For the final project in the capstone class I’m teaching, I required the students to put together a dossier—a collection of their resume and examples of work products or assignments from their time of study. In addition, the students had to write a philosophy statement to synthesize their learning and reflect on how they approach their work as a result of this degree.
At one of my workplaces, I was required to compile an annual report that served a similar purpose to the dossier. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise, but it caused me to pause and consider the successes and challenges of the previous year. It also provided a historical perspective I could reference to remind myself that progress was being made, even when it didn’t feel like it.
The same is true for final reports on major projects, annual reviews, and resolutions of a personal nature. If you stop to reflect and compile the happenings from an extended period, it often provides a sense of accomplishment that would otherwise go unnoticed. It’s back to that “stringing the pearls” philosophy, where intentionally connecting seemingly disparate items creates synergy greater than the individual parts.
Make it part of your routine to tangibly collect evidence of your major work or the passage of another year. Seeing it together is worth the effort of compiling it.
