I wanted to write my recent book to add a new element to my classroom, and it all turned out better than I had hoped. I’m starting to see the results, and the value of hard work and optimism. I’ve always refused to believe that you can’t squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of life’s…
I’ve been camped out on my living room couch for most of the summer, writing, reading, and sleeping longer hours than normal. A needed respite, and a much-appreciated perk of having summers off. Yesterday, however, marked a return to campus to teach a 6-week-long Summer class at my usual 8 am time. Despite having to…
I love it when the faculty development courses I take during the summer not only help me to teach classes more effectively and understand more about technology, but also help me with what my friends have lovingly deemed my “side hustle” (a.k.a. writing, blogging, and working on the Happy Professor brand). It seems everyone has…
It’s been in the works for a while. I had the urge to write another book, and the urge to add a new element to my public speaking courses. Then it occurred to me that I could do both at the same time. The 3-Step Speech: How to Build a Message, Feel Confident, and Have…
There’s something about being in the mountains. As I sit here looking into the woods from my makeshift office space, the familiar smell of wood and the sight of trees, as far as the eye can see, put me into a different frame of mind. There’s a calmness about it all that makes every part…
As a student, did you ever Christmas tree a test (ie. choose answers at random so your scantron bubbles took the shape of an evergreen) and receive a decent score for not knowing much of anything? Did you ever finish a course at the end of the semester and wipe your brain clean of all…
I simply love to write. It’s been a hobby since I was a tiny child writing ‘stories’ that were nothing more than scribbles on a piece of paper. In fact, I won $500 Toys “R” Us dollars when I was in 5th grade for submitting a story about a princess that lived in a castle….
I planned a dream date for myself this past Friday night. Just me, my thoughts and dreams. That’s right. Not that kind of ‘dream date.’ This is the type of date everyone should plan at least once a week, because it’s important to take some time alone to reflect on life, work on one’s goals,…
Positive thinking is a powerful thing. It’s the best way to get where you’d like to be, in school, work, relationships, and life. Most people aren’t as familiar as they should be with the the power of positive thinking; they’re more familiar with the nagging voice in their head (that sounds a lot like them)….
During the past few days, I’ve been called and emailed by adjuncts needing advice. During those conversations, I realized I’ve learned a few more tricks to being happy, efficient, and effective as an adjunct instructor. It’s only been a year since Happy Professor was published, but here are some of the new tips that weren’t…