Today is my last day at Linklaters and the beginning of a new chapter in my career / life journey.  It’s been nearly 3.5 years since I began my new life in London and it has been one heck of a journey so far.  One that I could not have predicted not have imagined.  If you would have asked me 5 years ago where I will be today I think I had my mind set on living in the US, married with a kid.  So I suppose I am not that far off!  However, what I have learned is that you can’t really map out how you will get to those ultimate goals in your journey.  You just have to see the end and somehow get there.  There’s no straight path, no right way, no shortcut, no directions. You just have to figure it out along the way.  Life is exciting that way.  As many people have said time and again – take the road less travelled, opportunity doesn’t wait for you – go out and find it.  What else is in store for me 5 years from now? Well one thing is for sure I will be 41.  But what’s exciting is in that 5 years I can make it anything I want.  I want to write more about my profession, I want to have a side business, I want to help more people, I want to be contributing more to my family and the society.  Lofty goals? I’ll get there in no time!

Sundays used to be a day of recovery after a   rough weekend of partying.  Now it’s become a day of reflection on what I accomplished and what I still have to accomplish or want to accomplish.

Aiming to get an early start, I try to get up before 7am so I can do my 60/40/80 routine.  If I have time to I’ll try to meditate for 15-20 min.  If not I will use my time at church.

Church for me has been not just about praising our Lord.  But it’s been a time where I can focus on being mindful.  It’s very meditative for me.  And ever since becoming Catholic in April this year,  I’ve seen the personal benefits I have gained from the liturgical aspects of Catholicism.  It helps me focus on how simple it is to appreciate out God.  For me it doesn’t have to be about a complex sermon or deep dive into a certain verse or chapter.  It used to be and that’s great if that is what you want.  But where I am at now in my journey with God and my life, it’s a simple appreciation and understanding of my belief.

Sundays are a great time to reflect.  However we don’t have to wait until Sunday.

Have a blessed week!

Are you working for the weekend? Why do we feel this way? Does that mean we are in jobs we don’t really enjoy?  Should we all be allowed to go home at 330pm as long as we don’t have a deadline?  Who reads emails on Friday afternoon?
Unless you are an owner of a business or in the service industry, my experience tells me that productivity goes to 0% after 330pm.  Don’t get me wrong, if your busy or like to get this knocked out in a Friday so you’re ready for Monday then by all means knock it out! But after years of knowing the truth (which is nobody reads your emails or responds to your emails after 330pm, you’re on your phone planning your night out, you’re on restaurant websites looking for a booking) I’ve made a decision to just go home at 330pm.
Okay I haven’t really gone home at 330pm but I am proposing to you that this should be mandated at all organisations where your role does not require you to be there on a Friday afternoon.  Of course there will be exceptions but I’m sure it’s possible.  I think workers will be happier and more productive during the week.  
When I start my own company I promise to provide to my employees:

1. Time to exercise 

2. Leave early on Fridays

3. Flexible working hours

4. Working from home

5. No meetings longer than 30 min.

Who wants to work for me?

Trust and honesty brings your work relationships to the next level.  We spend 5 days a week, 8-9 hours a day with your co-workers.  So why not be open, honest and trust worthy? Why play office politics? Is it necessary?
Last night I caught up with my old boss who was made redundant (aka laid off).  What I suspected at the time of his departure was confirmed by him.  My current boss was already selected by the senior management team to take his role.  Is this really and truly redundancy?  All they did was change the title of the position.  
What I found out was that my current boss, was already positioned for the role.  However HR was required to go through the process of interviewing external and other internal (me) candidates for the role.
My current boss didn’t even have the credentials to take on a role like this at any other organisation.  Why would they think he could do it now?  He even had the audacity to ask my old boss how he would answer certain questions that they might ask him about the role! How would you feel if you were made redundant and then someone comes to you for advice about your role he/she is going to take? 
That’s life.

Planning happy hour with co workers had changed after becoming a husband and father.  The days are gone when you can just spontaneously have a happy hour.  The days are gone when you go from pub to pub (bar to bar).  However don’t get me wrong, this isn’t bad.  It’s actually good to have in mind that you NEED to get home and you WANT to see your wife and kid(s). 
Gone are the days you end up in Bracknell! Or is it?

Richmond bound!