Quote

Though it comes from a figure that is definitely not consensual (I am not sure about my opinion of her myself), it is a really good and inspiring quote:

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing. It's when you've had everything to do and you've done it."
Margaret Tatcher

NEW role analysis

Interesting to check my expectations before moving fully into the new job. It'll be cool to check in a few months time.

What attracts me in the NEW role?
- local job, close to the market, real pressure on achieving figures. That will make it easier on me to get passionate about it
- people management: taking on the responsibility of managin 4/5 people. Getting to know them, getting them to respect me, building a strong team, with good values. We will support each other and fight together, work together, cry and laugh together, celebrate our achievements together!
- it's a board role, it'll give me the opportunity to sit on the board and understand how directors operate and think. And test myself against them. And prove how good I am!
- Innovation: deliver new things to the market. Make great stuff that can change the scenario in the country where I live and where I was born!!!
- broaden my experience by being exposed to a couple of different categories and also another side of marketing that I don't really know

What may I struggle with?
- politics and the power of personal relationships
- lack of efficiency in the local organisations
- people relations more important than results
- it'll take time to understand the new categories and ways of operating
- longer days at least in the first 8-10 months, until I establish my credibility and power within the board
- lack of travelling?
- lack of international contacts??
- less international exposure and job opportunities?

Old job: likes and dislikes?

This exercise can help me in deepening my understanding of what I want to do, what is my passion.

What did I like in the job that I am about to leave? What did I enjoy? What will I miss?
- contact with people from all over the world. Talk to them, understand how they live, their ambitions and dreams. How they work.
- travelling, being in different countries, visiting different cities, seeing different lifestyles
- the people. Overall relaxed, nice and driven. Good professionals, efficient. I could learn from them
- status: I was very respected and somewhat feared. People wanted to please me. Though I do think this comes not only from the job but also from my personal characteristics (I am a good presenter and have good presence in meetings, Also having been there for a few years and having multiple country and category experiences makes me quite confident and at ease in some discussions)
- time and independence: I was managing my own agenda and could do what I wanted to
- other people: if they were good (eg tech people, mkt research...) they would get on with their work, I would only have to ensure that they were doing what was needed
- the resources: being on global projects money was never an issue, whatever kind of research needed doing... it would be done!

What didn't I like?
- not knowing how to progress some projects, what is the next action?
- lobby: one of the tech centers was mainly composed of people from 1 nationality, often I would be the odd one out. As I don't speak that language, they wouldn´t mind and chat away. Also, this country was becoming leader and gaining full power in Europe...
- tired?! I've been in this business for years!! I've seen it and was not in any way passionate about it anymore. It wasn´t firing me up anymore. And I don't want that.
- Feel old on the job. I was there for donkeys years, people were coming and going and I was there.
- Future perspectives: I was in the best role, in order to be promoted into a director role in a couple of years. Now... even it sounds attractive, that does not motivate me. Seeing myself as a director in a European country doesn't really appeal to me.
- Career: for years and years there have been rumours that my company could potentially divest from the area where I work. Also, it is a quite specific market and business. Let's say I would be out of a job in a couple of years. My perspectives could be quite grim as my experience was narrow. So I really need to broaden my experience!!!

Motivations

My successor in the current job has been appointed... I know the guy, he's cool, I came into the company at the same time as him, we've recently even worked together in a project. He'll do well.
How do I feel? A bit f****d really... Even though it has been my choice, I am not really happy about it. I do think that I wasn't really that happy while doing that job but... I'm afraid that I will even like the new one less. I had my first meeting this week and it was a bloody nightmare. Total lack of efficiency, an intricate network of personal relationships and powergames... Christ.
I guess it happens everywhere, it is human nature. The thing at this stage is that I am not fully motivated and passionate about the new job. I am not fully convinced myself.
And I need to be. If I am, I'll tackle any issue and become a major success in this role. But is that role what I want to do?
It is paramound in today´s world that you are fully engaged in what you do. After all, what is the point? Life is short, you gotta enjoy it and make the most of it.

My struggle has been to find out my purpose. What I want to do. What will fire me up. I'll give a go to this new challenge and find out what I like about it.

Another great book: 'The wolf of Wall Street'

I'm reading a crackin book: ' The wolf of Wall Street' by Jordan Belfort.
It's the autobiography of Jordan Belfort, who at 31 was a top broker in Wall Street, raking in fortunes. Having started really young as an apprentice, he moved all the way up until he created is own company that became a leading one in Wall Street.
With a beatiful model for a wife, Jordan was making millions a month... most of the times not using the most 'acceptable tactics', finding ways around rules, legislations and laws, and most of the time breaking them... His personal life was absolutely mental! He was consuming hundreds of drugs, frequently using prostitutes, and in the process destroying his boat, helichopter...
Working for his company was everything but the 'normal 9 to 5'. The stories are hilarious.

Now you might have heard this story before. The catchy part of this book is the way it is written. Fully honest, this guy is also extremely funny, providing a really cracking read. The writing is really good and straightforward.

Really, just pick it up in a book store and read a couple of pages. I haven't been able to put it down.

Greener grass - part II

I spoke to my current boss right now. He's a really nice guy, although he's been quite pissed off at me because I decided to move to another department. It seems that finally he is very close to nominating a successor, the person that will replace me.
Although it was my choice, I still felt a bit annoyed at being replaced...
It's normal, as you can never be sure of the choices you make, you don't know how things will work out. Fortunately I never regret decisions that I have made: as I know they were the best decisions at the time, with the information I had at the moment.
I'm leaving a great role, where I was in full control, but wasn't really happy, wasn't really fulfilled.
So, I am risking it, even going for a job that might be less visible, but I am giving it a go. Life is short.

The grass is always greener?

I received today a call from a headhunter with a really interesting job opportunity.
Location: back in the country where I was before as an expat, in one of the most thriving (and also competitive cities in the world).

In the last couple of months I have been thinking if I am missing my old life. The competitiveness, the speed, the night life... It was my decision to return home, over an year ago.

I guess that now that I can probably have both worlds and choose, it will be a good opportunity to find out what I really want.

It is interesting that we always seem to want what we don't have. And most of the times we never really value what we have until it is gone.

Back & re-energised?

I'm back!
The break was actually quite cool. I was in Madrid and got to go our with a few expats living there. I really enjoyed going out with them and I felt really at home. I have been an expat myself, so I really related to them.

I loved the feeling of being with people living abroad. I find it quite exciting. Discovering a new place to live, creating new habits, finding out lots of different things. The adventure.

I ended up missing it a lot.

For 1 year now, I am back at the place where I lived most of my life, after 4 years abroad. And although I really wanted to come back home, I haven't really been happy since I was back.
I don't have energy. I'm quite bored and am not getting excited. I need excitement to be happy. I need to feel challenged and really want something, to thrive after an objective.

What is missing??
- is it the fact that I lost most of my social life here, since most my friends are now married and don't really go out anymore?
- is it the fact that I am back living with my parents? And I really enjoyed and need to be back on my own place?
- is it that I miss the excitement of living abroad? Of living in one of the most dynamic cities in the world?
- is it that I need to do something totally new, in terms of job and career? That I need a radical change, a radical challenge?
- is it that I am in love with a girl that does not give me the confidence that is so important to me?
- is it a bit of everything?

What next steps can I take to change???
I am already moving jobs soon. I am currently doing a European job and am moving to a local one, that will hopefully enable me to spend more time at home and rebuild my professional life. But on the other hand I am really scared that I will terribly miss the international contact. And all the flying and getting to know new people and new places.

It's quite messy my life now.

Linking up, rebuilding bonds

Just one more before I go!
I organised a dinner last night with my sisters. Due to travelling, kids, etc, etc, etc we haven't really been spending time as just the brothers and sisters.
So I organised this dinner.
It was really cool and relaxing. Really nice as we felt like being back to years and years ago when we were all kids and all lived together. We were very transparent, just behaving like ourselves.
Even though we didn't discuss any problems each one is facing, we just relaxed and laughed, it was quite good and reassuring to feel part of this family, that you feel will be there forever.
I think the learning is to make an effort and remember to keep nurturing this.

Holidays

Starting tomorrow, I'm gonna take a small break, off to Spain with a friend.
Although I feel like staying in, catching up on all the reading I want to do and also do a bit of exercise...
But it is important to make an effort and be with friends. It's an investment. Have fun, relax, forget about everything and just party!