Posted on Dec 24, 2014
The Benefits of Keeping an “I Love Me” Book
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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?
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?
Military Career
I Love Me Book
Command Post
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 23
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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.
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.
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CMSgt James Nolan
Had a Corporal I worked for in '85 tell me to do it. I have had to buy bigger binders, but I have each and every certificate from '85 forward. I reference them, although in scanned form, fairly regularly for different things.
Aside from the professional reasons for having them, my purely personal one is that my daughter can at some point possibly say "hmm, perhaps dad was not a complete idiot"
Aside from the professional reasons for having them, my purely personal one is that my daughter can at some point possibly say "hmm, perhaps dad was not a complete idiot"
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD
James,
That's funny, I'm sure she won't think that, but I completely understand. I have three kids myself and it will be good to have around for when I forget all those things! Thanks for the post!
Steve
That's funny, I'm sure she won't think that, but I completely understand. I have three kids myself and it will be good to have around for when I forget all those things! Thanks for the post!
Steve
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SPC(P) Jay Heenan
It is also a great source of examples when you need to write an award, NCOER, etc.
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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!
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!
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1SG (Join to see)
PV2 (Join to see) I have one at work that has all the Civilain evals, SF50s, awards as well. Then there is one that has all Certified Emergency Manager training, course(s) certificates etc. I guess I could say my life is a book (3 of them)!
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CPT Craig Church, ASLA, LEED GA
Cool, I got one of those books. It's in my attic. It also has every single order I ever received. It's a thick 6 in binder collecting dust.
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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.
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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.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
The Benefits of keeping one will out weigh the awards and worth it in the long run. Its called I LOVE ME BOOK for a reason, I have two of them. It comes in handy for promotions, ERB updates and most of all UPDATING YOUR DD214 when your time comes for discharge out the Armed Service. If you think about it, no matter what profession you are in, its nice to have one even in the Civilian World.
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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
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
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SPC(P) Micah Lavigne
If there is one thing I learned while in the Service (sometimes the hard way) Is the Army looses Paperwork (S-1) So I have my hard copy and I also make a dgital copy. Plus A DA 200 never hurts (well not me anyways), when submitting copies for accuracy and packets.
I keep Copies of Packets for a minimal of two months (WLC Marriage, Education) after the issue has been resolved and a DA 200 signed by the recieptant has made many S-1 Clerks wary about loosing mine (or My Soldiers) Papers.
Being in a Line Battery makes it difficult to go and fix every issue that happens to pop up. If there was oone thing I learned from my first Squad leader it's keep everything and keep it organized. Less headache for you more heartache for them (if its lost).
Besides I have missions and tasking to complete out in the elements I dont need to be getting headaches from the S shops lol
My Soldiers are learning from my example and that makes me content.
I keep Copies of Packets for a minimal of two months (WLC Marriage, Education) after the issue has been resolved and a DA 200 signed by the recieptant has made many S-1 Clerks wary about loosing mine (or My Soldiers) Papers.
Being in a Line Battery makes it difficult to go and fix every issue that happens to pop up. If there was oone thing I learned from my first Squad leader it's keep everything and keep it organized. Less headache for you more heartache for them (if its lost).
Besides I have missions and tasking to complete out in the elements I dont need to be getting headaches from the S shops lol
My Soldiers are learning from my example and that makes me content.
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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.
I spent the rest of my time in the service espousing that doctrine to anyone that would listen, whether individuals or groups.
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CSM (Join to see)
In my unit we do a sponsor checklist. On that checklist they are introduced to the 1SG (me). If they are new to the military, I tell them that they need to start an "I love me folder", then I reach into my filing cabinet and pull out my binder and show them how I have mine arranged. Promotion orders, deployment orders, awards, certifications, schools and so on.
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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.
Trust no one.
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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.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG Bisbee, same here. There is a document here and there missing, because I didn't start out deliberately doing this, but mostly it's all there, and I am pretty sure none of the missing stuff is "really" important. And it does start with the original enlistment and the first orders.
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