And suddenly it's up to you...

I distinctly remember the first time I had this feeling.  I was a years out of college, and into my first stint in management consulting. I was working with my team to set up relatively complex spreadsheet to analyse and track the group's financial wellness.  I had to through piles of data and do tons of analysis.... something I had limited experience with. 

The terrifying bit was discovering that, in the small team where I worked, I was the person who knew the most (or rather just had more time) about what kind of analysis we should run – terrifying because I knew I didn’t know enough, and I definitely knew less than what was expected.

In retrospect, since most of the gap in what I knew was technical I should have found a way to find SOMEONE who could help me bridge the gap.  But how to better navigate the analysis wasn’t the important bit.  The important bit, the part that sticks out is the “this can’t possibly be up to me” moment I experienced.  I felt like if it was all in my hands then something was massively broken, it was a temporary glitch in the Matrix and we’d soon get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Because what did I know?

These moments are hitting people earlier and earlier in their careers, because we’re no longer asking people to walk a path or climb a ladder.  We’re starting to recognize that whole industries (music, books, finance, technology, energy, infrastructure, philanthropy, healthcare) are either already unrecognizable or will be within 20 years, so we don’t need young people to master the old tricks of the trade, we need them to reconceive everything.

I can shout that from the rooftops but I probably won’t get you to believe that it all should be up to you, today.

But I bet I can get you to notice the next “this is up to me” moment and have you pause for a second and say, “Wait a minute.  Maybe that’s exactly the way this is supposed to be.  Maybe I’m the perfect person for the job.”

Because you are.

Why I blog..

Absolutely true! 

I was here

The last few weeks have been a bit harrowing. My efforts to start a not-for-profit have gone on pause, due to a lack of funding. My work, is unenjoyable and I seemed to be languishing in the fact that I wasn't doing anything "worthwhile" in life.

As I sat brooding over the sudden change in events, I  realised that brooding was never really going to help me. So I did what I thought was natural, I called in sick and decided to spend my day doing things I love....

I baked some amazing cakes, went and volunteered at a local charity, cleaned out my closet and donated all my old stuff to The Salvation Army and spent the rest of the day reading in the sunshine. Nothing amazingly spectacular if you think of it.

But that night, just before dinner the lady from Lentil as anything (the charity I volunteered for) called to say thank you. She said the few hours I spent at there was exactly what they needed and that my jovial nature was infectious. I was so touched, I did not know what to say...

It was then that I realised that "worthwhile" was making my community a little bit better, "worthwhile" was putting a smile on a random persons face, "worthwhile" was talking to a stranger on the bus and making a friend..

Life is made up of the small stuff.....and it is wayy to short to be spent doing things you do not enjoy...


I'd like to leave you with this amazing video of Beyonce singing at the UN, her song really touched a chord.

Change

“Change is not a bolt of lightning that arrives with a zap. It is a bridge built brick by brick, every day, with sweat and humility and slips. It is hard work, and slow work, but it can be thrilling to watch it take shape.”
- Sarah Hepola

Moving piece by Sarah Hepola on her long struggle to quit drinking

A Chilling tale...

Just came across this info-graphic and had to share. 

Here's a chilling look at the 648 journalists murdered since 1992, by the numbers and faces. Scary isn't it??

Above and Beyond

No one’s going to tell you that now’s the moment.

Olympics Vs Mars

A rather interesting and appalling graph that compares the cost of the Olympics vs the cost of landing curiosity on Mars - a tragedy of priorities perhaps??