Hundred Dollar Folder

June 1st, 2006

I’ve been e-mailing back and forth with Iris, who blogs at Pegasus Librarian. I mentioned the other day that I was feeling funky and she asked how I was doing (I’m much better now). She then sent me this reply, which I’ve gotten permission to repost:

“Well, here’s something for you Hundred Dollar folder (if you don’t have one, it’s a folder where you put all the notes you get that are complements, all the descriptions of times when you helped someone out and they were happy with the help, and notes with quotes of when people have complemented you… it’s an absolute MUST and great for reading through on the days when you don’t feel like you’ve made a difference). I’m a brand new librarian (one year and two weeks), and working with a really great, engaged bunch of other young librarians. This spring, when I was choosing which conferences to go to, I asked everyone for recommendations because I hadn’t a clue what would be good or interesting or useful. They all said, “Go to Computers in Libraries. I heard Steven Cohen speak there when I went, and it was the highlight of my year.” No kidding.

And if you don’t have a Hundred Dollar Folder, make one. I didn’t believe my co-worker when she suggested it (the day after I started work), but she’s right. We have selective memories and tend to remember when we failed more vividly than when we succeeded. It’s not a cure for depression, but it can’t hurt either, and there are no side effects. :)”

I’m going to start my Hundred Dollar Folder tonight, by printing out Iris’s e-mail. I think that this is a great idea for anyone that wants to be reminded about the impact that they have on others. Thanks Iris.

On a similar note, I just came across Wikibios which lets friends, colleagues, and relatives create an online bio for you:

“You don’t have to be a famous celebrity to have a life worth documenting. That’s why we created WikiBios, a place where your friends become the storytellers of your life rather than you.”

I have no time to play with this tonight, but send me a note if you create one and want me to add to your Wikibio.

Comments are closed.