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This isn't a blog about me. A welcome relief for me and you I expect. I thought I'd write about someone I've known for years. Let's call him Aladdin. That's not his real name of course but ever since I've known him he's been pushing boundaries and opening doors so it fits.  He's one of those people who always looks forward and wants things to change. And because of that he gets things done. He takes risks. He builds strong teams around him and he connects with people and connects people together. And people like that are worth their weight in gold. He works in a relatively new area and has invested a huge amount of effort shaping it. And delivered. Delivered big. Delivered great reputational benefit. And real benefits to the organisation he is working for and to his customers and colleagues. Of course it's not just down to him, he has a great immediate and wider team around him but he's been a big part of creating that too. I've met and connected with loads of people I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for him. And I know loads of my colleagues would have to say the same. He is generous with his connections and happy to share them.  He directs. And he steers. He guides and he uses vision. And he makes it interesting. And fun. And rewarding. And that's both motivational and inspirational. I'd always want to work on his team or have him on my team. He's in a place at the moment where all that creativity. All those connections. All of that willingness to try things out and get things happening fits perfectly. But..... it's a temporary job And it might end.......  If it did. It would be a big loss. A really big loss.
For him. For his Employees. For his Employer. And for those who he is connected too and who he has connected together. If you know Aladdin then think what you wouldn't have if he wasn't there. Think about the connections you wouldn't have. Think of the things that wouldn't happen. Think of the things that won't happen. Think of the doors that wouldn't have been opened. If you don't know him. Wouldn't you want an Aladdin on your team or in your network anyway? Now I'm perfectly aware that my opinion probably holds little weight. But I wanted to say what it was. He didn't ask for a kind of reference. But I wrote it anyway. I hope he gets what he wants. He should. It's just a question of trust (and a few phone calls). It's also a question of where he can make the biggest difference. I think that's pretty clear. If you've read any of my other ramblings you'll know I struggle with positivity. But this was easy to write, so I think that speaks volumes. I'll write something nice about you one day too, anonymously of course, if you deserve it. I hope he isn't annoyed at me for writing this. And wherever he ends up, I still won't expect him to ever buy me a pint. Seya Paul
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Fine is one of my most hated words. It just doesn't really mean anything. Or people use it to mean different things. When I write something at work or do a presentation and get told it's fine I get upset. Fine is like my kryptonite, but please don't think that I think I'm superman. To me it means it's just good enough. So it's below good or at best it's just about good. I looked up fine on Google and it said this.  I wonder if that's what people meant when they said it to me. I hope so but I don't expect it was. I never use it to describe people's work but I do use it to describe how I am. Yeah I'm fine. Yeah not bad, yeah I'm ok or commonly 'oh you know...' are standard lazy responses but in themselves they speak volumes. I'm not usually all the things that Google result says and can be often far from it. I found this poem and I think it's national poetry day today. It's called "I'm fine" and think it sums it up nicely what the feeling behind the words can be, especially if you're feeling low and have one of those anxiety gremlins. 
All this has come about because I have a lot on at the moment, as do a lot of other people, and I’ve been thinking a lot about wellbeing recently and how it needs to be taken seriously. And that means giving the conversation the time it deserves and being able to spot signs someone needs that time. The work can wait. The person can't. Sometimes they just need a check in and some maintenance. You check your car every so often, do you check your wellbeing, or find the time to talk about it, or do anything about it? I wondered on Friday if I could have a ‘sick’ day because my 'being' doesn’t feel very 'well'. I feel really run down. I could do with a break. But is addressing my wellbeing a sickness day? I’d feel funny having the day off for it, but I think I might need to. Maybe it's a duvet day (is it American companies that have those?) but should a day to alleviate stress or pressure actually be sick or even better wellbeing leave?  So please don't use fine, certainly not to me. Fine is meaningless. Unless you get caught speeding. And that's not fine.
Oh and the poem I found was in my own handwriting, but you might have guessed that already. I’m no poet huh and it's a bit self-absorbed and not every day is like that thankfully but that's what the anxiety-self doubt-low self worth gremlin can make me feel when he's feeling particularly mean. But it's probably the honest answer you might get some days if I was feeling brave enough to share when you asked how I was and I thought you really had time to listen. But don’t worry, I’m fine, really I am, I just feel like I need an oil change. Seya Paul |
AuthorMr Paul Wyse Archives
January 2021
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