Category Archives: Employment

Focusing

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On a previous post, I mentioned about being “focused”, my definition of being focused, is concentrating on a task fully until it is completed. The key trait in being focused is self-discipline, there are so many distractions in life that can get in the way of studying (going out with mates, watching TV, sleeping) and separates the failures from the successes.

The following article discuses the 5 levels of mental focuses based on a time frame :

  1. Lifetime : purpose of your life
  2. Yearly : goal for the year related to your lifetime purpose
  3. Weekly : help achieve yearly goal
  4. Daily : complete most important task of today
  5. Current : focus on the now, not multi-task, prevent distraction

I would had included Monthly (same premise as weekly) and the article discusses that to be successful you need to focus on all 5 levels.

Summary

A lot to think about, examine which of the above focuses are my strengths and weaknesses, I will report back next week.

University of London International Programmes – Management

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The University of London offers a part time way of earning a foundation degree, bachelors degree, graduate diploma or postgraduate qualification via their website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/

I have a few months till October and want to keep the momentum and learn about the basics of management.  The London School of Economics offers a Graduate diploma in Management which comprises of 4 modules for the full award over 1 year, but I am interested in the first introduction to business and management (PDF)  module.

MN1107 Introduction to business and management

Students will learn about the workings of business organisations, how they function, and how they interact with the environment. The course also considers how these business organisations are managed, including the strategies used to guide them and the decisions involved in the role of the manager.

Lack of management knowledge at interview

I applied for a job last year March 2011 at one of the big 4 auditor firms, I was successful at reaching the final 2nd interview.  The 1st interview was technical but the 2nd interview was more business/management/strategy based.  I lost out :( as lacked this knowledge and was unable to articulate my answers with my strong technical answers.  Since then, I can say “I.T is about providing business solutions”, in my current role context and I have researched about my own organisations management structure.

I have talked to colleagues on :

I do know of colleagues who have Masters degree in Management or an MBA who have been able to climb the career ladder, because they understand organisations. 

I have made a speculative application to see if I can gain some first hand experience as a trustee, and I will speak to a colleague next week who is a school governor.

Learning about MN1107 along with some first experience as a governor/trustee, would help me further my understanding on “management/strategy” issues and increase my odds of doing better at my next job interview.

Trustees

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I have requested an information pack in the view of applying as a trustee of a charity.

My main skills and contribution would be in the use of technology around a ‘charity operations’ context and as the job spec below quotes, it would be an excellent chance to gain new commercial skills and learn about “management” first-hand.

I have to start somewhere and I have been inspired by two people – an ex colleague whom I met few years ago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_Banerjee and my current mentor.

I need to be more “commercial” in my outlook, understanding of governance/strategy in an organisation which would boost my CV, perhaps pave the way for future management studies. Investigating becoming a trustee/governor matches my altrustic side perfectly whilst gaining new skills and contacts.

As a trustee, you will play a central role in the running of a charity. It can be an opportunity to gain or hone skills such as strategic thinking and decision-making, marketing and financial planning. It will be a rewarding and enriching experience that allows you to support a charity you care about with more than money.

Primary duties:

Trustees are responsible for leading the strategic direction of a charity – they ensure that funds are spent appropriately and effectively; they promote the charity and its causes; and they work with all the staff and volunteers to meet the needs of older people.

As a trustee, you would need to commit to approximately six Board meetings a year, with potential to become more involved as you grow into the role. You must be over 18.
Additional information:

We would be very interested in hearing from you if you are enthusiastic and have skills in the following areas:

  •     health or social care
  •     communication, marketing and PR (including the use of technology)
  •     commercial or trading activities
  •     fundraising
  •     campaigning
  •     finance
  •     strategic management
  •     employment law

Trustee positions are unpaid, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

A governor role is similar to the role of a trustee except its in the running of a school, provide guidance to the head-teacher and I have been told its a good place to start your first trustee position.

Other lives

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A number of colleagues at work have very productive lives out of the office, we all know about eachother and it is like an exclusive special club:

Colleague 1 – author of several fiction books and working hard with a publisher to eventually give up the day job.

Colleague 2 – runs a horror (film reviews) website.

Colleague 3 – studying part time for a Psychology PhD at Birkbeck.

Colleague 4 – studying part time for a Natural Sciences  degree at the Open University.

The reason we do it, is to chase the dream.

Update

A friend of mine who DJ;s on the side has played his tracks at a top London dance night club near Elephant & Castle (MOS) whilst his day job is carrying computers up/down stairs for a large city lawfirm !

My own dream – My studies is related to my day job which pays the bills, I would not say I am passionate about “I.T/web” stuff, it lacks an altruistic side, I am not making a difference to people’s lives.  I have about 1-2yrs of studying left and I will give it some thought of another hobby I might consider to fulfil my ‘altruistic’ side.

January blues

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After a great Christmas break at my parents (overdid it on the food and sleep) the reality of increased train fares,  back to the office and back to the studies. I have given myself a week to acclimatise back to it all.

A few people have asked me “Any resolutions for 2012?” I am just carrying on with what I have already been doing in 2011 and considering future options.

  • budgeting in these austerity times
  • studying
  • the day job
  • usual sessions at the gym

Future Options

If money and time was no object then I would go back to university full time, study and train in a field I was passionate about before I suffer from “Memory loss can begin from age 45, scientists say”.

It is very rare that someone ends up in a career they are passionate about from 21yrs old till retirement age.  We are all living and working longer, with the retirement age currently at 68yrs old for men which means I have 35yrs+ of working life left !

With a health lifestyle, I could live another 20 years after retirement and still be learning well into 90′s :/

10 years time

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Yesterday was my groups Christmas lunch (12pm sharp!) at a nearby pub, after the end of our 2 hour food slot and multiple bottles of wine, the talk of the future came up. We did not have to come back to the office and 5 hours later….

Where will you be in 10 years time ?

I suggested that my team have a reunion and we made a toast pact towards it.

  • A colleague suggested I would had become a Doctor – it did actually cross my mind (both my parents are ex NHS professionals) and none of the sibblings went down that career path. It has rubbed off on me, hence the interest in the mind/mental health and OU Studies on the side which will satisfy my mind fix.
  • Another colleague suggested I would make a good magistrate – I would have to wait 5 yrs post police to be eligible.

I am pretty flattered my colleagues/team have a high opinion of me, I expect I will probably end up with a PhD one day “academic Dr” and sit on the bench as Justice of the Peace.  Ten years is a long time and life will throw challenges at us.

 

 

 

New Year – New Journey

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I have been very busy at work (transfering new systems etc) so not in the relaxed countdown mode to Christmas holidays just yet, apologies for lack of posts on here.  Things should “hopefully” start to wind down next week :)

I have been in touch with the PA of my new mentor “F” who has arranged a first meeting end of January.  My new mentor will be taking over the work project of my previous mentor.  I have asked my current mentor to do a mentor handover meeting with “F” and will see how it goes.

End of the journey

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My mentor “General Yoda” is leaving for pastures new come the new year  !

I hope there will bel be one final last session before he leaves and a chance to say goodbye as it marks the end our mentor journey together.  It has been an amazing experience for myself and hopefully an equally rewarding one for my mentor.

What I have learnt from him is to think more about choices and do  some kind of cost benefit analysis to whatever criteria suits me.

New Mentor

I am keen to carry on the mentor journey with another colleague and it will be interesting working with someone new who has different perspectives/outlook.

 

Mentor equation

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The following article  “Get the Mentoring Equation Right” outlines that mentoring be broken down to a mathematical formula:

Mentee

  • Drive (How motivated am I) ?
  • Distance (Where am I in terms of experience vs where I want to be)?

Mentor

  • Gap (Mentor Experience): “My mentor is older and more experienced then me”
  • Relevance (Mentors expertise vs my goal) : “Identifying a clear structured path to get there”
  • Effort (bridging the gaps of experience) : “A mentor has a lot more to teach someone 10 years behind him than someone two years”

Thoughts

  • Since I work in a different team/group to my mentor his advice is general and transferable to other areas of my life in decision making.
  • Learn how to think like my mentor ?
  • Life long legacy knowing that I have been helped and a difference has been made (fingers cross) and I hope to repay the favour to mentor someone else.
  • Like an 8 year fixed sterling bond, invest in me and come 2019/2020 I should be worth more :)