Shared Challenge Factory Client Entries

Sometimes you just need to dive in and try something new and different. I have a few hobbies... Some are really just interests like fine arts and architecture and aviation; some are... well a bit nutty like street Magic and then there is woodworking. That is where I like to spend the majority of my hobby time (as limited as it is with a busy career).

As we prepare to attend the Toronto Entrepreneurs Conference this Saturday in Mississauga, I can't help but get excited at the prospect of meeting like-minded professionals who are eager to increase their business intellect and broaden their network. There's that word again - NETWORK! I must confess that until recently, I always perceived networking as a necessary evil, something which "has to be done" if you want to get ahead or get anywhere in the modern business world!

I just finished reading Patty Azzarello's blog on mentoring and felt inspired to share some thoughts. The premise of the blog is that we often don't think that we can mentor someone because we think we don't have anything to offer or we think we don't have enough time.

Patty challenges both of these misconceptions by saying that no matter what stage we are at in our careers, we can mentor someone! The things we know seem obvious to us but they may be quite valuable to someone with less work or life experience.

I had the unique opportunity to meet with an expert in the film industry this morning and it was such a pleasure to spend time with someone who clearly loves what he's doing. His passion was tangible and it made me realize (once again) that we all really deserve to be doing something that "lights our fire"!!! I drove away from the meeting with the sense that we have one shot at this thing called life and that because we spend so much of our time at work, that we owe it to ourselves to invest our time and energy in something we love doing.

I just returned from my initial meeting with Mike and Lisa. I felt very energized and decided after giving Liam a big hug I wanted to start my blog posting before I forgot the feeling. I never really knew that one person could have so many styles. With this new understanding and Mike and Lisa's help I think climbing a mountain might be possible. Well at least I will learn to know more  about me.

Tomorrow is the first day that I meet my coach Mike with Lisa. I have read through the report and have found many truths and some differences. It seems that sitting down taking the time to be truthful has its benefits. There was a great deal of information that rang true for me and some that didn't. But no system is perfect. This is the first time in my life where I have actually made an effort to really figure out what I want to do. This is the first time that I am in control of my life.

• I will have identified a place that I belong
• I will have a sense of ownership over the work that I do
• I will find a workplace that respects me and everyone else in it
• I will regain my self-respect
• I will know what type of things I could do
• I will likely not stay with my current employer - and I will be ready to