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Hodge podge
Jun. 29th, 2019 07:56 amI am a lover of words. Evocative words - sumptuous - far too rare words - myriad - and fun words - hodge podge.
ANYWAY...
Yesterday, the grandson turned 13. We have an actual, bone fide teenager in the family again! But because we're a Liverpool family and he's the youngest, he's still referred to as 'the baby'. ROFL
He's coming down later for presents - some Nike shorts and tee-shirts, and some currency for their holiday in August, from us; Liverpool home shirt from the son. I'll take him into town next weekend to pre-order FIFA 20. It's a bit of an annual ritual, now. And, apparently, is bringing the cake that he wouldn't let the daughter take to the restaurant last night. Such a little introvert.
I'm applying for a new job at work. Two PM posts have been created - what the post-holders will actually do remains a bit of a mystery but they're two grades above where I am AND at the very least it sends a message to the higher ups in my department that I can do more. My line manager is aware but without support from above, it doesn't get us very far.
Which brings me on to Thursday. For the last 5 years, the University has run an internal 'Professional Services Conference'. I attended a couple of sessions two years ago and the whole thing last year and this year. I enjoyed doing something different last year but this year... Wow! The morning keynote speaker was just brilliant. A female CEO, from a working-class background, who shared her feelings of self-doubt and how she overcame them. One of the take-aways for me was, don't just have a mentor - find a sponsor! Someone who can begin opening doors for you. Of course, what you do when you're in the room is out of their control!
Now, I've always rubbed shoulders with people at the top of the organisation but I've never thought of any of them as a 'sponsor'. A more strategic thinker would, no doubt, have taken full advantage and been running the place by now. I feel I've been pushed further and further away from 'the action' and have less influence now than 10 years ago! BUT I am part of the Programme Management Office for the Efficiency and Improvement Programme, which could lead in several directions.
And I've also made friends with the new FD. They are very bright, very energetic - and, I think, just what the organisation needs. I don't want to abuse the relationship before it's even begun - but I don't want to let it wither away, either. Oh, and the conversation we had on Thursday was that rarest of rare things - a direct answer to prayer. I don't often pray for anything specific - I might pray for X because I know they're going through a rough time but I don't suggest how the rough time might be resolved because they and God know that better than me. It's even rarer for me to pray for something specific for myself - God isn't Father Christmas, you know! But on Wednesday night I prayed for an opportunity to speak to the FD at the conference and the opportunity appeared and I spoke to them. My confidence in speaking to people and reaching out to people I feel even the vaguest spark of connection to has grown so much in the last year.
Like the CEO - I might describe myself as a late developer!
It really feels as though a lot of things are coming together for me. It would be nice if we actually reached a place this time, though, rather than seeing it drift by on the horizon!
And last but not least, the cover art for my novel is complete. Just need some lettering and we're good to go! Watch this space...
ANYWAY...
Yesterday, the grandson turned 13. We have an actual, bone fide teenager in the family again! But because we're a Liverpool family and he's the youngest, he's still referred to as 'the baby'. ROFL
He's coming down later for presents - some Nike shorts and tee-shirts, and some currency for their holiday in August, from us; Liverpool home shirt from the son. I'll take him into town next weekend to pre-order FIFA 20. It's a bit of an annual ritual, now. And, apparently, is bringing the cake that he wouldn't let the daughter take to the restaurant last night. Such a little introvert.
I'm applying for a new job at work. Two PM posts have been created - what the post-holders will actually do remains a bit of a mystery but they're two grades above where I am AND at the very least it sends a message to the higher ups in my department that I can do more. My line manager is aware but without support from above, it doesn't get us very far.
Which brings me on to Thursday. For the last 5 years, the University has run an internal 'Professional Services Conference'. I attended a couple of sessions two years ago and the whole thing last year and this year. I enjoyed doing something different last year but this year... Wow! The morning keynote speaker was just brilliant. A female CEO, from a working-class background, who shared her feelings of self-doubt and how she overcame them. One of the take-aways for me was, don't just have a mentor - find a sponsor! Someone who can begin opening doors for you. Of course, what you do when you're in the room is out of their control!
Now, I've always rubbed shoulders with people at the top of the organisation but I've never thought of any of them as a 'sponsor'. A more strategic thinker would, no doubt, have taken full advantage and been running the place by now. I feel I've been pushed further and further away from 'the action' and have less influence now than 10 years ago! BUT I am part of the Programme Management Office for the Efficiency and Improvement Programme, which could lead in several directions.
And I've also made friends with the new FD. They are very bright, very energetic - and, I think, just what the organisation needs. I don't want to abuse the relationship before it's even begun - but I don't want to let it wither away, either. Oh, and the conversation we had on Thursday was that rarest of rare things - a direct answer to prayer. I don't often pray for anything specific - I might pray for X because I know they're going through a rough time but I don't suggest how the rough time might be resolved because they and God know that better than me. It's even rarer for me to pray for something specific for myself - God isn't Father Christmas, you know! But on Wednesday night I prayed for an opportunity to speak to the FD at the conference and the opportunity appeared and I spoke to them. My confidence in speaking to people and reaching out to people I feel even the vaguest spark of connection to has grown so much in the last year.
Like the CEO - I might describe myself as a late developer!
It really feels as though a lot of things are coming together for me. It would be nice if we actually reached a place this time, though, rather than seeing it drift by on the horizon!
And last but not least, the cover art for my novel is complete. Just need some lettering and we're good to go! Watch this space...
