I am writing this blog on a flight to the countryside to rest and recharge. I have always been a big fan of airplanes. Growing up in rural Arkansas, I would see airplanes fly past the clouds every now and then. I was thinking about the people inside them and their journeys. Where was he going? How long could he last?
As I look out the window, I think about how I got here and the opportunity to travel. In some ways, this flight reminds me of my Elite and Master NCS journey. I joined the program wanting to grow, although I had no idea where that growth would lead.
When people ask me about the program, the conversation usually starts with one question: Did your level increase? The short answer is yes. I increased my dose. But the long-distance explanation is much more interesting.
This program gave me insights and opportunities I never imagined. I learned how to manage family situations and gradually gained confidence in dealing with clients. After I graduated, I was offered roles and families that I might not have met otherwise.
But if I had to identify two valuable things that I have found, they would be about groups and freedom.
The industry can be tough. Having friends who really understand the job makes a big difference. So there is freedom. Maybe that’s why writing this on a plane feels right. For me, freedom is not just walking or taking off. It means having more choices about how I work, the people I work with, what I can say yes to, and where I want my life and career to go. I feel better saying yes to something that resonates with me, instead of feeling like I have no other choice.
I have also learned the importance of saying no. Kara from my team often reminds me to know my numbers. I think of him every time I think yes or no. His advice has helped me understand that the most important yes is the one you give yourself.
Based on these thoughts, I would like to present a few insights that I have found in all my experiences.
You are a program.
My husband and I were on the bus discussing his decision to quit smoking. Suddenly, a man sitting nearby leaned towards us and said, “You are the program.”
The rest of what he said was scattered and difficult to understand, but those four words stayed with me. Sometimes words stick in a good way.
Tonya and Chevelle are great teachers. Your team will help you. These lessons are hard for you. However, in the end, you decide how much time, energy, and effort you will invest in your career and your future.
When people ask if they can apply for the program, I usually answer with my question: “Are you ready to do the work?”
The program changes every year. In my group, doing the work meant carefully planning the monthly assignments, participating in group discussions, and completing the Master’s year-long assignment that included a research paper and a presentation.
My advice is simple: go. Just remember that you will get out of the program exactly what you entered. If you put in a little effort, you’ll get a little more out of it. If you give it your all, you will see unexpected rewards.
Be prepared for a change in mindset.
Your dreams are possible. The program forced me to think differently about what I could achieve in my career. For example, I hesitated to apply for other jobs. However, after completing the Elite and Master’s Courses with the NICU Doula Academy (side note: I met Mary at the NCS Enrichment Conference), I started applying for those roles. As a result, opportunities that previously seemed impossible began to appear. I gained wisdom and became confident in what I bring to the family and intentional about the opportunities I accept.
Changing your mindset doesn’t make everything easier. It means you start looking at possibilities differently. Instead of thinking, “Why did they choose me?” you start asking, “Why not me?”
Sometimes the biggest change is just allowing yourself to think more.
Never stop learning, and love learning. Little lives depend on it.
Fun fact: I almost dropped out of high school because I missed a lot of classes, but I did well in college. Learning is different if you really care about what you are learning.
What we know makes life. Families trust us with their children during difficult times. This is why learning is not possible when you receive a certificate or complete a program.
There is always more to learn. New research can challenge your old beliefs, and there’s always another opinion worth hearing.
If you are wondering if this program is right for you because your learning style is not traditional, don’t rule yourself out. People get to this job through different routes. What matters is that you are willing to learn.
Our team became a team dedicated to seeing everyone succeed. Jessica organized an online meeting so we could stay on track and work through the challenges together. There may or may not have been some feelings of frustration. I can’t say because the Newborn Care Solutions NDA covers this. 🙂
Get out of your echo chamber and register for The NCS Enrichment Conference
One of the greatest gifts is perspective. You will meet people who see childcare, families, business, education, and life differently than you do. That’s a good thing.
It’s hard to grow up if everyone around you thinks the way you do. Listen intelligently and ask questions. Be willing to rethink what you thought you knew. You don’t have to accept every point of view, but it helps to make an honest effort to understand.
My NCS team started at the conference. I met an amazing group of people that I am now happy to call my friends. Your network grows at meetings, but that only happens if you’re in the room.
Assess research bias.
Research is not good just because it is published. One of the best skills you can develop is asking good questions about your experiences. Who did the research? Who was included, and who was left out? How was this research funded? What is the thought behind it? Does the evidence really support this fact? We must also examine ourselves. It is easy to choose facts that confirm what we already believe. When families and babies rely on our guidance, saying, “I read it somewhere,” is not enough. We have to dig deep.
Think positive goals.
Working in one’s home is personal. New parents are tired. Newborn patients are people. Communication can be imperfect, and domestic situations can be difficult. Sometimes something that arrives the wrong way was not intended that way. I have learned the importance of first and foremost. Before you think about what someone meant, think about good intentions and leave room for further explanations. Assuming that good intentions do not involve ignoring boundaries or allowing bad behavior. Choose dialogue instead of conflict whenever possible.
Listen first. Speak again.
Expertise does not mean being the first person to speak. I got this from Elise. He listens for a while, then answers thoughtfully. Families will tell you what they need if you really listen. Your team will teach you if you give people the opportunity to share. Sometimes the most useful part of a conversation is not the short answer but the follow-up question.
GOOD.
Don’t miss it! Seriously. Once you get the dates, ask for a break. A retreat gives you a unique opportunity to leave your everyday life and be taken care of. Zoom classes and calls help you learn, but one-on-one is different. You can relax, laugh together, and get to know the people behind the scenes. Kara, Joy, Jessica, Elise, and Amanda. Thank you for showing yourself as real.
Another important development in a program like this happens outside of the formal curriculum. Find a place.
Procrastination is not a gift.
For years, I relied on the urgency of the deadline. I told myself that I did my job hard under pressure. Over the past three years, I have learned that this was not true. What I called “working well under pressure” was rushing to get scattered ideas before it was too late. There is a big difference between finishing something and doing it hard.
Give yourself time to think, revise, and even change your thoughts. Your work must exceed your maximum exposure three hours before the deadline.
Your Master’s title is important.
Choose something that you really love. You will spend the whole year with this topic. You will research it, question it, write it, rethink it, maybe tire of it, and eventually you will show it.
Curiosity will get you much further than choosing a topic just because it sounds interesting. Select the question you want answered.
It’s not about you.
People who have been in the garden for a long time know what works “best” for them. Someone may have worked with hundreds of babies, seen patterns of development, and quickly become happy to tell parents the “right” way to do things. Sometimes we are so quick to give answers that we forget that we are working with parents to support and empower them in their parenting journey. Maybe a new parent during the interview mentions that they want to do _____ but when the baby is born they want to try _____. This is great! It means they feel secure in their role as parents, and you helped build that confidence. BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! This is why communication is so important to the success of NCS’ relationship with parents.
Talk to a few people who have completed the program.
Please don’t base your decision on my experience. Talk to graduates from different backgrounds. Connect with people whose parents are similar to yours and whose experiences are very different. Ask them what challenged them, what surprised them, what they wished they had known before it started, and what changed them afterwards. No one student can tell you what will happen because, in the end, your success depends on you.
I love talking to people who are interested in the Elite and Master NCS programs, and I’m always happy to share my story with them. You can email Julie at Newborn Care Solutions if you would like to contact me or hear from other graduates. Many alumni are generous in sharing their experiences and advice.
I’m almost at my destination, so I have to finish this. When I sit on this plane and think about what the Elite and Master NCS programs have given me, I come back to two things: knowing no and having the freedom to say yes quickly. I started the program wanting to be a better NCS. Over time, I also became more passionate about the career and life I want to build. A plane can take you somewhere, but you have to decide where you’re going. The same is true for this program. Tonya and Chevelle can teach you. Your team can help you. This program can provide you with information, tools, opportunities, and community. But only you can decide where you want to go and what you want to do to get there. So, wherever your path leads, say no, choose your destination, and remember: the most important yes is the one you give yourself.