What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

Learning never stops COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Developing new leadership qualities being enrolled in the distance learning course for Senior NCO Academy. This is my next step on my building block of education and leadership.

I started to work for a great company after I transitioned and now I have become a senior in the federal training division. I am giving back to everyone that needs helps in civilian marketability and growth. How can I help?

Providing Active Military and Veterans IT Certification Training!

Cisco, Microsoft, VMware, Project Management PMP, EC Council, Red Hat, CompTIA

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** Cyber Security CEH, CISSP

** G.I Bill

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** Risk Management Framework (RMF) (NICE)

** Security Plan / Policy Development and Implementation

** Pearson VUE Mobile T&E Test Center

Check us out at http://partners.stormwind.com/cyberwarfare/

Contact me for more info 24/7!

Rick Gregory
Federal and Defense Program Manager
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Live & OnDemand IT Training That Works.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, Its hard to answer this question without making it seem like I am bragging or boasting about myself, I consider myself to be pretty humble LOL. But, seriously, I engage with like-minded leaders, seek opportunities to get "nuggets of knowledge" and information for my own edification and to share with my circles/mentees. I stay engaged with helping others through the organizations that I am involved with and try to teach, coach, and mentor through those channels as well.

As I approach that critical time-frame of retirement, I have been working on the "next" chapter in my life - which is politics - for the last few years. Networking, getting name recognition, establishing contacts, and showing my face around DC as much as I have the opportunity to. Education and Veterans Affairs are a big proponent of my candidacy for Congress, so I work closely with a lot of Veterans in developing them and getting them back on track or taking their current situation to the next level of their glide-path. Staying relevant, ready, and reliable is important in being a Leader and we have to take the necessary steps in our daily habits to demonstrate that quality to those we wish to lead. "Begin with the end in mind." - Stephen R. Covey

Having left the USAF many years ago, I first thought my leadership role had ended. After working several low paying jobs, and being a Security Site Supervisor, I realized I could still "take care of my people". I enrolled in school, got an AAS, then a BA and I work in the IT field, where I constantly try to keep up with new technology, and guide my co-workers to do the same. I am not "in charge" but I do have significant input when we are looking to make changes and upgrades. I am hoping to go back to school for my Master's degree soon, and get into more important roles in the IT community.

I'm out. My OPD continues though with:
-Starting a small business
-Teaching graduate courses in Project Management
-Running for elective office
-Reading your posts on RallyPoint.com

Its grooming your replacements. Taking the time to show them the big picture and how we fit in it.

There's always a course to sign up for or a book to read. Look for recommendations from those you respect. Surround yourself with people of the same mind towards learning and always have at least one mentor engaged.

1) Surround myself with good people. You eventually become who you surround yourself with.
2) Write down good and bad leadership examples that I see on a daily basis.
3) Invest in those around me, and do everything I can to ensure their success.
4) Fail.
5) Learn/bounce back from failure.
6) Read books and reflect on them.
7) Mentor and be mentored.

COMPLACENCY SUCKS! I'm always looking for bigger and better. Ways to improve meal service, improve the menu, customer service, staff moral, my techniques, new recipes (using my family as guinea pigs)- always keep learning, always growing. When I say "jump" I don't want to hear, how high? I want to hear Is this high enough? (It never is)

I try to learn and implement a new skill every year; for instance, 2015 I taught myself how to develop and maintain websites, then used that knowledge to set one up for my personal trainer in exchange for free training sessions - a win win situation!