In the last two activities, you reflected on how clearly your portfolio conveys your personality and how your portfolio shows the progress you have made over a period of time. After completing these activities, you may already have some ideas about new items to add to your portfolio or how you could rearrange your portfolio to more effectively show who you are.

In the future you should continue to add to your portfolio to show your progress over time. You may add whole new categories or just a new item or two in an already existing category. Make it a habit to come back once every month at the same time and write down at least one new item to include in your portfolio. Maybe you received a special award or tried a new hobby. Write it down! Then, look at your list of new ideas once every 6 months and decide if you want to include any of the new items in your portfolio. You may be very proud of the special award you received but decided the new hobby wasn’t interesting after all. So, include the award but forget about including the hobby. New things will always come along! Adding to your portfolio in this way shows that you care enough about the project to continue to update it and that you are proud of your achievements over time. Also, by regularly updating your portfolio, you won’t be scrambling to put one together in 5 years when your boss asks to see one. You will look prepared and organized!

Okay, so you understand that it is important to keep an ongoing record of potential items to add to your portfolio. Let’s start today! Write down one new idea to include in your portfolio on the list below. Now, mark your calendar to remember to come back once a month and fill in at least one new idea!