Bear Fruit

‘According to trend watchers, defriending will be the trend. Large numbers of people will delete vague acquaintances from their networking sites, such as Facebook, and Linkedin, because they only want to keep quality contacts. It has to do with slowing down, the need for quality time, and perhaps some network site fatigue, according to all sorts of trend blogs, which seem to echo each other.’

I just read the above snippet in an online newspaper, it confirms my feeling about the whole networking issue. I’ve mentioned in a previous post that someone refuses to reply to a friendly email that I’d sent responding to the invitation that I received from the same person. In the meantime I’ve sent another email making her aware of her non-responsive manners. I told her that it’s okay if she doesn’t want to stay in touch but that I’d like to know where I stand. So far no reaction… I was assertive but friendly so obviously the next friendly thing to do is to defriend her from the network.

I’ve always seemed to look for excuses or reasons to justify other people’s behaviour but I’ve learnt over the last few weeks that the only way to find out what’s on a person’s mind is to be clear about things and be straightforward, in other words assertive. I’m not used to being assertive and I have put myself in situations that became utterly frustrating because of this. I take full responsibility and I can’t blame others for misreading my mixed signals. I’ve changed my ways, since it didn’t make me happy having to deal with the consequences and I’ve noticed that it started to bear fruit!

If I can get rid of clutter in boxes than I should definitely be able to get rid of the clutter in my social life. The other situation seems to be slightly improving as well although I’m reluctant to trust this person to keep her promise and pay me back my money. The good thing is that if there’s no progress soon that I’ve collected enough facts to see a solicitor over time and trust me, I will… the friendship is finished as far as I’m concerned. It hurts in a way, because I’ve know this person for a long time but she broke my trust many times over the last three year so it’s best for me to let go and move on.

I have some exciting news but it’s all depending on a few circumstances so I’m going to be a bit cautious. I’ve had to deal with so many disappointments that I’ve decided not to mention anything until there is some real results. That way I won’t have expectations and I won’t disappoint myself if things are canceled once again. One has to do with a possible job offer the other has to do with a new study that I’ll start and a future plan I’m working on that involves a partner in crime… I’ve teamed up with someone but it’s all still very fresh so we have to discuss the details and plan soon.

If all goes well, I will let go of the old career slowly while preparing for the new career. I’ll have a meeting on the 8th of June to see if the study is what I expect it to be. If so, than I’ll need to prepare a case to make sure that I’ll get the funding. I have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months but it feels good to be working on my future… it does! I already met some really nice people who offered help even when I didn’t ask, they just did… Those are the kind of people I’d like to surround myself with, people who appreciate you for who you are, quality contacts and possible friends…

It all starts to bear fruit!

© Dreamstime – Mouthwatering

Step One And A Half

I was disappointed yesterday and slightly down in a way because I had high expectations about this study and its arrangements and I feel that the responsible organisation hasn’t been clear about things at all. Yesterday some facts were revealed that -to me- made it all look less bright and wonderful and I ended up in deep thinkers mode. There are only four places available while they left the impression that there would be at least 10 to 15…

There were about 28 people in the room and about three decided not to go for it after we were given a presentation: do the maths… One fact was about wages which will be extremely low during the study which will be spread over three years. Once you’ve passed your exams your pay will be slightly higher. Another fact that surfaced was the level of education which is lower than I was told so I’d need to add three more years of study.

Ever since I came home yesterday I had been thinking about what I should do and I couldn’t make up my mind. I really needed to talk to someone close today and exchange thoughts, so I rang C. at the academy. I knew he would be able to answer some of my questions that were causing doubts. By the time we hung up -an hour plus later- I was feeling positive again because of his advice and enthusiasm and full of energy to start the process.

I’ll have to write a motivational letter and might have to retake the competence test. If I’ll go through to the second round I’ll have to have a chat with the employer and take a study assessment test. It all seems pretty strict so it’s gonna be interesting to see what will happen these next couple of weeks. I’m gonna be busy… Today I also received a request from a client to design an ad to send to wholesalers and to update the website for xMas.

While I was cleaning out one of my external hard discs I ran into a smaller version of the image below. I’d forgotten about it, about taking it but it put a smile on my face and because of that I’ve decided to post the bigger version. I miss my little friend…

I miss him…