cheering.  It was surreal as I just could not believe that they selected me.  It was one of those moments that was so personally humbling and amazing.

Since my days in Bloomington back in the late 90s I have really worked hard to be an advocate for students who are underrepresented on campus, and I have continued to try and do that in my career at UGA, Sonoma State, and now at IUPUI.  While I do my best to reach out and let students know that I am a "safe" person to rely on, it really takes the students taking a leap of faith to trust me--a white guy with a southern accent from Kentucky.  I think that's why this award means so very much to me--because it comes from students.  In my work it's all about the students and all about helping them reach their dreams and to do well in college.  In 2001 I graduated from the IU HESA Program.  At that time I was writing cover letters to apply for jobs and I recall writing the statement, "every day I get up out of bed feeling so fortunate to be able to make a positive impact on students."  Ten years later, I still feel the same way...each day I have an opportunity to make someones day--to be a "plus one."  Any accomplishment that I may receive is really a shared accomplishment between the students I have led and myself.  It is just as much about them buying into to me and what I stand for as it is about what I do on a day to day basis.  When I try to connect to all students regardless of what they look like, who they love, how much money they have, where the come from, etc., it really takes the students being open to someone who may be "different" from them in order for it to work.  Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a world where people worked together, trusted each other, and helped each other succeed regardless of skin color or difference.  For me, to win an award that is named after Martin Luther King Jr. and given by students is something I'll forever cherish, never forget, and work hard every day to live up to what being an "Advocate of the Dream" means.  It's an unexpected honor and it's one that I will forever deeply appreciate.

Training, Opening, and 25 & counting...

Hello. It's been a good long while since I've had a blog post. I've been busy with our student staff training and then preparing for opening. Yesterday, we successfully moved in about 1000 people and we now have about 1400 living on campus. I think it's hard to know what I actually "do" for a living--especially if you've never worked in housing. We work hard, train hard, and have great fun. We're in the business of helping students have an outstanding on-campus living experience and really helping students succeed in college. It's fun work! I've posted some pictures below. I am blessed to work with a tremendous staff and we have had a great start to the year.

Running in August is ALWAYS difficult for me because of the intense schedule. But...I have managed to keep the 40 mile/week streak alive this month. This week was the 25th consecutive week of hitting the 40 mile or more mark. Since 3/1/2010, I've hit 40 miles every week. That's a little over 1000 miles in about 5.5 months. It's been hard and I've been up running before 6a about 14 days this month. It's rough to get up when the clock reads 5a or so--at least for me. I'm looking forward to having it be more reasonable.

I'm really excited about running this fall and with the base I've been able to build I think it's going to be a fast fall season of running. AND...A BIG THANKS to my wife Sarah for being patient and understanding with me this month while I've been so busy. Happy running! Enjoy the photos...

10 Miles & a 40 Mile Week: Consistency

If you said, "Josh, tell me what some of the most important habits you can develop in order to enjoy running," then I'd have probably 4-5 of those in mind--in no particular order. Maybe over the next few blogs I'll highlight some of those habits.

On my run today what came to mind was consistency in training. This week was my 11th strait 40+ mile week and the 13th week in a row in which I've completed a run of 10 miles or more. This is the most consistent level of training I've been able to maintain since the Fall 2007/Spring 2008 when I probably was as fast as I've ever been. Injuries have really kept me from being able to train at the level that would help me drastically improve my times. With that said, I'm so pleased with my year of training so far and my formula is pretty simple. I try to run 6-9 miles four days a week, 10-13 miles one day a week, and take 1-2 days off per week. Always try to hit between 40-45 miles. This formula has really worked for me since my comeback in 2006. I think if you are new to running or you just want to be able to run each day and feel good then a modified version of this would work. I would recommend for someone just trying to stay in shape to run 3-4 days/week at 3-4 miles and then 1 day a week at 5-7 miles. If you could average around 14-20 miles each week, then you'd be shocked at how your body will respond. And...the more consistent you are over the long haul, the better running will feel. No doubt about it.

On another note. I work in Residence Life at IUPUI and have such a fantastic staff. Last week we had our end of the year banquet and they presented me with an award and gave me some very thoughtful and kind gifts. The group this year has been so special because they are the first staff I've had since my return to Res Life after one year absence. I've not been very secretive about how much I missed working in Res Life, and to get the chance to come back and then to have a fantastic experience with these students is an absolute blessing. It's amazing how much one can enjoy work when they are doing exactly what they are meant to do. I'm very thankful for this group of students.

Have a great day and if you go running...an awesome run.