Notes on Annual Review:

I need to take a decision, in the next short while, on where I want my
career to go. It's clear science in an academic context is not going to
do it for me in Saskatoon. I need to decide, and then get busy pursuing
that direction. That needs to become my major priority, not chewing
through data and trying to get a few papers out.

CSA "suggest" that I inform them, in a few weeks time, what my plans are
for the next year, and what career direction I am pursuing. They will
use this to assess the level of support they will provide.

CSA will be pleased to support me if I can show that I am aggressively
pursuing a career. "Business as usual", doing science for 6-8 months or
whatever, will not lead to a career, as I am finding out. I need to
aggressively search out the opportunities that exist in the area I'm
prepared to work in, and work hard at positioning myself to fit those
opportunities. I can't just read the Want Ads. I have to do my homework
on industry, understanding what each company does, where they're going,
what they need.

I have to dress up my presentations: MS Powerpoint or WP Presentation. I
have to find every way I can to sell myself as capable, experienced,
having lots to offer. I should be prepared to make a presentation on
myself to prospective companies, and that presentation should impress
them. If I can't sell the company with my presentation, they'll never
want me to present on their behalf. I need to get a business card made
up. I have to assess my strengths and be honest about them: problem-
solving experience, ability to learn, managerial, optical, computing,
teaching. I have worked with both industry and government as well as
academe, and can understand the linkages between them (or so says DJK).

Don't emphasize the negative, as I tended to do in my annual report and
presentation. Emphasize the positive; sell myself; blow my own horn.
Make as much out of NiteOwl as I can.

Develop a personal Web page - it shows I have the skills (check out
Kevin Lowey's seminar on tables, April 4).

Use NSERC funding (and support from Leroy) to hire 1-2 summer students,
buy a PC if necessary, and possibly borrow a DAT drive from Calgary for
use in routine data handling.

Use the Employee Assistance Program as I need to, to develop the self-
confidence and personal growth to see myself more objectively, to sell
myself more effectively, and to contribute significantly wherever I end
up.

Bridging funding is available for initial period of work in industry if
needed.

My own insights: 

I like science, and don't want to give it up entirely.
I like teaching, and want a job where I can contribute to others.
I have a lot of homework to do before I am ready for significant
managerial responsibility.
I still need to do some thinking about how to make my current
responsibilities dovetail with the new directions I am taking, whatever
those may be.