why it’s important to “be a little bit fearless.”

Does being just a lil bit fearless make you a good leader? Or is it being calm...realising you aren't perfect, understanding what you want to achieve and going for stretch opportunities?  


Challenging myself has never been a problem for me. I tend to always reach for opportunities that will challenge me (or elude me), that make me think, that require me to evaluate my weaknesses and strengths; face them and work to be the best I can be. I try not to over think things, to try and see if I fail. I prefer trying and not succeeding to never trying at all. The only problem is -- trying hurts. 


So, I guess that this is where I think fearlessness comes in. Can you face people knowing you failed? Can you admit it? Are you afraid to try again? Are you approaching this all wrong? When is it time to stop? It is a core principle of project management not to let emotions get involved. Don't make it personal and always ALWAYS tell it like it is...so honesty is best. Honesty is damn hard.


I think that it is when making calls like this that the true-ism that life is a process, you can't get it right forever, and you get another shot...comes to play.


It is true. Success is vital, but you need to define success based on what makes you happy, challenges you and makes you enthusiastic. Not what makes your mom / partner / father / friends/ hot people / peers / etc happy. So, while it is always hardest to admit you tried for the dream but fell short, tried again and missed. 


I prefer to meet the person who tried to jump a little further than the rest and fell of the edge. Personally, I think that makes them more interesting than the person who is stuck in the rut afraid to move while hating every moment. We only live once.


It is always harder to realise that fear doesn't equal limits. Life doesn't come with a do over. Let's make it worth living and lets have a lasting positive influence. Lets act and be a little fearless. This is my challenge to you!

Lessons Learnt: A year in Review

This past year, I have learnt a lot, explored a lot, evaluated and analysed a lot. I have made mistakes (a lot) and lived to excess while also reaching my lowest lows and some unforgettable highs (no drugs involved). I survived the city that never sleeps and I conquered it. I made friends, networks, loved, and fought for what I wanted every step of the way. It is exhilarating living on the edge and being self sufficient in one of the most diverse, highly charged and bustling places I have been yet!

So what did I take away from this? I ask myself that on a daily basis. How am I different from 1 year ago when I got onto a plane with a return ticket and a 1 year visa hoping to find what I was looking for.... This isn't a magical blog entry. Stop reading now if that is what you were hoping for. 

New York  City was phenomenal and I experienced many of its facets. I learnt that I am calm when others panic, that I am organised, and can communicate confidently. I learnt that I am independent, do not need other people to be happy but like the company of people (yes, that is hardly a surprise) and that I know how to take care of me. I discovered that I can trust myself--to be enough. I learnt that people will underestimate you or over estimate you unless you make things clear. I learnt that you have to know your own value or people will take advantage of you and I also discovered that I have loads to offer than I had expected.

I have an inquisitive mind. I make friends easily. I learn fast. I am technologically savvy. I respect everyone. I tell it like it is. I have strong leadership skills. I love new experiences. I successfully achieved what I set my mind on. My only limits are me.

Youth Caucus [ UNCSD-19]

It is done!!! The Youth Caucus's Policy Paper for next years UN Commission on Sustainable Development(UNCSD-19) has been submitted to UN DESA. It was fun, exciting, challenging and inspiring to be the facilitator for the policy paper of the major working group of Children and Youth. One of nine segments (or bloc's) of Civil Society that have the opportunity to participate, occasionally contribute or observe the Commissions. 
This year was the first time that the Youth Caucus have written a policy paper (previous years, we have submitted combined ones with other major groups). So, it was hard for us to know where to start. After a series of skype calls with interested youth from last years Commission--we decided that the best way to boost holistic participation would be a questionnaire.

However, that meant that we also had to promote the questionnaire....that meant emailing all youth mailing lists that we were aware of. I also went to the Earth Institute, and NYU events to promote it. I also sent out emails to attract a team of focal points...a slow and painful process as while loads of people were willing to help...few were willing to lead. Finally, we had a team and they continued to recruit thematic teams. Those groups ranged in size from 2 (SCP) to 35 (Mining). Once a first draft was created, it was posted on pirate pad http://piratepad.net/MtmK5vBTYT and the process continued. It was this stage that we started to lose track of who was contributing. It was crazy, amazing and exhilarating.

We have a team of 100 recorded youth contributors and 9 focal points based globally. Yet, it is hard to give exact statistics after that. We do know that a lot of individuals contributed online via pirate pad without listing their names. These ideas were compiled weekly and the version was updated. Then it was reposted for further comments and feedback.

That is what makes the paper so great. It as a good practice of youth consultation processes. I am not going to lie, it has been a steep learning curve for most of us (youngest contributor is 14) but it has been my pleasure to be involved.

Realistically, the final product would not have been so good without focused effort by the core team during the final editing stages. 

The final Chapter? [ NYC]

It is sad and surreal to admit that an innovative, proactive, challenging and exciting chapter of my life is over. But New York gave me a lot; confidence, experience, savvy and a great network of friends. I learnt to network, to take initiative, new leadership styles, how to motivate a team and enjoyed being a professional in what is an extremely fast paced industry. 


My project management skills have gone from zero to 65% (better) and I am excited to say that I have signed up for a course in existing project management software that starts in February 2011. I am glad to say that my time Stateside has also inspired me to think of strengthening my hard skills. That means that yes...I am going to be learning Spanish / Portuguese and to take a webdesign course. These appear to be aspects of my professional life that seem to be weak...My hard skill weaknesses are the blatant lack of fluency in two European languages (I just speak English and Swahili),  lack of Java / html, and knowledge of Project Management Software (I have used a few free ones). So, I am happy to share my plans to improve my capacity and to develop as an individual.


It would be inaccurate to say that I am not aware of what I have learnt and my soft skills (and transferable strengths). I am a strong communicator, organised, technologically savvy, great at multitasking, work well under pressure and as a member of a team. This has been an asset to me while I interned as Journalist at South-South News, as a member of the MDG Awards Committee and assisted my in my role as Director of Communications for the International Youth Council. My learnt the importance of delegation, teamwork and individual initiative. It is also funny to realise that this year has made me less mature, has allowed me to connect with a diverse range of individuals and have had fun trying everything at least once. 


I have done a lot, experienced more, enjoyed myself exploring, made amazing friends and met wonderful people. There is so much that I want to share but I believe my time would be better spent looking towards the future rather than dwelling on my wonderful year in NYC. 


So, 2011....what will you hold?

Prep Com2 Rio + 20 [Preparations]

It is crazy how long ago May feels. I have done an amazing amount since then and I believe that I have engaged with Sustainable Development. As Christmas approaches, and my friends begin preparations for the next Rio +20 intersessional in NYC on the 11th-12th of January. I can't help but wonder how it would feel to still be part of the process and getting the opportunity to attend. If I had that opportunity through work (or lots of money to do it independently). It would be amazing. Since I am not going. I can still read up about it. Participate remotely (online) to the best of my capacity and read! 

My advice to you....is to start with the basics. The Secretary General's report for PrepCom 1 is a helpful summary or analysis of the Summit. Then start your research, you are unlikely to have read everything. Agenda 21, and the marrakech process are the essential intro.