2. My Bio
• Former Manager for Information Technology in
the Private Sector
• Project Scheduler Presidential Inauguration
• IT Project Manager
• Former software application developer
• Former business analyst
• Consultant for the Federal Government
• Life skills instructor, half-way house for females,
District of Columbia
• Adjunct Professor at UMUC
• Future goals: Work with ex-offenders in
Second Chance Initiatives to help them find
jobs, stabilize after prison, and rebuild their
lives and relationships to enjoy a second
chance at life and new focus on career.
Secondly, prepare resource clearinghouse for
families of offenders, so that they may stay
connected when their loved one is in prison.
• BA, Information Technology
• MS, Information Systems
• MS, Forensic Psychology
• PhD Candidate, Human Services
Counseling
• PSI CHI Honors Society
• NOHS Honors Society
• American Counseling Association Member
• Served as Vice President for foster care
initiative, CASA
• Mentored Youth – University of Maryland
mentoring program
• Guiding Light Mentor
• Set up a nonprofit sports organization for at
risk youth
3. Ten Steps in remaking your
career…
• Step 6: Reject –Rejection
• Step 7: Do the Work
• Step 8: Take Care of Yourself
• Step 9: Be all that You Can
Be
• Step 10: Respect Others
• Step 1: Build Your Plan
• Step 2: Set Goals and
Monitor Them
• Step 3: Network
• Step 4: Prepare, Prepare, &
Prepare
• Step 5: Invest in Yourself
4. Planning
• A) Write it down (your
goals) or type it on
something
• B) Visualize what it would
feel like to accomplish your
goals and hang on to that
dream; it will become your
reality!
• C) Make a list Place your
goals list where you can
review it everyday; stuff it in
your wallet, purse, journal,
on your smart phone, iPod,
etc.
• Step 1: Build Your Plan.
Take advantage of
second chances. Start
where you are and know
where you are headed.
Decide who and what you
want to be; know that
things often change as
opportunities present
themselves and your
goals become clearer.
5. Goal Setting
• Sometimes it will be easy,
other times it will be really
difficult. Only you will
determine how much you
are willing to work to
make your vision of
success come true. . .
• Step 2: Set Goals and
Monitor Them. Decide
what you want to do with
your life and work like
crazy to accomplish it.
There are no shortcuts in
second chances.
6. Networking
• Which people will further
your career or hinder it?
Two things will happen:
o a) you will succeed and they will
still be rooting for you in your
corner;
o b) you will fail and they will say I
told you so –you choose.
• Step 3: Network. Build
your dream team. There
are many people in your
corner to support you.
Take advantage of this
network. Evaluate your
relationships. Pick
relationships that build
you up, not tear you
down.
7. Preparation
• Bring your “A-Game.” to
interviews, class, and other
important moments of
opportunity. You are telling
people who you are by the way
that you present yourself.
• Create your Brand! Your brand
is your specialty, who you are
known for, what you do special.
Are you well spoken, are your
quick on your feet? Do you have
a special smile, really good at
art? Speak well? You decide
and promote that image that you
want others to see of
you….Dream BIG.
• Step 4: Prepare, Prepare,
& Prepare. Now is the
time to practice. Take
advantage of the resources
that you have at your
fingertips. They are there-
you just need to seek them
out. Use these resources to
ask questions, prepare for
an interview, find out more
about programs, jobs, etc.
Remember, they are here
for you.
8. Self-Investment
• Each day, be fully present no
matter what task you are
working on.
• Remain focused and think about
how your current task, effort, or
responsibilities will help you
reach your goals.
• Everything that you do not only
affects your life, but in some
way, it affects the lives of others,
whether you can see it manifest
or not.
• Your life is important, therefore
whether good or bad, it will
always has an impact on others.
Represent yourself well.
• Step 5: Invest in Yourself.
Take what is being offered
to you as a gift to yourself.
Use it as an investment of
your future. What you are
learning here, will prepare
you to take on and receive
even greater offerings that
you can use to make your
life what you want it to be.
• Why? Because every
person deserves to live their
best life, possible.
9. Building Endurance
• Dig deep
• Focus on the goal or vision
• Know that some people complain
about the storms in life, learn to
dance in the rain
• Develop “Grit”
• Step 6: Reject –the
Rejection. No matter what
level that are, currently, never let
rejection stop you from seeking
your goals. There are people in
life who do not believe in second
chances, who could care less
about what you have been
through. Don’t let that
discourage you. Your success is
right around the corner. Only
you can determine how long that
will take to get there.
10. Working Smart
• Some days it is hard to show
up and focus. Life happens
and its not always pretty, but
you must learn to see the
vision as bigger than the
circumstances and push
forward beyond temporal
problems. You define how you
will respond to these
circumstances. You decide
how you will perceive them.
You are the author of your
story; the author of your life--
represent yourself well.
• Step 7: Do the Work. To
be a success in anything,
you must invest and do
the work. People will be
there to help you, but you
must work to become the
person who you wish to
see in your mirror- strive
for your vision and goals
for your future. Yes, it is
all about you. Do the
work.
11. Well-Being
• Step 8: Take Care of
Yourself. This means
mentally, physically and
spiritually. No matter if
you have faith or not,
your spirit is your attitude,
beliefs, mental health and
well-being. Take care of
your mind, body and soul.
Your peace is your key to
life.
12. Potential
• Step 9: Be all that You
Can Be. Don’t sell
yourself short. Only you
can decide how far your
will go in life and in your
career. Only you can truly
control your future. You
deserve to have the best
out of life- construct it as
your vision and see the
vision come to past.
13. Respect Others & Yourself
• Treat yourself with respect
and dignity as well.
• You get one body, one life.
This is not a dry-run, a
rehearsal for life, this is the
real thing. Treat yourself the
way you want others to treat
you. Love yourself and you
will receive love back.
• Now go out and become
who you are!
• Step 10: Respect
Others. As your travel
this journey of life, don’t
forget to say thank you to
those who have been in
your corner helping along
the way.
14. Contact
To contact the author: bonniehartjohnson@msn.com
Avon Hart-Johnson, PhD Candidate
Human Services Counseling
