Miina Koponen-Eskola’s Post

During a weekend getaway, I found myself in a familiar but frustrating situation - stuck behind a massive truck on a single lane road. With cars speeding by in the opposite direction and the truck’s huge frame blocking my view, I had no way of knowing when it was safe to overtake. Every time I thought I might have a window, another vehicle would zoom by, and the truck’s presence made it impossible to judge the right moment. Then I noticed something: the truck driver had been signaling with his hand all along. At first, his palm was flat, clearly saying, “Don’t even think about it!” But after a while, his fingers started waving back and forth, giving me the green light to overtake. I took his cue, passed the truck safely, and gave him a thumbs up in appreciation. He waved back, and I drove on, smiling. As the rest of the drive passed uneventfully, I started thinking about that moment and realized it held a valuable lesson, especially in our day-to-day work lives. - For those in senior roles, guiding the people ‘behind’ you is just as important as hitting your own milestones. You’ve been through challenges and obstacles, but that doesn’t mean your team has to struggle the same way. Just like the truck driver used his vantage point to guide me, use your experience to help others navigate the path ahead. Let them know about the potential roadblocks they might not see yet, and when it’s time, give them that signal to go ahead, to accelerate their learning, and take on new opportunities. - For those rising through the ranks, never take guidance and mentorship for granted. Acknowledge and appreciate the support you get, whether it’s from a senior colleague or a mentor who helped you avoid a career misstep. Sometimes a simple "thank you" or recognition goes a long way. You may not always see it, but people notice when you appreciate their efforts, no matter how small. In the end, building a positive work culture, fostering strong values, and creating a sense of belonging all come down to mutual respect and support. It’s a two-way street - just like that winding road with the truck :)

Summer Holidays for a corporate employee... . . Got a break for a week while I'm switching my job luckily that too in Summer. It felt like summer holidays to me. Instead of travelling I decided to stay at home and spend some time upon myself. *Stopped using Social Media- Instagram and Snapchat. *Did yoga for more time than regular time. *Started Boxing- Not to punch someone though. *Resumed old habit of reading books- For someone who is agnostic and trying to understand different religions in the world, Origin by Dan Brown would be a good one. *Got back to cycling- When I ride it after a long time, this seems more fun than bike. Was riding like 12-15kms a day and unknowingly I was singing- "Bole Jo Koyal Bagon mein!! " all the way. . . So Did I achieve anything out of this? Or will everything change from now on? Maybe nothing will happen. That's the point. In life everyone trains us to be something buy try to be nothing- it provides a space for something. People ask me "What did you learn by spending time in spiritual place? " I used to day "nothing"- Only those who understand the meaning of "nothing" can get it. In my experience 9to5 Job is not boring. It gave me freedom and gave me time for myself, and I got space to explore new things in life. I'm not utilizing it-That's a different story though😅 . . And this time I realized few things which I was doing wrong or things which are not required to be done in next job. One thing is, this time I want to be Silent - Back to basics. Want to pickup the character of "Talks only with eyes". Not sure if I can do it in corporate life. **********

Could You Be Thankful for What You Have? Hey fam, it’s #Friday o! The close of another work week. Maybe you set out to meet some #deadlines, close #deals, complete a #training, execute a #project, or even start a new job. Congrats if you smashed your weekly #goals! But let's pause a bit and be grateful for what we have and what we achieved this week. Here’s a quick list to appreciate: - Your #Job: It might not be the best pay, but at least you get something to hold body and soul together. - #Family and #Friends: The people wey sabi you, your own personal people. - #Colleagues: You have people to share the workload and make the day lighter. - Your #Education: Even if you no get job yet, being a graduate is no small thing o. - Health: Being able to waka go #work in good #health is a blessing. This is your reminder to deliberately be #thankful for all you have as you strategize for another work week. Cheers to a great weekend and a productive week ahead!

Today marks my two-year anniversary in the corporate realm, and it has been a journey filled with valuable lessons and significant growth. At the start of my career, I was forced to resign from my high-paying first job. The desperation to get another job as quickly as possible got me an amazing opportunity but at a huge pay cut. (Not a sob story). This opportunity proved to be a stepping stone towards learning, work life balance and rebuilding my profile. After a rigorous year of learning and delivering targets, I grabbed the next best opportunity with open arms to grow at par with my skill set and qualifications. Contrary to the conventional idea of stability, 2 years and 3 companies later, I learnt a few more things apart from B2B Sales of course: 1. Your health, peace of mind and family time is a priority. Learn to establish work life balance. 2. Your qualification is not enough! You'll get good money and great opportunities if you have the right skill set with qualifications. 3. You need to believe in the company and their product/service to be able to work towards mutual success. Choose your company wisely. 4. Cannot emphasize enough on this- consistently build your skills and experience in a domain/ industry you feel confident, interested and passionate about. CTC will follow. 5. Have short term and long term goals to excel in your professional life and consciously work in the direction which leads to its attainment. I learnt and practiced it all in 2 years. Am I at a better place today compared to 2 years ago? Hell Yes! P.S. my career journal.

Exactly one year ago today, I landed in the UK for the first time away from my country✈️. The journey since has been a mix of challenges and growth, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the experiences that shaped me into who I am today. Starting off, I missed my family and all familiar faces. But through time, I learned the importance of building a strong network 🤝, surrounding myself with positive people who were themselves focussed on personal growth and pushed others towards development as well while staying away from the wrong crowd. From learning how to cook my own meals 👨🍳 and doing grocery runs 🛒, to navigating public transport 🚌 with no personal vehicle, I slowly adapted to this new life. Somehow i managed to break into bartending where i learned drink mixology that later became one of my area of interest as well. Managing part-time bartending shifts 🍻 along with my studies helped me earn a little extra, while keeping me grounded. Despite the hurdles, I managed to attend my lectures 📚, score well on my assignments 📝, and stay committed to my goals. Attending career events and networking sessions helped me shape my future career path as well. 🚀I even picked up new hobbies like learning to play the guitar 🎸 and singing 🎤, which slowly became escape from the real life stress. Along the way i learnt there is no one in this world who is going to help you go up the stairs. You'll have to learn that yourself step by step. There were times when i had no one to talk to and share myself up with but instead of choosing wrong paths, i learnt to endure everything that's coming my way. May be its God's plan to make you stronger and be ready for great things that he has planned for you. Trust the process. Today, as I reflect on the past year, I’m proud of the growth and resilience I’ve built along the way. Here’s to many more milestones ahead 🙌✨! #UKJourney #PersonalGrowth #Networking #Resilience #StudentLife #CareerDevelopment

🌟 Day Two in the Books! A Few Reflections 🌟 To be honest, I was a bit nervous about starting this new chapter. 😦 Not in an "oh no, I'm not sure this was the right decision" or "I'm not sure I can deliver on my new responsibilities" way, but like a "this is exciting" feeling, with a tad of nervousness about how everything would play out. And those feelings are pretty normal, I'd guess 😉 I'm not a shy guy, I love a challenge - and I don't normally tend to get nervous about too much in generel... but it's still a whole new country and a completely different role and team. 😬 I'll allow it. HOWEVER, after just two days, it already feels like I’ve been here for a long time. Definately a lot longer than just two days! 😎 Staying within the same organization definitely has its perks, even though a new role always means embracing change, being open, a lot of listening, and absorbing a lot of new information. A few of my first impressions 👇 🤝 The Team: I am working with incredibly talented colleagues who have high ambitions and a proven track record for delivering results. 💖 The Culture: A collaborative and dynamic environment that fosters growth and creativity. 🎯 Exciting Projects: There are so many exciting projects underway that I can’t wait to dive into and develop further. For now, my primary focus is on building new relationships, understanding the dynamics, and prioritizing tasks that make the most sense to tackle first, in collaboration with my team of course. And that's actually not completely easy for me, especially since I tend to want to do everything at once. 🤣 So one step at time it is.. 👞 The first days have gone really well, and the commute over the bridge each day wasn’t as daunting as I had feared. The next few days promise even more insights and visits with colleagues. And on Friday morning, I’ll be starting my summer vacation, recharging for the work that awaits on the other side. 🤗 🙏 Thankful for the awesome welcome I've received, it really makes a huge difference! And I'm still as excited about the future as I was before yesterday. #LifeAtSecuritas #Reflections #NewBeginnings

October is turning out to be a special month with two things to celebrate. One, it is my birthday month and two, it has been a year since I made the big leap and relocated to a new country. Relocating to a new country for work was a major life decision and has been both exciting and challenging. Here are some key lessons that I have learnt so far: 🍂 Things will be different, from language to cultural norms, food, and even basic routines. Being open to change and being flexible in my approach has made the transition smoother. 🍂 Adapting quickly to a new work culture has helped me establish rapport with my colleagues and integrate better into the team. 🍂 Learning even a few basics of the local language has made a big difference in how easily I can navigate daily life. 🍂 There will be challenges—whether it's learning a new job or navigating the city. Accept that it takes time to adjust, and don’t be hard on yourself for not knowing everything right away. 🍂 Engaging with the local culture has helped me feel more connected to the place and has turned the experience into one of personal growth, not just career advancement. 🍂 Being away from family and friends can be tough. It's natural to feel homesick or to miss familiar things, so it’s essential to stay connected with loved ones back home. 🍂 Some of the most memorable parts of living in a new country will be the unexpected discoveries and surprises. Being open to these new experiences can make the relocation enriching. 🍂 Mistakes will happen, and you’ll likely face challenges you didn’t anticipate. Embracing these as learning experiences can help you grow both professionally and personally. Relocating for work can be a life-changing experience, and it’s an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. The more open you are to the journey, the more rewarding it will be! 'Njut av resan' meaning 'Enjoy the journey' in Swedish😀

Exciting times Jessi Dent, and we are thrilled it went so well. Great to have you on board at Effective Business Management Ltd and see your dedication to your growth and skill development across all levels, especially when it comes to our long-standing partnership with UK ICF. Thank you for being such a valuable asset to the team 💜 #teamdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #workplacelearning #skillsdevelopment #learninganddevelopment #growthmindset #futureofwork #EBM #outsourcing #outsourcingsolutions #businessgrowth Steve Hancock

Last weekend was about spending time with my family. I don't know about you, but the older I get, the faster I feel time passes by. We should appreciate our time with our little ones, because they won't be so little anymore. In our fast-paced careers, it’s too easy to let these precious moments slip by. Maintaining a balance between work and family life is crucial for our wellbeing. It’s about finding the right balance in our responsibilities and pleasures, ensuring we don’t lose sight of what true matters in life. So, here's a gentle reminder to all of us chasing deadlines and performance metrics: let's not forget to pause, breathe, and immerse ourselves in the joy and love that family time offers. It's in these moments that we find the strength to be our best selves, both at home and in our careers.

Wish you all a successful new work week. Allow me to use a simple but profound educational story from Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 which puts this new work week in a better prospective for me. The author begins by saying; "There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a POOR WISE man, and he by his WISDOM delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s WISDOM IS DESPISED, and his words are not heard." The sad reality is that our world is full of poor wise men! Do you see how this story ends? No matter how knowledgeable you are, if your wisdom doesn't translate into visible value, you will surely be despised and taken for granted. In all that we do this new week, be reminded to set clear goals, make a well thought out plan, and put in the work to produce great values. Form teams and work with like-minded people. Life never promises you a tomorrow, so work hard while you can. Above all, put God first in everything you do. Be a producer and not a consumer this new week. Stay blessed. Rufuson Genesis Yonjaye