The Mastery journey requires periodic self-analysis of one’s internal Strengths and Weaknesses as well as external Opportunities and Threats. Lisa Quast suggest starting with Threats then identifying Opportunities to overcome those threats (Quast, 2013).
THREATS
Peers with more experience present the greatest threat when competing for future work. Other college professors already have graduate degrees, and other designers already have strong portfolios and resumes. Another constant threat is distraction. Non-career related side projects are fun but do nothing to further my career or education.
OPPORTUNITIES
I will complete the Full Sail University Media Design MFA program in June 2020. In the meantime, I will continue to develop my portfolio with class projects. I will also utilize the Full Sail University online library and education resources like Lynda.com and Safari books.
STRENGTHS
My years of design and media production experience have given me a wide range of technical skills, from motion graphics to web design. I’m also comfortable teaching and speaking to an audience. Most importantly, I’m learning to combine my creativity with strategic thinking.
WEAKNESSES
Working mostly from home makes it harder to get peer feedback. It also leads to distraction by side projects that take focus from my career and education goals. I’m uncomfortable with self-promotion and networking, which are necessary for growth and advancement.
References:
Quast, L. (2013, April 15). How To Conduct A Personal SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/04/15/how-to-conduct-a-personal-s-w-o-t-analysis/#3c896cb28d8b
Joshua Siegel's Mastery Journal 