So I did this thing the week before my birthday, I applied to be on the Happy Planner Squad 2020-2021. The Happy Planner Squad is their ambassador program. They select approximately 20 people to represent their brand and the term of being on this squad is for one year.
I stepped out of my comfort zone and applied for this squad. Because of the current pandemic, the application was more streamlined than in the past. I had to submit a 1 minute video describing why I would be a perfect candidate for the Happy Planner Squad. Well, I have never been comfortable tooting my own horn on my accomplishments, so it took me a whole week to do my video. When I submitted my application I was a little bit confused. On the site where I submitted my video, it stated that those selected would be emailed privately on Friday, May 25, 2020. Well, May 25th was yesterday, Memorial Day, a Monday; last Friday, was May 22nd. I wasn’t sure which day they were sending out the selection emails, but at this point , it is moot as I have not received the golden ticket email stating that I have been selected. But its ok. I mean, it would have been wonderful to be selected but I am ok with not being selected. It makes me think of my favorite Thomas Edison quote, wherein he failed to invent the light bulb 10,000 times, he stated, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Now, let me tell you a story. I work for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and last year I applied for a promotion and took the required test. Let me explain the promotion process for a government entity. You have to take a test for every single promotion you want. You apply and if you qualify, you get a test date. You take the test and you are given a grade which is used to place you on a list in grade order. Those who got 100% on the test were at the top of the list. Well I have applied and taken this test at least 4 to 5 times in the past 10 years, each time, I didn’t pass the test. So about 2 years ago, after failing this promotional test again, I decided to make more of an effort to pass the next one. I put feelers out to my friends and co-workers that I was looking for any educational opportunity to increase my knowledge and increase my possibility of passing the test. I found a co-worker and friend who was starting up a study group. This group studied for 18 months and I was at every meeting except for one because I was sick. After we were done, I studied my material as much as I could. Then came the offer for the test, I applied and was given a test date. I took it and to my surprise I passed it! I knew that without the study group, I wouldn’t have passed this test. I learned so much in that group! Now as part of the process, I am placed on a list of people who passed according to their score. The closer you are to the top, the faster you will be called for an interview. Unfortunately my score wasn’t as high as I wanted it to be, but it was high enough to be called for an interview around November or December of 2020. However, Covid-19 might push that back to next year or they might just scrap the list and do another test. But either way, I know that I passed it once, I will pass it again if I need to take it again.
So, when I realized that I wasn’t selected as a Happy Planner Squad member, I remembered the story about my promotion. See I am a glass half-full kind of gal and will always look for the positive or the silver lining. I hope that those who also were not selected for the Happy Planner Squad 2020-2021; don’t lose hope, there is always next year. I hope you plan on applying again for next year. I know I will be applying again next year, and if need be the year after that.
You can email me at tricia@justusgirlscrafting.com or contact me on one of my social media channels (top of the page, right hand corner) and if you want, we can discuss how we can work during the year and up our game to increase our possibility of being selected for the Happy Planner Squad 2021-2022.
As always remember,
Patricia has been creative since she was 8 when she built her own puppet theater (with the help of her older sister) to put on a show for her mom and younger sister. She loves fiber embellishments, embroidery, photography, planning and Happy Planner products, and crocheting. Patricia also is a genealogist and volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader, and as a webmaster for several non-profit organizations.
