A Promise Fulfilled

KELLIE CANET
NOVEMBER 14, 2021
OGL 482
DR. BRENT SCHOLAR
 INTRODUCTION
A Fulfilled Promise is the past couple of years of hard work to fulfill a promise to the most important person in my life. She has
since passed but my promise remains unbroken. To finish my degree and to find my passion. The following is data and research of
myself to try and determine what my dreams and passions are.
Step 1: Read all the work from each course and took notes on any phrases or words that were important and kept a tally if they
started to repeat themselves
Step 2: I had the list I started to look at my values and beliefs to see if any themes started to emerge from that work.
Step 3: Took some trusty post-it notes and wrote each phrase down and put on my wall and walked away for a couple of days.
Step 4: When I returned, I moved them around and was able to find my ten themes. Also, enjoyed throwing the post-its on the
ground. It is very cathartic.
Step 5: Arrange the themes in order of importance to me.
Step 6: Begin my thematic Analysis.
CHALLENGES: Looking back at work and not being hypercritical of myself. Looking at the work as part of the journey of being
the best version of myself. This assignment really made me look at myself in a different light. A lot of the work I was proud that I
have made it this far and continue to remain committed to being a good leader.
 MY DATA SOURCES

THIS FOLLOWING SECTION IS THE OVERVIEW OF ALL THE DATA USED FOR
MY THEMATIC ANALYSIS. THE DATA COMES FROM PRIOR COURSE, MY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AND THIS COURSE.

I HAVE COMPLIED PAPERS, ASSESSMENTS AND WRITINGS TO FORMULATE

MY THEMES. STARTING WITH THIS CURRENT COURSE AND THEN SHARING
DATA FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AND COURSES.
 DATA SOURCES
Three Questions (3Qs) by Michael Himes: Reverend Michael Himes asks three questions that can help an individual to understand
what they could be doing as a leader and as a human. By doing this exercise, the individual is challenging themselves to think abou, if what
they are doing brings them joy. Finding out what a person is good at and does what they are good at serve the world.

Identities Exercise(IDE): This exercise asks the individual the big question: “Who am I?” Answering who we are to the world and how we see
ourselves within the world. Looking at our career and how that has become a large part of our identity. Here we can learn what we have
become defined by or the impact those things around us have on how we show up as leaders.

Dreams (Dr): Writing down all dreams. From the big to the small. What are a person's dream and how can an individual make a plan to get
there. By writing down what area of life the dream comes from, it paints a picture of where a focus is or where a focus is an opportunity. Are
all the dreams career focused and none personally, if so does that need to change.

Values (Va): With a list of words and a highlighter selecting words that the individual finds fills their personal values. Narrowing down the list
to a top five. These values indicate how the leader or individual shows up everyday. They can also be a point of connection to share the
values with a peer to get to know someone better. It is a great self reflection tool as well.

Kuder Assessments (KA): Three online assessments that helped to understand interests, potential careers and skill sets that help an
individual to thrive. Each assessment breaks down what how interests and skills could be showcased from personal life into
professional goals and aspirations.
 CONTINUED…. DATA SOURCES
Career Anchors Assessment (ANCH): Through this assessment the user is asked a series of questions on a scale from one to ten.
Ten being the most accurate. Each question is bucketed into eight different anchors. At the end of the assessment, once scores
have been added. The eight different anchors are skills and careers that could provided personal fulmillnet for the the individual.
The assessment also gives areas to stray away from.

RIASEC Assessment (RA): An assessment tool to help determine a major or career path to pursue that involves values and beliefs,
taking into consideration tasks and activities that are important. Making suggestions based off questions answered. This assessment
showcases degree and career paths that can lead to having joy.

Big Five Personality Test (BF): For this assessment the user answers a series of questions to determine top five personality traits. It
also gives the bottom ranked traits. This information allows the individual to play to strengths and understand opportunities. Helps to point
the individual in a positive direction of understanding themselves on a deeper level.

DISC Personality Test (DISC): This assessment takes four main personality types and asked me a series of questions in a form
of this or that to determine my top personality profiles. Each question is weighted to one of the personality styles of Dominance,
Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness. The results populate in a graph with ranked results of each of the four.
 CONTINUED...DATA SOURCES
StrengthsFinder(SF): A leadership tool designed to help the user understand personal strengths. The assessment gives top five
strengths. There are 34 themes and that are narrowed down to the top five is a result of a series of questions. The themes fall under four
distinct domains that support a better understanding of personal strengths. Helpful in a team setting to know personal strengths and
those of peers.

Book Project(BP): I read Dream Big by Bob Goff. It is a how to book on removing obstacles and barriers that get in the way of realizing and
achieving our potential and our ambitions. The book requires the reader to be in a place of self reflection and honest about what they want and what is
in the way of getting there. To have an honest conversation with yourself about what you want and how to get there. To lean into some discomfort
and get real. The reader is taken on a journey with the author about trials and tribulations they have experienced that mirrored my own experiences.

OGL 340: Aikido Way (AW): Learning to understand what is a point of contention for myself. Way of constantly checking in with
myself to understand reactions, thoughts and feelings. Looking at how conflict is integrated into my daily life personally and
professionally. Taking personal accountability for actions, thoughts and feelings.

YellowDig (YD): Community forum to share ideas, thoughts and questions about the course work or life in general. A way for students to connect
with each other that is not in person. Forms a sense of community since the course is online.
 CONTINUED… DATA SOURCES
OGL 360: The Individual and the Team(360): What it means to have an open mind about being a part of a team. Looking at different learning
styles that allows teams to thrive or fail. Changing a mindset or preconceived notion about myself, teams and team dynamics. Learning more about
the individual as a product of a team. Examining how doing everything alone can be isolating. That people need other people in some capacity or
another.

OGL 345: ETHICS (345): Understanding organizational ethics is important and knowing my own personal ethics was even more important.
Taking a look at situations that had the potential to be considered unethical and what I would do given I was the leader in charge. Examining my
personal ethics helped me to understand the ethics of my organization. It was crucial to my growth and development that they were inline with each
other.

OGL 350: Final Paper (350): This assignment had me take a cultural intelligence test to see how much cultural intelligence I did or did not have.
I had to think about my bias, my beliefs and both showed up in my personal and professional lives. Sharing the ability to be self aware enough to
understand my own bias and begin to do the work to close those gaps. We were required to examine ourselves through a cultural lens and then do a
cultural activity that was unfamiliar to us.
 CONTINUED.. DATA SOURCES
OGL 481: Symbolic Frame (481): For this assignment we had to take a personal experience and examine it through the symbolic frame.
The frame being a way to look at a particular scenario. This frame is rich with ritual and storytelling. It evoked emotions from me as I
described my personal case situation and the organization that I work for.

OGL 481: Electronic Portfolio (EP): A culmination project of self reflection, peer reviews and feedback to showcase an individuals core
competencies and a personal case analysis that required the individual to reflect, analyze and produce thoughtful responses and inquires
into personal leadership journeys.

OGL 365: Final Paper (FP): Looking back this was the start to a thematic analysis and looking at myself to understand what is important
to me and why. It was also equally important to understand what was not as important and that it did not make me less of a leader or a
person. I had to be thoughtful about the things that mattered because it is a representation of me. It was important to reflect so to
understand my strengths and what that could mean for me in my future as I finish my degree.

Professional Certification: Store Manager Trainer (SMT): I was (past tense because I am no longer a store manager) responsible for the growth
and development of future leaders at Starbucks. Supporting their journey not just in teaching the operations and the expectations but helping them
be the culture keeper of their stores and impart their leadership on those they served.
 MY THEMES

WHAT FOLLOWS IS TEN THEMES THAT HAVE BECOME APPARENT AS I

POURED THROUGH PAST WORK AND REFLECTION. THEY ARE THEMES THAT
ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AS I MOVE FORWARD IN MY CAREER AND MY
PERSONAL LIFE. THEY ALL INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND FORM WHO I
AM AS A LEADER. THEY ALSO SHOWCASE WHO I HOPE I AM WORKING TO
BECOME. THESE THEMES ARE HOW I THINK OF MYSELF AS I HAVE STUDIED,
THOUGHT AND REFLECTED ON MYSELF AS A HUMAN AND A LEADER OVER
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
 THEME 1: TEACHER/COACH
THEME STATEMENT: Being a source of inspiration and feedback to others in my life. Sharing knowledge and guidance
to help people through difficult times. Being able to know when to coach and when to teach for a particular situation
DATA SOURCES:
● Seeing others thrive is a great joy for me. Nurturing and developing future talent within my organization. (SMT)
● Providing appropriate learning styles tailored to each individual and situation. (SMT)
● A sense of dedication to a cause, of people development. Helping others learn and grow personally and
professionally. (ANCH)
● I believe that helping other succeed is one of the most important ways I can give back to those around me. (KA).
● To give those around me an opportunity to try something new, to learn, to fail and to thrive to help reach their
potential and dreams (VaD)
Contradictory Evidence: Leading a large team of people drains me mentally and emotionally. I have discovered when
there is not a balance of the size of the group, leading larger groups becomes more challenging. (SMT)
 CONTINUED.. TEACHER/COACH

REFLECTION: While I may not want to be a teacher or a coach in a traditional sense, I

have found ways to do this professionally that brings me joy. I need a career where I can
be a teacher or a coach depending on the situation. I have also learned at this point in my
career journey that having to teach/coach to more than one person at a time leaves me
unable to meet their needs. This realization has helped me to shift to more of a coach or
mentor and it where my I find fulfillment. It has shifted my view of leadership as well. A
leader does not have to have a title to be able to impact those around them. I strive for a
career where I can be a teacher/coach and can support those around me in a way that I
never had before..
 THEME 2: SELF AWARENESS
THEME STATEMENT: In order to become the best version of myself to support others. I first had to be open to looking at myself and
being honest and open with what I saw as success and opportunity. To constantly check in with myself to think, process and reflect.
Understanding that my words and actions had impact to those around me. Knowing myself enough to know to how to navigate a situation.

DATA SOURCES:
● When faced with new challenges or facts about myself, I can quickly identify how it makes me feel and what I am
going to do about it. (BP)
● Knowing myself well enough to know what my boundaries are personally and professionally. (FP)
● Looking back at previous experiences to determine why or how something went the way it did and how to adjust
accordingly moving forward by checking in with myself. (FP)
● The ability to know what is a trigger for me. (AW)
● Understanding that I am a constant work in progress and I will not always get it right but knowing how to check-in
with myself will help to navigate. (360)
 CONTINUED… SELF AWARENESS

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE:

REFLECTION: Once I started to become aware of myself, my feelings, thoughts and

emotions, it was like a faucet I could not turn off. The flow would sometimes be a drip or
a full stream but it is always there. I was able to stop doing the things that were harming
me and increase the activities that filled my cup. I have found that talking with others
helps to increase my understanding of myself and how I feel. The most important thing I
have learned is to ask for help when you need it. To know myself is to be able to seek
advice, guidance and counsel from others. I cannot solve it all alone.
 THEME 3: CONSISTENCY
THEME STATEMENT: I have a hard time with big life altering changes. I struggle when
there is chaos and a lack of consistency from individual and situations. This is a direct result of
my childhood being tumultuous. It has led to me not leaving my organization because it has
created consistency in my life.

DATA SOURCES:
● I have a high sensitivity to stress. (BF)
● Natural Reactions to change create anxiety. (BF)
● I develop a routine in both personal and professional life and function best when this routine is maintained. (DISC)
● Making plans and following those plans is important. (DISC)
● I strongly identified with my company and seeks the security of a long-term employment relationship, consistent
pay and the ability to promote. (CA)
 CONTINUED.. CONSISTENCY

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I work for a company that is known for change and
while they are consistent everything is always adjusting and controlled chaos. (SMT)

REFLECTION: For a long time I confused loyalty with consistency. I believed I was a
loyal individual. I think I still am, but more importantly I thrive when things are
consistent. When the people in my life are consistent and follow through on what they say.
I tend do this almost all the time, unless I am overly stressed, then life becomes chaos and
the root of that stress is normally due to a large or uncontrollable change. It takes me time
to work through the change. Recently, I have accepted that change is going to be a
constant and having this shift allowed me to take on the challenge of change a lot easier.
 THEME 4: STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURE

THEME STATEMENT: The more operationalized the task or activity the better. Ambiguity is my downfall. I
like to know the rules, the way things function and the reason why so that I can execute a task or a goal. The more
details the better. The ability to plan and prioritize work in an orderly fashion.

DATA SOURCES:

● I avoid trouble and achieve high levels of success through purposeful planning and persistence. (BF)
● I tend to live according to routines and schedules. While keeping lists and make plans. (BF)
● Assignments that can be followed through to completion. (DISC)
● By having rules, policies and procedures I can bring my best self to a situation. (KA)
● Solves problems using concrete, practical, and structured solutions. (KA).

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I cannot be the one to invent the operations or tasks. (KA)
 CONTINUED.. STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURE

REFLECTIONS: For the first part of my career, I defined success as being the innovator,
the trend setter or the leader coming up with the latest and greatest. I was setting myself
up to fail. I had to have a realization that in order for me to be a successful leader, I need
the structure from other leaders. I need to have rules and operations to be able to bring my
best self to work. I have noticed I tend to operationalize almost everything I do, personally
and professionally.
 THEME 5: CURIOSITY
THEME STATEMENT: I want to be the best version of myself. To do this, I have to learn about
myself, those around me and stay curious. A constant student.

DATA POINTS:
● Reading a book that helps me to understand why I have not had dreams or ambitions and
what to do about changing it. (BP)
● Dialoguing with those around me. (AW)
● Taking an assessment of my personality. (DISC)
● Analyzing the results of my personality test to better understand myself and then taking
action. (DISC)
● Seeking feedback on my strengths and opportunities from others. (AW)
 CONTINUED.. CURIOSITY
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: When there is a new idea presented, I can be a little
closed minded or quick to make a snap judgement. (BF)

REFLECTION: Learning more about myself is insightful and exhausting. After taking all of
the assessments and reading books, it becomes about activating on what you have learned.
Then peeling back more and more. It is a constant process and continues to evolve. It has
been a challenge not to operationalize being curious but allowing it to be a natural process.
There have been times where it has made being curious a hurdle I overcome. By being
curious I have been able to learn about myself. Now knowing what I do not want and letting
it go. I do not think I would have gotten to this point without staying curious.
 THEME 6: VULNERABILITY
THEME STATEMENT: Sharing it all, the wins, the failures and the opportunities. Being able to share
the hard stuff as it is a part of me. Opening myself up so that others can maybe not feel so alone.

DATA SOURCES:
● Sharing personal experiences with peers in a community setting. (YD)
● Storytelling as a means of communication with others that is rooted in emotions, feelings and life
experiences. (BP)
● Let my caring show. (DISC)
● Develop strong relationships with peers and friends. This can only be done by open up to those
around you. (DISC)
● Helping others by sharing personal details (KA)
 CONTINUED.. VULNERABILITY

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I score very low on the Big Five when it comes to
being openness. This stems from being leary of others, but once I know them, I will be my
vulnerable open self.

REFLECTIONS: I have learned there is a fine balance between vulnerability and

openness. In order for people to get to know me, it is important to be open to the idea.
Then to really form relationships and bonds both parties have to be vulnerable. I need to
be surrounded by individuals who are able to be vulnerable. Professional vulnerability has
allowed me to grow and get help and also help others. Being vulnerable creates bonds. For
a long time I was scared to be vulnerable, and missed out on a lot of experiences.
 THEME 7: PROBLEM SOLVING
THEME STATEMENT: Every problem has a solution. Knowing how to utilize prior experience and
knowledge allows me to solve a varying degree of problems. I find joy in the ability to solve a
problem. I view problem solving as a way of helping others.

DATA SOURCES:
● High score in context. I enjoy learning about the past. I can file it away for later. It could come in
handy. (DISC)
● Helping people, closing wounds, removing barriers for people to be their best. (KA)
● Problems can be broken down into manageable, achievable steps to help others (KA).
● Being a source of information those around me. (IDE)
● I value being a subject matter expert in my field, allowing me to support those around me. (IDE)
 CONTINUED… PROBLEM SOLVING

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I struggle with the unknown and it is a great source of

anxiety when there is too much unknown. If the problem is presented in a way that is
ambiguous it becomes difficult for me to activate on supporting to find solutions. (BF).

REFLECTIONS: My degree pursuit has shown me that I am naturally skilled at solving

problems. Almost to the point of enablement. I have learned to help others solve their own
problems by focusing getting to the core of the issue. Instead of swooping in and being the
savior. This has honed my problem solving skills to be able to fulfill my desire and
passion to help others succeed.
 THEME 8: HUMAN CONNECTION

THEME STATEMENT: I need to feel connected to others. Being isolated for extended periods of time
inhibits my ability to be a leader. I enjoy working on my own but need to feel connected to my colleagues.

DATA SOURCES:
● Connectedness is a source of joy for me. (3Qs)
● I cannot reach my goals alone. (3Qs)
● Meeting people where they are at to relate and understand. (360)
● Connecting with others helps me to understand them and creates bonds and helps to diminish the
feeling of isolation (360)
● Being an active part of my organization's mission and values that bring out the third place for the
community and my peers. (481)
 CONTINUED… HUMAN CONNECTION

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I am an introvert. I find joy in being alone and doing

individual activities. Being part of large groups is exhausting for me. (BF)

REFLECTIONS: There is a lot for me to think about with this theme. For a number of
years, I was a leader of people. Now, I am an individual contributor, working from home
with no human connection. I have gone from one extreme to another. What I have found is
that I need human connection, it just looks different now. I am more present when I am
with people because I crave human connection that I am not getting through my work. The
collaboration that comes with connecting with others helps to build and foster
relationships which is a main component of why I have stayed with my company.
 THEME 9: SERVICE

THEME STATEMENT: Giving back to those around me. Removing barriers and obstacles
that prevent other from reaching their goals and dreams. Finding a way to give back to the
people and the organization that has given me so much.

DATA SOURCES:
● I am motivated by dedicating my work to the service of others. (CA)
● Sharing stories and experiences with my peers to help us connect and support each other. (YD)
● I go to great lengths to ensure the "happiness" of personal and work family. (DISC)
● Enjoy learning about things that can make a difference in the world. (DISC)
● I solve problems with empathy. Help others to succeed, and seek mutuality. (KA).
 CONTINUED… SERVICE
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I did not find any evidence to support this theme. I have
always wanted to help people. I was too afraid to say or do it prior to school and some
personal revelations.

REFLECTIONS: Being of service to others is how I aim to spend the rest of my professional
and personal life. It can be a small probleming solving session to giving someone a home
when they need it. I want to give back. I was given a gift a long time ago of being shown
unconditional love and acceptance at a time in my life where I did not believe I deserved
either one. I told this human, I would never be able to repay this gift. To which their response
was do it in whatever way you can. I have leaned into kindness and serving others in an
attempt to give back.
 THEME 10: EMPATHETIC
THEME STATEMENT: We never know what someone is going through. The ability to understand that
someone’s struggles while different than my own are equally as valued. To be able understand the feelings
of others.

DATA SOURCES:
● Seeking to understand others to have a better understanding of who they are and where their
background (350).
● Storytelling to bring different perspectives, roles and rituals to life to unite people together. (SA)
● Knowing that I want to help others, I have to first take the time to understand others and their personal
journey. (RA)
● Being a leader means getting to know your team and those around you. Having honest dialogue about
the past and lived experiences. (350).
 CONTINUED… EMPATHETIC
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE: I have not always been the human that leans into empathy. I
did not know what it looked like to have empathy. Once I understood what it meant, practicing
empathy became an active part of my life. (BP).

REFLECTIONS: For the first part of my career, before I understood empathy. I am still learning
but I do practice. I thought there was no place in business for empathy. I have since learned how
wrong I was and realized it is one of the most crucial aspects of the people business. If I want to
support and serve others, spending time hearing their journey is a part of support. It was like I
had two competing parts of myself. The one that I thought I needed to be and the one that was
always there and needed some love and empathy. I chose to shed the layer of what I thought
people wanted of me and leaned into caring and being mindful of others.
 PERSONAL VISION STATEMENT

“To consistently show up and help those around me reach their goals and dreams.”

REFLECTION: This was by far the hardest part of the assignment. I wrote down
buzzwords and catchphrases that had caught my attention through the years and wanted to
find a theme that stood out to me. The result was nothing felt right. I landed on the above
by thinking about what matters most to me. Asking myself what I did not have and how do
I be that for myself and those around me.
 PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
I commit to showing up everyday as a student, a coach and a teacher. I will consistently work to
learn more about myself through self reflection and inquiry so to be able to give back to others.
To helping others reach their goals. To take advantage of opportunities to learn something new.

REFLECTIONS: I started this with some apprehension. Over indexing about what others would
want to hear or read about. I had to walk away a couple of times and let some emotions wash
over me to be able to think about how to share what I think my personal mission statement
could be. When I got down to it, I want to be able to learn, to share, to teach those around me in
whatever way I can, depending on what the situation dictates. To remove obstacles and barriers
that limit others from achieving their goals and dreams. Lastly, to leave myself and those
around me a little better than when we found each other.
 CONCLUSION

This has been a deeply personal experience. Rereading old course work, thinking about
past experiences and my future. I think that every time there is an assignment that requires
reflection, I spend a lot of time thinking about the past and how the future possibilities.

I think it is important to look at the past and see how far I have come or the things I need
to work on to be the best version of myself. The continued theme has been I can achieve
hard things. I am proud of myself. That is my biggest learning and for me to say that
shows growth and that was the whole point.
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Big five personality test. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.123test.com/ personality-test/

Goff, B. (2020). Dream big: Know what you want, why you want it, and what you're going To do about it.

Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

DISC Personality Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.discprofile.com

Kuder Assessments. (2014, October 16). Career Assessment, Pathways Planning System Login |

Kuder Journey. Retrieved from https://journey.kuder.com/home/dashboard

Riasec. (2021, October 14). Welcome | University College.

https://universitycollege.asu.edu/work-learn/explore/assessments/RIASEC?tiq=t&c=356726

StrengthFinders. (2021). Gallup. https://store.gallup.com/c/en-us/assessments#catcs