Personality type – what personality?

 By Angela Bensemann

Most of us think we’re pretty nice people really and get on well with everyone. But then again we can all recall times in the past where we’ve had really bad run-ins with people.

In one of my early workplaces I worked with a woman called Pam (not actually her real name).  At the time I was a young fresh-faced 20 something forging my way in my first communications role working in health.

Pam would have been in her 50s.  I can’t remember the details of what we fell out over.  It could have been when I crashed her car at the very start of a work road trip, or maybe it was that we butted heads over every single idea either of us put forward.

Whatever the reason I vividly remember my manager’s solution to repair the relationship.  He sent us away on a course together and we were sharing a room as well!

I really didn’t think it was going to go at well at all. Call it gut instinct but when I offered Pam a stick of chewing gum and she said ‘oh that sounds like fun’ (fun - how can chewing gum be fun?) I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Mucking in – the volunteer way

By Angela Bensemann

Many organisations are finding it harder and harder to get volunteers.  Sports teams often struggle to find coaches and schools find it more and more difficult to interest parents in helping out with fundraising and fairs.

Those of you who are passionate about giving back may find a way to volunteer regardless of your circumstances but let’s face it – if you are working full time it is difficult to find the time to fit in yet another commitment.  It can also be hard to find the thing that really appeals to you.

You also need to be realistic, sometimes volunteering won't be fun. Part of the challenge is to find a role that suits your personality. Jane from WorksWonders once did a stint as a Kea Scout leader and no, she's not a born leader of small, noisy boys.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of persevering to find the right thing. 

Another year over: word of the year

 

By Jane Comben

"Another year over, and a new one just begun"

It's New Year's eve and before you dash out to pick up some last minute fancy dress outfit or sparkly number of the party later, we want to wish you a very exciting and wonderful 2013.

Word of the year
If you're tired of trotting out the same old resolutions to get fit or lose weight you may be interested in another, simpler idea. I stumbled across it a few years ago and it's a word of the year. 

The general idea is to take a bit of time out to think what's important to you and what areas of your life you'd like to focus on. Then jot down a few words that feel relevant and resonate with you. From that short list, choose just one word to help guide you through your year.

For example; you're feeling overwhelmed and surrounded with clutter and you'd like to get organised. You might choose a word like 'clarity' or 'release'. If your finances are precarious perhaps ‘wealth’ or ‘adundance’ might help your focus. Want to get fit or lose weight? Then ‘health’ or ‘adventure’ might fit the bill. This blog has more information and some more word ideas.

What’s my word?
My word for 2012 was COURAGE and that’s certainly come into play this year. All the new things we’ve tried with WorksWonders have taken a bit of courage. Like running workshops, delivering presentations and getting to grips with financial plans and technology. That’s not to say it hasn’t been a lot of fun too. The payoff has been meeting some wonderful people and learning some new tricks.

And my word for 2013? I haven’t quite decided yet but I’m toying with words like ‘joy’, ‘fun’ and ‘adventure’.

So forget boring resolutions… what’s your word of the year going to be?

And on the twelfth day of Christmas

By Angela Bensemann and Jane Comben

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…’

And here it is - tomorrow is Christmas in all its shiny wrapping paper, tinselled decorations, reindeers, elves and Santa hats. For some of us Christmas is a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ, catch up with family and friends or finally get that great present we’ve been waiting for. 

Perhaps you don’t celebrate Christmas at all but embrace the few days off work, the sales in the shops and the excuse to eat and drink as much as you like for a few days without criticism.

Whatever you are doing these holidays, whether It’s mid-winter or summer, make sure it’s a safe one and keep your eye on what really matters.

 

Here’s our top 12 loves of Christmas:

• Getting together with family and friends
• Christmas carols
• Tinsel and wrapping paper
• Twinkly lights
• Chocolates and mince pies
• Thoughtful presents
• Pohutakawa trees in bloom
• The lyrics to ‘Grandma got run over by a reindeer’
• BBQing (often as not in the rain)
• The favourite uncle falling asleep after a few beers
• Time off work
• And last but not least a good excuse to eat whatever you like

Merry Christmas from Angela and Jane at WorksWonders.

WorksWonders – the first year 2012

By Angela Bensemann

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun 

 (John Lennon)

This time last year Jane and I were at a cross roads.  Should we take the plunge and launch WorksWonders or should we flag it and spend our time and energy on our existing businesses?

We didn’t even know what WorksWonders was back then.  We knew we wanted to help women on their endeavours towards a better work/life balance as others had helped us on ours. But we didn’t know how we would achieve this.

We did have an overriding motivator though.  That was that we did not want to get to this Christmas and say – “oh I wish we’d given it a go”.  We wanted to be able to say – “we gave it a go and this is what we learnt/got out of it”.

Letters to Santa

By Julia Anderson, marketing and communications consultant - oh, and letter writer

Check out any website about career development, family life or work-life balance and you’ll find many references to goal-setting. For me, goal-setting was always like scripting an annual letter to Santa: Write your list, post it up the chimney and wait to see what turns up.

Boy, did I get my comeuppance the other day, though!

While sorting out the files on my computer, I came across a document entitled ‘Visioning’. I double-clicked to open it, and...  BOOM! There was my list of four very specific, detailed and measurable goals. And not your wimpy ones either. They were Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals: My five-year plan, in fact, due to expire within four months.

Have I achieved them? Mostly, yes. Three out of four are progressing rather well.  And I’ve done it not by closing my eyes, crossing my fingers and singing ‘Jingle Bells’; but by taking small, practical and manageable steps on a consistent basis.

·        I now own my own home (not the swish, architect-designed townhouse that I envisioned, but a modern low maintenance place with a glimpse of the harbour and lovely neighbours)

·        I’ve achieved the work-life balance that I craved. My goal was to work nine months a year and take three months off. I haven’t quite got the three months running consecutively yet, but that’s the next step.

·        I’ve found love again. I’m not saying it’s all a walk in the park: But I had my heart rate checked recently at the gym and when the fitness consultant asked me how my partner was doing, my pulse rate increased. That’s not too shabby, is it?

Live long and prosper

By Angela Bensemann

In all my planning and goal setting I never stopped to consider the most impressive milestone of all – turning 100.  That is until I attended my first ever 100^th birthday in November.

Now I’m not sure it ever entered my mind before that one could reach that magical age. My husband’s Grandfather is the only person I know to have achieved this goal and it got me wondering about what changes he’s seen during his time.

The year was 1912 and a lot was happening. The Titanic sank with 1500 lives lost.  The formica kitchen worktop was invented as too was the electric blanket, the zipper and traffic lights.

Top of the pops was ‘When Irish eyes are smiling’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’. The kewpie doll was first produced along with ‘Life Saver’ lollies (sweets) and heated hair straighteners.

Scott and his party made it to the South Pole (but not back again), the Republic of China was founded and the first neon advertising light appeared in Paris.