KCSpeaks

  This week, I have been thinking about my purpose. Why am I here? Not the big picture, but why in life do I work in workforce development, why bother doing this kind of work when there are more frustrations than achievements. When you start to really ask yourself this question, you see that the day to day is full of giving of yourself, helping people that need assistance in some way, or supporting those that do. Sounds rewarding, but it also leads to burnout. Why wouldn’t you be burnt out? All day long, people come to visit you because they are out of work, down on their luck, in need of resources, or because they have to. I want to tell you why I am here. Why do I get up every morning, when I could be working in some industry with big bonus, lavish perks, easier hours and, and less challenges that are out of your control. The truth is that I figured out early in my career that the best way to solve the problems of society, to really help people solve all the big issues tha...

We live in a world where your success is judged by dollars in your account, high ranking and influencing positions that are held, and the toys you have. This is true for everyone from professional athletes to the business world.   When you stop keeping up with the Jones’ for two minutes and start to really think about success and achievement it puts it in a different perspective. Those of us who work in workforce development world are torn between success measured in contractual benchmarks and the success that  doesn't  fit the numbers. Would you consider the following people successful? §   Youth that graduated from high school and recently obtained his first part time job at a clothing store in the mall making minimum wage. §   Single mother of three children under the age of five years old obtained a job that allowed her to leave TANF assistance, but still allows her to receive SNAP food assistance and Medicaid insurance. §   Dislocate...