Archive for » March 18th, 2010«
Learning is a “growing” process, and as a hospital clown, caring clown or healthcare family entertainer, the learning and fun never end! There are always new things to explore and discover, skills to develop. In a previous post, I encouraged you to establish a list of personal or professional goals you would like to obtain, and possible training programs you would like to consider. This list can serve as a valuable blueprint for your character or clown development.
Here are 8 tips to help you realize your goals, by using your list:
1. Using your established list of possible training programs, line them up against your personal or professional goals in order to determine which will be the best choice. Some programs may offer more broad-based training segments to help you get a good start on a new skill or component you want to add to an existing act. If your level of proficiency is more advanced, you may benefit most from a training intensive specifically geared for your skill level
2. Realistically consider your proficiency level in the selection mix. “Proficiency” or skills are not determined by the number of training hours spent, or programs attended. Practice and actual application of what you learn in ‘real life’ figures into the equation.
3. There are always lots of training programs available, so be sure to review the possibilities that are the best “fit” for your goals and the skills you want to learn. Don’t be persuaded that you must “buy into” an ongoing series program, obtain a degree, specialty certification, or receive training only from a particular individual, in order to be considered well-trained and to reach your goals.
4. Carefully select programs and instructors, based upon your current goals. A program you may pass on this year may be the perfect component to add in next time.
5. The straight scoop is there are a lot of excellent teachers and training programs that will likely benefit you and your development — wherever you may be in that process. Having the benefit of several instructors gives you a well-rounded perspective. This provides a better understanding of many things from a variety of viewpoints, rather than from only “one school of thought” otherwise offered by a single entity or organization.
6. Remember: It’s all in the blend and the mix you choose, with focused training received from hand-selected presenters, that can serve up greater dimension in your actual performance.
7. Stay on track, with your plan in hand. Following it to reach clearly-established goals, paired with a focus to reach them, will avert burying yourself in information overload.
8. By taking actionable steps, you will more likely reach your goals, experience the success of learning new skills and greater success in moving yourself forward in your Character/Clown development.
