Honouring my mother

Today it has been 10 years since my mother died.  I am honouring her today by learning something new, as well as random acts of kindness, connecting with family and making donations in her name and reading a good book.  One donation will be for school for a girl in Africa.

Learning and reading were both almost sacred to my mother. My first memories are of her reading. There were books everywhere in our house and she always had several on the go.  First person in her family to finish high school, she went on the secretarial school but always yearned to go to college or university. 

After having been diagnosed with MS in her late 30s, she decided to make the most of her time here on earth and went back to school.  She earned a Social Work diploma and loved working in that field.

She always encouraged me to try new things, to not be afraid of failure as it was always a learning experience.  So I am going to try embedding some music that I played 10 years ago at her memorial.

Always my inspiration, thanks Mom for everything.

Sweet Honey In The Rock - Breaths Found at abmp3 search engine

Breathe, by Sweet Honey in the Rock, a group she admired.

Enjoy,
Keltie Creed

True Networking

Real Networking, to me, is information sharing, paying it forward and using your skills and knowledge to benefit others (and consequently often yourself). It is not cold calling, broadcasting or self marketing.  It it a long term investment - in your career but also your self esteem.
Recently I have been exploring LinkedIn, and am delighted to learn that it is an extremely effective tool for online networking.  People are sharing their knowledge, learning together, helping each other out.  At first I thought I would like the Questions and Answers section most, but in fact, it has been the groups that I am getting the most out of.  My favourite is the Career Counsellor Technology Forum.  Really helpful people, with lots of expertise.
The only drawback so far has been that I am spending more time online these days!

"The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity."

~Keith Ferrazzi

In co-operation
Keltie Creed

Recruiting Courage

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."

This ad in the Times of London has been widely attributed to Ernest Shackleton, but no one has found an original copy. However, we do know that that Shackleton received 5000 applications (including 3 women) in response to a letter he wrote to The Times on December 29, 1913 when looking for crew for the Endurance voyage.  His reputation as an Antartic explorer was already established and there was no shortage of people who wanted to join him. His ship was aptly named, probably taken from his family motto, "By endurance we conquer."

His interview style was instinctive.  He beleived that character and temperament were just as important as technical knowledge, and asked an applicant for the position of ship physician if he could sing. If you get a chance, read his biography, or one of the management and leadership texts that outline the expeditions.
 
"Optimism is true moral courage."

~Ernest Shackleton

Into the Cold

My nephew Michael's decision to work in the extreme north has me thinking about weather and hardship.   He is still enroute, having experienced travel delays already, but has made it as far as Iqaluit.  It is dark and 40 below, and he still has two more flights before he gets to his new home. 

Although it took place at the complete opposite end of the world, Ernest Shakelton's expedition to the South Pole is a classic lesson in leadership.  He went into unknown areas, in extreme and heartbreaking conditions and was unable to reach his initial goals. However, he adapted, he revised his plans, he knew the strengths and weakness of his staff and made appropriate assignments.  He knew the importance of morale and teamwork.  Everyone survived incredible hardship and isolation, including more than a year of being stranded on ice.  He was such a remarkable leader that some even signed on for another expedition later.

“Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all.”

~Ernest Shackleton quote

Waves of Change.

I started a sample google sites page to see how easy it might be for my clients who are looking for a way to increase their web presence or to have an e-portfolio. 

I chose a template with the image of a wave, as think it represents both change and the challenge of unemployment.

Our lives move along smoothly like the ocean gravitates to the shore, when suddenly changes in elevation, reefs or rocks interrupt the momentum. Waves swell, brake and break. Some people get caught in the undertow, some tumble for a while but then skim along the barrel, and some catch the wave and ride it in.


Unemployment is the same. If you can adapt and follow the flow, it can be exciting. If you try to stay where you are, it can crush you.

The internet is growing and changing so fast, it can’t be plotted and charted as if it was something stable. Within the water analogy, it is the rapids – boiling with energy, changing direction, swirling, constantly moving and creating energy.

Today, you need to be not only computer literate, but comfortable with the online interactive world and able to navigate those rapids. I will point out some tools and approaches that can help you stay afloat.

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."


~ Alvin Toffler (Author of The Third Wave)

Go North Young Man

One of my nephews had a huge decision recently. Follow his heart and take a challenging job with lots of opportunity to learn but in an isolated, brutally cold location, or accept an entry level position in the city where he owns a home and has begun to establish roots? His choice would also affect his wife and 2 year old son.  His mother was quite distressed by the thought of not seeing them for an extended period of time, and by the potential hardships of remote life.

The position, Canada's most northernly social worker, had been vacant to for two years.  Even though he is a new graduate, he felt that he would be contributing more, and learning more, so off they go.  A huge factor in the decision was the fact that he had access to technology for support from his supervisor in another remote northern community and would be able to consult with her. 

He will be living in Resolute, with an average year round temperature of minus 16!!  It will take 3 days of travel to get there, all by air.  I will be following his blog with interest.

"Talents are common, everyone has them - but rare is the courage to follow our talents where they lead."

~ Anon

Co-operation

My community recently participated in an online competition for consideration for funding from a corporate donor.  At first we were encouraging people to only vote for our own project, but we were a small community and were not generating sufficient numbers.  There were some other small communities on the other side of the country who were in the same boat.  We began to support each other, potentially giving the competition a boost over ourselves, but recognizing their effort and need. We left messages of encouragement for each other, we voted for each other.  We encouraged and voted for an individual project that was discouraged by their lack of followers.

Not only did the three small communities succeed, we all won in that we found a larger community and had the chance to give back while we were making a request.

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. "
~Albert Schweitzer

Employment counselling is rekindling. Where else can we do this?

In co-operation,
Keltie Creed