DP&R Newsletter February 2024
Chels Chae
Routines for the New Year
Like most of you, I typically begin thinking about the New Year goals and plans by reviewing the year that was coming to a close – 2023. I have had some victories and defeats in my spiritual life, personal circumstances and at work. Nothing spectacular to mention but a series of small victories (full recovery from illness, healthy family, tight budget but made ends meet, garnering good performance ratings) and some challenges such as not enough time for all the things I wanted to accomplish in the family and spiritual goals, transitions in Directors and losing some contract opportunities. All in all, I am very grateful for my family and my team at work, including all who show up to work with a great attitude and positive culture.
Looking ahead, I will continue to live by the 10-90 rule: Focus on the 10% of all that I could do because that 10% is most likely the ones that only I can do – being a good husband, good father, making decisions as the head of DP&R, resourcing the growth and consistent and persistent assessment of where DP&R is and charting the path for our future. I have been blessed with an amazing set of leaders – Directors responsible for Operations, Logistics and Human Resources. My routines to put the 10-90 rule into practice will be easier since I am confident that the 90% of activities can be best performed by others in the Company.
It takes discipline, however, for me to avoid the temptation of putting other tasks onto my plate. It also requires my trust in the team to understand and achieve the goals that we have set for 2024. I am looking forward to dynamic collaboration and continue sustaining the best innovative culture as we grow together. Thank you all for everything that you’re doing for the team.
David Ngo
Embrace a Year of Transformation
New Year's Resolutions for 2024
As the calendar turns its pages to welcome a new year, it's a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past, appreciate the present, and envision the possibilities that lie ahead. New Year's resolutions are more than just promises; they are a roadmap for personal growth, self-discovery, and positive change. Dream big but break down those aspirations into manageable steps. Setting realistic and attainable goals not only propels you forward but also ensures a sense of accomplishment along the way.
Physical and mental well-being are the cornerstones of a fulfilling life. Consider incorporating resolutions that prioritize your health, such as adopting a balanced diet, incorporating regular exercise, practicing mindfulness, or getting adequate sleep. A healthier you is better equipped to tackle life's challenges. A few of the core staff signed up for a program called Street Parking it’s a daily program for those who may be too busy, don’t have access to, can’t afford, or just don’t enjoy regular gym. These workouts can be done with extremely limited equipment, in very little space and in a short time if necessary.
Teamwork and collaboration is life's true treasures often lie in the connections we build with others. Dedicate time and effort to nurture your relationships – with family, friends, and colleagues. Consider resolutions that strengthen these bonds, such as scheduling regular catch-ups, expressing gratitude, or being more present in the moment.
Life is unpredictable, and challenges are inevitable. Resolve to cultivate adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. Embrace change, learn from setbacks, and use them as stepping stones towards personal and professional growth. As we embark on this transformative journey, remember that perfection is not the goal – progress is. Celebrate the small victories, learn from setbacks, and approach your resolutions with a mindset of growth and self-compassion.
In conclusion, let the dawn of the new year be an invitation to embrace positive change and personal growth. Craft resolutions that resonate with your values, inspire continuous improvement, and lead you towards a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Here's to a year of transformation and the boundless possibilities that await!
Desiree Marts
2024 – Back to the Future
When I first watched the iconic movie series “Back to the Future” as a kid, I couldn't have imagined what life would be like in 2010, let alone in 2024. It seems some of the futuristic gadgets Marty McFly used in the movies, like the hoverboard, are now becoming a reality. However, time travel and altering the future still remain beyond our grasp...
It's important for me to reflect on the past year and assess both our successes and areas for improvement. As a family, we gathered for a special New Year's Eve lunch and took turns answering questions such as “Where have you seen God at work in your life this year?”, “What accomplishments are you proud of and want to carry into the new year?”, and “What challenges did you face this year and how did you overcome them?”. It was a touching moment hearing our children's experiences, and it provided valuable insights for us adults as we reflected on the past year.
I believe it's crucial to evaluate our past experiences to move forward with a mindset of growth and improvement. Learning and personal development are ongoing journeys, inevitably accompanied by challenges, both minor and significant, all contributing to our character and abilities. I’ve recently passed the Society for Human Resource Management’s Senior Certified Professional Exam and am excited to utilize this knowledge to improve our business operations and serve our team members with more know-how! It was a long and hard road to pass this exam, but in the end, it was so worth the effort!
One recent habit I've adopted is the practice of monthly reflection and planning for the future. This ties into the vision board I created at the beginning of the year, helping me stay focused on my priorities and avoid distractions. An excellent tool I've discovered for this purpose is the “Abide Planner”. Its intentional layout facilitates thoughtful planning for each month, week, and day, whether it's related to physical fitness, budgeting, work tasks, personal projects, or sermon notes. While I still need reminders to sit down on weekends and complete the planner's prompts, incorporating this habit has increased my efficiency in tasks that truly matter, allowing me more quality time with my family, intentional rest, and the flexibility to adapt plans as needed.
As we're well into the new year, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the past and intentionally chart your course for the year ahead. While plans may need adjustments, especially when navigating unfamiliar territory, trust that there's One guiding your steps at every turn.
Quote from Back to the Future:
Marty McFly: Hey, Doc, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
Dr. Emmett Brown: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
Joshua Tyler
2024 Resolutions?
By
Joshua Tyler
It is believed that the practice of making New Year’s Resolutions dates back to the Babylonians some 4000 years ago. Wherein at the beginning of their new year they would crown a new king or confirm their loyalty to the current king and promise to the gods to pay their debts and return anything borrowed. (Pruit, 2023) Certainly, most would agree that committing to repaying one’s debts and returning borrowed items is an admirable, and also neighborly thing to do. It’s also probably equally unsurprising that almost half of Americans continue to make New Year’s resolutions today. What may be surprising though is that only about 8% of those who make a New Year’s Resolution actually follow through on it. (Pruit, 2023) It’s probably safe to assume that the Babylonians had far greater success at achieving their resolutions when compared to the resolutions most Americans make today. The repaying of our debts and return of items borrowed won’t always be simple or easy but the action benefits another more than ourselves. Thus, failing to achieve would let someone else down at least as much as oneself. When we examine the resolutions often made today, it’s not hard to see why the success rate is so low. Most involve some sort of self-improvement i.e. losing weight, getting healthier, etc. and less so things aimed at bettering the lives of those around them.
The summation I arrive to from this is that most people don’t need a New Year’s Resolution to be a better friend and neighbor. It’s something they either already believe they are or work towards every day. Conversely, when we wait till the New Year to establish a self-improvement goal then it likely isn’t that important to us and is thus bound to fail. However, if someone is truly committed to an area of self-improvement, then the resolution begins the moment it is realized. This is not to say that we shouldn’t make New Year’s resolutions or commit to a self-improvement goal. Or even that your lazy for not wanting to lose those 10 extra pounds from the Holidays. Only that if it’s important enough to make a resolution, don’t wait for the New Year.
Maggi Devoto
Old habits die hard. Some might say truer words have never been spoken, and I might agree with them.
Our day to day lives are made up of routines. We are undoubtedly creatures of habit; set in our ways. Some good, some bad, all make up a large part of who we are and what we prioritize in our lives. The conversation concerning habits is an especially hot topic this time of the year as one calendar year rolls into the next, and everyone sets their new year’s resolutions. It’s as if something magical is going to happen to suddenly and miraculously make us want to exercise and eat salads on January 1st and every day thereafter.
For many, the list of life improvements goes on and on and on and can very quickly become so overwhelming that the desire to establish these new habits is dropped to the wayside. I have been guilty of that, so I speak from experience when I say that there is nothing magical about creating new, healthy habits on January 1st. To implement real change in our lives, we must make intentional, sometimes very hard, changes, and those changes can happen any day of the year.
It is with determination and perseverance that these new habits can be established and maintained. I find it helpful to start small, set realistic expectations, and write down incremental goals. It can also be productive to hang these goals in a spot that you see often – the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, or on your car visor – just to name a few. Lastly, and most importantly, I find it is important to give yourself grace, especially on the hard days.
The world we live in promotes instant self-gratification. It encourages us to take the path of least resistance. So, sometimes we can forget that important things are accomplished through hard work and perseverance. It is during this process of endurance that we find the fortitude to continue the journey. With that in mind, hopefully we can overcome the challenges of the hard days, celebrate the successes of the good days, and persist in working towards the betterment of ourselves so that we can grow into the people God intends us to be.
Perhaps old habits do indeed die hard, but it is with one small change at a time that a life can be exponentially improved. I will leave you with this final encouragement from Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
Kelly Byerley
A New Year’s Resolution
A New Year’s resolution is a promise to yourself or decision to do something, mostly to improve one's behavior or lifestyle in some way, during the year ahead. The top three being: improve finances, improve mental health and lose weight. We’re already one month into the new year and how many can say they’ve stuck with the promises they made to themselves? I spent years answering that question with a “not me”.
As I look back over my many years of New Year’s resolution making, one thing is the same, I always failed. Life gets busy and those goals are the first thing to go. I was setting myself up for failure instead of success! These days I find it much more attainable to outline small steps that will help me reach a long-term goal, and just focus on those steps, one at a time. For example, my goal for this year is to read the Bible in its entirety. When I say that to myself, it sounds like a daunting task, and I immediately start listing off things in my head that will get in the way of that. I don’t have time, I’m not a good reader, it’s too hard to understand, I can’t focus, etc. Instead of immediately listing off the can’ts, I start outlining my small steps. This helps my goal seem less overwhelming. Since technology is the way of the world now, I used that to my advantage and made my phone my number one tool to accomplish this goal. That way I have no excuses, my phone is always with me. I downloaded the Bible app to have the word at my fingertips, discovered an app that outlines reading the Bible in a year, set an alarm on my phone for the same time every day, made notes in my notes app and utilized my text messages to check in with friends to stay accountable. This seems way more attainable! I have established a routine with specific details to reach my goal. SUCCESS!
Focus on the small steps! Small steps are still progress!
