Cornerstone: Opening Doors to Career Success » (2nd Edition)

Robert M. Sherfield, PH.D.

Robert Sherfield has been teaching public speaking, theatre, and student success and working with first-year orientation programs for more than 25 years. Currently, he is a professor at the College of Southern Nevada, teaching student success, professional communication, public speaking, and drama. He is also an adjunct faculty member at The Unversity of Nevada-Las Vegas in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, where he teaches classes in professional and career development.

Robb was named Educator of the Year at the College of Southern Nevada. He twice received the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award from the University of South Carolina Union, and he has received numerous other awards and nominations for outstanding classroom instruction and advisement.

Robb's extensive work with student success programs includes experience with the design and implementation of these programs–including one program that was presented at the International Conference on the First-Year Experience in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He has conducted faculty development keynotes and workshops at more than 250 institutions of higher education across America. He has spoken in 46 states and several countries.

In addition to his coauthorship of Cornerstone: Doors to Career Success, he has authored or coauthored Solving the Professional Development Puzzle: 101 Solutions for Career and Life Planning (Prentice Hall 2009); Cornerstone: Discovering Your Potential, Learning Actively, and Living Well (Prentice Hall, 2008); Roadways to Success (Prentice Hall, 2001); the trade book 365 Things I Learned in College (Allyn & Bacon, 1996); Capstone: Succeeding Beyond College (Prentice Hall, 2001); Case Studies for the First Year: An Odyssey into Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (Prentice Hall, 2004); The Everything Self-Esteem Book (Adams Media, 2004); and Cornerstone: Building on Your Best for Career Success (Prentice Hall, 2006).

Robb's interest in student success began with his own first year in college. Low SAT scores and a low high school ranking denied him entrance into college. With the help of a success program, Robb was granted entrance into college, and he went on to earn five college degrees, including a doctorate. He has always been interested in the social, academic, and cultural development of students, and he sees this book as his way to help students enter the world o work and establishing lasting, rewarding careers.

Dr. Patricia G. Moody

Patricia G. Moody is dean emeritus of the College of Hospitality. Retail, and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina, where she served on the faculty and in administration for over 30 years. Pat was honored as Distinguished Educator of the Year at her college and as Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the National Business Education Association. She was also a top-five finalist for the Amoco Teaching Award at the University of South Carolina. She received the prestigious John Robert Gregg Award, the highest honor in her field of over 100,000 educators.

Pat has coauthored many texts and simulations, including Solving the Professional Development Puzzle: 101 Solutions for Career and Life Planning; Cornerstone: Discovering Your Potential, Learning Actively, and Living Well; 365 Things I Learned in College; Capstone: Succeeding Beyond College; Case Studies for the First Year: An Odyssey into Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; and Cornerstone: Building on Your Best for Career Success.

A nationally known motivational speaker, consultant and author, Pat has spoken in almost every state, has been invited to speak in several countries, and frequently keynotes national and regional conventions. She has presented her signature motivational keynote address, "Fly Like an Eagle," to tens of thousands of people, from Olympic athletes to corporate executives to high school students.

As the dean of her college, Dr. Moody led international trips to build relationships and establish joint research projects in hospitality. Under her direction, faculty members in her college began a landmark study of Chinese tourists.

Pat now travels the country delivering workshops, keynotes, and presentations on topics such as change, working in the new global community, student motivation, and emotional intelligence. She also serves as a personal coach for business executives.

Designed and written specifically for career college students this book is built around 10 Essential Cornerstones identified and reviewed by the foremost in career college instructors, administrators and students. The book includes features to engage the career college student in topics of interested that will impact them both personally and professionally. It begins by teaching students to discover their potential, embrace change, and thrive through goal setting. The book builds academic success with: learning styles, personality types, becoming an active learner, listenting and note taking, empowering memory, test taking, critical thinking and problem solving. It concludes by addressing all the topics a student needs to prepare for the global economy and move into the workplace. As with all books in the well-known Cornerstone franchise, you will find concrete applications, a conversational tone, and a motivational tone.

Chapter 1 THRIVE 3

Discovering Your Potential, Nurturing Change, and Thriving Through Goal Setting

Chapter 2 ENGAGE 31

Cultivating Your Personal Motivation and Academic Passion

Chapter 3 COMMUNICATE 59

Enhancing Your Interpersonal Communication Skills, Developing Your Emotional Intelligence, and Celebrating Cultures

Chapter 4 PRIORITIZE 87

Planning Your Time and Reducing Stress

Chapter 5 PROSPER 107

Protecting Your Future Through Managing Your Money and Debts Wisely

Chapter 6 READ 129

Building Your Reading and Comprehension Skills

Chapter 7 LEARN 157

Using Your Dominant Intelligence, Learning Style, and Personality Type to Become an Active Learner

Chapter 8 RECORD 179

Cultivating Your Listening Skills and Developing a Note-Taking System That Works for You

Chapter 9 UNDERSTAND 205

Empowering Your Memory, Creating Your Study Plan, and Taking Tests Successfully

Chapter 10 THINK 241

Expanding Your Aptitude for Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Chapter 11 PLAN 267

Preparing for Success in the World of Work ... and Beyond