Needs Improvement

Transition, it is always filled with variations in emotions and questions. Issues such as what do I want to accomplish? What will best serve my intentions in life and help me grow towards those intentions? What specific skill set do I wish to build? All important questions certainly but more recently I was posed with the notion that I was lost, out of sorts and confused as to what direction I should proceed in. This was quite the contrast from how I felt at the outset of that very same day. I had opportunity without it being actively sought out, the advantage of time on my side and the knowledge of what is important to me going forward in order to address the above questions. The reason cited for this view of where I am was in large part due to the following identified weaknesses. Keeping in mind that I do appreciate constructive feedback I decided to analyze the following weakness by first stating the area of improvement and expanding on these and then giving my opinion as to whether I feel this is a true weakness and any possible solutions or approach.

1-Lack of Organization/Structure: This is an area that I have had scarce success in. I acknowledge that I am not the best when it comes to creating a situation which is fool proof. I believe this feedback was meant more towards working within an organizational structure and reporting to a 'boss'. I think that this criticism is unfounded to a large extent. Mainly because when working withing a structure I have had little problem reporting to a higher level and no problem with authority. This is an area where I believe I need to learn how a hierarchy is created and maintained effectively. I believe that my last experience lacked this mainly because of the ability of both the boss and employee (myself). Possible solutions are being my own boss and creating this structure through trail and error, or going to join a large corporation and work within a strict and established structure.

2-Inability with respect to Execution/Completion: I would agree with this criticism to a large degree. When tasked with completing smaller parts of an end goal I find no problem is doing so. However, in my post university work life there is really no large project that I have been able to see through to completion with the company and team. I feel one notable exception is being a large part of building a property management business both in theory (operations) and in practice. Solutions to this are largely internal in that I need to work on my focus and dedication to a specific task with the end result in mind. There is an aspect of making all the parts and players work but I believe for me this on my personal level.

3- Self Control: This is a critique that I came up with. Dealing with two aspects in particular. One is to do with toning down my partying and the level of intoxication I allow and the corressponding fallout that can and does occasionally occur. The second part is to digest, refelct and then act appropriately in a measured way to achieve a desired response. Specifically I want to learn how to better achieve an end. I tend to act on impulse and need a more though out approach sometimes more delicate and at other times timely and assertive. The solution here is quite apparent. Thinking further into the matter will resolve impulse and moderation in any excess is something I need to excercise more frequently.

I believe that in recognizing and addressing these issues it allows me to be more effective in moving forward with a good decision. I do not allow myself to believe that I am lost as was pointed out to me, as I tend to buy into what other have to say especially considering the source. In this instance I choose to believe in myself with the knowledge there is room to improve.

Song of the Day: Mos Def-No Hay Nada Mas

Timeless

The concept of time is something that I am starting to question more and more. More specifically I question the structure and rigidity it imposes on everyday life. I think that we need to have less reliance on it, only using it for more practical purposes rather than the way we blindly let time dictate our lives. I am not speaking to the more obvious notion that time is necessary to organize our life and set up our days accordingly, I am speaking about a bigger picture one in which time, not the individual, dictates when, where and how things will occur in our life. For instance, at some point most people have put together a thought that resembles 'when I have this then I will get that' both the 'this' and the 'that' are controlled by time in this thought. This implies that time, not the individual, has control of our actions or more importantly creates our inaction. Often we approach life with the mentality of 'Have, Do, then Be' instead of 'Be, Do, then Have'. Time is so embedded in society it is difficult to think how one might cope without it while concealing how enormous an impact it has on the way we live and approach life.

A simple example that I can draw from my own recent experience is something I indicated in my one of my very first blogs. This being my ambition to take more pictures and buy a camera. My thought process to achieve this goal was completely wrong. I thought that when I had enough money I would purchase the camera and then take more pictures. This is the 'Have, Do, Be' approach. In the context of what I believe to be the more correct approach (Be, Do, Have) I started to look up camera's and immediately found that I no longer needed to prolong my purchase as I had no idea what enough money to buy a camera would be and more importantly when that would be. I now have a camera which will allow me to take more pictures, learn more about photography and actually achieve my stated objectives.

However, this is just a minor example. Consider this in the larger picture. What are you putting off for 'when the time is right' that is really something we desire that can be acted on now. I am looking more and more to implement this kind of thinking in my life. Time is just a man made concept (brilliant it may be) that is universally and socially accepted by the masses and consequently forces conformity. Consider the 9-5 the bane of my existence. How did we arbitrarily just decide that this is when the world will work and coordinate all its activities during this time period? I read more and more and now experience more and more that really time is not only irrelevant but the actually prevents the very purpose it is supposed to serve. Creating freedom. It seems more and more that those who do not follow the laws of time often create more freedom for themselves and naturally lead fuller and more fulfilling lives.

This concept and perception of time, and my personal feelings towards time may be argued by many. I would assume mainly by those who 'need' that structure and organization in their lives, those on the fringe of obsessive compulsive certainly 'need' their calendars and appointments to be accurate. But this is the exact proof of my point. This is completely artificial. Look at the reliance on time as a necessary fixture in your life and just for a moment consider evaluating the dominance it has on you.

Act on what is guaranteed not on what may or may not be coming in the future. The most ideal time that we have is right now.

Song of the Day: Gui Boratto-No Turning Back