Rehired! (My Personal Story Part II)

When I shared my story in the blog post entitled "How I Bounced Back from the Sack", I was overwhelmed by the support I received. I alluded to the fact that there was some upheaval at work at the time that post was published, without exactly divulging all the details.

It is a twisted story with many lessons. By the time this is posted it would have been around two weeks since I (re)started my new job. Confused? let me explain.

First week at my 'new' job

I have been at my company for six years working in different departments, but within the same organisation. In June 2015, I was awarded a year's secondment (a secondment is when you are on loan to a department or organisation for a fixed period of time, whilst your original position is kept warm for you.), and around three months into my one years secondment, I was told that my contract would be extended for another year. I was ECSTATIC. Not only was the position a MASSIVE step up from what I was doing originally,I also loved my new team, and the job offered a better work life balance.

So from when I was given the good news until early this year, I was very much in the knowledge and the belief that I would be sitting comfy in my new position for a little longer than anticipated.

How naive.

My years' contract in pictures

I think it was February or March this year, my stony faced manager took me into her office to tell me that she was sorry, but HR had rejected her application to keep me on for a year longer, and come June I would have to go back to my original post.

I. Was. Floored.

From then, I was consumed by thoughts of going back to a role that I thought I had grown out of. I thought about colleagues that joined my organisation after me, and had basically frog leaped over me to higher positions. I couldn't help but think about all I had poured into two degrees; about the number of  "we regret to inform you..." emails and the repetitive advice to "keep trying".

After getting over the initial disappointment, I went into "fight mode". This meant upgrading my LinkedIn account and sending out a ton of emails and CVs, which proved a futile exercise. It was as if heaven had shut the "career" door in my face, and God was looking down, and laughing in hysterics whilst I chased my own tail.

June was approaching fast, and as the countdown wilted down from months to weeks and finally days, I was becoming more panic stricken. My search for a new job became more frantic, and less focused. Because I was desperate, I almost willing to sell my soul for absolutely anything. The feeling of dread in my chest was becoming unbearable. And then June 22nd arrived.

This story is kind of long, so we'll continue next time :-) In the meantime, please comment below with any job hunting tips you may have. 

First Year At University? Let's Chat!

This is from a post that I published last year. However I thought it would be useful to repost an updated version as we are at "that time" again!

The advice I have here is a result of my own personal experiences in university. I have gone through the process twice so I know what I am talking about.Trust me. For those of you reading in the US, I am referring to what you call "college". 

Here are my tips for new university students.

1.Make a note of your coursework deadlines. Put them in your diary, and add in reminders a month, two weeks and one week prior to the due date. Better still, invest in a yearly planner you can put up on your wall. I say this because your lecturer will probably only give you the dates once. I studied French and Linguistics at Queen Mary, and made the mistake of not paying attention to the due date of my “Language in the USA” coursework deadline. The result was a rushed piece of work, hastily put together on the afternoon it was due. It attained no more than a C grade!

2. Find out how your faculty prefers for you to do your referencing and stick to it. Here is a very good guide from the Anglia Ruskin university.

3. I stayed at home whilst at university as the distance between my house and campus was too short for me to qualify for student accommodation. If you are in this position, strike a good friendship with someone in living on campus, who you can trust. You will be grateful for this on nights after long hours spent in the library, or partying!

4. Space out your schedule and give yourself some room to breathe.I remember in my first year cramming my Mondays with six hours worth of lectures  (yes! with no break). The result was knackering! I sometimes even skipped my last class altogether - not good at all.

5. If you are taking a class such as literature, or any other class that requires studying from one book for the entire semester get your own copy – even if it’s second-hand. Your campus library will normally only have a few copies of that particular book, and you may not be able to keep it for the whole semester.

Good luck with university. There is so much more you will learn besides the content of your lectures. Work hard, have fun and make friends!

I hope you find these tips useful. Please share any additional tips you might have below. 

Your Network is Your Net Worth

I have come to learn that your network is equal to your net worth. If you want to be successful in life, whether in business, in your career, with your studies or as a homemaker, you must surround yourself with like minded people. Because whether you like it or not, the company you keep will make or break you. Your friends will either be motivators, or dream killers. They will either give you good advice or bad counsel.

What has brought on this train of thought? I have recently experienced some majorly frustrating situations, and have found myself reaching out to some awesome women (as well as my fiancé) for support. I met with groups of friends, on two separate occasions this week (something I seldom have the chance to do!) for uplifting convo and some distraction from all the drama. The first being dinner at St Pancras Station, and the second being an evening at the theatre. The conversations I have had with these ladies over the two evenings, as well as the laughter and general life updates have had me thinking about how important our friendships are. Not just people that are fun to go out with, or the girlfriend you call for a gossip, but a real support system.

Lunch on the mezzanine floor

If you had asked me around ten years what I thought about friendships, I probably would have told you that I simply wanted to be in the 'in crowd'. I wanted to know a lot of people and be seen everywhere. However over the years, for one reason or another, my legion of friendships have wilted down to a small but very solid network of ambitious, strong and uplifting ladies.

No drama at the table please

With social media being the go to for people to get their daily fix of news, entertainment and socialising, and hashtags now being the marker of what is trendy to speak about, phrases such as #squadgoals, and #relationshipgoals are often the order of the day.

Outside the Prince Edward Theatre - ready to watch Aladdin!

For me, when it comes to #squadgoals, it's more than just a filtered photo of a group of females poised and posing and slaying for days. Ask me now, and I will tell you that it's about a network of women (or men), who are interested in empowering  and building you up, but not afraid to tell you the painful truth, knowing it will do you more good. It's about women who are not afraid to share (feelings, ambitions as well as material possessions),  who will be there when you need them. They are ambitious. They are focused on their own hustle. It's about celebrating common ground and differences. Drama free, dishonesty free, and definitely jealousy free!

What do you look for in your team? What are your #squadgoals?

Birthday Frolics, Antwerp and More

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that my latest photos are hashtagged #birthdayfrolics. Yes, SoulJourner's Story and I have our birthdays in the same month! Whilst last year was spent partying it up in Las Vegas, this year my birthday was spent in the more sober and more cultured Antwerp.

It must be because at 29, I am feeling more pensive and reflective. A lot of investment and planning for the future has been going on this year so far. Also, there have been some disappointments and major losses which have all forced me to step into my grown up shoes and keep my balance despite the challenges.

Just touched down in Antwerp Town!

The next few blog posts, will be reflective. I think with my twenties drawing to a close, I have learned a thing or two about life, which there will be no harm in sharing. Also, this blogging journey has also presented some life lessons which I feel will be beneficial to share to those about to embark on a project - blogging or otherwise. So watch this space.

Anyway, back to Antwerp. The beautiful city of Antwerp in Northern Belgium, is just a hop, skip and jump away from London. (Well, actually, we took two trains!), but honestly it was no effort at all, and the journey itself was so much fun!

Like most European cities, the architecture stands out. In fact whilst approaching the exit of Antwerpen Centraal Station, you are greeted with a very beautifully decorated glass wall, with a large clock feature and gold intricacies. I must say that as far as first impressions go, this is not too bad!

As we only had one full day with half days on either side, we didn't have time to explore the whole city (lesson learned for next time!) but what we did do, was spend half a day at Antwerp Zoo! The zoo, located just behind Central Station is in the ideal location for tourists. And at only €19 per adult, it's a winner.

Aside from the zoo, we also enjoyed shopping in the historical town, gushing at the large rocks at the many diamond shops, and enjoying the ambiance at some of the outdoor eateries. 

Antwerp is definitely a place I would love to go back to and enjoy more of. Where have you visited lately? Is your birthday around the corner? How will you be celebrating?

Happy Birthday Souljourners!

Happy Birthday to us!

Today marks SoulJourner's Story’s one year anniversary. Whilst yesterday was spent in Paris, taking clients to see the very exclusive Maison de Pierre Hermé, and sampling delicious macaroons,  on the 15^th day of May one year ago, it was the last day of my one year contract at my previous job. Recent tensions in the office had been grating on me. I was exhausted, but also relieved to be finishing, and excited. (I was going to Las Vegas to celebrate my birthday the following week). That day for me, marked the conclusion of a long awaited last chapter, but I was also on the cusp of something new and exciting.

Luxurious, hand crafted macaroons created by celebrated chef Pierre Hermé

I remember, the weather being glorious, and as I walked out of the office block and towards the London underground, I guess I felt like a freed prisoner seeing daylight for the first time. It didn’t matter that I was saying goodbye to the comfort of routine I had become accustomed to, or that I didn't know what next my professional life would offer. In fact I couldn't care less. All that mattered was that I was ready to embark on the next adventure. And that adventure was Souljourner’s Story.

Pierre Hermé also creates beautifully rich chocolate tarts

I had stories, experience, words of encouragement, ramblings and musings brimming on the inside of me, and I was in a hurry to pour it all out, to turn them into blog posts, and to share them with would listen read. I wanted to have a voice. I wanted to change my life.  And so, once I reached my stop I rushed off my train, walking briskly and  avoiding all the idle perambulators until I got home. Once inside, I turned on my laptop, opened Word and for a second didn’t know exactly what to say, or where to begin.

Enjoying the sunshine on the balcony of the Maison de Pierre Hermé

“How about you start by introducing yourself?”, a thought rang in my head.

"Hello World", I cautiously typed. It sounded like an OK place to begin. So I continued, and by the time I had finished, I felt like I had begun the process of unburdening myself for the first time, in what felt like ages. The next day, I transformed that word document, into Souljourner’s Story’s first blog post.

Heart shaped feature inside the creative space of Pierre Hermé

Since then, Souljourner's Story has continued to educate and encourage. We haven’t always got it right, but we have always come from a good place. Sometimes, it has been exhausting, and even frustrating. But I have learned loads on the way, and have formed some great relationships with a handful of my beautiful “blogging sisters”. 

I have both squealed in excitement at blog posts that have been unexpectedly popular, and cried over the times a “cut and paste” job has gone wrong and lost all my hard work!

One thing for sure is that it’s you readers and commenters (both negative and positive) that have given me the zeal to keep going.Thank you so much for clicking through, reading, following, commenting and sharing.  God bless you all. We are definitely not finished yet. Watch this space!

Pierre Hermé's book collection

I leave you with this

First Blog post: Hello World

Most popular : Organising Your Team Christmas Dinner?

Least popular (lol!): Closed Doors, New Beginnings

Most controversial: Four things we could all Learn fromDonald Trump

My personal favourites (I have two!): Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional and Commuter Reads: Foreign Gods, Inc

Retreat and Restoration: Ashburnham Place

Can you believe we are already halfway through April? The year is not so young anymore. If you have been sitting on all of your lovely plans for this year, thinking, “I’ll start tomorrow…or next week…maybe next month…actually, later”, then it is maybe time to repent, and kick start your projects into motion! However If you have been busy “doing you”, well done. If you are ready for a well deserved break, you might want to consider what I have to say next.

Just over a week ago, I and a group of ladies (comprising of my mum, and a few friends) took a weekend vacation to Ashburnham Place, a sanctuary of escape tucked away in the Sussex Countryside, isolated from all of everyday life’s noise.The trip came at a good time because the majority of the group (excluding my mother who had just got back from a trip to the states!) was feeling a bit worse for wear and in need of a quick, and inexpensive getaway which did not require the need for passports, visas and boarding passes! We simply hit the motorway and were there in a couple of hours.

My initial reaction was that the facility and rooms were pretty basic (albeit clean) not with all the perks that one might be accustomed to. The rooms are twin rooms so I shared with my mother. But for less than £100 for two nights (with breakfast and dinner provided) what else was I expecting? 

On second thoughts, the point  of the weekend away was not to sit in the room all day, but to explore the bookshop, make use of the library, prayer rooms or the music room, all at hand to help you switch off. This explains why wi-fi was non-existent in the communal parts of the grounds, and why there were no TVs anywhere (doing away with worldly distractions, eh?)

The beautiful landscape makes for enjoyable and peaceful walks by the lake. Or you can be even more chilled and have a spot of afternoon tea at the Orangery Tea Room. 

On the weekend we went, there were two pretty large (well known) church groups holding a weekend retreat. They had booked out a few of the larger meeting halls to hold their church services/ prayer sessions in. Ashburnham is very ideal for large groups wanting to escape the hustle and bustle to focus on prayer and restoration for a few days. But in my honest opinion, you might end up hearing the sound of your own thoughts a little too loudly, after a day, if you go alone.  

We booked our stay when there weren’t many activities happening, but I do know that at various times of the year, they hold  themed weeks, such as an Arts & Poetry week, for creative minds, or a Musician's week for musical minds. They also invite speakers to hold talks on various faith based topics from time to time.

The staff are all very polite and are more than happy to go the extra mile to make guests feel comfortable. The ladies and I had a lovely time in each other’s company and spent the two days in quiet reflection, prayer, rest and D&Ms! (deep and meaningful conversations). I came back feeling fully rested, and with a more positive outlook on my future!

For more info, please visit Ashburnham Place’s website (http://www.ashburnham.org.uk/)

This is not a sponsored post or collaboration. All opinions are my own.

What are your Q1 Results?

Praise be to God almighty! Winter has finally loosened its cold grip on life and has allowed Spring to poke its dainty foot through the door! Admittedly it has still been a little cool, BUT I have noticed that for some time now the evenings have been getting lighter. When the clocks went forward over the weekend I knew it was curtains for harsh, cold Winter.

How has 2016 been for you so far? Are you sticking to your new year’s resolutions? Are you on your way to achieving any goals set at the top of the year?

The end of March  signifies the end of the first quarter of the year, or "Q1" as most businesses refer to it. If you have been paying close attention to business news, you will have noticed that many companies released a statement of their Q1 results this month, and will do the same for Q2 (April to June) and Q3 (July to September).

As the core principle of most companies is to make a profit, these quarterly results will contain a detailed analysis of their earnings and other business performance measures.

Reviewing the year so far is so important as it is a good indication of how the rest of the year will go (whether good or bad) if current trends continue. It also presents companies with an opportunity to make any necessary financial and commercial adjustments if necessary, so they can hit any targets they have set for themselves.

Taking time to reflect every so often  is good for all of us, not just trading companies.  It may not be a financial analysis, but you can weigh what you have acquired in the past three months and how it has added to your value, be it experiences, friendships, knowledge or even a new attitude to life.

It’s NOT an opportunity to lament over resolutions already broken or things you haven’t done yet, but a time to celebrate what you have achieved so far, and to take stock of any “adjustments” you may need to make in order to put you back on the right track, if you feel you have veered off it.

For me, the first three months have been super busy. My fiancé and I have been heavily investing time, money and energy in a few projects, and whilst we have suffered a temporary knock in these areas, we do hope "projections" will go up in the future. Sorry if this does not make much sense for now. I do hope to be able to share more in my "Q2 results". 

So, my question again, what are your Q1 results?

A round up of the year so far in pictures

Study Time: Gratitude

Wow, it has been a hot minute since I spoke with you guys! I hope you are all doing well. I have been real busy!

The Belfry in St.Peters Square
Ghent, Belgium

One of the things I had the opportunity to do at work is visit Ghent in Belgium for three days. I attended the Flanders Belgium Travel Forum, which was the flagship event of the whole trip. It was for organised by the Visit Flanders Tourist Board and was another opportunity for key players in the travel industry to network and do business. Aside from the "work" part, I was blessed with the chance to tour the historical city of Ghent and to learn all about its history and culture.

The canal in the historical town

For someone who up until a couple of years was in a mundane job she wasn't exactly thrilled with,I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how far I have come, and the opportunities that are now afforded me. This has inspired the theme of today's blog post. It's the latest installment of the Study Time series.

So, what is Gratitude? It is described as the quality of being thankful or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.

The old Ghent prison
(You need to find out why it's called the Mammelokker. Hehe!)

For those of us who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible, we ought to be grateful to God who we believe has blessed us with eternal life, life on earth and everything in it. 

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, MSG)

Not convinced? In an April 2015 study of 186 men and women with heart damage, researchers rated the people’s levels of gratitude and spiritual well-being. They found that higher gratitude scores were linked to having a better mood, higher quality sleep and less inflammation (Time.com, Nov 2015)

You cannot go to Belgium and not try a Belgian beer!

With that said, can we please do a short study on why gratefulness is important, and the benefits of displaying an attitude of gratitude?

1. It takes the focus off of what you don't have.

All that I am ...praise [bless] the Lord; everything in me ...·praise [bless] his holy name. My whole being ...praise [bless] the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses [gifts; benefits]. (Psalms 103: 1,2 EXV)

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2. It attracts more kindness from others
Ruth fell at [Boaz's] feet and thanked him warmly. "What have I done to receive such kindness?"...At mealtime, Boaz called to her "come over here and help yourself to some food..." (Ruth 2: 10, 14a, NIV)

Dinner at the very prestigious Belga Queen

3. It grants you peace 

And when you pray, always give thanks... And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6b - 7a, ICB)

4. It grants you joy 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name...For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;at the works of your hands I sing for joy. (Psalm 92: 1, 4 ESV)

Belgian hot chocolate, with whipped cream. Mmmm.....

There is a story in the Good Book (Luke 17:11-19) of ten men suffering from leprosy, which is a horrible, flesh eating disease. Even today, these men are known as the ten lepers. Even though all ten were healed by Jesus, only one made a point of saying "thank you" to him. Jesus, astonished that only one of the ten had the common decency to say thank you, said to the one man "Get up and go. Your faith has healed you" (v19) Only God knows the implications of that for the other nine!

This is an important lesson in being grateful. So, how do you show gratitude?

1. Saying "thank you" (well that's obvious!)

2. Choosing to focus on the good

3. Being satisfied with what you have

4. Being joyful (different to happiness, which is only determined by your current circumstances)

5. Getting out of the mindset that somehow the world owes you something

6. Giving back to others

Thank you Visit Flanders! Very grateful for the opportunity.

Whether you choose to take the 100 days of gratitude challenge, or simply make notes on everything you have to be grateful for, please do not forget that an attitude of gratitude will determine your altitude!

What are some of the ways in which you show gratitude, or have been shown gratitude? Please comment below.

Purpose. Find it. Pursue it.

Happy weekend! (Actually, it will probably be almost over by the time this is posted)

En route to the gathering of the brethren

I hope you have had a great week. I didn't get up to much in the week, but the weekend has been super busy. One of the many activities was a family gathering to remember and celebrate the life of a great aunt who passed just before Christmas, in Ghana. Although such an occasion would ordinarily be a sombre time, in my family we don't like to think of death as the end. After the tears have been wiped away we tend to celebrate the time spent on earth, the fact that the departed is in a better place, and the hopeful expectation of being reunited with our loved one. However such occasions always send me on a long and winding road of deep thought.

A fixture of many family gatherings

So, I want to touch on something that I feel every human being on earth should know about, and should pursue while he or she has been blessed with the gift of time.

Purpose. 

In short, all I want to say about purpose is that you should chase after it. Chase it like something is chasing you.

I believe that  graveyards are some of the richest places in this world. What a crazy thing notion, you're probably thinking. However I put this notion forward because, with our loved ones are books that were never written, businesses that were never started, ideas that were never explored, speeches that were never given, and love that was never shared. I am making sense now aren't I?

So then, how do you know what your purpose is? It may help to grab something you can make notes with, because I would love for you to answer as many of these as you can.

On kitchen duty with mummy

1. What abilities come to you the easiest? This is a great place to start.

2. What frustrates you the most? Sometimes, knowing what you would most love to change about your community, society or workplace can pinpoint the purpose you were created for.

3. If you HAD to volunteer a week of your time to any cause, charity or organisation, what would it be? I say this because if you make money your motivation, you will get demotivated quite quickly.

4. What activity/ career move or project do you regret not embarking on the most? It's never too late you know!

5.What scares you the most? Sometimes your purpose will scare you just as much as it excites you because the possibility of a thousand doors being opened to you, due to that fulfilled purpose is almost too much to bear!

Now on serving duty. That's how my family does it!

Have you found it yet? Great! Now you have no excuse BUT to commit time to pursuing it.  If not, PLEASE do not worry. In fact this is a serious task so I would expect you to take some time. But I would advise you to keep note making until your thoughts make sense to you. I would also suggest you keep pursuing your hobbies and interests (and possibly explore new ones), and keep interacting with the people and the world around you, until your purpose becomes clear to YOU (it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else).

Have a great week.