The Benefits of Keeping an “I Love Me” Book

2014-12-24T12:27:32-05:00

We’ve all been told by a supervisor at one point in our career to “write down everything you do”. Early on in my career I’ll admit that I rarely listened to this advice, as I knew I would remember and thought no one actually cared. I was just doing my job, what I thought was expected of me. However, over the years I’ve learned the value of this simple request: it meant less time in the office with the boss agonizing over what I did for the last year.

Having recently retired and transitioned into the civilian world, I’m learning the value of these letters of appreciation, certificates of recognition, and achievement awards. All of these seemingly useless papers that have PCS’d with me over the years collecting dust, compiled with my official annual reviews, have become an invaluable marketing tool.

I recently contacted a consultant to look over my resume and help me “tweak” what I have been using to market myself. I attended TAPS, read books, and researched how to write an award-winning resume. What I came up with wasn’t a bad product by any means as it landed me a great contracting position earning a respectable salary. Yet, I was definitely missing the boat in a few areas. I referenced very few of my individual accomplishments from my “I Love Me Book”. My current resume is based on stats like projects completed, man hours saved, number of troops, and job descriptions.

Employers want to know that you, as a prospective employee, have a history of sustained productivity and excellence, that you are involved in your community and are always looking for ways to improve yourself through education or training. By now, most employers understand the general qualities that military veterans bring to the workforce; they want to understand what YOU bring to their organization - why are you different? The letters of appreciation highlighting your volunteer efforts or the knowledge that you completed upgrade training with a 95% or better differentiate you as a prospect. These are the characteristics that set you apart from the masses.

So don’t ignore that supervisor when he/she suggests that you keep a journal or book all about YOU. I agree that all of those things didn’t seem like they were “above & beyond”. I was truly just doing my job and what I thought I was supposed to do, but surprisingly these qualities are not normal. These are the things that make you different from the rest of the applicants. Because that book of random entries along with letters of appreciation, certificates of recognition, and achievement awards will one day make your resume awesome! How do you keep track of your personal successes?

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Dec 24 at 2014 2:03 PM

2014-12-24T14:03:10-05:00

Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD - I never had a supervisor tell me this but I wish I had. This is a great idea and I strongly encourage young troops and veterans to do this. This tool will be the number best thing when it comes to writing a resume.

I have heard and seen way too many "I love me walls". Then again I must admit if I had a PhD like you I would be shoving that around all the time. But at least I admit I would be doing that. Oh yes I would be a jerk about insisting everyone call me Dr. Wagner... I think anyone with a PhD has worked hard enough and deserves it.

Response by PFC Glen King made Dec 24 at 2014 3:55 PM

2014-12-24T15:55:49-05:00

We keep one in selling cars. You have to sell yourself before anything else.

Response by Sgt Jason West made Dec 24 at 2014 4:27 PM

2014-12-24T16:27:52-05:00

I am not sure how many actually did it, but I always told my Marines to keep such a book. I didn't call it an I Love Me book, just simply said get a three ring binder and some document protectors and keep EVERY certification, award, diploma, everything in there. It may not help you a bit now, but someday it might when looking for a job. Had MSgt tell me that when I was a boot LCpl and I have had one ever since.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Dec 24 at 2014 6:05 PM

2014-12-24T18:05:55-05:00

I require my Soldiers to keep one...S1 shops notroiously will lose your stuff or iPERMS won't have your stuff uploaded. I am missing two awards because of it. Soon as I get a new Soldier, I start his 'I love me book', so all he/she has to do is keep it updated.

Response by SPC Donald Moore made Dec 24 at 2014 7:28 PM

2014-12-24T19:28:15-05:00

This is a good idea, but keep the originals in a very safe place. My ex-wife took all my paperwork when she moved out and now I don't have any records, not even my car title.

Trust no one.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 24 at 2014 7:39 PM

2014-12-24T19:39:24-05:00

I have an I love me book and it has every award, citation, eval, school certificate from when i enlisted till i retired. It was helpful when writing evals to look back and get ideas and helped put my career in refrence once i got out and i saw how i progressed from a stupid E1 to a polished off E5.

Response by SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee made Dec 24 at 2014 8:32 PM

2014-12-24T20:32:17-05:00

I have kept a "shadow copy" of my 201 file with every set of orders, enlistment/reenlistment contracts, awards, NCOERs, and sworn statements. This has helped my earn scholarships and deal with the VA. I still have my original enlistment contract and set of orders sending me to basic training.

Response by SPC(P) Micah Lavigne made Dec 24 at 2014 11:01 PM

2014-12-24T23:01:18-05:00

I keep an I love me book and it's pretty thick (mostly ACE accredited and Mandatory certificates) But I keep Changing it over the years and branching it out. Write now I have it divided based on the sections of the New SRB (my S-1 has a problem with keeping an SRB/ERB accurate or ommiting things from it)

Here is How it looks:

Table of Contents
Certificates and Qualifications Tracker (dates acquired and expiring)
Photo copy of I.D.'s
My Bio
ERB (Reprinted Monthly)
SRB (Reprinted Monthly)
Unofficial Promotion Points Work Sheet

SECTION I OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION
-Certificates of Deployment
-TCS Orders

SECTION II CAREER FIELD DATA
- ASVAB Scores
- PMOS Certificate and orders
- SMOS Certificate and Orders

SECTION III SECURITY DATA
-SF931
- S2 Requred Certificates
- IPros Cert

SECTION IV SERVICE DATA
-Enlistment Orders
-Re-enlistment Orders
-Promotional Orders

SECTION V PERSONAL AND FAMILY DATA
-Personal Records (Birth Marriage ect)
- Family Records (Tricare records ect)
- Home of Record and State of Legal Residence
- APFT Results

SECTION VI FOREIGN LANGUAGE DATA (DLATS)
-DLATS RESULTS

SECTION VII MILITARY EDUCATION
-Military Schools
-SSDs,
-Correspondence Transcripts and Certifications (to prove hours)
-Weapons Score Card

SECTION VIII CIVILIAN EDUCATION
-GED and transcripts
-College Transcripts
-GOarmyed.com Print Out
-Signed TA form
-Certificates

SECTION IX AWARDS
Certifications of Awards
Drivers Award Memo (with 348, 348 R-1 and 348E)
DA 638
COAs

SECTION X UNIT OF ASSIGNMENTS
-PCS ORDERS
-PINPOINT ORDERS

With this book I was able to get alot of things in my career updated and even fixed.

Later I went and made seperate books for various reasons:
Medical, Legal (POAs and the lot), "I love my Family Book" (Tricare and marriage copies Family certificates ect), Housing, Counselings" It made it easier to stay organized and most headaches with red-tape for me tend to go away with in an hour so I can get back to work.

I tell my Soldiers (and new soldier I sponsor) to build one and show how mine looks. Sometimes I take one or two of them and try to do a hip pocket training on how to build it

Response by CPT David Bernheim made Dec 25 at 2014 11:08 PM

2014-12-25T23:08:18-05:00

Maj Stephen Parsons - Well said. A thorough collection of awards, certificates of training and appreciation, coupled with OPR/OER (EPR/EER) can help one paint a picture for a potential employer. Hopefully, it can underscore attributes that transfer well to a civilian environment.
The military evaluation document does a good job of "fleshing out" praises with facts and performance data points. Any leader, especially civilians, can appreciate those details even though the hiring official might not recognize military acronyms.

I have digitized both my entire "collection" and did the same for my wife. She has returned to active service (after a nearly 20-year break in service) and used the digital files from her former service career frequently. I have used mine less frequently; however, having the files device-accessible has proven worthwhile. We have other digital folders for our civilian "I Love Me" files. Some of the highest points or the most intricate of certificates have been kept in paper form. Not sure how long that will continue as we are constantly downsizing. Digital files works for us and fits our goals.

From a digital footprint/Internet security standpoint, all files are stored on external devices. We keep them on a home external drive and duplicate files on a much smaller, portable drive for when we travel.

Response by COL Jonas Vogelhut made Dec 26 at 2014 1:42 PM

2014-12-26T13:42:08-05:00

I have always updated my “I Love Me Book,” but don’t miss out making it an E-book. As you transition in life, many documents can be lost, become faded, etc. With cheap online storage, those issues diminish, and many organizations want you to send them a scanned version anyway.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-01-18T15:05:54-05:00

I've been retired since 1996 and my book (3 ring-binder) has it's place on by book shelf and had collected years of dust as I hadn't opened, moved (or dusted) it in a very long time. I was recently contacted by a former E4 from our unit at Fort Bragg, where I had been her first sergeant.

She is now a Captain (Company Cdr) during our chat she happened to ask if I knew where she could get a copy of our Battalion orders for a Presidential Unit Citation we had been awarded during Desert Storm. I told her to hold on and give me about 5 minutes. I dug out "the book" which contained Letters of Appreciation; Certificates of Achievement; Promotion Orders; EERs-NCOERs; AAMs, ARCOMS, MSS, Good Conduct awards, etc.

After leafing thru it and near the back of the book, there it was. I had a copy of the orders she needed. So I immediately scanned it into my computer and sent it to her on FB where we had been talking. She was floored as she had been trying to find a copy for quite some time and said, "I knew if anyone had it, you would!"

You never know, when it may be needed, if not for yourself as a reference for resume preparation or for one of your former troops. I was glad to be able to help her out, not for me, but for her.

If you haven't started yet, do! Everything is maintained on file in computers, thumbdrives, and/or servers in the sky these days and an old fashioned hard copy (paper) may be to old fashioned for you. Whichever way works best for you....do it. Do not depend on a centralized DA system to do it for you; It could be hacked, destroyed, who knows! Make your own copy!

It won't hurt, but it may come in handy one day!

Response by SSG John Bacon made Jan 18 at 2015 7:54 PM

2015-01-18T19:54:58-05:00

My "I love me book" is listed chronologically going from Air Force BCT to ETS and Army BCT to Retirement. Smack dab in the center of my "I love me book" is my MSM for our last deployment to Iraq.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 18 at 2015 8:25 PM

2015-01-18T20:25:55-05:00

Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD, A caring retired sergeant first class told me early in my career, "Nobody cares about your career more than you." The result was that I kept detailed personal records, and made sure that the Army had the correct information as well.
I spent the rest of my time in the service espousing that doctrine to anyone that would listen, whether individuals or groups.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 12:32 AM

2015-01-19T00:32:15-05:00

Great subject to bring.

Response by SSG Edward Geer made Jan 19 at 2015 2:50 AM

2015-01-19T02:50:59-05:00

My father told me the day I raised my hand the very first time on 11 Jan 1975, NEVER, EVER through away any orders, Certificate of Appreciation, Letter of Commendation, etc that I would receive during my 21 year career in the US Army.

My "I love Me Book" now consists of a 4 inch 3-ring binder. I also still have a small "I Love Me Wall" display, though far smaller then when I was still on Active Duty. However, the wall now includes awards I have received while a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

I would discover, just as you did, it would help me both during and after I retired from the Army. It helped me build a great resume.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 3:48 AM

2015-01-19T03:48:26-05:00

I wish I had an NCO tell me early in my career to keep an "I love me" book. For the first two years I was in the Army, I didn't really keep anything or trusted to an NCO who then lost it. After a while I found out that making copies of things is a much safer bet.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 9:31 AM

2015-01-19T09:31:12-05:00

I for one never even heard of it until I made E5 and became a DS. I have alot of catching up to do. I now see my mentors alway's updating their books and they tell me they waited to late to begin theirs. It just seems so overwhelming of a project to do, but better to start late than never.

I believe I understand the reason for such a book. It's more of a "lifesaver" than "love" book as what I've really gathered about it.

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made Jan 19 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-01-19T11:52:23-05:00

I have my "I Love Me Book" and it has come in handy several time since I have left The Army. I have used it to answer questions in job interviews and adding depth to my resume and justification to why I listed skills on applications.

Part one
Commissioning documents
Part 2
a copy of every PCS move
Part 3
Training and School completion Certificates
In some cases school records (Grades and Courses)
Part 4
A copy of every OER
Part 5
A copy of every award
Part 6
My retirement/Discharge paperwork

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 19 at 2015 11:58 AM

2015-01-19T11:58:35-05:00

I have kept one since OBC. It has my ROTC contract, commissioning documents, promotion orders, every OER, every order, deployment paperwork, every PT card, every award, star notes, security paper work, GRE / GMAT scores, transcripts, current ORB, military license records. The piece of paper that started it was a very important set of info printed out by the personnel people. It listed my BASD and sets your retirement date. They said don't lose it so I started the book. I also had to use that when they "fixed" my BASD later on. Most recently my boss had to use my book to to do a branch inquiry on my behalf. I also had to use it for this most recent records audit.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-01-19T19:26:17-05:00

I began my "I Love Me Book" immediately after I completed AIT. I have both originals and copies of every certificate, PCS order, Deployment order, medical document, Letter of Recommendation, etc. Everything that has gone into The Book has been scanned to a PDF as well. I have double redundancy by E-Mailing myself copies of orders and other critical document, so if I have internet access, I can pull up those documents.

I highly recommend every Soldier putting together a similar book, and backing it up digitally. If you are a supervisor, get your Soldiers started on a good habit if they haven't done so themselves already.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 2:55 PM

2015-01-23T14:55:38-05:00

Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD, sir, this message is right on point!
I was never told to do anything like this when I was junior enlisted in the Army or Navy, but once I got to grad school, my first professor told us to keep a portfolio of everything we did in our career field.
A lot of us did not listen (myself included, because I didn't feel like I was doing anything worthwhile still as a student, lol) and wished we had when we found out it was a component of our grade during our internship (last class before comps).

Now that I'm actually working in my field, I keep an electronic copy of everything I'm doing.
Great advice!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-01-24T10:44:36-05:00

Sir,
I too didn't listen in the beginning. I still had everything but there was no organization to it. When I finally sat down and put it together I was surprised at all the things I had done over a 3 yr period.

It has been organized and sometimes taken a life of it's own.

Also, there are sometimes in my career that no one has a copy of this or that and it is NOT in my OMPF. I have it in my "I Love Me" book.

Keep one copy of just about anything. Not your LES or leave forms (Keep those for a little bit but not in "The Book") Keep any orders, certificate, awards, ect.... In your book.

It will make a world of difference in the long run.

Response by SGT Robert Riley made Nov 1 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-11-01T18:56:05-05:00

I had all my "I love me books and cups" but lost them because I couldn't keep up on storage payments. They are being auctioned off.