Flashback Friday: Scholar Satisfaction with Strategy

I’ve advanced from my committee to full faculty defense!

 As I prepare for my first round of presentation(s), I connect the actual theories of my dissertation study with reaching this ultimate finish line of achieving my doctoral degree …

What Worked for Me?

Exemplary Leadership Practices

• Model the Way and Inspire a Shared Vision ~ self-fulfilling prophecy: behaving consistently with the goal that I’ve set forth
• Challenge the Process ~ minimizing distractions ~ I’ve kept my iPhone on “Airplane Mode” (which has helped so I could dodge notifications from text messages, news and sports while checking email and other information from my computers)
• Enable Others to Act and Encourage the ♥Heart♥ ~ keeping around the support system that I endearingly call Team Dr. D, including my Double A-Team, who spread positive vibes through prayer and motivation

Flashback Friday: Acting out a skit for our doctoral program‘s first Halloween luncheon! This was a nice mid-term break from our heavy course load to have fun!

Speaking of PRACTICE, practicing indeed makes perfect in many ways:

• from doing Tae Bo to lose the “Freshman 15” (8-min. workout 8x/day)
• to running through my presentation on my own and with my chair

Athlete Satisfaction

• Satisfaction with  Strategy, Ability Utilization plus Training and Instruction ~ taking the tactics necessary to sticking with the program: my professors emphasized our strengths plus accommodated to our audio, visual and kinesthetic learning styles
• Satisfaction with Team Integration and Personal Dedication ~ I was blessed to part of a study group who collaborated well and helped out each other, plus when I felt overwhelmed with test anxiety (so I should empathize with my students who experience speech anxiety), I’d work out {Exhibits A and B} to boost and induce my confidence

* Example: When we took our written first-year luminary comprehensive examinations, I saw my fellow physically active classmate stretching, so I also moved my muscles to bring blood flow to my brain, and during our breaks, I’d step outside the academic building for fresh air and relaxing at the gazebo to clear my head

Flashback Friday: Apparently, I didn’t have shame  in my game by decking myself out in this *DCC* costume! #PostMarathonPhysique

Plus, I’ve considered mistakes that I’ve made that potentially could have set me back from reaching my goal

What Did NOT Work for Me?

• I lost sight of my “prize” when I focused on external forces, such as a social life or romance ~ which probably would’ve been effective if I had a supportive partner

Feline Friday: Sweet Annie the Stats Cat loves her reflection so much that she surrendered to her staring contest and snoozed #SnapCat #CatNap

Reflecting on my growth through this process has made me stronger as a productive person in society, but most of all: one who gives my gifts to GOD!

Manic Monday: March Madness Motivation Edition ~ Coach K Wins 5th NCAA Today!

“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” ~ Vince Lombardi 🏈

That was a quote from a clue that appeared on today’s episode of Double Jeopardy! 📺

M is for …

March Madness * Motivational * Men’s Basketball * Magnificent Coach = Mike Krzyzewski

Coach K aims high: one and done, son! ☝️

The commentators for tonight’s close [insert here: 💅nail-biting😁, white-knuckling👊, edge-of-your-seat💺, screaming-when-you’ve-already-lost your-voice😱] NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball🏀 Championship described Coach K as magnificent.

A is for: Ability to Adapt and Adjust

These analysts also attributed this to Coach K.

Coach K now can count his NCAA championship titles on one full hand 👋

Now, more than ever, I’m confident that I chose the right topic for my doctoral🎓 dissertation📜 research because this amazing man was the one who affirmed it more in the first place and has served as a driving force behind my continued studies!

Coach K won five by five! 🙌

Aside from Coach K’s coaching leadership on the court and in the locker room for both college and pro ball that I’ve observed and studied*, I’ve admired him for the following reasons in which I can relate:

• He served our country🇺🇸, through the United States Army (I appreciate all of our veterans)
• He also is a devout🙏 Catholic💒

What a way for this senior to wrap up his college ball career! 👊

I must update my dissertation introduction, in which I mentioned that Coach K has led his Duke Blue Devils to four NCAA titles🏆 –> I now can revise it to FIVE!!! 

Also, my 😸Double A-Teammates😻 deserve credit as my good luck🍀 charms toward this championship because during most of the game when the Wisconsin Badgers led, I was working on school💻, and when I tuned in more during crunch and clutch time⏰, they joined me to cheer📢 on the young Devs that included majority freshmen in the starting line-up! 

YES, my Snow Angels go for the Blue Devils!

Lastly, I wish to point out that the very first paper that I wrote for my doctoral coursework compared the coaching styles of Coach K and his West Point coach, Bobby Knight ~ I’m proud that I aced🃏 it back then and proud of this team this whole season and tonight! 🌠

For the love of the team and the love of the game! 💝

*For more reasons why Coach K has the winning leadership recipe that champions both high performance and satisfaction, please read his books📚 and these studies📑 that I cited about him and Coach Knight, a.k.a. The General:

My Concept Map Bibliography (LEAD 9310, Oct. 21, 2008)

• Carpenter, M. (2001). Quotable general: Words of wisdom, motivation, & success by and about BOBBY KNIGHT, basketball’s unrivaled teacher. Nashville, TN: Towlehouse.
• Coach K.com. (2008). Coach K – The official web site of Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Retrieved October 20, 2008, from http://www.coachk.com
• Feinstein, J. (1989). A season on the brink: A year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers. New York: Simon and Schuster.
• Klein, P. (2006). Management styles: Bob Knight vs. Coach K. Organizations and Markets.
• Krzyzewski, M. (2000). Leading with the heart. New York: Warner Books.
• Maresco, P. (2007). Leadership and recruitment: What leaders can learn from Coach Robert Montgomery Knight: A conceptual view. Academic Leadership, 5(1).
• Mellen, J. (1988). Bob Knight: His own man: The man behind the myth – on and off the court, 1^st ed. New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc.
• Plonsky, C. (2008). The softer side of Bobby Knight. Chronicle of Higher Education, 54(24).
• Silverthorne, P. (2006). HBS cases: On managing with Bobby Knight and “Coach K.” HBS Working Knowledge.
• Sulek, R. P. (1990). Hoosier honor: Bob Knight and academic success at Indiana University. New York: Praeger.

Nothing but net! 🏀

Study Saturday: Time to Collect

It is official: my study has been approved!

Needless to say, when I was notified that I can commence my research, I was overjoyed and grateful to GOD. During every free moment, I have worked on my dissertation, from my concept proposal to my proposal defense to my research proposal ~ it surely has paid off!

Here is more information about my study:

I am surveying Texas student-athletes on their perceptions of how their college coaches’ leadership influences their academic and athletic performance, as well as their athlete satisfaction. Based on my own studies of leadership, this element is essential:

***VISION***

When I asked my former boss at the first college where I taught what she needed to complete her Ph.D., she pointed out to me:

***PERSEVERANCE***

When I asked my former office next door neighbor at that same school what got her through her terminal degree, she told out me:

***ENDURANCE***

… which also helped her with her first 5K race, which we randomly ran together!

{Top three inspirational photos and quotes from Dyess AFB Base Gym, where I’ve been exercising lately}

It’s Been Blessed!

The CHRISTmas Countdown is here, as the New Year draws near, so it’s time to CHEER!

I’m delighted to report that my dissertation committee blessed my Concept Proposal! We had our first conference call altogether yesterday for this information session about my study. Now all I can do from here is move forward, and as graduates of my program have said: ONWARD…

My research is about the influence of college coaches‘ leadership on their student-athletes’ satisfaction, athletic and academic performance. Some of my inspirations include winning basketball coaches Coach K, Pat Summitt, and Phil Jackson. Here’s to Team: Dr. D in Mission: Ph.D.

Here are my freshest fine 9 Dispo Hoop Scoops:

The MFFL’s Rants (since I was stuck at home during the Snow Days, I was able to crank out these babies)

• Mavs Fly to Victory over Pelicans
• Dirk Is Dallas’ Secret Special Sauce
• Dallas Needs Wright & Harris Back
• Mavs Can Blaze Past Trail Blazers
• Monta Ball Made Magic at Moda Center
• Mark Cuban Holds Grudge Against J-Kidd
• Mavs Can Sack Sac
• Mavs Off Game in Sac
• Mavs Must Beat Warriors in Battle

*Friendly Reminder: Please vote for the NBA All-Stars*

11:11 ~ make a wish!!! 

†R.I.P., Nelson Mandela†