Seeing the Light

A few weeks ago we decided to have a "no electricity" night! It is amazing how dependent we become and how we take for granted brilliant inventions. We were also taking the kids out of their "comfort zone" which I recommend everyone should do occasionally.  I couldn’t even tell them the name of the person who invented electricity!!!  Yet we are so dependent on it, which begged me to think – why do we strive for innovation? … it certainly isn’t for the fame!  This simple idea of having a night of candles and torches made me re-evaluate my career and refocus my direction – my aim is to improve the way we live by being influential.  It is amazing how clearly things appear in the darkness in order to lead us to the light!!!

My Diary

My Diary is essential for organising work and family.  I record phone calls, names and numbers, meeting arrangements, school appointments  - I would be lost without it.  I-phones and Blakberries are excellent, but the trusy good old diary is flawless (apart from the big dint on the front of mine)!

Awards

My daughter got an award at school today!  She has been waiting all year to get an award!  The confidence gained from a little encouragement was amazing.  She was beaming with pride.  If only our industry offered more feedback through awards, or if more people said “Great Report” “Fantastic Work on your Project” “You’re a real asset to the Company”.  I am sure a large percentage of us haven’t even heard those words, or if we had, it was a long time ago.  Let’s make a change and consciously make the effort to infect our industry with some praise.  If someone has done a great job, please tell them and watch them beam!

The Red Bag Rule

To separate work and family, I had a rule when I started working from home – no home phone number and no home address, so no strangers at the front door.  But this leads to a bit of a problem when people want to meet you and you don’t know them and they don’t know you.  My office for meetings is Coffee Club and my line is “I’ll be the women with the red handbag” (very James Bond 007 isn’t it)!  At first I asked men to describe themselves so I would recognize them, but after the first two said “I am tall, dark and handsome” and they were not – I decided the Red Bag Rule was the only way to go!