Network Action

I am finding it fascinating - how networking might actually work.

My friends are gradually starting to set up ventures of their own, turning hobbies into businesses and businesses into passions, and apart from the pride I feel for them (for us, really, go go 30 somethings!!), I am finding the first-hand experience of networking in fact incredibly interesting. Very "IN" indeed!!

I look forward to capitalise on those connections and eventually connect two of them may be. And not for the commission. I mean - how cool would it be to put in touch two of your friends who may not necessarily know each other but who might, through you, establish a common ground professionally and possibly one be happy with the service and the other - all the richer for it. That'll be wicked!!

And my web is stretching to all spheres of life. I can practically provide you with the complete experience. Cosa Nostra, eat my shortssss!!!

I now have:

A Chartered Accountant who set up a recruitment agency and whose ambitious recruitment event is on 11th May www.blueprint-talent.co.uk
An IT consultant whose rock band is about to have their 3rd gig in as many months http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgmq6u3QcSM
A Marketeer who has decided to go it alone across the pond - expertmarketinghelp.com

I know where to send you for:

Help with relocation to beautiful Bulgaria www.bgexpat.bg
Or for your house or loft extention plans architeque@live.co.uk
Or the execution of the interior work- LinkedIn: D end M ingenering
Or the beautiful art to decorate your walls www.nadiasart.com or michaelorwick.com
Or your garden landscape features www.pipbrothers.com
Or the fine french lingerie for girlfriend or self (as the case may be) eeeeeeee tam @ Etam
Or the fine wine for before the fine french lingerie is taken off www.zelas.co.uk
Or the visas for your holiday www.gotorussia.co.uk

I can find you someone to organise your teambuilding event; cleanse your face; build a car; write a book; publish a book; look after kids; clean your house; teach you to skateboard; look after your garden; facilitate a training event; translate; fix a laptop; fix your broken limb; fix the electrics ........... Seriously. I think I can do it all. Not to mention that my reach spans 3 countries. That's some international might I have, right?!

Plus I just feel elated and proud for the people with the ideas and the assertiveness, who are risking it and making it. These are my people!!!!!

And hats off to you all - I find you inspirational

Spilling the Beans

31 March. That used to be The Date. The Date that was going to be the end of it all. The pinnacle. The salvation. The promise of a beginning of what could be life outside work. In a Big 4 audit firm. The cut off point that you fixed your mind on to salvage some spirit during the numerous all-nighters and near all-nighters you slaved through in the "busy season".

And even though you had a crap Christmas just thinking about "busy season" coming your way, it was possible to find courage and thank God for the small mercies. Like the first couple of weeks of January when the client Finance department is still working on cooking the books and you are just cruising through what can only be described as the calm before the storm while skilfully rolling forward prior year files.

Then as you are still rolling forward, the storm rolls in and engulfs you.

The storm with its multiple faces. With the demands of grumpy client staff who often have no time for you but find time to want things of you, as well as to leave for home bang on time at 5pm. Oh, the rush to the lifts at that point - it was enviable, if only we could also do that!

The storm with the need to endure the countless unreasonable requests (orders?) of partners who sometimes were not your “partners” at all, but who instead spoke and acted like they kick the ball for the other team.

The storm with the drain on your resources that were the audit juniors. Who just like a big umbrella supposed to protect you from the elements, only tires your hand, until eventually you pack it up and face the music alone.

The storm with its smells of Wagamama and Pizza Express take-aways as dinner and bedtime hours come and go by while you work on the next audit working paper, whispering "Good night!" to you sweetheart over the phone.

But I mean, you could kind off mobilize all inner strength to get through it all. Because as the storm rolled in, so did the days to 31 March. The filing and reporting deadline. Every little inconvenience along the way, every single late night, every single coffee drunk to keep your eyelids somewhat open and your brain somewhat sharp in the darkness, brought you closer to it. 31 March - the end, the pinnacle, the salvation. So you got your grip and did it. Never for one minute letting the thought of 31 March leave your mind and your wildest dreams (for this is as wild as they come in "busy season").

Some years you would even have Easter on the other side of the threshold to live for. Possibly a holiday. Some years the calendar lottery screwed you over and Easter fell in March and you knew for well that under no circumstances would holiday and time off be a possibility. While the world celebrated Spring, you were still be locked away clearing open review notes. Even then, in these grave circumstances 31 March was still "It".

And then these jokers, the Regulators, come along and change the filing deadlines to give more time to these other jokers, the Client finance team, to be able to cope with the extra reporting requirements. Or something. So no more 31 March. The goal post has shifted. And it feels like the only April fools out there are actually - right here. At least there is only 30 days in April. Oh, the small mercies.