Paul Goetzinger MPA

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I am a firm believer in David Epstein's analysis that each individual should have a range of skills and abilities, in order to succeed in life. During my career I have attained many degrees and certifications in a range of areas. Everything from social sciences, public administration, law enforcement, paralegal studies, security services, education, coaching and technical writing. I firmly believe that all of us can continue to learn, throughout our lifetime, and when one door closes, on one occupation, we should have the range and ability to move efficiently into another career. So taking courses, getting job related certifications, doing internships and volunteer work, and other professional development activities made an enormous difference in my career.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Be patient. As they say, Rome was not built in one day, and neither are careers. It took me years of working lower level positions, before I moved into higher level administration. Don't look at what other people are accomplishing, focus on your job and what you need to do in order to be successful. Always look for better opportunities, and apply for them when they come along.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

I think it was my Psychology 101 professor, who told me that anyone can be successful in college academics, and then helped outline the strategies to help me succeed. He laid out a few requirements, which I also later used in my career. 1. Find a good environment where no one will disturb or interrupt you. For me, it was the top floor of the library or a side office. 2. Learning is a lot like an actor rehearsing for a scene in a movie. What you see on the screen is the product of countless hours of practice. The actor cannot remember his lines by reading them once, they need to read them several times before it finally becomes part of their knowledge base. Studying for exams or even staff meetings is the same way. 3. Ernst van Aaken came up with the physiological and psychological model for learning. He emphasized that the human body and brain can only process information for about 20 minutes, before it becomes fatigued. This is why you can sit and read a book for two hours and only remember what you read in the first chapter. Van Aaken came up with a term called the "pause that refreshes." Every 20 minutes of hard study, take a short break and recharge your cognitive batteries. This will enable you to process information in a more efficient and effective way, and enable you to get through each day without excessive exhaustion.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

I always wanted to do something in the area of public service, so I always knew this was the area that I wanted to go into. Sometimes life can provide many opportunities in this area, because I have worked in many different sectors, from law enforcement, to the court system, and then into teaching and college education.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Oh Yes! There are always going to be those kinds of people around. Those who question what you are doing, question your motivations, and have your future planned out for you. But, let me just say this....If you are happy with the direction that you are going, and are happy with your life...who are they to question anything you are doing?

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

I think one of the biggest challenges I faced was prejudicial thinking in the workplace. Sometimes in life we encounter individuals who have an image in their minds about what a specific employee should be like, and are unable to accept anything else. I recall that John Wooden once said that you should never pay attention to what other people are doing, but you should never cease to improving yourself. I embraced a strong life philosophy around the Pyramid of Success, and kept improving my occupational skills and education. I looked for opportunities, and when they came along I took them. You can't change things in your life that are unchangeable, but there are things about yourself that you can change. Those were the elements I learned to focus on, and it made an enormous difference.