This weekend Usain Bolt sure fire winner of the 100 metres at the IAAF World Atheletics Championship lost. No one beat him. He beat himself by false starting.
His immediate reaction was fury and self digust. TV cameras around the world, broadcast pictures of him tearing off his vest and berating himself for making such a stupid mistake.
Then as I flicked through the pages of my Sunday Times Style magazine, I came across an article written by former super model Paulina Poriskova, who was bemoaning how pathetic her spiralling, apparently miserable life had become as a once famous person.
Both Bolt and Poriskova have spent years as life's winners, so I was stuck by their apparent inability to cope with failure, in front of the 'world' by Bolt and the loss of influence and recognition of preceived beauty by Poriskova.
Which leads me to the question can you only really deal with failure if you've tasted it?
We all have friends who always seem to have things going on with them. By that I mean some crisis or chaos, but have you noticed how those people are some of the strongest people you know.
This year's been an interesting one so far. I've gone from relative calm to absolutely the worst state for me - limbo.
Day to day, I find myself adjusting my perceptions of me and how I handle myself. Having to do things differently to achieve results, that just a few months ago would have been really easy, but for whatever reason just aren't right now.
But it's a challenge I am enjoying and I know has to be leading to something amazing.
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Thursday 25 August 2011
A Whole Lotta Crap Going On !
Well we can definitely scratch one of the jobs I was in holding pattern for. The no came yesterday via email in three short paragraphs. What put a rye smile on my face was a throwaway line from them asking me to continue to support their company....hilarious !
Which was also what I thought when my latest 'love interest' texted me to say he couldn't be bothered to get in his car to meet me. Apparently things would be easier on him if I was 3 sizes smaller (that would take me into the anorexia zone!) and lived on his doorstep or somewhere more convenient for him.
Where do I find these guys or rather how do they find me ?
Humm....I replied
"No problem. If you can't be bothered, that's that Good luck with finding someone who fits your exacting standards!
It is funny sometimes how people apparently looking for love fail to think before they speak. Big D told me he got a brilliant message from a woman who said she wasn't keen on children (weird because he has a son), but if he wanted to meet up, that would be good.
Cheeky cow!
They say that rough stuff always somes in threes, so let's all keep our fingers crossed there is no more crap headed this way !
On the plus side, because hell there are lots of people out there with worst problems then mine, I followed up with everyone I met at the networking event, I forced myself to go to on Tuesday.
I was pleasantly surprised by our host who turned out to be a business philosopher who encourages businesses and individuals to view their strategies and work practices in different ways.
That's what I'm doing. I was up early doors working on a new pitch and looking forward to another new opportunity.
Which was also what I thought when my latest 'love interest' texted me to say he couldn't be bothered to get in his car to meet me. Apparently things would be easier on him if I was 3 sizes smaller (that would take me into the anorexia zone!) and lived on his doorstep or somewhere more convenient for him.
Where do I find these guys or rather how do they find me ?
Humm....I replied
"No problem. If you can't be bothered, that's that Good luck with finding someone who fits your exacting standards!
It is funny sometimes how people apparently looking for love fail to think before they speak. Big D told me he got a brilliant message from a woman who said she wasn't keen on children (weird because he has a son), but if he wanted to meet up, that would be good.
Cheeky cow!
They say that rough stuff always somes in threes, so let's all keep our fingers crossed there is no more crap headed this way !
On the plus side, because hell there are lots of people out there with worst problems then mine, I followed up with everyone I met at the networking event, I forced myself to go to on Tuesday.
I was pleasantly surprised by our host who turned out to be a business philosopher who encourages businesses and individuals to view their strategies and work practices in different ways.
That's what I'm doing. I was up early doors working on a new pitch and looking forward to another new opportunity.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For !
So the job hunt continues. As of today I am being held in the holding hire pattern at two companies - both of whom are making a decision in the next two to three weeks.
I have placed both roles to the back of mind deliberately, because if I think about the potential they have to transform my life right now, its too scary thinking about the impact of a yes or no from them.
I like so many other people right now, am having to think about new ways to market myself, highlight my USP so that I standout from the crowd.
It's weird because up until now my personality and work ethic have always taken me to where I've wanted to go career wise and this is the very first time in my life, when this hasn't happened.
Plan B has been interesting. Learning new skills, going to networking events and meeting new people. Ultimately the buck stops with me. Any new opportunities will come from me being brave and going against everything I know, to achieve something bigger and better than what I've had in the past.
I have placed both roles to the back of mind deliberately, because if I think about the potential they have to transform my life right now, its too scary thinking about the impact of a yes or no from them.
I like so many other people right now, am having to think about new ways to market myself, highlight my USP so that I standout from the crowd.
It's weird because up until now my personality and work ethic have always taken me to where I've wanted to go career wise and this is the very first time in my life, when this hasn't happened.
Plan B has been interesting. Learning new skills, going to networking events and meeting new people. Ultimately the buck stops with me. Any new opportunities will come from me being brave and going against everything I know, to achieve something bigger and better than what I've had in the past.
Friday 12 August 2011
Croydon Clear Up and Lessons Not Learned
The dust has settled and calm has been restored to Croydon. A combination of an increased police presence and local community groups has returned our streets to its residents.
Some of the still boarded up businesses and empty window displays tell the tale of the mob's fury. That wilful destruction we saw on our tv screens, of the decades of blood, sweat and tears that had built so many businesses and homes from the ground up.
In the past week, I have listened to numerous political commentators and MPs all focusing on the identifying the causes of these 'riots''. The truth is, we already have our answers.
30 years ago after the Brixton riots, Lord Scarman declared the reasons for the riots as being "complex political, social and economic factors".
What followed was a flood of governement funding directed at town regeneration, addressing diversity issues, policing, training schemes for young people and the expansion of a benefits system, which is now so vast and often abused, that it is widely acknowledged as being no longer fit for purpose.
Despite all of those initiatives, Scarman's words remain as true today as they did back then. While you can continue to throw money at problems and hope they go away, and then as we are about to experience it, cut that funding, there is one constant that remains throughout - society.
If society would rather indulge in the ruthless instant pursuit of material things, instead of investing in itself and its core values, then you will end up with the society you deserve - a broken one.
Where selfish people without morals, boundaries, education and ultimately employment, choose to express their unhappiness with their lives by destroying the very communities they live in.
That is what happened this week.
Some of the still boarded up businesses and empty window displays tell the tale of the mob's fury. That wilful destruction we saw on our tv screens, of the decades of blood, sweat and tears that had built so many businesses and homes from the ground up.
In the past week, I have listened to numerous political commentators and MPs all focusing on the identifying the causes of these 'riots''. The truth is, we already have our answers.
30 years ago after the Brixton riots, Lord Scarman declared the reasons for the riots as being "complex political, social and economic factors".
What followed was a flood of governement funding directed at town regeneration, addressing diversity issues, policing, training schemes for young people and the expansion of a benefits system, which is now so vast and often abused, that it is widely acknowledged as being no longer fit for purpose.
Despite all of those initiatives, Scarman's words remain as true today as they did back then. While you can continue to throw money at problems and hope they go away, and then as we are about to experience it, cut that funding, there is one constant that remains throughout - society.
If society would rather indulge in the ruthless instant pursuit of material things, instead of investing in itself and its core values, then you will end up with the society you deserve - a broken one.
Where selfish people without morals, boundaries, education and ultimately employment, choose to express their unhappiness with their lives by destroying the very communities they live in.
That is what happened this week.
Tuesday 9 August 2011
The Riots 2
There is a difference between seeing something on TV and seeing it in living technicolour right in front of you.
The two bicycle stores in Croydon were stripped bare. The music store emptied. Several bars, newsagents, a chemist and a fabric shop all with smashed windows and as of this afternoon boarded up.
Just now at the end of my street two police vans pulled up. A group of teenagers some in those despicable hoods that those thugs were wearing last night, were stopped, searched and questioned. From the stupid smiles on their faces it was obvious they were on the prowl just in case.
At the pub in the centre of the square a crowd of largered up lads watched proceedings as if waiting for something the kick off.
This is Croydon Aug 2011. Before the carnival which surely now can't take place-it's just too risky and dare I say it the Olympics. We have much work to do, to help our law abiding citizens to forget what has happened since Saturday night.
The two bicycle stores in Croydon were stripped bare. The music store emptied. Several bars, newsagents, a chemist and a fabric shop all with smashed windows and as of this afternoon boarded up.
Just now at the end of my street two police vans pulled up. A group of teenagers some in those despicable hoods that those thugs were wearing last night, were stopped, searched and questioned. From the stupid smiles on their faces it was obvious they were on the prowl just in case.
At the pub in the centre of the square a crowd of largered up lads watched proceedings as if waiting for something the kick off.
This is Croydon Aug 2011. Before the carnival which surely now can't take place-it's just too risky and dare I say it the Olympics. We have much work to do, to help our law abiding citizens to forget what has happened since Saturday night.
Monday 8 August 2011
The Riots
Today is the first time in a long time that I have been really scared. Last night I had a lot of love from my friends and family checking up on me to make sure I was ok.
Why because my little piece of homely haven BB Towers was smack in the middle of another borough in London which has been blighted by outbursts of rioting and looting not seen since the Brixton riots in the 80s.
Just 10 minutes away from where I live, one of our major landmarks, a shop that has been open for over 150 years and owned by the same family, was burnt to the ground by rioters.
What was shocking was the complete disregard those idiots who burned that particular store and others down last night, had for that family and all those other people who had worked long and hard to build their businesses up, some of which also included their family homes upstairs.
Our government has long been viewed as a soft touch.
Now instead of being politely English and turning the other cheek we need to get tough. No more 'there, there I am sorry you had a crap childhood soft soap' directed at these opportunist criminals; instead lets point water canons, dogs and the full force of the law at them.
Why because my little piece of homely haven BB Towers was smack in the middle of another borough in London which has been blighted by outbursts of rioting and looting not seen since the Brixton riots in the 80s.
Just 10 minutes away from where I live, one of our major landmarks, a shop that has been open for over 150 years and owned by the same family, was burnt to the ground by rioters.
What was shocking was the complete disregard those idiots who burned that particular store and others down last night, had for that family and all those other people who had worked long and hard to build their businesses up, some of which also included their family homes upstairs.
Our government has long been viewed as a soft touch.
Now instead of being politely English and turning the other cheek we need to get tough. No more 'there, there I am sorry you had a crap childhood soft soap' directed at these opportunist criminals; instead lets point water canons, dogs and the full force of the law at them.
Tuesday 2 August 2011
My Loreal Moment
I am beginning to feel like one of those superstar sporting heroes, who is hurtling between glory and oblivion; when they suddenly find they've become too expensive for the market they are working in.
Or maybe I am more like the budding actress who always gets down to the last two in an audition, before being told she isn't quite right for the role, despite it being a revisionist Shakespeare version of Othello.
I had another great interview with a smart,funny digital professional who definitely understood what I could do for his business, but wasn't really sure in the light of so many other applicants whether he wanted to stump up for my services.
I suppose I should have felt deflated, but I didn't, I know I'm good at what I do, its just about persuading someone to give me a break who thinks just like L'oreal I'm worth it!
Or maybe I am more like the budding actress who always gets down to the last two in an audition, before being told she isn't quite right for the role, despite it being a revisionist Shakespeare version of Othello.
I had another great interview with a smart,funny digital professional who definitely understood what I could do for his business, but wasn't really sure in the light of so many other applicants whether he wanted to stump up for my services.
I suppose I should have felt deflated, but I didn't, I know I'm good at what I do, its just about persuading someone to give me a break who thinks just like L'oreal I'm worth it!
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