Other Interests: pursuing your passion

Moving Day

Well, I'm still at G&L and have moved to the new office.

Good environment: efficient workspaces and great views.

Embedded in the new design are some work practices reforms.

More on my future soon.

Who are you at work?

Liked this Fast Company article on Taking your True Self to Work.

It's important to express your values through what you do and say at work.

It may cause confrontation but the alternative of bottling it up will cause you grief.

Communication

Part 1

I had been trying to negotiate a difficult matter over the telephone. The discussions were cordial but not progressing.

A friend suggested a personal meeting. The other person agreed.

Whilst the face to face meeting did not resolve the matter, it did provide a breakthrough that I'm sure would not have occurred otherwise.

Part 2

Went this to a breakfast workshop on presentations.

Whilst it was focussed on the 10 minute pitch it was a good refresher on the basics: refine your message and push it!

Also, be creative.

Aged Care

I have been learning about the frustrations and concerns of the elderly.

All the reports show that Australia is an aging country.

But until the need for nursing care affects someone you know you do not appreciate the extent of our aged care bureaucracy and how hard it is for care givers to provide care.

Bad Service Day

I am having one of those days... our receptionist (temporary) refused to offer refreshments to a client, the notebook computer I had requested for a meeting was not provided and the director of a new supplier did not know anything about our account.

I decided I'd go and get that book I had been reading about. I knew it was at the bookstore because I had looked it up online. So when I get there it wasn't on the shelves. I asked at the counter..it was in a pile of books being returned. And? No and. The salesman refused to look for the book and he did not make a sale.

It's official: blogs have business value

Reuters has this story that Bill Gates says that blogs together with RSS technology are good business communication tools.

What I want

Curt Rosengren has developed his Occupational Adventure Guide around his Passion Core.

Self awareness is the key to finding an occupation you are happy with. The question everyone asks is "what do YOU want to do?"

Children

One of life's pleasures (and source of anguish) must be watching your children develop. Mine have different personalities and different achievements but more and more they are growing into wonderful people. I have my wife to thank for that.

Update

I have had a busy 10 days. Had a "farewell" dinner from my firm. Then flew north to Mackay, then flew south to Sydney. In between I have been getting ready for our office move this weekend.

Ended up at Pearl Beach with interstate friends for a farewell from a Board.

Gradual Career Change

This article argues that it takes 2 to 6 years to make a career transition.(via The Occupational Adventure)