1. Falling in Love All Over Again
MISSOURI PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PARTNERSHIP
Cheryl Konarski, APCO Certified Instructor

2. OBJECTIVES Remember why we fell in love with this profession
What has changed?
Perceptions of love and hate
What can be done to change them
How do we Fall in Love all over Again?

3. In The Beginning – Why We Fell In Love
Excitement – eager for each new shift!
Help everyone – Save lives
Learn new skills
Prestige – home town proud!
Make more money??
It’ll be just like it is on TV!! WOW!

4. What Happened? The thrill of plugging in – tuning up
Consequences – real people getting hurt
Fear of making a mistake and hurting someone
Help the people – Serve others
Constant alertness & our health
Working on the Starship Enterprise!!
Tied to a headset – no sunlight
Isolated from others – losing social skills

5. Feelings Start to Change
This isn’t really like on TV at ALL!
People – they aren’t grateful at ALL!
Little irritations like ants eating me alive…
Job – Do I really have to go in today
I do feel a bit green...
No to overtime..no no no…I’ll be poor but no!
If I make it be 5 til at least I made it….

6. Final Stage - Disillusionment
Focus only on negative
Work is a CHORE…
Maybe I need to find something else!
Major doubts about “YOU”
Expectations of yourself – NOT met!
Co-Workers are driving me INSANE!
People are sooooo UNGRATEFUL!

7. Coping Skills Do we have them? Stress & Disillusionment – Perceptions
We’re Just Glorified Secretaries!
Cliques – Them not me or us
Can’t trust the man!
Outside influence – Inside Coping!

8. Swing the Pendulum BACK
What can YOU do to fall back in love again?
What drew you to the job?
What used to inspire you?
What satisfies your needs?
Get back on track
New goals
Focus on good
Share what you learn!
Benefits beyond the paycheck

9. Let’s live our lives like a marathon, not a sprint to the finish
Let’s live our lives like a marathon, not a sprint to the finish. Let’s not be in such a hurry to get there. Let’s enjoy and celebrate our extraordinary success throughout our journey
~Jan Fraser

10. What Can You do? Start each day with a positive attitude
Check your own perspectives
Miserable – it reflects
Smile – it will make them wonder?
Anticipate a great day!
Get in early – take time to settle in
Eat a good healthy meal

11. CENTER of the CENTER Remember who you are!
You are the first (perhaps only) contact a citizen will make with public safety
You are the voice on the phone or radio who is there to help when everything is going south
You are the back-up who is always waiting
You are the heart beat that keeps other hearts beating
You are the thin gold line!

12. What Can You do? Dress with Pride Offer Yourself a Personal Reward
Keep your passion burning
Consistently remind yourself of goals
Maintain positive relationships
Rekindle that fire inside you!

13. If no one else cares YOU can care….

14. What Can You Do? Mentor new professionals
Figure out ways to “spice” it up!
Create Balance in your Life
Don’t let your career consume you!

15. TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY AGAIN
How many of us are living the life someone else wants us to? How many of us are doing things because someone else wants us to, not because we want to?
TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF
FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY AGAIN

16. than a big, bright display! What CAN the Results be?
Fireworks – maybe not
as bright as when you
first started but YOU
will get the satisfaction
that can last longer
than a big, bright
display!

17. Conclusion Ultimately it is up to you Do NOT let naysayers win
Take control
Take ownership
Do NOT let naysayers win
YOU are your own best cheerleader
It’s the journey not the destination

18. Conclusion
Some people choose to focus on solutions, not allowing anything to get in the way of achieving their goals.
Then there are those people who take virtually no responsibility for solving their own problems themselves. Which are you?

19. Resource Material
5 tips for falling in love with your job ~ Heather r. Huhman
How to Fall in Love with Your Job all Over Again ~ Patricia Fripp
Live and Work on Your Own Terms
So You Want to be a Dispatcher ~ Cindra Dunaway
Stress and the Dispatcher, T.P. McAtamney, Headsets911