Lolly World

Learning from your Screw-ups

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:45:27 -0400

I haven’t posted a tumblr in ages so my post are going to be backwards.

We had a really productive session, where we completely ripped apart our CVs and Cover Letters. It was really helpful to get another perspective and another pair of eyes.

Okay, I didn’t get a chance to ask 2 people from my generation and 2 people from an older generation because I have been at work 5 days a week but I did get a chance to ask one from each. For the purpose of this post, I will change the names of the people.

Kate’s role at work is to complete the diaries for organisation. She was told my her line manager that some colleagues’ diaries had to be blocked out for meetings. However she misunderstood and those ‘blocked’ slots were filled with something else. The consequence meant that she spent an entire morning ringing external people to rearrange times so that her colleagues could attend their meetings. What she learnt from it was that she could double clarify with her line manager if she did not understand the instruction given. Now she is somewhat over cautious.

John is a supervisor at a retail store and it is his job to count up the money at the end of the day. When the money goes into the secure bags the receipt for every till has to be in it as well. One day he forgot to put the receipt in which meant that the money was unaccountable for and he had to explain to the cash office why there was no evidence in the bag. This may seem minor but in retail this is a big deal! Now John uses the sale assistants to hold the receipts and the secure money bag to ensure that everything is accountable for.

When I screw up, I go into action mode. I analyse at what stage did I go wrong and then I try to think about what I could have done better. I use my self-evaluation to do better going forward.

No sleep + Red Bull = crazy person

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:50:45 -0400

Okay, so exams are over and I still have yet to write my tumblrs for this week. I’m just waiting for my exceptional awesome magnificent oh-wise ones, that I call adults to reply to my emails.

I am writing this in a delirious state of no sleep because I have been helping my mum with her assignment on access arrangements for examinations. However I have done it on no sleep and cans of red bull but I have realised that although I have “Row Row Row your boat” in my head. The ideas that are rushing through my brain are plentiful and I doubt it’s because I have gone past the threshold of tiredness and maybe entering a stroke of genius.

Now I am considering living in Germany and working the music industry over there. I just need to do some more research.

Anyway, I am off to get some breakfast.

Over and out as this boat goes down the stream merrily…

No man is an island...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:57:16 -0400

When I read Camilla’s email about the task for the week, it made me laugh. John Donne said this:

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee”

When I was a child, my mum used to tell me this all the time. She used to say “Laurell, remember no man is an island”. I have always been independent and determined to be not be dependent on others for anything. This is because of something that happened when I was young but as I have gotten older, I have come to learn that ‘no man is an island’ and it is impossible to be completely independent of others. Hitler tried to do this with Germany and failed. Now they are always remembered for the disastrous event that is the Second World War.

There are so many important things in my life right now:

God
University and everything that come with it
Family
Friends
The male species (as feminist as I am, they have a purpose in life and it’s always great to have a male perspective to counter balance the emotional female one)
Spark+Mettle
Meeting new people
Music
Socialising (it keeps you sane)
ME (knowing who you are as a person, makes you stronger)

At the moment, it varies on how much I do everything but focussing on this week. I would say I do 80% University work and about 2% on everything else. Uni work can be a killer lol

What is your purpose in life? Do you ever just have one?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:47:46 -0400

This post is about purpose and do you ever have one purpose in life or many.

This is an interesting subject because as a young person, the options are limited. I guess even as an adult the options are also limited. Over the weekend, my housemates and I have been discussing what we would like to do in life and where we want to be. Steph who is Colombian, said that eventually she wanted to focus on music and perfect her craft on the piano. However, with her being at Uni she can’t do that. My mum, told me once that when she had children, her purpose in life changed and it was all about being the best mum she could be. Now we are older, she wants to change at least one’d life before she dies.

After having these two discussions, I concluded that the purpose you thought for you life when you were young can change. It might not change or it might change during your teenage years and then in adulthood, you might want to go back to it. It’s funny because everyone says that certain careers have expiration dates but I strongly believe if you are determined and focus you can achieve any goal that you want.

The purpose you want in life, is exactly that, it is yours!

The joy of Essays not...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:58:13 -0400

So, it’s essay time and I am totally bummed out. After a great inspiring talk with Ed Howard from asylum records. I am back to the reality of work and that my constant pressure of essays and exams will not finish until I graduate! Yippee…Not!

I am on my final essay which discusses creolisation after having to dig deep in the world of decisions and free will of Alex from a Clockwork Orange. Then when this is all over, I have a german test to revise for. Ode to Joy.

This is the time where I have to challenge my positivity and remember that University is good and wonderful.

So enough of my rant, I think it’s time that I go back to my essay where I am currently about to discuss Derek Walcott and his take on the Odyssey.

O Tumblrs why I have abandoned thee?

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:08:18 -0500

Okay, so I have been pretty rubbish at posting tumblrs this last month and I apologise greatly to the Spark+Mettle community and the general world wide web!

Last month was pretty hectic, I turned 21 and I had two weeks full of festivities, I just finished on Sunday.

The day I turned 21, I felt like I had a lot of decisions to make because I finally felt like an adult. I am definitely no longer a teenager or a twenteen and I have to really start taking responsibility for my action and choices. Decision making is something that Suraj, Camilla and I recently discussed as a team. I often use gut instinct, logic and the advice of people. However, due to my lack of tumblrs, decision making can also have an element of prioritisation. I have not used my diary and to-do-list like I usually do and therefore things have got missed or just not happened.

Whatever way you make decisions, stick to it because it works for you. Don’t try to fix something if it is not broke. Decision making can be hard because sometimes you have to say NO but like I did last month, I stretched myself a little too thin and didn’t save time to blog my thoughts.

Speak soon

L x

What engages the old?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:57:13 -0500

I decided to interview my dad, not just because I know what engages him but also because I got to find out why…the competitiveness really shocked me. I know that he likes to cooking and gardening. They give him almost the same satisfaction as cricket. I know that cricket would be his career if he could afford the books etc. Then he would be playing for the West Indies…

My dad is a firm believer in doing things that make you happy.

Here is the transcript of the interview:

1) Is there an activity that you enjoy doing when you simply don’t notice time going by?

Cricket training

2) What do you particularly like about that activity?

The competitiveness

3) How often do you get to do that activity?

Being old not as much but it would have been once a week

4) When you were younger, what were you absorbed by?

Cricket - I eat, sleep and breathe cricket

5) Did you ever imagine that this is what you would enjoy now?

Oh yeah

RSA Video

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:47:50 -0500

One word to describe that video: AWESOME!!!!

The words were AWESOME!

The animation was AWESOME!

The presentation was AWESOME!

It was so AWESOME that I sent it to friends!

Session last week

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:20:00 -0500

Okay, so Suraj, Camilla and I had an awesome session as per usual.

We spoke about our best thing for the week. Suraj and I were both extremely proud of Camilla because…she was wearing her engagement ring!! Boy was it a rock!

We discussed other positive emotions and the few that I came up with are:

glee - I wanted to replace ‘happy’ because like the show glee, it is a joyous and momentous thing. They believe that good conquers bad at all times and as long as you are satisfied nothing can get you down.
peace - that is what feng shui is for, to calm you down. Inner peace is brill!
ambitious - this is more on a professional level than a personal level. Ambition is great as long as you don’t step on people.
beautiful - This may sound sexist but this one can apply more to girls because one a female feels beautiful whether inside or out, they are so confident and unstoppable. Look at the Kardashians!
dynamic - be powerful
courageous - taking chances gets everyone hyped even if it is scary at first
gracious - being kind and humble gets you far. My dad always said to me: ‘Laurell, manners will carry you a long way, never forget them!’

Overall, I think we all came out of the session feeling re-vitalised and positive. Go team CSL!!!!

1st Hangout of the New Year

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:27:44 -0500

Okay…

So my first hangout of the New Year was short and sweet.

Our group like to discuss what was our one good thing of the week but this time we got to discuss what our one good thing of the hols was! It was hard but I think meeting with Suraj and his sister was awesome!

We also discussed positive emotions and for me the interesting debate was ‘do you have to be happy to have positive emotions?’

I will leave you with that thought and have a longer post later.

My First Tumblr in ages

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:56:10 -0500

I have posted in a while. The reason: ESSAYS!!

I have been inundated with essays up to my ears where I have literally become a prisoner in my own house.

I must say that I miss my weekly sessions with Camilla and Suraj and I cannot wait for the new year :)

I have to sharply sign off here because…yes…I have another essay to do.

Peace

Suraj and Laurell taking over the session!

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:19:50 -0500

Okay, so Suraj and I didn’t actually get a chance to take over the session, due to thieves and Singapore but we have taken over the reflection tasks. We are doing each others.

I have been given the task to write about someone who was determined and I’m sorry folks but it’s a bit sad.

My mum is an inspirational person and for me she has shown the most self-determination I know. Before she died she was determined to have kids, live the most normal life possible and not let her illness bring her down. She was determined to not let negativity ruin her life.

When I was doing my career/life map, I realised that, apart from other things, people’s opinions can really shape our lives and we should not let anyone bring us down.

So people, let positivity in your life reign!!!!

This career map was the hardest task I have ever had to do...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:27:16 -0500

This career map was the hardest task I have ever had to do because it was really soul searching. Then to put it up on cyber space’s wall, sort of exposes you…

Co-creators become the supermegaawesome grown ups for a week

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:54:25 -0500

Okay, so Eugenie, set us a task of taking the reigns on our hangout sessions.

When I first saw this I wanted to burst into tears and then I thought this could be interesting.

Here are my thought on questions that could be discussed on self-determination and career mapping and the reflective and research activities.

Self-determination:

What do you exercise self-determination on? Is there a limit?
Does self-determination take work or is innate?

Career-in-life Map:

Can your career ever be planned step by step?
Do you believe that career mapping helps you to have a better vision for your future?

Research Activity:

For those of you who don’t remember, I study History and Literature and recently I have been looking at different approaches to text in Literature. What we have been concerned with is theories. In addition, I also went to see twilight yesterday and Bella is so self-determined to become a vampire, Jake is determined to kill Edward and Edward is determined to kill his child…until he miraculously hears her thoughts. So I thought that we could look at a theory and how it is played out in different areas. The Self-determination theory. They have a whole website dedicated to this at http://www.selfdeterminationtheory.org/. The read on the different areas that the self-determination theory has been analysed on is interesting.

Reflective Activity:

There are two options that came to mind:

Think of a person or an event which has demonstrated self-determination and try and think of 3 qualities that they possess that make the outcome successful
Draw a picture that symbolises self-determination to you and add a little caption

Time is no man's friend...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:29:43 -0500

So I decided to sit down and finish my tumblr posts only to realise that I was not on top of things like I had hoped. Grrrrr. Time is no man’s friend!

Star Track Programme = Self- esteem

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:17:00 -0500

This entry is really short because as soon as I read the task I knew the answer.

The Star Track Programme has confirmed that I don’t really have self-esteem issue in a professional sense but I do personally. Therefore competencies like self-aware and self-starting were not in my top 5 competencies.

However I do believe that you need to have self-esteem in your personal live to be able to function in a professional sense or you become a door mat.

Top 5 Competencies

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:10:56 -0500

I think the top 5 competencies are: (drum roll please)

Leadership
Knowledge
Respectful
Communication
Collaboration

I rate...you rate...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:06:47 -0500

So we had to rate ourselves based on competencies. This is how I rate myself:

Creative Thinking - 4/5

I’m really indecisive

Collaboration - 8

I think I work well in a team but I do know that I can improve

Leadership - 8

I like helping people and making them realise their full potential. I often try and make my own decisions to get over my indecisive nature. However I would never volunteer myself to be a ‘Leader’

Self- starting - 8

I keep diaries, memos and to do lists but sometimes I really have to push myself to start something and I can procrastinate. However I never miss a deadline and sometimes I just need quiet

Knowledge - 9

I’m like a sponge! Although no one ever knows too much

Communication - 10

Boardline stalkerish

Self-aware - 6

I don’t like analysing myself.

Respectful - 8/9

I love other people! Their stories and angles are usually much better than mine :)

This is how my best Uni mate, Stephanie, rates me. She is always brutally honest so much that sometimes, I just don’t want to hear it. I thought she would be a good person because she has worked with me professionally and personally.

Creative Thinking - 4

She goes through many solutions but doesn’t decide on a final solution

Collaboration - 9

includes everyone’s opinions

Leadership - 7

She doesn’t like to take leadership roles but if it is given it, she does it

Self- starting - 10

Keeps about three diaries, plus to do lists

Knowledge - 9

Knows quite a lot but is never content with what she knows

Communication - 10

Boardline stalkerish

Self-aware - 8

She doubts herself a lot but she is all about self discovery

Respectful - 8

She likes to discover new cultures

Kick Your Butt

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:03:00 -0500

When I saw this video as a task, I was well excited. I was disappointed.

The best advice was not from the actually lady herself but her friend. The advice was “Kick Your Butt And Get Going!!”, it was great. It was straight to the point and affective. No feeling sorry for oneself but as Aaliyah would say ‘dust yourself off and try again’.

The lady was annoying and if we didn’t understand ‘whether it is the best of times or the worst of times it is the only time you got’ then we are not the intelligent co-creators, the Spark + Mettle team chose. I really felt that she was talking to a child and not to an adult.

Also, it was not easy to hear or see the clock ticking away but I did hear the sound of my stomach rumbling. I thought for an academic that her example would be enlightening but once again sometimes, you just need something simple. Which is why I am leaving the negative with this last statement:

So be a role model to the next generation and Kick Your Butt And Get Going!!

Aggression versus. Assertiveness

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:58:59 -0500

I took a workshop on this during a prefect residential.

I used to be more aggressive that assertive but now I am more assertive than aggressive. Yet, occasionally, I do fly off the handle.

I used this technique last year when I was telling my house mate to never take food out of my plate. I started with ‘is it okay if we talk’, then proceeded with ‘when it comes to food, I am a person that…’ and then the conversation continued. Finally, she understood, that on no account is it ever okay to take food out my place because I HATE (too say it mildly) when people do that.

That was a hard task because for me when I feel passionate about something, it is easy to become defensive but one has to remember that the other person has feelings.

Now when she does it, she just gets the evil look, that I have mastered so well. I tried the assertive way and now I channel the assertive words through a look. :)