Every year, I like to go through all the wonderful comments you have made on SocialWork.Career and highlight the ones that I thought you would enjoy the most because of how much they contributed to the overall post and blog for the year.
Thank you so much for reading, sharing and adding so much valuable content to this site with your value-added comments! It is thanks to you that we have this rich a resource and a great community.
Below are the top 15 comments for 2015 organized by three main themes (and the posts being referenced):
- Career
- How to Network, How Every Social Worker Can Succeed in Private Practice & Thank You Letters
- Therapy/Self-Care
- Feeling, Writing & Empowering, How to Talk Effectively About Race, The Secrets of Aging Well & Transform Your Life with KonMari Decluttering
- Social Media Guidance
- How Social Media Sparks Career Growth, Online Toolkit for New Social Workers and Website Trustworthiness
For any new visitors, these comments/posts can give you a nice taste of what this site offers (aside from its monthly postings of free webinars and bi-weekly roundups of best-in-mental health). And now without further ado….
The Top 15 Comments for 2015:
Career
Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter said on How to Network in 4 Easy Steps
“What a meaty blog with specific, step-by-step guidance on how to prepare for and follow-up to networking meetings!
I also liked how you personalized it by showing how you modified the part about limiting expectations to a 20-minute conversation (based on your own results). This, to me, means, the person heeding this advice may make modest tweaks to adapt to their needs.
With that said, the solid outline of how to move ahead in these purposeful networking conversations is such a great resource for people uncomfortable with or unsure of how to approach networking.
The bottom line, networking give and take, and give some more. It’s also about respecting the parties with whom we are seeking advice/help/guidance/recommendations, etc.(By the way, you, my friend, have mastered the ‘give’ part!)
As well, I love how you shared that virtually ALL of your career positions have resulted from your savvy in connecting this way (vs. help wanted ads)…”
Ruth Katz said on How to Network in 4 Easy Steps
“I came across two quotes on networking I’d like to share with you:
‘Networking, the natural impulse to give to others without expecting an immediate return, and without giving away the store’. – Author unknown
‘Those who honour the community, and have its genuine interest at heart, will get noticed by, and connect with the right people’. – Author unknown”
Carol Tyler on How Every Social Worker Can Succeed in Private Practice
“Lynn Grodzki is dead right that we need to be clear on our own side regarding what we need for fee, to make our business work, and to convey that amount to the potential client. I’ve seen some beautiful phraseology here and there about how to explain fee as an investment, in the kindest way letting them them know that you will be working hard for them and that there is value in what they will receive. She is pointing out, to the bleeding heart types amongst us (including myself), that this is a business after all, not a charity. Nice graphics to remember her points with…”
Laurel Hitchcock said on Thank You Letters: How and Why to Write Them
“This post is a valuable resource for social work educators and students. I would highly recommend educators, especially field directors, share your tips on writing thank you letters with students who can write these notes to their field supervisors and favorite professors as part of ending their field placements.
What would you recommend – a hand written note or an email? I often thank people in both ways, and think your tips apply to either medium.”
Therapy/Self-Care
Sharon Moon said on Feeling, Writing, Empowering: Book Review and Author Interview
“Congratulations on what sounds like an amazing book Dima. I hope it finds lots of users who can discover deeper ways to empower and deepen those they are working with. I know I have found your work very powerful whenever I have used it in my retreat work, or personally.”
Art Wagner said on Race Matters: How to Talk Effectively About Race
“Interesting piece, Dorlee! I’m grateful that you explained the graphics (things like privempathy). It occurred to me in reading this that it is also a useful way of thinking about other kinds of relationships with power imbalances (such as employee/administration conflicts). That may also be a way for Whites to understand how people of color might experience Whites.”
Jennifer said on Race Matters: How to Talk Effectively About Race
“I really like this framework and plan to share it with the anti-oppression groups I work with. These conversations are difficult to navigate, even when one is not afraid to engage. This framework gives a clear path to opening and continuing the discussion (once it gets rocky) which is most helpful.”
Amy Knitzer, LCSW said on The Secrets of Aging Well
“Thanks for helping us all think about aging–the elephant in the room–in a way that’s liberating and constructive. I appreciate The Five Remembrances. It’s a good title too. The remembrances aren’t happy or sad–they are just reality.
Gentle reminders that we will age and die some day. And while we are still living, we can prepare for aging by working on our lives.
That makes good sense. There is time to fix relationships, time to forge ahead on individual endeavors and time to savor what’s left of our health and youth before we become old.
My father-in-law is still alive at 95. He maintained, throughout his 80′′s that the 80’s are the best decade of our lives. He felt happy, fulfilled, busy with painting and other art projects, and he had lived long enough to see his children and their children start on their adult lives. I will never forget his enthusiasm. He’s like a “poster boy” for Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of development.
He is defining generativity as he ages.
I think the idea of spirituality growing as we age makes good sense, and the way nature and love of nature works to keep us in the moment, and keep us ageless, timeless and in awe of goodness. Thanks for getting us all thinking on the topic, so we can prepare ourselves and our clients.”
“What a comprehensive article on aging well! Of course, I resonate with the 5 remembrances. If we can really take them to heart, it will transform the way we age and the way we meet death. I also loved the feelings behind Mary Oliver’s poem, I would love to meet death with a sense of openness and curiosity as well, fully in the moment. The three secrets to aging well are simple, excellent reminders. I just took up Tai Chi so I think I’m okay on the learning new things front. Thanks for this invaluable information and support, Dorlee.”
Victoria Brewster, MSW said on The Secrets of Aging Well
“Good information that is informative and valid for all ages; lay-person and professional alike.
As a case manager who works with seniors, I have learned much from clients re: what to appreciate, what to be thankful for, what to think about and plan for which includes; finances, lifestyle & health changes, and even relationship changes because of divorce, death, chronic health issues, relocation, issues with children and grand-children…
I have an appreciation for myself, my family, my friends, my colleagues, my life and my health that I would not have otherwise.
We will all grow older, we will all die, and to me it is the journey that matters…”
Jackie Yun said on Recreate Your Future With Marie Kondo’s Art of Tidying
“It’s fascinating how if we are stuck in one area of our lives, that tidying or decluttering in another area can loosen us up in the area in which we are stuck! We don’t always see the connections, but they are there. Your post is a perfect reminder!”
Laurel Wiig PhD said on Transform Your Life with KonMari Decluttering
“I love this approach! Staying in tune with what is really important. Emotional wellness & respecting, taking care of our environment impacts how we feel. Great post.”
Social Media Guidance
“Thanks for your kind words, Dorlee! I’ve learned so much from watching how effectively you have used blogging and Twitter. I’m not sure if I ever told you this, but you’ve been silently mentoring me in those domains.
Thanks, also, for agreeing to do your interview with our podcast, inSocialWork. I hear from more and more alumni who realize they aren’t equipped to search for jobs now, and I’ve found one of the reasons they are having problems is that they haven’t created a robust professional social media presence — more and more, employers are using social media to pre-screen people for interviews. And many people will approach people about potential jobs based on knowing them professionally through social media.”
“I commend you and Laurel on creating this valuable resource for Social Work students and those who are new to Social Work, or to technology.
Your assignments are targeted to each of the skill areas, effectively ensuring value for those who choose to do them. Bravo!”
“Thank you, Dorlee, for writing this post! I can only imagine that your motivation in writing this is that you’ve been frustrated (as have I) with seeing so many therapists being duped by unscrupulous websites owners.
Every day it seems I see far-fetched claims of universities and private coaches, too, offering “easy” ways to get degrees and fill practices.We all have fantasies of Easy Street and it can be fairly easy to trick unsuspecting therapists into taking a hike down the yellow brick road.
Your post and infographic will give any of us (and our clients, too) tools to make better-informed choices about who to trust and what to look for…”
With much gratitude,
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
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Dear Dorlee,
I’m honored to be included in your favorite reader comments post!
I so love your blog, not only for the informative and interesting content you share, but also for the hearty comment conversations you inspire.
In reading through the comments in this post, two particularly leapt out at me:
Re: networking – ‘Networking, the natural impulse to give to others without expecting an immediate return, and without giving away the store’. – Author unknown <- Love how networking is described as a 'natural impulse to give to others …'
Re: aging well – 'My father-in-law is still alive at 95. He maintained, throughout his 80s that the 80s are the best decade of our lives. He felt happy, fulfilled, busy with painting and other art projects, and he had lived long enough to see his children and their children start on their adult lives. I will never forget his enthusiasm. He’s like a 'poster boy' for Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of development." <- wow, such a story of hope!
ALL of the comments in this post are meaningful, and a couple have spurred me to go back into the original post and re-read. Moreover, I see several familiar names (e.g., Marianna and Jackie), and of course, feel in great company sharing this 'real estate' with them.
Many thanks, and here's to a NEW YEAR fertile with blogging insights and new learnings!
Warmly,
Jacqui
Dear Jacqui,
Aww, thank you so much. Your enthusiasm and loyal support for my blog means so very much to me. I will always remember how it was your kind RTs on twitter for my earlier posts that encouraged and spurred me to continue onwards with my blog.
Your comments are always SO nourishing to the post itself and blog overall – they provide much value-added career and life wisdom (as per your twitter trade name) and are inviting for exchanges with other readers. I’m ever so grateful.
I love the two quotes you highlighted – you exemplify this natural giving without expectation, I might add 🙂
To a disruptive successful new year fertile for new challenges/beginnings for my dear friend!
Warmly,
Dorlee
What a treat to be included in your favorite comments post! Thank you! I’ve just read it and realize that I’ve missed a couple of these posts and am headed back to catch them right now. Especially looking forward to Ruth Katz’ post on networking.
Thank you, Dorlee, for your thoughtfulness and your fabulous resources! You never disappoint!!