I'm a woman I am and don't you forget it!

I just got home from Newport (South Wales) where I have had some business meetings, visited some important places for the coach service, like ticket offices and bus stations, and traveled all over the UK with train, bus and taxi for the last 2 days. I'm exhausted, thanks for asking...

But happy. I'm very new at all this coach stuff but I'm catching up and going to meetings I feel like I know exactly what I'm doing, taking phone calls where every other word is slightly strange and setting up meetings with the one executive after the other. I think I'm getting the hang of this and in a months time I will be running two or three buss services between London and Newport and Lockerbie to Dundee. (Google it, always good to know). Big leap from the aid work that I am doing but hey- I'm a woman! I can multi task! 

So at the moment I get up in the morning, do revision, which means turning my lecture notes and essays into brightly colored A3 posters, I send out emails and do a few calls to make sure my team of students gets closer to getting the last £300 in for Tanzania and at the same time I talk to coach operators and bus stations and banks. Some of this is done on a train, going often to Glasgow but lately to Wales as well, some of it in Whetherspoons because thats the hip new trend for business meetings, and the rest either in bed, on my desk or having coffee somewhere with way too much stuff in it.

This makes my week an interesting array of bank meetings, revision lectures, talks with companies that would like to fund raise with me (I've got my first meeting on thursday!) and keeping up to date on African merchandise and its possibly very successful marketing in the UK. Anyone want to join me in the craziness? Honestly- I am exhausted BUT I love it. I really do, I love making plans, arranging and organizing and talking and writing and smiling to people, and thats pretty much all I do. Sometimes I even eat and sleep, which I love too :)

So everyone who knows me- be happy for me, anyone that don't- give me a call, I can fit you in somewhere here too :) Still got some slots open between the orange magic marker and the 6th cup of tea (how british is that?)

Well, that was my little update. My students are doing well with there small tasks, we are sneaking closer to our target, and I am still looking for more charity work to do, after my exams especially, because it mights just get too quiet...

Be well! And enjoy that well earned exhaustion after a good days work- I know I will

The Magic of Openess

According to my mum I've always been an open person, talking to anyone that would listen, and asking questions to engage people in conversation. I still get friends asking me to come along to parties, to make sure people get chatting, and whenever I've met parents of boyfriends it always comes in handy to bother to listen to what they have to say

But it has hardly ever paid off as much as about a week ago, where I came down on a train from Glasgow and started chatting with the guy that shared a table with me. First we talked about computers, as we were both using them and his kept dying on him. But as you do you get talking about work and other interest and my project came up as well as me wanting to offer businesses consultancy to do fundraising. Then he mentioned a launch he wanted to do with his coach company and I took the opportunity to sell my services, he wanted to connect the launch with a charity he supports so it made sense, and he seemed interested.

But I must be a better saleswoman than I expected because after a few emails and phone calls he has decided to give me a job as project manager for his newly developed holiday section. It came up that he has a condition and needs someone organized to do all the bits and bobs he's not good at or doesn't understand, so he offered me the job...

He has excellent contacts and his very hands on and great at what he loves, and now I"m gonna be filling in the gaps.Better still- he wants to employ others with difficulties and unfortunate circumstances, which makes the company something I can put my heart into, not just a job

He also want to train me until I can take over as CEO, him being the owner...

There's a lot of details to be sorted out and things I won't mention here, but simply because I didn't judge him for being a bit awkward and different I have now been given a huge opportunity, especially in this economic climate and its not all down to luck.

You never know who has contacts, or ideas or an opportunity to offer, and being open will at least make it so much easier to seize the day, and might make your dreams come true

Kind of magic I think