The greatest inspiration is often born of desperation. Comer Cotrell
It finally happened, the boss from hell resigned today (former boss anyway) It's only now that a fellow colleague and I are no longer there, that they realise that it was in fact us that did all of the work and not the 'boss' who was a professional at subterfuge and manipulation.
Strangely enough, I owe her the hugest debt. Were it not for her and her misguided ways then I would not have been made redundant and would not be in my new job which I am loving. Is it petty of me to now feel some measure of satisfaction that they're struggling without us there. Probably not, and lets face it, she caused me 10 months of absolutely torture, to the extent that I was glad to finally leave.
Now that I have got that out of my system, my new job has at last picked up speed and I am firmly finding my feet. I am learning new things on a daily basis, I have plenty of things to now keep me busy and once again I feel like I am making a worthwhile contribution and am earning the money they pay me. I'm back to enjoying what I do and like going to work.
Oldest MM seems to have also got his act together and has finally got himself a housemate to share the financial burden, another weight off my mind. Middle MM is still causing a small amount of unrest - how do you deal with a 15 year old who simply does not want to be at school. His social life is the be all and end all, to the detriment of everything important, including school and his family.
Youngest MM is a dream as always; he cooks, cleans, does exceptionally well at school, does his homework and has a healthy social life without it being all-consuming. He's 13 and I'm waiting for the terrible 14's to hit (this is the age that both older MM's suddenly turned into monsters)
So at this very moment I'm experiencing a small measure of bliss, work is good, children are as good as can be expected and hubby, well he's probably in the same category as the kids. He has his moments, but with me finishing work later, I think he is coming to the realisation of just how much I actually do around the house and is pulling his weight a bit more.
They've got the Ben Cousins drug special on TV, probably should make my MM's sit down and watch just what drugs can do to a person and how it can mess up lives. Kids these days seem to think they're invincible, no different to when I was a teenager, it just seems that things these days are more full on. Things that are bigger and scarier then when I was a kid.
Feeling my age at the moment and realising a better appreciation of what I put my own parents through.
Cheers for now, Fi
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Spring bliss
Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer. Marcia Wieder
I love Spring, yes and while it's not literally Spring in Adelaide yet (it's still 9 days off) it still feels like it's on its way. Today the sun is shining and there is a hint of Spring in the air. After days and weeks of wintery weather with strong winds and rain, I look forward to the coming sunny days and spring breezes.
Sounds kind of corny I know, but there is something about Spring that energises me, and makes me feel positive and happy. Admittedly a new stress free job and tangible challenges ahead are probably contributing factors to my positive thoughts and a feeling of lightness.
I've been trawling the internet again and reading lots of outstanding blogs and sadly some very ordinary and badly written blogs. I appreciate the concept of freedom of speech and a persons' right to write about whatever they want but some people just don't 'get it' and those are the blogs that are a blatant marketing venture and badly done at that. The blogs I return to on a regular basis are the ones that are entertaining to read or where I can identify with the writer's thoughts and comments.
Life is meant to be a learning experience and I am constantly searching for knowledge and ways to enjoy a better work/life balance - I have always repeated the idiom that we work to live, we certainly don't live to work. Reality is that many of us get stuck in a rut and are unsure or fearful of how to dig our way out of this rut. I've seen evidence of this at my old job, of those people who have been made redundant and have been forcibly kicked out of their rut, I now see happier more fulfiiled individuals who say that redundancy was the best thing that ever happened to them.
It is tragic that a life changing event such as redundancy, which is traumatic not only for the individual but also for their family, is what causes us to stretch our wings and try new and different things. I've been exploring the concepts of the 'Laws of Attraction' and positive thinking (something that has always interested me) and I will talk about it more in coming blogs.
My advice to everyone, don't wait for a life changing event to get out of your rut, try something new or different and begin living your life again right now.
Cheers
I love Spring, yes and while it's not literally Spring in Adelaide yet (it's still 9 days off) it still feels like it's on its way. Today the sun is shining and there is a hint of Spring in the air. After days and weeks of wintery weather with strong winds and rain, I look forward to the coming sunny days and spring breezes.
Sounds kind of corny I know, but there is something about Spring that energises me, and makes me feel positive and happy. Admittedly a new stress free job and tangible challenges ahead are probably contributing factors to my positive thoughts and a feeling of lightness.
I've been trawling the internet again and reading lots of outstanding blogs and sadly some very ordinary and badly written blogs. I appreciate the concept of freedom of speech and a persons' right to write about whatever they want but some people just don't 'get it' and those are the blogs that are a blatant marketing venture and badly done at that. The blogs I return to on a regular basis are the ones that are entertaining to read or where I can identify with the writer's thoughts and comments.
Life is meant to be a learning experience and I am constantly searching for knowledge and ways to enjoy a better work/life balance - I have always repeated the idiom that we work to live, we certainly don't live to work. Reality is that many of us get stuck in a rut and are unsure or fearful of how to dig our way out of this rut. I've seen evidence of this at my old job, of those people who have been made redundant and have been forcibly kicked out of their rut, I now see happier more fulfiiled individuals who say that redundancy was the best thing that ever happened to them.
It is tragic that a life changing event such as redundancy, which is traumatic not only for the individual but also for their family, is what causes us to stretch our wings and try new and different things. I've been exploring the concepts of the 'Laws of Attraction' and positive thinking (something that has always interested me) and I will talk about it more in coming blogs.
My advice to everyone, don't wait for a life changing event to get out of your rut, try something new or different and begin living your life again right now.
Cheers
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Instant Wealth
Your destiny is forged in the fires of your determination - Christopher Howard
I have just started reading Chris Howard's 'Instant Wealth - Wake up Rich'. It's turning out to be a very easy to read book, with a wealth of information. Very much based on similar books by Napolean Hill and Steve Covey. I love reading these sorts of books. Lets be honest I love reading anything that is well written, be it fiction or non-fiction.
What is a Doppelganger, they are talking about it on 'How I met your Mother', not my most favourite show. Here you go, straight from Wikipedia, a doppelganger is - In fiction folklore, and popular culture, a doppelgänger is a tangible double of a living person that typically represents evil. In the vernacular, the word doppelgänger has come to refer (as in German) to any double or look-alike of a person. You learn something new every day.
I attended my first project meeting today, one of six divisional groups that have been formed for the project. I can see myself sitting in a lot of these meetings over the months to come. I'm sure they will definitely improve as I start to understand more of what the project involves. At the moment so much of what they're talking about is double dutch to me, completely like they're talking a different language. I'm learning IT-speak at a rapid rate though.
Our company currently has in excess of 130 business sites - much larger than I thought. I am currently in the process of putting together a 'mud map' so to speak of where they all are situated across Australia and New Zealand. The logistics of putting together training plans for this many sites is rather daunting.
Cheers for now
I have just started reading Chris Howard's 'Instant Wealth - Wake up Rich'. It's turning out to be a very easy to read book, with a wealth of information. Very much based on similar books by Napolean Hill and Steve Covey. I love reading these sorts of books. Lets be honest I love reading anything that is well written, be it fiction or non-fiction.
What is a Doppelganger, they are talking about it on 'How I met your Mother', not my most favourite show. Here you go, straight from Wikipedia, a doppelganger is - In fiction folklore, and popular culture, a doppelgänger is a tangible double of a living person that typically represents evil. In the vernacular, the word doppelgänger has come to refer (as in German) to any double or look-alike of a person. You learn something new every day.
I attended my first project meeting today, one of six divisional groups that have been formed for the project. I can see myself sitting in a lot of these meetings over the months to come. I'm sure they will definitely improve as I start to understand more of what the project involves. At the moment so much of what they're talking about is double dutch to me, completely like they're talking a different language. I'm learning IT-speak at a rapid rate though.
Our company currently has in excess of 130 business sites - much larger than I thought. I am currently in the process of putting together a 'mud map' so to speak of where they all are situated across Australia and New Zealand. The logistics of putting together training plans for this many sites is rather daunting.
Cheers for now
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Challenges
Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement - Brian Tracy
I'm running late tonight, should be going to bed and getting as much beauty sleep as I possibly can. I needed to write first though, it's essential to keeping my brain cells alive at the moment.
My new job has just as many challenges as my old one - only the challenges are polar opposites. The old job was 100 miles an hour, juggling everyone and everything and never having enough hours in the day to do everything that needed to be done. The new job, I'm creating things to do, just to keep my self busy, it seems almost criminal that I am getting paid to do what I am doing at the moment.
Realistically my boss has been interstate for the first two days that I have been in the office. I had completed everything on the list of things he wanted done before lunchtime today. This afternoon I sat there and completed my project proposal for my Business Management course. Yes its still work related and perfectly acceptable to be doing it at work, but I was fighting feelings of guilt whilst doing it.
I've been told that project work starts of slow in the early stages but the hours and workload pick up speed quickly, so I guess I should be relishing the stress free atmosphere at the moment. Its hard and is doing my head in with not constantly being on the go. I guess I've forgotten how to relax and kick back and enjoy life.
Loving the name for my former boss, the girls have started calling her Lara Bingle, as in 'where the bloody hell are you' ad that was on TV years ago advertising Australia in the UK. She hasn't been at work for over 2 weeks now, sick again. I believe she has had almost 100 sick days in less than the year since she started. I know people get genuinely sick, but her behaviour is totally ridiculous, unprofessional and certainly not an acceptable level of commitment from a senior level HR Manager.
Makes me appreciate the blissful life that I am now leading and I am greatful to be out of the place. Miss the people though, that's the hardest part
Cheers for now,
I'm running late tonight, should be going to bed and getting as much beauty sleep as I possibly can. I needed to write first though, it's essential to keeping my brain cells alive at the moment.
My new job has just as many challenges as my old one - only the challenges are polar opposites. The old job was 100 miles an hour, juggling everyone and everything and never having enough hours in the day to do everything that needed to be done. The new job, I'm creating things to do, just to keep my self busy, it seems almost criminal that I am getting paid to do what I am doing at the moment.
Realistically my boss has been interstate for the first two days that I have been in the office. I had completed everything on the list of things he wanted done before lunchtime today. This afternoon I sat there and completed my project proposal for my Business Management course. Yes its still work related and perfectly acceptable to be doing it at work, but I was fighting feelings of guilt whilst doing it.
I've been told that project work starts of slow in the early stages but the hours and workload pick up speed quickly, so I guess I should be relishing the stress free atmosphere at the moment. Its hard and is doing my head in with not constantly being on the go. I guess I've forgotten how to relax and kick back and enjoy life.
Loving the name for my former boss, the girls have started calling her Lara Bingle, as in 'where the bloody hell are you' ad that was on TV years ago advertising Australia in the UK. She hasn't been at work for over 2 weeks now, sick again. I believe she has had almost 100 sick days in less than the year since she started. I know people get genuinely sick, but her behaviour is totally ridiculous, unprofessional and certainly not an acceptable level of commitment from a senior level HR Manager.
Makes me appreciate the blissful life that I am now leading and I am greatful to be out of the place. Miss the people though, that's the hardest part
Cheers for now,
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Rest Time
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.Henry David Thoreau
This has been my most blissful week in probably 12 months. Three days of training at work and then two days of annual leave (Managers of the project I am going to be working on were at a conference this week)
Went up to Mannum (hour and a half drive away and right on the banks of the Murray River) Hubby, the boys and I, for three days with two other couples and their kids. A friend was celebrating her 30th birthday - boy does that make me feel really old and also very glad that my children are now old enough that they're basically self sufficient. You really forget what it is like to have babies and toddlers around. It was fun though because both of my boys are absolutely awesome with little kids, for all of their tough talk and macho ways, babies and little kids bring out the real them.
I did absolutely nothing, rested, relaxed and read my book. It's hard work not doing anything. I'm so used to going a hundred miles an hour at work and then weekends are a blur of activity and trying to fit everything in.
I thought about taking my computer and getting in some quality writing time, but decided that I was simply going to kick back and relax. It was difficult because I was in such a mellow mood, I was really in the mood to write.
The weather was a bit miserable. but what can you expect in the middle of winter. It was cold but only rained a bit yesterday morning - the weather was very conducive to sitting around a fire bucket and chatting with friends. Then snuggling up in a nice warm and cosy cabin at night. Ahh, it's a hard life but someone has to do it.
First actual day of my new job tomorrow, I'll be in the office - no more training, so I am a little apprehensive but looking forward to the challenges that are coming.
Wish me luck
This has been my most blissful week in probably 12 months. Three days of training at work and then two days of annual leave (Managers of the project I am going to be working on were at a conference this week)
Went up to Mannum (hour and a half drive away and right on the banks of the Murray River) Hubby, the boys and I, for three days with two other couples and their kids. A friend was celebrating her 30th birthday - boy does that make me feel really old and also very glad that my children are now old enough that they're basically self sufficient. You really forget what it is like to have babies and toddlers around. It was fun though because both of my boys are absolutely awesome with little kids, for all of their tough talk and macho ways, babies and little kids bring out the real them.
I did absolutely nothing, rested, relaxed and read my book. It's hard work not doing anything. I'm so used to going a hundred miles an hour at work and then weekends are a blur of activity and trying to fit everything in.
I thought about taking my computer and getting in some quality writing time, but decided that I was simply going to kick back and relax. It was difficult because I was in such a mellow mood, I was really in the mood to write.
The weather was a bit miserable. but what can you expect in the middle of winter. It was cold but only rained a bit yesterday morning - the weather was very conducive to sitting around a fire bucket and chatting with friends. Then snuggling up in a nice warm and cosy cabin at night. Ahh, it's a hard life but someone has to do it.
First actual day of my new job tomorrow, I'll be in the office - no more training, so I am a little apprehensive but looking forward to the challenges that are coming.
Wish me luck
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Good or Bad?
If you don't have a plan, you won't have a life - African saying
I read a post on Lori's blog http://loriwidmer.blogspot.com/ and it basically reiterated everything that I feel about blogging. Way to go Lori - it's the first blog I've ever felt inspired to comment on (and I have read alot of them). I have done a huge amount of trawling through blogs especially over the last month, to get a feel for what worked for me and what I didn't like and consequently what I wanted to avoid on my blog.
I know blogs are quite personal in their nature and people can write whatever they like - but if you want people to gain value from what you write then as Lori commented you've got to be honest and open. Make it easy to read. I don't want you to lie to me, I also don't want every second word to be a link to another website - I'm there to read you.
Don't promise me that you're going to write regularly and then not write for six months and then that entry is an apology for not writing. If you're not going to write regularly, thats fine, but don't continually say you will and then apologise for not doing it.
It must be the voyeur in me but I love reading about how people deal with day-to-day life, be it writing, working, families, self-improvement. I really don't want to read about people whining about their dismal lives and everyone / thing being against them. Mind you, I will be interested if life has handed you some challenges and you're sharing ways you've found to get through the tough times.
My pet hates in other blogs, which will turn me away every time - massive amounts of advertising, so much so that there are only a few paragraphs to read. Plus a blog which requires me to sign up or link to another website before I get any information. Blech - simply not interested!
Do you agree?
Cheers
I read a post on Lori's blog http://loriwidmer.blogspot.com/ and it basically reiterated everything that I feel about blogging. Way to go Lori - it's the first blog I've ever felt inspired to comment on (and I have read alot of them). I have done a huge amount of trawling through blogs especially over the last month, to get a feel for what worked for me and what I didn't like and consequently what I wanted to avoid on my blog.
I know blogs are quite personal in their nature and people can write whatever they like - but if you want people to gain value from what you write then as Lori commented you've got to be honest and open. Make it easy to read. I don't want you to lie to me, I also don't want every second word to be a link to another website - I'm there to read you.
Don't promise me that you're going to write regularly and then not write for six months and then that entry is an apology for not writing. If you're not going to write regularly, thats fine, but don't continually say you will and then apologise for not doing it.
It must be the voyeur in me but I love reading about how people deal with day-to-day life, be it writing, working, families, self-improvement. I really don't want to read about people whining about their dismal lives and everyone / thing being against them. Mind you, I will be interested if life has handed you some challenges and you're sharing ways you've found to get through the tough times.
My pet hates in other blogs, which will turn me away every time - massive amounts of advertising, so much so that there are only a few paragraphs to read. Plus a blog which requires me to sign up or link to another website before I get any information. Blech - simply not interested!
Do you agree?
Cheers
Monday, August 9, 2010
Comfort Zone
Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life - Confucious
Day 1 at the new job and I won't forget it in a hurry. Half way through the day and some poor kid lost control of her car and hit the end of the building that we were having training in, slid along the guardrail, took out two fences and then got airborne and ended up into the construction site behind the main building.
She walked away with barely a mark on her, the car is totally stuffed but she's alright. There was definitely someone watching over this kid, because she missed the main electrical box for the company and a stobie pole by only feet. For those non South Australians, a stobie pole is a massively ugly concrete incased power pole that only South Australians are lucky enough to have in their state.
I found it very disconcerting today being in a building where I didn't know who was in charge of things or where things were. Especially in the case of an accident, where we were the first people in contact with this person. I calmed her down, sat her in a chair and got all of her details - after sending someone for help.
I'm used to working in HR and knowing the site and the people who take care of things. I didn't even know the pincode for the gates or what time they lock the gates at the end of the day. Because I'm in training, I won't do my official induction until next week.
Training was interesting - the concepts of Project Management are quite daunting when you consider the size of the project that I am going to be working on. It's all a massive learning curve and is quite unsettling when you step out of your comfort zone.
Cheers for now
Day 1 at the new job and I won't forget it in a hurry. Half way through the day and some poor kid lost control of her car and hit the end of the building that we were having training in, slid along the guardrail, took out two fences and then got airborne and ended up into the construction site behind the main building.
She walked away with barely a mark on her, the car is totally stuffed but she's alright. There was definitely someone watching over this kid, because she missed the main electrical box for the company and a stobie pole by only feet. For those non South Australians, a stobie pole is a massively ugly concrete incased power pole that only South Australians are lucky enough to have in their state.
I found it very disconcerting today being in a building where I didn't know who was in charge of things or where things were. Especially in the case of an accident, where we were the first people in contact with this person. I calmed her down, sat her in a chair and got all of her details - after sending someone for help.
I'm used to working in HR and knowing the site and the people who take care of things. I didn't even know the pincode for the gates or what time they lock the gates at the end of the day. Because I'm in training, I won't do my official induction until next week.
Training was interesting - the concepts of Project Management are quite daunting when you consider the size of the project that I am going to be working on. It's all a massive learning curve and is quite unsettling when you step out of your comfort zone.
Cheers for now
Sunday, August 8, 2010
What they see
An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. - Orlando A. Battista
It is amazing how much our children see or understand, without us realising. My 13 year old MM was discussing my upcoming new job (I start tomorrow) and made the comment that I seem happier and not as agitated. I only finished up my job on Friday and already he can distinguish the difference in my behaviour. My lesson here - never believe that our children don't see and understand what we are doing and feeling.
I am still finding it hard to let go of work though, even though it is no longer my concern or my responsibility. I find my mind drifting to things I want to check or follow up on and then I remember that I don't need to. How do CEO's and high level Managers walk away from companies that they've been running for years, where work is a part of their everyday thought processes and routine.
It is amazing how much our children see or understand, without us realising. My 13 year old MM was discussing my upcoming new job (I start tomorrow) and made the comment that I seem happier and not as agitated. I only finished up my job on Friday and already he can distinguish the difference in my behaviour. My lesson here - never believe that our children don't see and understand what we are doing and feeling.
I am still finding it hard to let go of work though, even though it is no longer my concern or my responsibility. I find my mind drifting to things I want to check or follow up on and then I remember that I don't need to. How do CEO's and high level Managers walk away from companies that they've been running for years, where work is a part of their everyday thought processes and routine.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Great Escape
"Nothing in life just happens. You have to have the stamina to meet the obstacles and overcome them. " ~ Golda Meir
Last day of work yesterday and two conflicting emotions - elation that I have finally escaped and sadness that I am leaving behind nine years of memories and good friends. I feel as though a great weight has lifted off my shoulders.
I am nervous about the new job, change is never easy, but I think sometimes we need to be pushed into making the change. I haven't been happy there for a long time but I guess sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't, so it's hard to take that step.
I feel a bit aimless, as I'm really not sure what I am going to be doing in the new job. The project is all in the very early stages and a lot of organising needs to be done. I guess that's my strength though, organising people and communicating the changes. It's just hard when you've followed a routine for four years and you know what is expected and what needs to be done and then going into something brand new.
Wish me luck
Last day of work yesterday and two conflicting emotions - elation that I have finally escaped and sadness that I am leaving behind nine years of memories and good friends. I feel as though a great weight has lifted off my shoulders.
I am nervous about the new job, change is never easy, but I think sometimes we need to be pushed into making the change. I haven't been happy there for a long time but I guess sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't, so it's hard to take that step.
I feel a bit aimless, as I'm really not sure what I am going to be doing in the new job. The project is all in the very early stages and a lot of organising needs to be done. I guess that's my strength though, organising people and communicating the changes. It's just hard when you've followed a routine for four years and you know what is expected and what needs to be done and then going into something brand new.
Wish me luck
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