Lions District 201C1’s Post

Last week I swam across the English Channel in 15 hours, 13 minutes. 🏊♀️🌊 Just as I navigated through tides and currents, in my professional life I have navigated through complex issues, policies, and opposition to drive meaningful change. Here are a few lessons I brought back to shore: Preparation is key. The booking for channel swim pilotage slots is usually done two years in advance. Months of training, planning, and support were critical to attempt the swim. In Campaigning, research, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement well in advance of launch are the foundations of effective advocacy. Resilience against the odds. The Channel and British politics definitely have one thing in common: an unpredictable nature. At work and in the water I've regularly been reminded that persistence and adaptability in the face of challenges (whether a changing wind, jellyfish sting or backtracking on nature policy) are crucial for progress. I could see France hours before I touched land, making out the features of the coast, but this was the point that I had to push the hardest to land on Cap Gris-Nez, or risk adding hours to the swim to land on Wissant beach. The power of support. I couldn't have completed the swim without my support team. In advocacy, working in coalition and leveraging our collective strength are essential for amplifying our voices and achieving our goals. Small steps leading to big milestones. Whilst in the water, I knew that every stroke was bringing me closer to my next feed, and ultimately to France, just as every small action and decision in advocacy accumulates to create a much bigger impact. The swim was more than a personal triumph; it was a reminder of the determination and unwavering spirit needed to advocate for the causes we believe in. Whether in the water or in advocacy, it's about pushing boundaries, staying focused on the goal, and never giving up. Thank you ever so much to everyone who has supported me on this journey. With your support we have raised thousands for Maggie's Centres, which is making the goggle tan and aching shoulders worth it!

I took this picture walking back from a celebratory meal with family last night. It was a mild, still evening following a glorious, sunny day. I reflected on the difficult but right decision that the The Great Run Company company made yesterday cancelling the Great South Run less that 24 hours before it was due to start. I've been up since 0630 this morning, in that time the wind has gradually increased, as forecasted. The view and feeling is now very different. I suspect last night lots of people, including those that took the decision to cancel, looked at the beautiful evening and questioned the decision made. Some will be berating the organisers, thinking it a 'soft' decision, the words 'health and safety gone mad' may come to mind. From my perspective both from working in events and having run the GSR many times, it was absolutely the right decision. Trying to safely maintain temporary structures in high, gusty winds is just not feasible. Mitigating to keep not only runners, but volunteers, supporters and other stakeholders safe in such conditions becomes an unmanageable challenge. The final couple of miles of the run is along Southsea seafront, it's known for being difficult with a southerly onshore breeze even on a good weather day, however today it would likely take most runners to a walking pace. My thoughts are with the Great Run team as they manage the cancellation and all the logistics that go with that. Also all the runners, joggers, walkers; a disappointment, yes - but the beauty of this sport means we can still do it albeit not as part of a mass participation event. What's your experience of decision making impacting hundreds/thousands of people at relatively short notice? Did you contribute to that decision or where you impacted by it? How did you manage and reconcile your feelings?

What’s that rhyme ‘Rain Rain go away come back another day’ might as well have started to build the ARK, what a week of it, anyway enough of the British weather. Last Saturday saw Richard and I ride our current longest bike ride, all 128miles of it, quite the ride and great preparation for what we have coming up at the end of the month. All in the aid of celebrating a certain person’s 50th (You know who you are, the guilty party) I could think of better ways to celebrate but riding round Belgium seems to be what we are doing, at least we can share a few beers made by those mad Belgium monks who see nothing more than about 15% proof like water. Lessons learnt from that ride and endurance sports as a whole, and defiantly pliable to your life and work, you have dark/bad moments call them what you will but they happen, you question why the hell you are doing these stupid things/the purpose of your job etc, and then a smiling face comes back for you with good will and cheer, it takes a little while but you gradually get back to some sort or semblance and back at it you are. You need these people, that person in your life, the genuine ones that have your back. This week’s message is ‘Sometimes you’re the HAMMER and sometimes you’re the NAIL’. But trust me a majority of the time you’ll be the HAMMER! Let’s hope we see some sun as all this rain is making Jack a dull boy. Enjoy whatever it is you are up to. #experience #health #life #WORK #helpinghand #salesandmarketing #marketresearch #mentaltoughness

We had a great time last week with the staff from Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf and Spa. Here they are working together in a Last Team Standing challenge. This is the team-building activity that pits teams head-to-head as they battle it out in a series of games, which are designed to test quick reactions, balance, speed, co-ordination, memory and logic - there's an opportunity for every attendee to shine! ✨ Strong communication skills, co-operation and focused teamwork are necessary if you want to score points in Last Team Standing ... you won't be able to take on these challenges alone! To learn more, and to book Last Team Standing for your next corporate event, meeting or away day, visit https://lnkd.in/ehUiv8yq or drop me a message with any questions you've got. #TeamBuildingActivities  #CorporateEventChallenge #WorkplaceWellness #EventPlanning #TeamBuildingIdeas #TeamWorkGoals #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement #GroupActivities #TeamBuildingSuccess #FriendlyCompetition #TeamBuildingCompetition #CompetitiveTeamwork #TeamChallenge

My opinion…if you need 16 or more people to put on a simple Manitoba Room Gala, you must be lazy, show boating at the expense of the client, not very bright or like paying or NOT paying for people you don’t need. Rule of thumb in this business, 1 person per 2 breakout rooms 3 -4 max for large plenary room like the Manitoba Room or Large Convention Centre Room. If you have entertainment well that could add a couple of techs. We save our clients money by managing events efficiently and effectively. #howlingpro #welovewhatwedo #growinggrowingstrong #officialAVserviceKeystoneCenter #wesaveclients$

Celebrate your wins. Why? Because you deserve it. It is your moment. We are often reticent to do this in New Zealand, celebrate. It takes an ounce of self indulgence to do so, perhaps, especially in the face of others. The social floor is littered with heads of poppies. I ran a short narrative discussion to a group this week entitled "You have earned the right to ask for the business". No teaching. Questions, and discussion. Perspectives and narratives. Pondering thoughts, meandering thinking. I gave an example of you having a sore foot and you have been sitting next to a podiatrist for ten months every week for an hour. Banal but true. That person is skilled to fix you. But you don't ask. You cuddle your bunyons like a war badge. The facilitator asked a real estate person to read out the terrific testimonial they had just received. They were uncomfortable, self conscious, unwilling. The body language retreated as they sank in to their seat, right hand covering faces. And the response of the room? Delight for them. People need to know if you are good at what you do. In in a way it is your moral duty to let them know. To seek being of value and service to them. To seek having a conversation. No guarantees, just the beginning of a possibility. "Look what this person and their family have said, publicly, about how I helped them with their home". They did a great job. Others need to know this as they navigate the sharks and vipers.Trust 101. If you a surfing a barrage of "No's" today, you are not alone. Many sectors are seriously challenged in New Zealand right now. A good friend this week told me they are "Paddling hard to keep the lights on". Humour in adversity. This person is a long game big hitter, I know they will keep paddling in the early morning mist of optimism. So, celebrate a mini win this week. Does not have to be work or business related. You could have made it down the gym, or hung up that picture up it being on the floor for six months. You could have cooked for you partner, reversing the default. Go on. Celebrate. What do you think? Do you celebrate your wins? #celebrateyourwins

Mentorship Matters! Many of today's brightest stars had the guidance of a mentor who helped them get where they are today. A mentor can inspire, support, and challenge you to reach new heights in your career and personal growth. Unlock Your Potential: With a mentor by your side, you’ll gain valuable insights, boost your confidence, and hone essential skills. Expand Your Network: Mentors open doors, connecting you to opportunities and a wider professional community. Continuous Learning: Learning from someone else's journey gives you the tools to navigate your own with greater clarity and purpose. If you're looking to take the next step in your career, finding a mentor could be the game-changer you need! join us at Prop Ski 2025. #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Propski

As the year draws to a close, it is time to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and thank everybody for another exciting year. Again this year, we got to work with many new and old clients in various industries and countries. This year's standout observation was that the NATO membership and slowness in the European economy have made many companies and organizations even more curious to explore business opportunities in the North American markets. This trend has been going on for some time but has visibly accelerated. Also, the statistics support this observation as this year, the exports from Finland to the U.S. grew 7.2 percent in Jan-Aug compared to last year. The U.S. has solidified its place in Finland's top 3 trading partners. Last year, it was #1, followed by Sweden and Germany. It was a special year due to the deliveries of big cruise ships. This year, the total value of exports to the U.S. in January-August was €4.5 billion.  The new year is expected to be a busy one. It will start in Jan-Feb with the webinars highlighting opportunities in the U.S. green hydrogen production and the U.S. transportation sectors. The webinars will be followed by the second round of the Canadian housing study webinar that was presented earlier this month. Stay tuned by following our LinkedIn page! We are looking forward to the next year to work on many exciting new business development and market research projects.

I didn’t author this post where it starts with “what if”…. What I will add - as a Cross Country mom, I have witnessed many of these moments which we can use as leadership opportunities both personally and professionally. Each time I witness a runner helping an exhausted runner across the finish line Each time I hear a runner from an opposing team say “good run, I was trying to pace with you the entire race” The last runner NEVER crosses the finish line without a crowd cheering them on The genuine hugs and high fives when the runners cross the line, regardless of their time or placement. It’s a beautiful sport - I get tears in my eyes seeing the excitement and satisfaction as runners cross that line. Knowing they poured their heart into running their best race. Trust, Encourage, Respect, Believe… What if we lived life like we were all in a cross country meet? What if we watched other people and recognized that we're all just trying to get across the finish line? What if we understood that some people are running as hard as they can but battling illnesses, invisible injuries, and internal struggles? Every step is hard, but they're trying not to quit. What if we cheered for everyone even if they weren't on our team? What if we realized just finishing something, no matter how long it took us or how messy it seemed, was enough? In fact, it was a win. What if we used every race as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and how we could use each other for support, inspiration, and help to reach our goals? What if we cheered loud for the winner, but even louder for the one who comes in after because they accomplished something great, too? In a world that tells us it's about me, me, me, what if we started living to support everyone brave enough to be in the race? What if we started treating our lives like we were all in the same cross country meet? What a beautiful world that would be. Love hard.

Memorial Day Plans! What are your plans for Memorial Day? - Cooking out with friends and family? 🍔🌭 - Spending quality time with loved ones? ❤️👨👩👧👦 - Working through the holiday? 💼🛠️ - Going on a getaway? ✈️🏖️ Share your plans with us in the comments!