Blog Post #10
Vulnerability is not weakness…
…it is our greatest measure of courage.
For there to be a high there has to be a low. New to this contracting world, and without any consulting experience either, there are learning curves a’plenty. I gained my first experience of the infamous scope creep. As is common with many contracts and pieces of work, scope changes, and nothing often meets the original plan. However, on this occasion I did not have the experience or skills to accommodate the changes. I’m flying solo, I can’t just spin round the office and call on other resources to help. The bottom line was I could not deliver the new work that was requested in the timeframes required, and that was a tough one to swallow.
I observed my anxiety levels creeping up, exacerbated by that fear of failure, I started to question whether I had made a mistake accepting this project. Had I made a mistake going contracting altogether? Dealing with this in isolation during lockdown was not healthy either, attempts at diluting my anxiety with plenty walks round the local river, coming to no avail. After perhaps a week of struggling I decided enough was enough and that I needed to own it. I called my client, put my hands up and just explained the situation and was honest with how I was feeling. I guess, in hindsight, I did not realise how understanding my client was, all I needed was a little honesty and communication. Not only did she understand, but she let me save face, she let me walk away with dignity (signs of a good leader). Heck she let me walk away with more than that. Said leader could see where my strengths were and asked me to consider focusing on a different piece of work. So not only did my anxiety dissipate and worries subside, I walked away with another contract, and more importantly a stronger relationship. Another lesson for the scrap book…
Amidst the episode above I did manage to maintain my training and development through online learning, and recently completed a series of online asset management training facilitated by IPWEA NZ. These digital badges are awesome and provide a great introduction and strong foundation of learning in asset management. You can find them online here: https://www.ipwea.org/newzealand/training-nz/digital-badging. Hats of to IPWEA NZ, these badges have been put together brilliantly and I am looking forward to seeing them develop the new and existing generation of asset managers.
Upon completing the digital badges, coincidental or not, I was approached by IPWEA NZ and invited to join the National Training Working Group (TWG). It is a privilege and I am looking forward to working with the group; I had my first virtual meeting with them last week. I will be providing support to deliver the next series of asset management digital badges that will provide a solid understanding in asset management at a higher ‘core’ level of maturity. I will be leading one of the asset management streams for one of the badges and will be working closely with a partner at WaterNZ to deliver this. This is a very exciting space to be working in, and very much relevant to the work Asset BowManagement Ltd are currently involved in.
As my mental health has clearly fluctuated, another area has consistently improved at a steady rate. My last blog post discussed how my physical health has improved during the lockdown and that I decided to give this 16 week running program a nudge. Well I’m still going strong, I’m currently in week 11 and have completed 42 runs. A couple weekends ago I completed my first half marathon since 2017 and got a PB which I was pretty stoked about. 5 weeks until the marathon!
There is access to the Waikanae River at the end of the road, so this has been my stomping ground as I go around, and around, and around; one full loop is bang on 9.5km. I still hold it true to being one of the nicest rivers in the region, and now with dustings of snow visiting the Tararua Ranges it sure is a refreshing dip after a long run! I even managed to get my mum and sister out too…
I do count myself as very fortunate to have ended up in lockdown with my family. I actually calculated that I have spent more time with my mother during this lockdown than I have done over the previous 3 years. This statistic got me thinking. Prior to moving to New Zealand I would probably catch up with the ol’ dear 1 day every 6 weeks, or 2 days every 2 months. Throw in a week over Christmas and we’re looking at roughly 3 weeks every year. Since I moved to NZ, that average has stayed fairly steady, with a 3-week visit in 2017, and a 5-week visit in 2018. Okay, now let’s just say hypothetically she hits 90 years of age, which I consider pretty good going for her generation (go mum!). So without announcing my mother’s age on this blog that probably no one is reading, and assuming that the 3-week/year average continues, I have approximately 65-70 weeks left of quality time with me mam… Certainly hits home doesn’t it!
Whilst this virus has caused devastation and has had a tremendous impact on the economy, it has brought me closer to my family and that is more valuable than any currency there is.
It was my sister’s 30th birthday this week, not sure lockdown is quite how she had imagined spending it! I’m also not sure she enjoyed the surprise 25km bike ride as much as I did! However she did enjoy the Alpaca farm, and we also went on a 5km horse ride along the beach which was great. A km for every year right? 30km for 30…no? Think she is dreading next year….
Kia kaha everyone..
