FLYING HIGHER!

Getting the best of 2010 by Robin Sharma

2009-12-21T18:15:00.002+02:00

I sometimes get quite useful things on my inbox, here is a new thing to evaluate your 2009 year and make it even more sucessful in 2010 by Robin Sharme. Will do that for myself. What has been the top moments of 2009 you are proud of?

THE #1 SKILL OF SUPER SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

Hi Aigerim,

We're just about done 2009. On January, 1, 2010, you get a fresh 365 days. A new chance. To create the single best year of your life to date. Most will waste this opportunity and make the new year a repeat of the one just past. Sad. But true. But a few will wake up to the possibility and do 7 things that will ensure 2010 is the most unforgettable twelve months they have experienced yet. Want to be one of the fortunate few? Here's what to do:

Step #1: Evaluate 2009. Do a written story recording what went well this past year and, even more importantly, what areas you could improve on. Also list all your wins and as many high points as you can recall. Get a clear picture of how you showed up.

Step #2: Set Your Theme. Come up with a theme for 2010. It may be "The Year of Financial Freedom" or "The Year of Work Excellence" or "The Year of Fearlessness". But get a theme into a document you can start reviewing every week.

Step #3: Create a Mission. The next step is to develop a one paragraph mission statement and put it into this document. Clarity precedes mastery so the more clear your ultimate mountaintop for 2010 is, the greater your focus will be. And the most positive results you'll see.

Step #4: List Your Big 5. OK, now ask yourself this powerful self-coaching question: "What 5 things need to happen between now and December 31, 2010 for this to have been the single most successful year of my life to date?" Write down those five goals as simply and clearly as possible into this document.

Step #5: Sequence Your Big 5. Now break your Big 5 down into quarterly goals. Set 5 core goals for the first/second/third and fourth quarters of 2010 to ensure you nail your Big 5. Review these every week. Reflect on them everyday if you really want to win. Make these strategic objectives the sole focus of your life.

Step #6: Refocus Every Morning. Life's job is to distract you. Your job is to stay staggeringly focused on what's most important. Take 15 minutes during your morning resetting period to reflect on your goals, to envision your best moves and to track out a day that's productive, passionate and fun.

Step #7: Get Devoted to Learning. The #1 skill of super successful people is that they are relentless learners. While others are wasting time on low-value websites or watching mindless reality tv shows, they are listening to audio programs, studying books on leadership and success and basically creating a rich, beautiful and meaningful life. As you journey through each day of 2010, make the time to fuel your brain with ideas on excellence and creating your absolute best. Nothing's more important than that. And please remember that all it takes is a single idea to transform the way you lead and how you live.

P.S. To help you shatter your previous limits and play full out in 2010, my team has carefully put together a special "Make 2010 Your Best Yet" audio package at a great holiday price. Download it instantly.Click here for details.

In Leadership,

Robin

@ Estonia reaching it's suXess! :)

2009-12-09T18:00:00.003+02:00

That's really great, how my lovely AIESEC Estonia, which I do care a lot as an AIESEC country and members who are making it grow, has reached 50+ exchanges in 2009. That's not just "one more" achievement that members and alumnus have to celebrate individually or small teams, or just say "great" and forget in a day, but that's smth everybody has to be proud of and open all together the champaign for it! :) This result hasn't been reached for 5 years!

As a person who was last term responsible for exchange area, I'm so much happy for that, you can't imagine! :) I remember, how last term together with our MC team we got the country in quite "sad mood", especially talking about exchange and how it took us and me personally quite a time to build processes in place and make members "dream big" and by their hard work prove that they can do things, that no one had done before. Made them proud leaving their terms happy and not saying only "ohh, we were learning"... What I see now, it's continuing and growing even bigger - great job for everyone on leadership positions!

So here is the video from our MC team congratulating organization with such success! :) That was a great reunion for our MC to make it too :) Lovely!

We're born alone...

2009-12-07T19:47:00.005+02:00

...

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship we can create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone...

...

That's the phrase of my past weeks or already a month. Somehow strange, but the autumn stresses are coming up to me again, well - it's winter already. Yeah, I'm claiming to the weather, which can't be influenced... Understood again, that I'm a person who can be deeply subjected to the changes in personal feelings and mood. I'm too complex. I have the days when I just sit at home and can start crying... Crazy, ha? I can feel useless... Don't wanna talk to anyone, meet friends, rejecting any proposals... Alone. That doesn't affect anyone around, just myself.

People like to wear masks, so I do.

And recently I understood... I lost one important part of "me" - my soul mate. Yes. I never liked to bother anyone with my personal worries and I don't wanna do that now. We are just forgetting each other and that's all. Whatever. I won't open my heart to anyone else anymore...

That's the post for not making you cheering me up. No need. Don't be sorry as well. Just leave me.

Beautiful life

2009-11-16T17:52:00.004+02:00

Yes, no worries, I'm alive and my blog which I was managing I think quite well while living in Estonia will be living soon again. Due to several reasons I don't do it properly, where I think that "I can't look on the computer after working days" is the main reason for that. Even on weekend don't open it, however checking personal emails, sending twitter updates, facebook mainly with my mobile device and it's enough for me. However, will try to do my best :)

But here are quickly about current status for start-up.

My current sickness

From yesterday night I got terribly sick - got angene I think for the last couple of years not having it and today even visited doctor, so staying at home healing myself and working from home too. But today feeling much better already.

My lovely job

Yes, it still remains to be my lovely job - working at Nokia and I'm really-really happy that decision was taken right. It's sometimes quite tough and complicated in terms of managing many different things at once, but I think I do my best with all of that and still learning. I noticed, there are always different weeks with various activities to do, coordinate, manage and I'm so much happy that it's never becomes a routine!

My apathy

However, recently I started to feel lonely. Yes, stupid feeling you say - so many friends, I'm at home etc. It gets me depressed that in personal life apart of job nothing being changed, all the time the same way of spending time with friends, same talks that get me tired, everything gets standard - time to differentiate... In Estonia that's for sure was more exciting - it's still good to be a foreigner abroad with good international community - people love to explore new things and places! :) Ei-ole-manana, that's for you! :)

"Not nice explorations" on KZ

Since I came back home I got used very fast to the way of living here and everything seemed to be normal and I really enjoy. However, recently I experienced by personal experience again the very well known bureaucracy of Kazakhstan - long story, but the main conclusion after such situations that the country isn't made "for people", but still remains to be the big engine of proceeders, tons of approvals, signatures, decisions stuck in different people, who don't want to move their "nice a**es" to help you. And when you try to fight with this structure, it gets painful and not all manage to dig till the end. However, I did it.

Also, a while ago, our government accepted the changes in law on Mass Media, where they added Internet as the media "to be coordinated". As recently we had some cases when opposition run abroad, chairmen of famous local banks run away due to debts, budget thefts (which they don't accept for sure) etc., then the access to their personal blogs on LifeJournal and Blogger was closed. So I didn't have access to my blog as well... Now somehow it has been opened. That's how our government solves issues, stupid... Ohhh, I think I shouldn't be writing it :)

My Ielts preparation

Yes, for almost 2 months I'm attending Ielts course preparation to finally submit the English proficiency test. I thought that I could manage on my own with preparation, but understood that it's impossible. So hope will submit it in January to finally have the paper in case I plan to do my long planned Master abroad.

So, that's all from my side. See you soon and hope the posts will be more practical next time :)

My NOKIA experience

2009-09-09T13:33:00.002+03:00

For most of you, who are reading my blog it isn’t a news that I started to work for NOKIA and it has been already more than a month since I started. The way I entered the company maybe isn’t smth incredible for an active aiesecer whom the alumnus “notice” on the right time and offer the right professional opportunity. Yes, one of AIESEC Almaty alumnus who has been like me an LCP around 10 years ago offered me the position at NOKIA. In Almaty it’s represented as head-quarter for Central Asia, Caucasus and Mongolia countries and I’m doing marketing together with alumni, who is Head of Marketing. Even we are responsible for 9 countries, we have only 11 people working in our office, so you can imagine that my responsibilities are quite on the high-level. Well, for now I’m in the process of integration still, but doing I think quite well…

As you see I’m working in Marketing area and my role is Retail and Customer Marketing management, which is a very new role for me, as I graduated my bachelor in Financial management. New role, despite my some marketing working experience in Saatchi&Saatchi ads company several years ago, 5 years of AIESEC experience which as I see very much correlated meaning the soft mngmt, like project mngmt etc. and my financial risk management experience in PMK.

Like a student I’m learning a lot about marketing in technology company, positioning of its products – mobile phones and new services, relations with ads and media companies, communications with various audiences, merchandising as well, being up to date on hi-tech news and tons of other things which surprise me a lot every day. Like a newie in this business I seem very naïve and sometimes ask silly questions, which make my boss smile :D

And I love this feeling of learning and getting to know absolutely new things. For now I see that the skills which I gained in AIESEC do help me a lot in the matter of:

· understanding quite quickly the main dimensions of business in NOKIA in different markets we operate;

· adopting very well to new working environment and communication with various people;

· not being afraid to start and to be responsible for absolutely new things;

· having the general professional attitude towards things like projects preparation, presentations etc.

And sure, the BIG LOVE towards things you are doing, company and it’s products that I’ve been loyal to myself for many years. I got used to that in AIESEC – work for the things you love and this way every day and week pass very fast.

That’s the best thing happening to me I could imagine after my MC in Estonia year… Really.

Yes and I have travels to our regions too! :) I’ve been in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan already which are the neighbors of KZ, but somehow I’ve never been there. And this week – Georgia and Armenia and again Uzbekistan! :)

But I’m still in the process of understanding what I’d like to do parallel – I have some thoughts on volunteering again (not connected to AIESEC) and as well about my next steps, as my role is until April 2010 – AIESEC internship after that is very preferred and then what – Master abroad? Well, I’m already afraid of creating the plans, as you never know what future’ll bring you… Like for me, who planned to go abroad right away after MC in Estonia and then dropped from the perspective AIESEC internship in Kraft Foods ‘cause of NOKIA offer.

Stay tuned.

Nokia Windows-based notebook launch

2009-08-25T13:40:00.001+03:00

Here you are - finally :)

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/08/24/nokia-launches-windows-based-notebook/

Trip back home to KZ

2009-08-17T07:26:00.013+03:00

This posting I prepared for several weeks already, but somehow couldn’t manage to post it… Here is finally :D

***

I haven’t been posting anything for a month here, so here I am writing you about the changes happened in my life for the past 3 weeks since I left Estonia.

My very last days in Tallinn were just great and full of last Bye-bye meetings and parties with many nice words from people whom I’ve been working with for a year and just spending nice time together. Honestly to say, I wasn’t willing much to go home not knowing what’s waiting for me there and what are the next steps will I take coming back home.

It has been a great year which mostly contributed to my personal development and impacting on what I’m interested in, getting to know my inner self more and proving again that I’m the person who is always thirsty for success and whatever it takes – I will reach it. This year AIESEC Estonia has grown up in exchange realizations for 95-100% which is the biggest result for the past 3 years and 2 terms and I believe that with our team we have created a great platform for next year’s development and I’m really proud of it. Many people also told me that I’ve been the most successful international MC member – I don’t know whether it’s true, but I can see by the end of the year how much respect, appreciation and even sincere friendship and love people were showing to me and that’s even valuable in Estonian culture, as people aren’t naturally warm by characters and reserved, that’s why it always takes time to gain the positivity and respect. I can say many appreciation words and praise for the year’s results, but for sure, they aren’t “empty” ones – there is a huuuge work behind, believe of all our team.

And of course, I can’t forget our international Ei-ole-manana group whom I was spending mostly my free time and who in certain moments were the ones, saving me from stresses, loneliness and bad moods. And of course, the best ever parties were there!!!

I will be missing the people there for sure and maybe even the life-style I had over the year… So many people came to my Bye party in the last evening and seeing me off to the train Tallinn-Moscow. Wow… I was shocked.

I’ve spent couple of days in Moscow on the way to Kazakhstan with Nailusha – my best friend whom I am all the time missing and who is the person I’m ready to go to any corner of the world. Vova, also thanks for treating me so well! :D And yes, I owed you the chocolate, I know!

Yes, I’m back home already since 6 July when I reached Astana city where my parents live. Some of you know that I made a surprise for them as I was expected to arrive some days later and by plane, but I took an exciting trip by train from Moscow – 2 full days and 3 nights. I believe these things you can do only when you are still young or already getting old J Something to remember always…

It has been funny how my parents in the first days for sure were taking care of me but then the questions about the next plans – “enough, be at home”, personal life – even marriage, started. OMG! After 3 days I wanted already to leave… And I left.

I thought that I will have some re-integration issues and even the reverse cultural shocks (as always I was preparing our Estonian interns for that after they came back from exchange), but nope… Nothing until now and I don’t know if it’s gonna happen at all. I think it happened because after Astana I attended the Kazakh wedding of my best friend in one eastern city, where all the best and positive cultural sides of our people were shown. I have also got to know “out-of-AIESEC” people, whom I was explaining in “another” language what I was doing in Estonia and what are my plans. I didn’t know what to say, as I didn’t really know what will I do after coming back to my city… Great nature around – a lot of mountains and lakes, warm culture, familiar language, positive emotions…

I’m back in Almaty and until now all the evenings are booked with meeting my friends – some of them live and work in Almaty, some – just came here for holidays and already left. Very nice. Basically doing nothing and just resting.

I’ve also went to mountains trip with AIESEC Almaty members and again I felt in love how my city’s nature is beautiful and charming! We almost reached the 3000 m top!

Yes and in the end – my ESTONIA memories that integrated to my daily life at home…

Last week

2009-06-24T18:27:00.011+03:00

Time of saying goodbyes to many dare to me people and capturing my experiences with the learning moments in Estonia is painfully coming day by day... I have the very last week to be here. Nothing really special to say until now, as any kind of person who has the certain time left to live in the country you love and not knowing when you’ll be back, I’m trying to enjoy the most sunny Estonian summer, having fun and adventures with my international and Estonian friends, completing my imaginary “to-do” list, picturing in my memory certain places in the Tallinn Old Town that I love, buying one by one presents to my family and friends, saying already goodbyes and “see you one day” words…

Here are some of the highlights of my past weeks

Trip to Oslo to visit Deniss - 4-8 June. And I fell truly in love with this city!

Trip to Saaremaa island for weekend with my international friends - 20-22 June 2009

What’s next I still don’t know and currently in the process of creating my future paths, but definitely I still don’t want to loose the independent life-style I’m already got used here so much. Also looking forward to see my parents and friends, who are passionately waiting for me at home and I’m already imagining our long-hours talks about how things were changed since I left home and me, telling the stories, of how I fell in love with Estonia and my one-year life here.

I think my next post I will already write from home country Kazakhstan… And I have a long trip to go there...

Living abroad gives you a creative edge

2009-05-31T00:23:00.002+03:00

Living abroad gives expats greater creativity in problem solving, according to new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. In an experiment, researchers gave subjects a box of tacks, a candle, and some matches. The subjects were asked to fix the candle to the wall in such a way that, when it was lit, no wax would drip onto the floor. Sixty percent of expats could solve the problem, versus 42 percent of those who’d never lived abroad. Another experiment asked subjects to draw an alien creature. Those who hadn’t lived abroad returned fairly ordinary creatures which closely resembled Earthbound lifeforms. Those who had lived abroad — well, see for yourself. It’s not just that more creative people are predisposed to living overseas; the study’s authors isolated personality traits known to be associated with creativity, and controlled for their presence or absence in their subjects. It’s the process of adapting to a new culture that seems to drive the creativity boost.

Published by FREAKONOMICS

Entrepreneurs can change the world

2009-05-26T21:43:00.001+03:00

Love this video :)

Bitter tears for the Dreams

2009-05-23T16:21:00.007+03:00

This week has been quite terrible in terms of bad news I have been getting day to day, where the level of emotions was jumping from one to another and in the end made me to re-think everything what I'm striving for now, how well I'm keeping the relationships with people close to me and just listen to my own heart on what it says. Stop... Sit down... Reflect...

This week has been a week, when Dreams of certain people don't come true... It can be the influence of someones decision of being "not the way you planned" and wanted... Or the worst thing, that universe made the situations happen the way, that your life stops... and all your dare dreams shut down in a single moment.

This week my personal dream wasn't fulfilled as I wasn't selected for the role I was striving for a longer period of time. Sure, there are always people who are also dreaming about it together with you and in the end, they turned to be the most suitable for that. And you, feeling sad and confused, that your plans were basically ruined, are trying to reflect what was wrong and how can you learn from this experience... In the very end, it was a great process of learning for you... And then tons of people are saying, that "everything happens by purpose", "something good should happen to you soon" or the sentences starting with "at least, you ..." And everything goes fine again. You believe.

Dreams are always crushing when they don't come true. But it's the simple dreams that are often the most painful because they seem so personal, so reasonable, so attainable. You're always close enough to touch, but never quite close enough to hold and it's enough to break your heart.

The next day this dream already didn't matter for me at all, as I understood how selfish it was for me that time again to leave my family and close relatives for a year again, not turning back home and again spending less time with them than I should. That moment I understood that the life may happen the way, that some of them I wont see in my life anymore...

When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory of hours when we loved not enough.

I have been crying twice during my year here... During the times when I was feeling stressed in late autumn, alone and not understanding how the things I was currently doing contributing to my development, also missing my home and friends... That time was a big self-reflection time for me and in the end that was smth needed for me.

This week I was crying the second time, but due to a different occasion... Even worst I could ever imagine in my life now... I got the news about one of my youngest cousins who`s life has been stopped by the car accident due to the mistake of a total stranger. I know that he was dreaming a lot like his sisters to study and work in Almaty, my hometown, and he made the first step for that entering the university there and almost finishing his 1st year there. He had had his own dreams, ambitious or not... He was one of the ones, whom we can call like "golden child" in the family, whom everyone adores and takes care of... And he was one of my loveliest cousins too.

And now... you can imagine... Many times in our lives we cant influence the occasions, but maybe knowing that, we can prevent it next time, being more watchful with our own lives... It was pretty hard to be far from my family and close relatives, when they were all together and you cant physically be with them... What I could do is just call and say my words of condolence to his parents... Talk to my mum and say that she doesn't need to worry about me and going to be back home very soon... Being not a religious person myself I felt that I need to be in some spiritual place, where I could at least show "him" my feeling and how I do care... And i went to the orthodox church to put the candle for his soul and express my inner feelings, how I still love him and will remember always... That has been the first time in my life when I thought that it will be right thing to do, is to go to the church... I don't know why and cant explain... I think we still as human beings believe, that there should be "someone" through whom many things can be explained and passed...

Will be missing you a lot, my dear Zhenis...

You'll get over it...' It's the clichés that cause the trouble. To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve over is not erased by anyone but death. This hole in my heart is in the shape of you and no one else can fit. Why would I want them to?

EuroVision 2009 Winner!

2009-05-17T01:30:00.005+03:00

Alexander Rybak - Fairytale

Years ago, when I was younger,
I kinda liked a girl I knew.
She was mine, and we were sweethearts
That was then, but then it’s true

I’m in love with a fairytale,
even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed.

Every day we started fighting,
every night we fell in love
No one else could make me sadder,
but no one else could lift me high above

I don’t know what I was doing,
when suddenly, we fell apart
Nowadays, I cannot find her
But when I do, we’ll get a brand new start

I’m in love with a fairytale,
even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed

She’s a fairytale
Yeah…
Even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed

And Estonia was also awesome! Love the performance a lot...

Urban Symphony "Rändajad"

kõrbekuumuses liiva

lendab kui jääkülma lund

öö peagi laotamas tiivad

rändajaid saatma jääb tuul

see on tee

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva

see on tee

nad rändavad siis ajast aega

see on tee

ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb

nende tee

ta ootab kui riskida julged

külmunud hingi vaid saadab

kuuvalgus varje neist loob

päikesekiirena sooja

hommik taas endaga toob

see on tee

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva

see on tee

nad rändavad siis ajast aega

see on tee

ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb

nende tee

ta ootab kui riskida julged

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva

nad rändavad siis ajast aega

ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb

ta ootab kui riskida julged

üle mägede taevasse kaigub hääl

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva

nad rändavad siis ajast aega

ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb

ta ootab kui riskida julged

see on tee

Capturing the experiences

2009-05-06T00:15:00.007+03:00

Just today I came back from the last national conference of our MC team year in AIESEC Estonia and it was I’d say very emotional for us… And that’s quite natural for sure as we are almost in the end of our roads and experiences we started in June 2007. Time is passing very quickly and we have to capture the best moments of it and remember…

This has been the all-year-round intense development experience for us, but at the same time we managed to keep all our promises and achieve the ever greatest things we dreamed about before… I’m sure this year is one of the Legendary years in the history of AIESEC Estonia, which will be in the memories of many people being the year of turning many things around showing how AIESEC Estonia can be successful, changing the old mindsets by implementing new ideas that pay off in the end and the year of Growth and Professionalism. And I’m really thankful to my team experience which I had during this year with our MC and I think that’s one of the teams, about whom you say in the end “I would love to work with these guys again”… And we are all now very proud to pass the created growth platform for new generation here, which should be much better in the results and successes… I always say, that “your real impact of the year in AIESEC will come, when your successors become better than you”… And I’m quite sure, it will happen…

Everyone of us at the conference was sharing their own MC stories mostly capturing their AIESEC experiences, as most of us are finishing with the active career in the organization and looking for new challenges on how to capitalize on our personal and professional growth in AIESEC, network of contacts… For me it was for sure different experience, than other of my team mates had, being the only international in the team in AIESEC country abroad. I shared some of my reasons on why I was looking for this experience, why I’ve chosen Estonia, what I gained from it, thank you word to people I worked closely apart my team… It’s pretty hard to share now about this experience, I’m living now, as I’m sure more reflection time should come in the very end of my story here or after it… But definitely this year has been a good investment to my personal development as a whole and building myself as a person to grow individually even more in the environment that is out of my comfort zone… And I guess, I managed quite well to stay positive in the end of the road and leave the “growth footprints” to the AIESEC country, which I already consider as a home too…

But now I’m looking for the next challenges that I want to connect with my own career plans and future ambitious. And I’m already on the way of creating my path for the next year and I want to spend it abroad too… Let’s see how it works out this time. I was sharing with my friend recently in our mail correspondence, that I feel a bit strange currently and I'd say quite empty as I even don't know what's going to happen to me in the next 2 months - where I will be and what will I do... This uncertainty has been always the most uncomfortable or even sometimes scary thing for me, with what I try to deal immediately. Especially its hard to feel now, as I used to count my life by “years”, already knowing at least four months before what are my next steps…

I'm also compiling my Estonia "to-do" list as the time of pressure is coming over me and I'm trying to experience as much as I can in the last moments - visiting new places, cultural events, travelling and basically having fun with my friends here as well.

Be always cool and enjoy every moment of your life…

Even if it’s hard on the way, the final outcome will positively surprise you… Believe me…

Minu Eesti! Моя Эстония!

2009-05-01T00:51:00.002+03:00

Welcome to My Estonia!

Do you live in Estonia?

Then pack yourself a picnic lunch, throw in a couple of good ideas, grab a couple of friends and come along to one of our think tanks on May 1st!

By putting our heads together we’re bound to come up with ways to make life in Estonia even better, whether it’s in our own neighbourhoods or throughout the whole country. And we’re sure to figure out how to turn them into more than just ideas.

Are you Estonian, but not living here? Think tanks are being formed to accommodate Estonians in countries around the world, and/or you can participate on line in a virtual think tank. All others who have an interest in things Estonian are welcome, as well!

Let’s work together to make Estonia a better place!

Check! www.minueesti.ee

And it's happening tomorrow! :)

Admiring the proactivity approach

2009-04-27T01:11:00.004+03:00

“For every difficulty that supposedly stops a person from succeeding

there are thousands who have had it a lot worse

and have succeeded anyway. So can you.”

It’s late Sunday evening now. The whole day I basically spent on writing “helpful” emails, constructing project pages in myaiesec.net, sorting out the files and documents for some members of my local committee in AIESEC Almaty and new coming executive board members in particular. I took initiative on my own to just help them with their current processes, make them even better to get the expected successful outcome and gave my first hand. And they’ve responded. Somehow, I always feel myself that I’m also part of the processes which they are running and that from my wide practical experience in many areas in AIESEC, I can always help them with suggestion, some ideas, share my knowledge and network of contacts. I’m always opened to help people and just “running for it”, if they respond to my first approach… Somehow, from my current role in the organization I can observe that my eyes are starting to shine and I feel so much motivated, when I see that I can help people to perform and that they can use my expertise to succeed in their roles and they ASK QUESTIONS and FEEL CURIOUS. That’s smth I didn’t know at least a year ago, even when I was leading and managing my team of executive board in AIESEC Almaty. For me the organizational goals have been alwats the first thing.

I really appreciate people who always stay PROACTIVE and DON’T AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS in their activities and who ALWAYS GIVE A TRY. I’m trying to follow this principle in my life as well, even sometimes it causes me hours and hours of thinking and doubting and in the end, I always stay positive about the things I’ve achieved or learned. I never regret.

And I just love when this culture of being PROACTIVE – taking always the first initiative and turning ideas into immediate actions, transforms to the whole organization, when such individuals like energizers make other people to act the same and then “taste the success” all together. I feel that’s one of the healthiest organizational cultures at least every AIESEC committee should have. The culture of “no excuse”, proactivity, curiosity and big ambition… And I really adore this approach in my local committee, where I’ve taken the part of creating it last year – this AIESEC chapter is the ideal model to everyone in our global network. Really. And now people who are leading the organization now always put the higher bars to themselves and achieve it! Just looking to the current results it has now – the biggest ever recruitment of students to go abroad for summer and the toughest selection – every 4^th got an opportunity got on exchange via AIESEC, which ensures the quality of people as well, the highest ever income from corporate sector, constant growth in exchange and membership, healthy retention, ever biggest student coverage at external events and now – the final external project for AIESEC stakeholders – annual report, as the most “expensive” projects ever…

Of course, nothing comes by miracle and in getting those things the level of luck is small, but what matters – hardwork, ability to constantly learn and improve, being professional in every action and strong belief in your final goal. Keep the same level, AIESEC Almaty, and I will be always around to support you any way I can now…

And it makes me afraid as well, will it happen always? We don’t know in the long-term for sure. Current leaders matter a lot and investment in them too.

I feel right now missing of living in such an intense environment, when people don’t find excuses and don’t question, whether they should do that and afraid to fail, but always try… even taking the risks… going with the right approach towards achieving great things…

I have exactly 2 months left to live in Estonia and work for AIESEC national board here, but I don’t feel until now, that it’s the time to feel “its over”, as its somehow getting more interesting now to make the new processes work and push the organization grow till the end. It’s very interesting for me now actually understand the way we made changes in a quite short-term (one year) period within organizational processes and changed people’s mindsets in many areas towards achieving growth. And what approach I, in particular, was taking towards working with people and making everyone to do their best. For sure, there haven’t been any identified plan behind that on what work approach to take, somehow everything came naturally. The ones, who responded to my “first given hand” and were opened to changes, I’m sure got the benefit from that… The ones, who responded, but didn’t take most of the things forward, will for sure understand after some time. I hope… But I’m sure that in the end of this road I won’t regret that I didn’t do smth which I could actually. I’ve tried and worked hard and have been always opened to people, who are again curious about achieving and growing. Who are willing to do their best…

And I think it’s a good feeling, isn’t it? :)

Stay cute…

The Weekend!

2009-04-24T14:54:00.002+03:00

Can't wait for an amazing "finally party" weekend after a long time! :)

Romania snapshots

2009-04-04T13:39:00.003+03:00

Create a Free Slideshow

Surprising myself

2009-03-25T22:37:00.013+02:00

I have just came back yesterday from the AIESEC international conference in Romania, which was quite an interesting experience for me due to various reasons, as the role which I have taken there and objectives have been quite diverse than they used to be at some other internationla conferences. Yeah, it was really great to meet my friends from AIESEC Almaty and spend most of the social time at the conference with them chatting, discussing, suggesting and just to be near to one of the dearest person in my life currently. But I would say that this conference I have surprised myself personally a lot too...

Let me explain you, that couple of days ago before leaving to Romania I have decided to make an ambitious step and apply for one of the highest leadership positions in AIESEC - for AIESEC International team, the one who is supporting the global network we have in the organisation to develop and grow. This decision, as any kind of important step I decide to take in my life, has been the outcome of many thoughts on whether it's worth it for me to take this step, will I be able to manage, do I have enough competencies and many-many more. It has been a huge process of self-discovery. But one of the most important things which made me to start filling the application in, the strong support and belief in my abilities from people who are dare to me - thank you, Kristina, Nailya, Deniss... These are the ones, who always make you feel self-confident and not making the fear and doubts to come over you, becaue they know you quite well. Yes, you know that you did a good job in any role you are taking and work hard for the results too, but still all the time the process of taking the important decisions should be natural evaluating your self-motivation especially...

As I was posting some time ago, at our national conference here in Estonia I have been delivering the work-shop to our members about self-motivation and one of the key messages there was about controlling your negative thoughts and keep up the positive attitude - yes you can do that! :) And this is exactly where I have put this process in practise fighting with doubts. Here are the things which made me to decide to take this step - my past and current performance at the AIESEC Roles, my big love for the organization and it's essence, my personal competencies like determination, professionalism and entrepreneural approach, then belief in me from my friends and excitement, which they are aleady creating in case the answer is positive, and I think still sort of my uniqueness as many AIESECers in my country look on me as a role-model - the only kazakh girl from whom the AIESEC country started to be more and more visible, the one who brought AIESEC Almaty to the high leap of its development and start many new things, the first one who went to work for AIESEC abroad and many other things... And the last thing is curiousity about the process of application itself and also the way, how the team has being selected, as the elected AIESEC International President is looking very precisly for people in his team and as I see, he wants that to be a team of "high-flyers"! I'd say, that smth which hitched me up a lot too - I want to be in this team, as at least for the past 2 years I have been working with people who are professional in their own area and you never can lower the bar and level of ambitioun. I'm lovin it...

I have been thinking also about the fears I have and I think the main one is the fear of being not selected. I didn't actually think of that before, but I think that's true. In my roles in AIESEC and generally in life I have been always reaching the goals I set up for myself and any position I have been applying, I was getting it - being selected for executive board and finance responsible and later president of Almaty chapter, taking the roles of project manager during all the active years in the local committee, applying for the job as project assistant in international advertising company and recently finance internship in the global industrial company in risk-management department and getting the role of exchange responsible nationally in AIESEC Estonia - my current international experience. These experiences of applying and getting what you want, making you being used to the feeling of success. But right now, seeing the level of my ambition and people who are applying for the same role, make me being ready for another experience too. Anyways, many people told me that I have to enjoy the whole process itself and I'm already doing that. And in the end I want to create the "win-win" situation for everyone who is involved in that and no matter what, its a great process of learning... And I also know my uniqueness.

Another thing that have surprised me, is my ability of working under time pressure - wow, that's something what I discovered even more than ever! At the beginning you are sorting out everything calmly, leaving some things to be done later and think too much for every question to make it sound better, nicer, smarter etc. And then in the end when less than 24 hours left you centralize all your energy and notice how effective your brains are working generating ideas and sometimes you can't follow writing them, as the ideas are running ahead. I have been at the conference while filling my application where spent around 43 hours for that using all the possible breaks and especally nights after the sessions to finish with that and till the last hour before the deadline. Then 5 minutes before - sent... You should see my condition after that - like in the fog and hands are shaking. When was the last time you were feeling the same?

Anyways in a bit more than a week I will share with you the other thoughts here and result itself.

Feeling nervous...

4 Skills of Disciplined Leaders by Robin Sharma

2009-03-25T19:36:00.000+02:00

Hi Aigerim,

You know so well that you need no title to be a leader. You get so brilliantly that leading without a title is the real way to lead. You deeply understand that leadership isn't just a skill for business - it's a way of life. So equipped with this knowledge of who you can be and all you can do during these difficult times as a force of one, I offer 4 practical action steps:

#1. Protect Your Thinking. Fear-mongerers have come out to play amidst the meltdown of the global economic markets. The news is mostly negative. The water-cooler chat is mostly bad. The word on the street focuses on the worst that is. But what's the truth? Yes, I'll agree that these are challenging times. But I'll also say there's never been a better opportunity for you to be an excellent leader. Stay focused on the opportunities that have presented themselves to add more value to even more customers. Train your brain to block out the negative and work amidst the positive. Turn off the TV. Put away the paper. And get to work on presenting the genius that you are meant to be to the world around you.

#2. Take the long view. You will never go wrong in doing what's right. With the turmoil out there, it's easy to let go of your closely-held values and cut corners when it comes to ethics. The fast buck might look like an easy way out. A quick deal with the wrong person might look like a solution. Cutting corners on a product or service might look a little attractive. And yet, you will never regret sticking to your business and personal values - being the most ethical person you know. This tough cycle will pass. And your customers will love you for staying true to you.

#3. Outwork your competition. Hard work and constant forward movement is the formula for leveraging the difficult conditions into opportunities for greatness. I know that sounds a little "motivationalspeakerish" but I do believe it's true. Few things get you to BIW (Best in World) in the work you do as working really hard and standing for brilliance in your chosen career. Leadership is all about doing what's right rather than what's easy. And what's right is an honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

#4. Stay Strong. No point in letting the stress and challenge of these interesting days ruin your health-or break your spirit. Tough times make great leaders. Maintain the champion's mindset by reading uplifting books, associating with excellent people and making time each day to renew your self. Oh, and take good care of your health. Please. Now isn't the time to neglect daily exercise. And those who don't make time for fitness must eventually make time for illness.

Keep Leading at Wow,

R.S.

Ultimate Knowing

2009-03-03T21:27:00.003+02:00

"Confidence is a resolute state of mind by which you believe nothing is impossible." ~ Dr. John Eliot from Overachievement

You have that kind of confidence?

Good. Deep breath in. Hold the vision of what you want.

Exhale. Know you can get it.

Smile.

Repeat.

...

"Confidence is not a guarantee of success, but a pattern of thinking that will improve your likelihood of success, a tenacious search for ways to make things work." ~ Dr. John Eliot from Overachievement

The Call of Spring

2009-03-01T14:49:00.004+02:00

Today is 1 March - first day of spring! Congratulations for surviving the winter! :) Almaty in spring is the best ever season for it when the trees are becoming fresh-green, all the city is full of bright-coloured tulips and spring dandelions, you hear the birds singing more and more and of course cats start bawling at nights, sunny warm days make people to go out more for just simple waling outside! Ohh, I love my city in spring time - you can even "smell" it! :) Looking forward to experience a real spring in Tallinn too with at least sunny warm days - it's definitely beautiful this time here! :)

The Call of Spring

by Norman Schlichter

When spring begins

Again to light

Our happy world

With colors bright,

The robins all come

Back to see

How beautiful

The earth will be,

With crocus gold,

And daffodils

Lighting meadows,

Fields, and hills;

With leaves of green

And tulips gay,

And birds arriving

Every day.

Some highlights of the months

2009-02-28T19:37:00.006+02:00

ю
There are so many things happened starting from this year – some moments left on me quite big impression, some took my emotions down, irritated me, made me feel happy or sad… In order to picture them in my blog and after some time to come back to these memories and just smile, and as well share with my readers, I decided to write them down briefly adding some cute stuff also… So let’s start – 10 highlights of January and February months.

Highlight #1

I remember the feeling how I was coming back from home back to Tallinn and was afraid that it will be again hard for me to go working again with new initiatives, continue things started before etc., as Almaty routine started to absorb me. I remember also that the 1^st working week was the coolest one in terms of exchange results brought – we have realized that week the same amount of exchanges, as last years team of AIESEC and also the autumn company raising for exchange finally started to bring results. So anyhow, in my term the exchange results won’t drop as they were for the past 5 years, but grow… Yes, and for today’s quarter we have 100% growth! Cool! :) Also that time arrived the first ever AIESEC intern from Greece - Kyriaki to work for company, which I’m servicing currently from MC side.

What I’ve learned? When you put a lot of effort, in most of the times the results will come later - to create a change for sure doesn’t happen quickly, you need patience and determination. I think, I learned the same during my LCP term…

Highlight #2

For the first time in my life I started to be strict with the food consumption, as I made a promise to myself not to eat any heavy food in the evenings and also stopped consuming sugar as well. That’s very BIG THING for me, as I have never been putting restrictions to me regarding food. But now what made me to do that is the simple coordination of healthiness and control of my organism in it and… to lose the weight. Yes and I almost don’t eat meat as well… So for now it became already a habit and day by day I’m getting used to it. Yes, and I also lost some weight! :)

What I’ve learned? Self-discipline matters a lot as it’s one the tools for execution of desired vision you want to achieve and for that sometimes we have to sacrifice our dare habits and even our personal passions (like passion for sweets and chocolate).

Highlight #3

For these months we have been organizing quite many movie evenings with my international friends here and I’m also visiting the European movie evenings every Thursday (of course for free) and the most coolest ones were “Slumdog Millionaire”, the Indian movie which got 8 Oscar awards, and “The Method” – Spanish HR psychological thriller and just recently in the cinema – “The curious case of Benjamin Button”- also the winner of Oskar in “Achievement in Visual Effects”. I think that I watched for these 2 months more movies than for the whole last year!

What I’ve learned? You may get a lot of inspiration for yourself from watching the movies. Its like reading someone’s blog or book.

Highlight #4

Yeah, for the first time here I went to dentist and then regretted that didn’t visit mine personal at home when I was there for a new year holidays, as the prices have surprised me quite much :) Yes, that were and are going to be my unexpected expenses, which I have to take into consideration while planning my next month budget. One more thing I understood, that I have to eat less chocolate as I think its one of the reasons of my urgent visit to the doctor. But I like dentists, they have never been harming me much and got used to visiting them, as having quite sensitive teeth. J Who else likes dentists?

What I’ve learned? If you go abroad for longer period, always have check-in with the doctors in your country, as it might be influencing not only the financial situation, but for sure the prediction of any illnesses you might have or have predisposition for. Yes and don’t eat much chocolate like me :)

Highlight #5

You won’t believe – I was in the ARMY! :) Yeah, it was 24 hours of living in one of the military battalions in south Estonia – Võru town, called Kuperjanov battalion. It has been like a team building for AIESEC Tartu LC where quite many members went there and some MC members including me. “Aika, you are ALSO going to the army?!” That was a typical question, as for sure I would be the only foreigner there trying to understand, what’s the hell the commander is telling? :) But it was really cool experience even not understanding most of the things, I learned the typical commands, members were translating me and just on my own some things I could figure out on my own, what’s needed to do. We learned what does it mean to be a soldier by I think the most simple things, like how to make up a bed and at least 6 times did it, marching, morning wake up at 5.55 and being ready in 5 minutes for gymnastics and run, eating the soldier’s food, history of the battalion, topography and orientation in the forest areas etc. It was loads of fun at the same time for us – now at least we know the basic things on how to be a soldier!

What I’ve learned? In being such conditions like in the army teaches you how to appreciate small things – lie on bed, sit on a chair. The physical tiredness is the best one in comparison with mental one.

Here is the cool video what my team mate Maarja made (in Estonian):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQJDr2x37w

Highlight #6

All these 2 months I have managed to survive on my own without asking my parents support. This definitely happened because we had a salary raise from December and I think now I already easily and carefully plan my own finances – what are the fixed costs, additional monthly costs, amount of unexpected costs to appear etc.

What I’ve learned? It’s so cool to be financially independent! :)

Highlight #7

Our biggest mountain skating rink in Almaty has been closed for reconstruction and that’s why I didn’t have an opportunity to skate in my city this time on holidays, but I tried skating in Tallinn – its was really funny, as for that I went for the 1^st time to the skating rink in the center of the town and it was at least 20 times smaller than ours, but good - it was open air, as in our city we have only these ones. But I have to investigate more bigger, but as I know they will be then inside of the building… With my international friends we have also been sledging at Estonian Independency day – on 24th February.

What I’ve learned? Winter sports activities are the best ones and I’m enjoying them a lot here!

Highlight #7

We have had the Annual conference happening in the end of January, where the main news is that we have selected new AIESEC Estonia President – Lauri, member of our current MC team, and I have a successor as well – girl from Colombia - Cristina, who will be leading the exchange area in the next term starting form July 2009. This conference as I see has been one of the biggest highlights of our term, as we managed to organize the open day for students and our members “Eesti Noorte Foorum” with more than 200 participants, speakers, at least 2 big company representatives, various workshops, panel discussions, presentations… As AIESEC Estonia celebrating this year its 20^th Anniversary, we have had the biggest alumni event at the conference – around 70 of them participated totally, we had the day full of activities - open space, panel discussion, gala evening with official dinner etc. The history of the organization has been not only happening, but remembered there. I have even talked with one of the founders of AIESEC Estonia, who also met a girl from AIESEC Almaty that time at the international congress in Hungary in early 90th, but I don’t know who can it be, as the founder of my LC somehow has disappeared and nobody knows, where is she now.

What I’ve learned? This conference has been is one of the successes of our MC term I think, and this “taste of success” has been one of the key personal motivators for me and it was proved again that its still is. But for gaining this “taste” you have again work hard even sometimes on the things which you don’t like much, going though routine every day etc. But in the end of the road, you remember only positive memories.

Highlight #8

I have visited also the Estonian National Museum’s exhibition, which was dedicated to 90^th anniversary of Estonian Republic in 2008 and it has been amused me with its interactivity and actually I really like visiting the museums or any kind of the galleries in here, as all of them which I have attended weren’t the boring ones, which we used to, but full of creativity, where I really admire the Estonian Art gallery and the Estonian occupation museum. So, any time you are here – mark it as the places to be definitely visited.

What I’ve learned? Educate yourself always by visiting any kind of places like museums, galleries and so on, as it teaches you not only about the countries history, national treasures etc., but gives you the in-depth insight to the culture of the country nation itself, why it’s formed like that and its mindset too.

Highlight #9

One of the things, which have been making quite angry and irritated this time, is the MC election process in AIESEC Kazakhstan, where me, Deniss and Nailya have found some serious mistakes on the way how it was organized and the most important, which weren’t done according to compendium. The full members including MC team have accepted their mistakes, but nothing changeable have been undertaken, as we are always finding excuse in AIESEC – “at least we learned”. This case have shown me especially and to certain people as well, that in the real troubles only few people can stand and take them over finding the solutions, but most of the people – even being currently on the leadership positions, will just find an excuse again or blame someone for that, but not being focused on the solution itself. That’s quite sad… And that’s what I’ve learned too.

Highlight #10

It has been also a cool month because my LC has selected new Executive Board 0910 team, who will lead the organization in the next term, and I dare a lot about the people who have been selected for that roles. An I’m really happy that YOU were being chosen as the leader of the whole LC – I was telling you, that will be definitely the most intense experience in your AIESEC career and it’s for me still the best one! I have even baked a cake to celebrate this day – Saturday, 22 February, as I told you. Yes and also Happy Birthday again and hope you enjoyed my Birthday gift! :) See you very soon…

The elections in AIESEC is the most exciting moment in the organization, which makes all the people during selection period to keep and focus strongly the energy level for only one goal – to be selected! And if you get it, then it’s again an incredible feeling of success and then – great, but not a simple year ahead to make “dreams come true” within only 365 days… For myself I’m still thinking about the next years opportunities, but for now stopped at one… You never know, what the future may bring you! :)

Thanks for reading this looooong post and have a cute week ahead! :)

Aika

P.S.: You are smart if you have noticed that i had two number 7 highlights, I just didnt wanna have 11 of them, as 10 sounds better :)

Reisid vabadusse / Travel to freedom

2009-02-28T15:34:00.014+02:00

That's always pleasant to see that getting an experience during AIESEC helps you not only develop your skills, broaden perspectives, gain internationalism, network and all that cool things what we are taking from experiences in our organization, but also to become a real entrepreneur and to connect with people who share the same interest as you are.

Here is one of the examples...

My estonian friends, with some of them I work currently or worked before during my MC and LCP term have established a company - eco-tourism company that "takes you to the places that are simple and untouched - this is the magic of their trips! You can be a part of the culture, nature and daily life of local people of Kazakhstan and Croatia."

Yeah and my country is also there! :)

So, you may check out more from Reisid Vabadusse

"Do you enjoy Estonian summer with bad skiing weather or take a unique adventure in Kazakhstan/Croatia? It`s up to you, as we used to say in AIESEC".

It's all about potential...

2009-02-22T21:03:00.006+02:00

Today is the coolest day for the whole AIESEC Almaty, as this day the members have selected new President of organization, who will lead the local committee starting from May 2009 for one year - its current LCVP External Relations, Dima Dmitriev. I feel really happy for him today and for the whole AIESEC in my city, as this person is the one whom we call "potential", that's those members who join the organization with personal capacity and great will to develop themselves, absorbing everything what organization gives, taking various opportunities and just growing from year to year. Its very important for the older members to recognize those people, let them join AIESEC and you will after that see - who they will become in the future. I'm really happy that being in the organization, we could recognize such a potential in him 3 years past...

Even if such people you can't see being always on the 1st row and sometimes they are so invisible, but the times show everything after some time... They take one responsibility, second, third - they amaze you by the results and attitude they take towards every task. Then the time comes to lead a team for them, but they afraid whether they will manage - you support them and believe that they can, he or she is so scared to step for the first leadership role, you try to support from your side with knowledge, information, but od the otherb things - its up to them... You see how they live their first unsuccesful experience, that teaches them the most to stay stronger and they understand "what doesnt kill us, makes us stronger"... and they become stronger... Then their path seems to go so fast and the results amaze you a lot... their personal development in the organization becomes huge! and here you are - a grown up young person, who stays apart from most of the crowds of young people now - they are simply "different" and they are ready and not afraid of taking any challenges... They are simply talents in everything.

I'm sure and I was telling you a lot, that President's experience is the best ever! It is still the best every for me... I'm just simply happy for you and wish could be this day with you - to congratulate from all my heart...

That's the most powerful thing for AIESEC, when you can recognize those potential people and give them all the opportunities for growth... After some time they will amaze you... I was like that, you are like that and many-many young people who join organization once...

This is true - international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential...

Dreams are the seedlings of reality

2009-02-15T03:08:00.007+02:00

«Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember, all things are possible for those who believe.”

Sometimes I just start dreaming. These moments just come randomly while watching some TV program, or while going by bus to the office in the morning, or just observing a child speaking to mum, or while trying to get asleep… It’s the moments when I project my imagination to some moment in the future – doesn’t matter in a long or short run. No limitations.

How wouldn’t it sound girlish, but I dream quite many times about my future family house as a peaceful place with green garden and many-many flowers in it, how I will on my own design the interior there, how I will be painting the flower pots in different colors, stitch the decorative pillows for sofa, how cool and bright our kitchen will be… I will be definitely having the house with my future family, which we will build on our own…

Sometimes I’m dreaming that I’m into some creative hobby like painting again, as it was many years ago, while studying at school… or designing my own clothes and sewing – I was so good in that actually… I have been always having a talent in creating smth on my own – stitching, sewing, handicraft, painting - and where its now?

I imagine myself running my own enterprise, which is dealing with social issues in my country, I still don’t know what it will be, but I think more connected to education of children in their young age… I even once was dreaming, that parallel to my professional job – working for some international company connected to my education or professional interest, I do connect with my friends and open an NGO, where I find realization of my personal interest and desires. Maybe that would be one of the 1^st steps…

I imagine how I’m running business classes for students in my academy…

I’m having an exhibition of my photostreams, which I have collected while travelling… And it’s my hobby.

I dream about the moments of being in the position for what I’m planning to apply for the next term – there is no concrete company or location, but it will be smth that scares me and fascinates at the same time, as that would be an experience which I will be living for the first time in my life. I know this feeling, when you are image yourself in a new role, but for now actually don’t see the concrete actions, but only the vision what can you get out of it.

I imagine you again, as you are always coming to my dreams and how I’m holding your warm hand.

I’m in Latin America’s nature… don’t know where is it, exact location, but it always shines there and a sea nearby and most important, people, who are always passionate about dancing and I dance with them…

How I adopt an orphan...

Drinking fresh juice cocktail – strawberry with pomegranate… exactly like in India, Mumbai in 2007, I still remember this taste.

I think it’s good to dream as that’s the time when your imagination broadens and you don’t feel any barriers around and limitations, but only feel great desire and passion towards the moments you are dreaming about. At the same time, you think that they actually can be not just dreams what people are talking as impracticable ones, but actually your own goals, what you can start striving for already today – taking a small step by step, or gaining the knowledge and experience which will bring you one way closer to your dream… and then you are blurred in the smile… and eyes are shining with happiness… Wanna live these moments in reality?

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” Paolo Coelho

Abraham Maslow : Growth or Safety?

2009-02-03T10:17:00.002+02:00

Maslow said that in any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.

I love that. I like to think of it this way:

We wake up in the morning. Is our first act a step forward (we get up immediately; we say the mantra we committed to; whatever) or do we step back into safety (stay in bed; hit snooze; etc.)?

+1 one if you stepped forward. -1 one if you stepped backward.

So, after that first act/thought, you’re either at +1 or -1. Yah?

<|--------------------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--------------------------|>

-100+100-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

(Notice that the difference between where you could be and where you actually are is actually TWO units apart, not one, btw…)

OK. How about the next moment? Forward or back? Forward or back? Forward or back? Moment to moment to moment…

Fast forward to the end of the day. Where are you? +25,000 or -25,000?

Pay attention cuz the weight of those negative #s is going to make it hard for you to sleep well. In fact, why do you think people crack open the beer/turn on the TV/yell at the spouse and kids and generally act like a weenie too often at the end of a day?

Exactly. Too many steps in the wrong direction. Their soul knows that they were capable of soooo much more. Unfortunately, rather than address it thru more constructive behavior, too often we take it out on others and blame/criticize/etc. Ick.

The quickest way to live a life of bliss? Step forward.

Brian Johnson,

PhilosopherNotes

Keep your self-motivation up!

2009-01-18T12:09:00.004+02:00

It’s quite an important timing for us in AIESEC Estonia, as we are in the process of choosing the next strategic leadership team, who will lead the AIESEC country in the next period starting from July. I’m also in the process of selecting the best successor for my position, who will be coordinating an exchange area here and make it grow more. Right now I have four candidates, where the most competent and suitable for country realities will be my successor. Uhhh, its so exciting! :)

It’s the typical time in AIESEC, when everybody is asking the question – What will I do next year in AIESEC? What do you want to do? So, what’s next? And any person is searching for a role, which will develop him/her personally and make the personality stronger, being able to overcome many challenges – organizational or personal; well, some of the people are driven by patriot feelings to lead their own organization nationally or locally. I’m sure everyone is driven by its own personal motivators to be in AIESEC next period. About me is already quite sure, decided, I want to go on exchange this year after my MC term and gain more professional experience that I started to miss, but then lets see – nobody knows... I still didn’t decide which area, but it maybe even concretely related to financial management, where the work can be based on projects, communications, risk management. There were some nice thoughts which were making my eyes shine like being an MC(P) of some middle-east country, apply on AI position, but some certain reasons made me to hold back… And I’m fine with that.

I’m feeling already quite confident in the role I’m right now, having a comfort feeling that many things I started this year, the approach I took in my working style are showing the results and many people from AIESEC here told me, that I’m the right person being responsible for exchange area this year… It’s quite pleasant to hear that from various people and exactly the positive feedback has been one of the drive-ins for me to do even more better and strive for quality results more and more. That’s why for sure there is no time to relax for now, as loads of work is still waiting. Any change is a longer process…

But as I was telling, I have changed my personal approach to many things taking everything much easier and it helps a lot in not getting stressed out again. Now I’m taking more personal time for myself, going out, discovering new places (nightclubs of Tallinn as well :D) and activities (I learned how to bake cakes!), interacting with people, planning my trips, reading more… I plan to take the most out of my stay here for the next half a year… It’s quite stupid, how long it took for me to take this thoughts really from inside, even they are so much understandable from the very beginning.

Being in MC abroad its very easy to loose self-motivation, as you are in the process of adopting to realities, fighting your cultural shocks and understanding the difference in people’s work, communication, getting used to more independent life, when only you have to take care of yourself, as nobody will notice that maybe you are sick, demotivated, stressed etc. That’s why it’s very important not to let all the possible negative emotions to take over you, what happened to me and caused around two months of feeling down… It’s very crucial to make yourself to focus on positive things like your strengths, past successes, current advantages etc. By making an effort to feel grateful, you’ll realize how competent and successful you already are. This will help to increase your confidence and get you motivated to build on your current success.

“It might sound strange that repeating things you already know can improve your mindset, but it’s amazingly effective. The mind distorts reality to confirm what it wants to believe. The more negatively you think, the more examples your mind will discover to confirm that belief. When you truly believe that you deserve success, your mind will generate ways to achieve it. The best way to bring success to yourself is to genuinely desire to create value for the rest of the world.”

That’s one of the things I learned on myself – don’t let the negative emotions, thoughts and feelings to destroy you.

What also gets me motivated is a talk with my friends from my country who always show me an example to cheer up and tell how actually they proud of being my friend, what they admire in me personally and especially when they ask an important suggestion. Also, reading someone’s blogs helps a lot I would say, admitting that things you think of currently are nothing comparing to their experiences or other way around, how people are enjoying their life abroad taking the most out of it, being an example for me. Reading new books, but I’d say some personal development ones can always help you in creating an ideal picture of yourself or helping to broad your perspectives. And of course, taking a rest and not thinking that you will always have an endless supply of energy and drive. Again and again you will need some time to re-charge your emotional and spiritual batteries.

17 Terrific Self Motivating Tips

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Head of optimist

2009-01-12T23:14:00.007+02:00

The most difficult thing is waiting. Waiting for something, waiting for someone, waiting for a miracle... When it is delayed, you already stop to understand or at least understand with difficulties, what you are waiting, what for you are waiting... but the idea that you have been waiting, thinking, wanting it and a strong desire doesn’t let you go… Hope and wait – isn’t easy… You know that you were wrong, did a wrong thing... you understand and look with hope and sadness... and want to be off for a while, because you are tired... because all the thoughts are re-thought, words were re-told, but feelings... feelings are living... and that’s why the head is not working, as its requested. It refuses to live just quietly, to exist, not being upset and think that everything will be fine... simply refuses. No... with the latter it somehow agrees, because it is the head of an optimist and therefore those strangers, surrounding you, see the “head” shining and smiling…

Why the people are making everything complicated?! And then suffer…

Why not taking each other as we are… alive and happy, sad and funny, healthy and sick…

After all, if only…

Simply as it is

2009-01-11T20:33:00.010+02:00

I have been back to Tallinn already for almost a week and have a feeling that I haven’t been leaving home for holidays for New Year, as already from the 1^st day of working have been busy with new initiatives, tasks to compile here in AIESEC in order to make the organization and people here grow. I have 6 more months to be here to make all the plans transformed to results…

Some things have been changed, some of them are still the same and in order to be changed it will take longer time for it. But the most pleasant thing or in some cases not, I have recognized there, is the change in certain people. How you see that 7 months ago, when I was leaving the country, they have been different than they are right now. Of course, their current environment, roles, new responsibilities, more knowledge made them a bit different - more mature, maybe more skeptical, more experienced, more inner closed, even less-communicative and so on – you may imagine any kind of human changes you can… I’m telling about my non- and aiesec friends, some cousins, relatives as well.

It’s quite pleasant to recognize the personal growth in a person, how he became more mature than he was some time ago… How he thinks differently than before, as have been experienced and passed through many situations, that challenged him… fulfilled responsibilities, which were scaring him before from the beginning, but for now made the best out of it… It’s always pleasant not only to see, but maybe also somehow be involved in the person’s realization of his potential… But at the same time, he doesn’t want still to accept the current reality and he things that he has a long way to go… Yes, it’s good to be ambitious.

I have been always telling that, I’ve grown up together with aiesec and I see that in other people right now too.

To some people this period of time didn’t teach anything, at least from 1^st and even 2d look, and they are still the same ones, who are not having a feeling of “shortage of time”, that they have to be running to finally start achieving something in their lives, grabbing new opportunities, which are about in a hand long distance from them... Accepting the reality and just drifting… Yes. We are different.

I have been talking to my friend, who told me that I have been personally changed as well, not in some good or bad way, just changed. Here are some things which I decided to write down here:

I became more mature in sense of how my life perspectives and some views have been changed. From here seems, that I started to be quite skeptical on what’s happening around. Making the things sometimes to be put under the question;
I became more calmer, in the sense of less emotional, I think;
I have lost a bit the shines in my eyes and “fire inside of me” (translating from word-to-word)

And I would more than agree with what my friend has noticed in me, but at the same time I didn’t loose some of my natural characteristics about what I was writing in some blog posts here.

About the last point which was noticed I’d more than agree - I didn’t have quite for a long time a feeling of doing something that will make my eyes shine and having an inner warm feeling of “burning heart”! No, I’m not telling of being in love with some one, even this one is another topic too :D I’m telling more of adding some new thing in my life, like new project, personal activity etc.

One of my current team mates has developed a project called Passionalism, which is a concept for people, who are supporting the idea of doing, working with or for smth, that’s aligned with their individual passion, but not “forced” by various reasons – they are living by the activities of their individual passion, which boosts innovation, creativity, changes…

“Passionalism can be defined as social and economic concept used to identify a society based on passion. It opposes industrial and post-industrial societies - while those concepts are based on manufacturing and services, passionalism focuses on individual’s passion. Therefore your daily activity right now called “a job”, which means working for somebody, changes to working for your passion.”

From the Passionalism web-page you can even download Passion 2009 book, which has collected the ideas of people from the basic question – What makes my eyes shine? I really suggest you to have it and contribute too.

This Passionalism concept made me think a lot about myself and things that makes my eyes shine and I decided to deal with that, knowing the basic things on what I really like, with whom I love to work, what makes me feel ‘butterflies’ in me and can connect with my future ideas, which are from year to year are inside of my mind… I have shared them with only my close friends.

I will start with that this week and then tell you, on what has happened…

It’s simple as it is. Do what makes your eyes shine…

What did you learn?

2008-12-25T10:33:00.002+02:00

When you are subscribed to various newsletters of leadership coaches like Robin Sharma, Brian Johnson (PhilosoperNotes, ThinkArete) etc., sometimes they are coming on the right moment. And here is the one i received some days ago... Connected to my previous posts...

Hi Aigerim,

We grow from the experiences that stretch us. Actually, we grow when we learn from the experiences that stretch us. Seems so obvious, yet so few take the time to reflect on our experiences.

When you are stunningly disciplined about your learning you create daily 1% wins. The small incremental improvements that lead to staggering results over time.) Being disciplined about your learning means that you schedule the time to think about your craft. It could be a post-project debrief that you run with your team. It could be quick review of the past month at a staff meeting. Or, it could be several pages in your journal. Leaders do this until they get to extraordinary. And, then they keep doing it.

Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your experiences:

3 Questions

For every experience ask yourself the following questions:

1. What happened? (Describe the events and the people involved.)
2. So, what? (What does this experience mean? Describe why this is important? Did this experience identify a strength or weakness? Did it force you to reexamine your assumptions?)
3. Now, what? (What will you do differently next time? What is the essence of this lesson?)

Avoid Blame

Sometimes it's easy to point fingers at others. Or become overly hard on your own performance. Try to get beyond blaming and understand why people behaved the way they did. Was the goal clear and achievable? Did people have the tools they needed? Was communication clear? When you focus on blaming people you miss the opportunity to change the systems, rules and procedures that can make you better next time.

Think Long Term

Sometimes the results of our decisions take a long time to manifest.
Look back on decisions you made several years ago and try to trace the consequences. (For future decisions use a journal to record your goals and assumptions around important decisions.)

Share Your Lessons

Once you have learned from your experience, sharing it is the best way to keep it fresh. Blog about it. Tell your colleagues what you learned. Discuss it with a mentor. When you have conversations around your learning you deepen the learning.

In Leadership,
Robin Sharma

Personal recovery

2008-12-21T12:42:00.002+02:00

That’s quite interesting to observe yourself after some period of time, how you as a person from time to time struggling with your own identity inside – with “I”’s inside of you. When one “I” is telling one thing, another “I” wants to think and act opposite and after sometime you see, who actually won. The better – positive choice you take for yourself, the stronger you become after that personally, the stronger you believe in what you are currently doing, the more connection you see with the future, the less people around you suffer from that… The easier to live then.

I’m feeling much better now, so people who were worried about me and my mood changes, can leave that feelings now… Almost for 2 months I could say that I was in down mood, I think that was the moment in my current role and life generally to turn everything aside. That were moments of a stress I have experienced – I even don’t remember when I have had it last time, maybe 2 years ago. I didn’t want to go anywhere, I didn’t want to see and talk to anybody, just spending time on my own, compiling “to do” list, observing, not caring much… but missing my close friends and parents of course. Being shut down inside of me… In these situations I think only some personal talks with your close friends can somehow save you, but the decision to overcome it is anyways on you only… We’re reading a lot of books about personal development and meeting challenges, and seem quite smart in overcoming the mistakes others did, but still when it comes to you – only you have to experience it and take the right decisions for yourself. There is a simple sentence, which took me around one and a half months to come to – ‘everything you do is worth it” and “take things easier”… Even if you do all your best and want to change something for a positive tendency, it’s up to people to grab this or not… anyways you did all your best.

I’m still the same person – smiling, positive, striving for excellence and caring… Just sometimes the environment you are surrounded from time to time may change you and your attitude, but in the end it’s up to you – whether you want to be changed, loose yourself or not… It’s maybe hard to understand, but that’s what I think… Just take the best out of people you are with now, learn, value your own characteristics, adapt…

The moment of being outside of your current realities – business trip, conference, visit to another country may help a lot in evaluating everything happening with you and it helped me. I remember, when I came back after Netherlands I still was feeling down and didn’t want to come back to the same routine. I had one sleepless night, when I was thinking-thinking and thinking about myself and what attitude I’m taking to the current situations, evaluating what to be next time… This moment was very helpful as a turning point in being myself again, enjoying my current role, place, people around me and taking everything easily. Morning came and it was already a better day…

On 2d December I became 23. That’s the first time I have been celebrating my Birthday in another country, in another style, with other people who are becoming my close friends step by step. Who am I currently being 23? A year wiser? How personally strong am I now? Am I satisfied with my current life?

I really love my team… I have never been posting about them, but I really appreciate that I’m part of it. For the second time in my life, I’m really thankful that I got an opportunity to work with certain people together for a year (first one was with my Executive Board of AIESEC Almaty). Our MC team is I think a team of high-flyers – people who always striving to be higher, professional in their area, trustful and you never can lower the standards in your work, because that’s not in our principles. I just love it…

Soon I’m going home for holidays and even if I’m really looking forward for it, but still afraid to “re-arrange” myself to other realities, culture… I think it will be quite interesting experience.

Wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Musi-musi ja kalli-kalli

Yours Smiley Aika

Someday

2008-12-01T00:24:00.000+02:00

“Gift to Stalin”

2008-11-28T00:20:00.006+02:00

I have educated in myself a habit of reading every Sunday the weekly online economical newspapers on what’s happening in my country – same headlines as in any newspaper, magazine in the world with the financial crisis, how it affects the country, how the government is managing current situation not be crashed down in financial crisis much, investing, buying shares of banks etc.

But recently, I have been checking the cultural part of the headlines, and got to know, that one of our Kazakh film director has been produced a new movie “Gift to Stalin”, which was officially launched at International Film Fesival in Seoul, in October . Well, not every even year our country is producing the movies for public, the good ones. For now, I haven’t had an opportunity to watch it, but read a lot about the content and feedback of people.

“Set in Kazakhstan in 1949, during a time when minorities were forced to move to central Asia by the former Soviet government. A Jewish kid named Sashka is on a train with his grandfather, being deported with others. His grandfather dies on the train and he has to get off with the body at a small village. He meets an old man, Kasym, and stays with him. But the tragedy is upon the village. Every villager is killed and only Sashka survived.”

"The Gift to Stalin" is a story about a little boy Sasha who was sent to Kazakhstan. He was saved from death by an old Kazakh man, Kasym, who took the boy to his home. The film is set in 1949. The title, The Gift to Stalin has two significances. In 1949, Soviet government carried out a nuclear test for anniversary of Stalin’s 70th birthday. Many innocent people fell the victims to the nuclear test. The other significance is about Sashka’s dream - he hoped that if he gives Stalin a gift, he will be able to see his parents again not knowing that they were killed.

I would say that I’m really proud, that the movie is not only showing the realities of my country during Stalin times – nuclear testing which is still affecting the country's ecological situation and people’s health, but also highlights one of the key cultural aspects Kazakh people had for centuries – hospitality, open-mindness… That’s why I’m still admire that having currently more than 120 nationalities in one country – Kazakh, Russians, Jewish, Tatar, Turkish, Koreans, Ukrainian, Germans etc., we live in piece all together and haven’t experienced any cultural misunderstandings or whatever. The key word here is tolerance...

Looking forward to watch this movie back home…

Kazakhstanis, be proud of yourself and keep the same way… We were born in a unique environment, really.

How to Fight Culture Shock

2008-11-27T22:57:00.002+02:00

Culture shock also has many stages. Each one of these stages can be ongoing or only appear at certain times. We have listed the 5 stages of culture shock below.

Stage 1 (honeymoon stage)

In this first stage, you may feel exhilarated and pleased by all of the new things encountered. The new things you encounter in the country are new and exciting at first, everything is wonderful. Even the most simple things are new and interesting, taking the bus or going to a restaurant. This exhilarating feeling will probably at some point change to the next phase.

Stage 2 (disillusionment stage)

Culture shock will happen gradually, you may encounter some difficulties or simple differences in your daily routine. For example, communication problems such as not being understood, food, attitude, and customs, these things may start to irritate you. At this stage, you may have feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and a feeling of incompetence. This happens when you are trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from your own. The change between your old methods and those of the country is a difficult process and takes time to complete. During the transition period, you may have some strong feelings of dissatisfaction and start to comparetThe country to your new country in an unfavorable way.

Stage 3 (understanding stage)

The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of the country's culture, country, and its' people. You will get a new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. You should start to feel more of a certain psychological balance. During this stage you won't feel as lost and should begin to have a feeling of direction. At this point you are more familiar with the environment and have more of a feeling of wanting to belong.

Stage 4 (integration stage)

The fourth stage of culture shock is the integration stage and is usually experienced if you are staying for a very long period of time in the country. You will probably realize that the country has good and bad things to offer you. This integration is period is characterized by a strong feeling of belonging. You will start to define yourself and begin establishing goals.

Stage 5 (re-entry stage)

The final stage of culture shock occurs when you return to your home country. This stage of culture shock generally only effects people who have been in the country for a very long period of time. You may find that things are no longer the same in your home country. For example, some of your newly acquired customs are not in use in your own country.

These stages are present at different times and you will have your own way of reacting in each stage. As a result some you may find some stages can be longer and more difficult than others. There are many factors contribute to the duration and effects of culture shock. For example, your state of mental health, personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family, and level of education.

How to Fight Culture Shock Guide

Most people have the ability to positively deal with the difficulties of a new environment and overcome culture shock. So if you are thinking about going home or only spending time with people from your own culture, don't. You have to realize that you are not alone. Many other foreigners have experienced what you feel, talk to your friends or other people in your working place, they can help you feel better. We have also listed a few ways to fight the stress produced by culture shock below:

Develop a hobby
Don't forget the good things you already have!
Remember, there are always resources that you can use
Be patient, living in a different country is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time
Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.
Don't try too hard.
Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc. Get physical exercise and plenty of sleep
Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress
Maintain contact with other foreigners. This will give you a feeling of belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation
Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the foreign language. This will help you feel less stressed about the language and useful at the same time.
Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your friends etc.
Try to accept country and focus your power on getting through the transition.
Pay attention to relationships with your friends and colleagues at work. They will serve as support for you in difficult times.
Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress. Make a few small decisions and carry them out. This will give you confidence
Find ways to live with the things that don't satisfy you 100%.
Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.
If you feel stressed or sad, look for help. Tell friends that you are sad. Their support will help.
Find people to talk to about your feelings and their feelings
Make your living arrangements pleasant, and surround yourself with familiar photos, your favorite music, or a memento from home
Don’t be afraid to cry, sing, pray or laugh to express your feelings
Be happy and excited for this opportunity, and don’t expect things to be the same as your home country.

Foreigners who follow this advice cope well with culture shock. When you survive culture shock, you’ll find that you have a fresh outlook on your own culture and its roots, and will gain new ways of understanding yourself.

Back on track with the mood

2008-11-26T02:11:00.003+02:00

I have yesterday arrived to Rotterdam for AIESEC exchange strategic meeting – Exchange Growth Summit, which is happening every year and mostly the members of AIESEC International global teams are coming here, so all together around 25 people. Some of you know, that I’m part of exchange quality board which states as a guard for delivering quality exchange experiences for your interns and I’m the team leader of the auditing team there. This meeting aims to review the current performance of our organization in terms of achieving the exchange goals we have by 2010 and setting up certain initiatives, strategies towards achieving them and some other things, like reviewing the policies, projects etc.

I came here right after being the facilitator of our regional Baltic conference in Riga, Latvia called ENERGY, where my dear friends from Almaty have been facilitating as well. That was really an amazing time to be spent together after almost half a year of not meeting each other, but communicating online – was cool just to chat, remember the past moments, laugh on the silly jokes, get to know how my friends are doing currently etc.. There I have understood so much, that I’m missing a lot our people’s attitude we have in my country (at least among my friends) being quite positive, energetic, open-minded as I feel that these unique cultural characteristics I started to loose, as I’m started to be very much stressed out of everything I do and very much self-critical to myself, even if there is no reason for that. One of my friends told me even, that I have changed a lot and started to miss my positive approach to the life, being nervous often and in “grey” mood all the time and less smiling. Don’t know, I think I have started to absorb some strange cultural features living in Estonia, and does it mean loosing the personality, I don’t know… I have noticed in myself too, that I have been not enjoying all the things I’m doing now and just doing the stuff and activities automatically and sometimes I’m feeling so much bored, that even don’t care about the result to be achieved. I’m sorry, to be so much negative, but that’s the way it is now… Or I’m just simply tired of the feeling of doing the same things I have already experienced before. And that blocks my entrepreneurship and innovative approach I have been always having. Gosh…

The conference was itself fine, but could be much better delivered still for sure in terms of skills building knowledge, practical tips, motivation for members who are on the leadership positions right now in the organization. And that frustrates me as well, that we didn’t deliver the valuable knowledge, inspiration for that people… But maybe again I’m too critical, as for now I’ve heard that the conference experience was quite positive for them… I don’t know the truth, if it exists at all. The conference topic itself was LEADERSHIP and creating the message, that it is about the attitude itself and leadership potential exists in everyone of us, you just have to develop it by every day hard work. I had to deliver the session, which supposed to be inspirational one for the members and has a role being an opening for the whole leadership track, but don’t know how did I go along with that. I would better deliver smth more on skills, but smth inspirational always takes time from me and energy… But that’s the personal challenge and maybe next time I will put me in developing only inspirational sessions in order to develop that part. Crazy…

Defining Leadership For You

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Till the end of this working week I’m in

Netherlands

and feeling somehow fine, working on completely different thing I used to for the past months and enjoying that a lot and people – AIESEC friends around me. There is a special season in AIESEC started when many countries release their MC opportunities and everybody asks you – what’s NEXT? For example, right now there are 3 people sitting next to me writing their applications for running for Presidents of AIESEC countries… and just got to know that one of the incredible persons is (thinking of) applying for AIESEC Kazakhstan president position. Amazing how aiesecers are crazy… Well, I have already decided 100% to stop working for AIESEC after my term in

Estonia

and looking for some stability for a certain period of my life and searching for professional experience. There are moments when you feel that’s time to stop with AIESEC… And here it is coming for me as well.

I have bought tickets back home to spend 2 weeks with my family and friends...

I'm going to Georgia for Central Asia and Caucasus conference in the end of april...

In AIESEC Estonia we release soon the applications for our MC positions...

It was snowing a lot in Riga and as I've heared in Tallinn too...

I'm missing YOU a lot, even you don't talk to me anymore...

First snow in Almaty

2008-11-09T23:11:00.008+02:00

Today was talking on the phone with my parents to plan my visit back home for New Year *not for Christmas, as kazakh people don't have this holiday, as we are muslims by religion. As they told me, the autumn is already over in Almaty and there is a first snow fell today or maybe even some days ago...

It's so interesting how I immediately started to picture in my memory, how my city looks like in the first days of snowfall. The first memory was imagining long alleys along the main avenue, when the trees are like bowing to you due to heavy "wet" snow on their branches... It's just an awesome scenery!

Looking forward to meet my parents, relatives and friends very soon...

My warm hugs from cold Tallinn...

Change can happen

2008-11-07T00:23:00.012+02:00

I guess this week and more talking about 4^th November 2008 is and will be one of the most remarkable times not only in the history of US, but for the whole world itself. We haven’t seen for a long time such a sense of unity among people like this since 9/11 all around the globe, talking and believing about hope and change. We can see that people in US, being the most leading country in the world economy, were awaiting and needed a change in the politics of their country to be transformed to a totally new angle. This transformations they have recognized in one person, the elected President – Barack Obama, the very 1^st in the history of US black president and that tells smth as well.

In Obama’s victory speech you could even personally feel how powerful that person is, who can actually not only tell the right things, but empower the whole audience, where everybody can find the connections between his/her own ideas and things they are awaited for a long period of time in their country – he lights up the whole audience!… He speaks by the stories of simple people and being this way very authentic and intelligent… He isn’t afraid of bringing a new era and that’s what the truly leader of the country is.

That was an amazing leadership talk – Barack Obama’s Victory speech in Chicago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU *by some reasons the video cant be seen here from the blog

Here you may read the comments to Obama’s speech by Bert Decker and here is an article of Nisha Chittal on "The End of Youth Apathy" on what was happening among her college campus students.

We haven’t seen for a long time, how the whole world has been so emotional, supportive and excited in the end. Seems, that was the world’s elections…

"For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tommorow."

~ Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States of America

Rain drops by Regina Spector

2008-11-02T00:33:00.002+02:00

You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed

Good autumn to you…

2008-11-01T23:25:00.004+02:00

Time is passing and here I am again with you…

Quite many things happened since my last stories I posted here and especially after my trip to an amazing country like Brazil. As after any kind of trip you go, after coming back there are tons of tasks or things to be sorted out and complete, that making you some times not having any time to breath… As a result of 3 weeks trip and conference itself, it took me almost a month to come back to the normal conditions… well, that’s even more fun for you in the end, but not much fun for your health, which you are forgetting to treat time by time ;) It like in some advertising: “hello, who are you?”, “I’m your immunity and I’m leaving you, as another person is treating me better”…

Right now started one of the most important periods in my term as being responsible for an exchange area – recruitment of young people, whom AIESEC will give an opportunity to explore the world by our internships and at the same time giving to the local companies and organizations opportunity to find the solutions for their business processes by again our program. Well, let’s see how many of my effort, which were put into ensuring the main processes will work to bring the most results, will pump up with the goals, we hit to be achieved. At the same time things are happening during the day time, makes you feel not so much ambitious anymore, as you are always working with the young people, who actually bringing the results, but at the same time who always learn and that’s mainly one of the key things – people learn on their mistakes, develop themselves and becoming smarter, than they were before. But for the person, who is coming from another country this logic might not work… Especially if you have already passed that part in your life and now searching for something in your experience, which will bring a value to the next periods of your career, development or whatever… Now I’m feeling that I started to miss that part…

Quite for a long period of time, I’m feeling that nothing gets me feel excited and experience new things. Seems that we have already had it “some day ago”… Maybe that’s only a routine process, which makes you feel down… I’m feeling that the things I’m doing now is just same as I was doing previous years, but sure the environment has changed… that feeling of frustration is already for a month and I see that’s not right… Just same AIESEC every day…

How often do you feel that smth you wanted to get – like buying a new cloth, book recommended to be read or let’s say fruit, in the reality it isn’t smth you were expecting too? Of course, life is about taking risks, “tasting things for probation” and learning, but isn’t that also unfair, that you feel wasting your time and resources…

I was having this thought coming to me once I was standing in the bus stop when it was raining and brought an example of apple, as being my favorite fruit. I have shared some of that thoughts with certain people already…

You wanna buy a tasty-looking apple in the shop, on the way already expecting its taste and after getting it, you see that it’s actually worm-eaten. And your expectations are broken… Different people are acting differently… One of them throw it away and get buy a pear, others – cut the worm-eaten parts and enjoy the rest of an apple, third part of people are eating whole apple, just because they paid for it; some individuals will use it to bake apple-roll or making a fruit compote… Basically, you can always do something with that and in the end of the day what matters – you are happy or still not…

That’s again about choices you take and values you get out of it… But that’s still a question for me…

Enjoy eating your apples…

I'm an AIESECer!

2008-09-12T02:00:00.006+03:00

All AIESEC countries are running member's recruitment nowadays and most of them are running "I'm an AIESECer!" campaign, when real AIESEC members and alumnus share their personal stories about their experience in AIESEC. I'm really glad that my LC in Almaty is running actively the same promotion and I'm sure it will attract some of the smart, ambitious and proactive people, who will lead the organization in the nearest future, develop themselves and other individuals. Waiting for the outcomes of this campaign...

Here is the web-page with stories (click on the names of people) - http://www.aiesec.kz/pages/129.jsp

Thanks, my lovely AIESEC Almaty! :)

2008-09-12T01:02:00.004+03:00

Talent Magnet

Hi Aigerim,

One of the most difficult transitions in anyone's career is the switch from individual performer to manager or supervisor. Most people struggle with this change until they realize a simple truth; it's not their job to get things done, but to get things done through others. And getting things done through others is a lot easier when you have talent on your team.

Whether you call them A-players, stars or high-potentials, the most talented people in an industry are not just 10% more valuable than their average colleagues they are often two, five or ten times more valuable. Because of this talented people have more choice in who they work with and for. This means that you need a strategy for finding, keeping and liberating talent. Here are some guidelines for creating a talent strategy that gets results for your team and grows leaders for your organization.

Finding Talent

Know What You Want: Not every role on your team requires an A-player. What skills or talents will make the difference for your division? One air transport company realized that they had no problem finding pilots but really needed negotiators to work with airports to get landing rights. Once they found the right negotiators their growth more than doubled. Maybe you need a graphic designer instead of a programmer, a caring customer service rep instead of a sales person or an architect instead of an engineer. And once you find that person don't let their resume or appearance get in the way.

Always be looking: You can't expect an A-player to be available when you have an opening. Keep an eye out for the skills and attitude you need all the time. If necessary, find a role for a talented person that becomes available.

Look Everywhere: Talented people usually aren't looking for work so you may not find them on job boards. Yes, check out resumes, however, look at competitors, suppliers and your network for the people you need. One financial planning company regularly hires teachers to sell their products because of their ability to educate clients. What skills do you need that might be in other industries? When you get beyond the need for specific experience you open up a universe of possibilities.

Keeping Talent

Challenge Them: Beyond a certain point (usually a bit higher than average) pay ceases to motivate people. What really engages talented people is challenging work. Allow them to prove themselves. Give them challenging, important projects that make a difference. You'll be amazed by their performance.

Talent Loves Company: High performers love working with other high performers. Instead of putting your A players on different projects put them all on one important project. They'll thrive on each other's energy and skills.

Get Out of the Way: The more talented people often require less help than most other people. Once you have given them clear goals and honest performance feedback your job is to give them tools and remove barriers. Learn to get comfortable with people who are probably far better than you at what they do.

Liberating Talent

Expose them to Senior Leadership: Don't be afraid to show your people off to your boss and their boss. Talented people thrive on that kind of challenge and it shows the organization that you are a star magnet.

Become the Pipeline: Nothing will make you more valuable to your organization than becoming the go to person for talent. Give your people the opportunity to work elsewhere in the organization. Put them on cross-functional teams, loan them to other managers or even promote them into completely new roles.

Create Alumni: A large consulting company assumes that most of their talented people will leave within 5-7 years of hiring. They support their people as they move on and in so doing create a powerful alumni network that brings in more business and more talent. You won't have A-players forever. Make sure that when they move on they think of you first.

In Leadership,

Robin Sharma

2008-09-04T01:45:00.020+03:00

MY CULTURAL NOTES ABOUT BRAZIL

The International congress in Brazil is finished and since yesterday night I’m already back home to Tallinn, where the weather didn’t change at all since we left – same rainy and cloudy weather. Bit its nice to be back to the permanent place, which I already started to call home :)

Well, the main question you would expect from me to be answered is the very broad one “So, how was it!?” I would say that the feelings after it are kind of mixed and maybe a bit lost. Don’t expect from me to write smth extraordinary, just general thoughts.

From the cultural perspective to visit such a country like Brazil was really exciting and it fulfilled my expectations more than that! I would describe the feeling when I landed to Brazil and my intern, Natalia, picked me up from the airport, I was feeling like a “happy puppy”, who is full of energy to observe everything around, jumping from one place to another and full of excitement in the eyes! The same feeling I had when I had a trip to India… That’s good to be a tourist sometimes :)

From my small observations I would describe Brazil as a country full of surprises and it’s really a place to be! Every moment you are there, you experience some differences which make you smile all the time. Well, if any Brazilian reads this blog post, don’t take these thoughts too much into consideration as I had only couple of weeks in Brazil and have been only in Sao-Paolo and Goias district to observe. Of course, the country is so huge that cultures inside varies greatly by regions.

Well, the definite thing not only about Brazil, but the whole Latin America countries is that they are always late. For example, our Study tour OC picked us up from the place 1,5 hour later than it should be, or we traveled to Goiania 16 hours instead of 12 and there are some more small examples. One of my AIESEC friends, who is in MC Ecuador told me, that he has already adjusted to that and its ok waiting for a person during 1 hour and he can do smth else during this time. Well, in our culture it’s also ok to be late, but not for that huge time amounts…

As I understood, the food in Brazilian culture matters a lot and people enjoy having it and in the families prefer to have it all together. Brazilians love eating meet and I even tasted blood-meet – woooh!… :) Well, the food is really tasty and I know being in another country for a longer period it matters a lot. Various exotic fruits confuse you sometimes – which way to eat them? Do you know how the palm tree tastes? Have you ever tried ice-cream with the taste of cheese? What’s açaí – the fruit everyone talks about? Do you know that rice and beans are the most common meals in Brazil? Can you cook Pão de Queijo (“cheese bread”) at home? Did you know that Brazilian cheese and milk products are one of the best ones in the world? Caipirinha for lunch and dinner?

Rice and brown beans

Pão de queijo (“cheese bread”)

Serving of açaí pulp

Caipirinha - National cocktail of Brazil

My main location was São Paulo – the largest city in Brazil, located in the South-East of the country with population over 10 mln people as officially counted, but I’m sure it’s much more. The city itself is really huge and you can’t tell – where is the centre of the city? It might be anywhere! When I have just arrived to the city, I could from the 1st moment breath the “smell” of the city – polluted, huge city full of cars and motorbikes (less than in India but still popular). Almaty has sometimes the same smell, especially in summer time, when there is nothing to breath in a hot weather. The traffic jam can be enormous in São Paulo and you can stay couple of hours sometimes to get from one place to another, that’s why people are sometimes afraid of planning somewhere to go by car as you may be stuck in any time during the day. Better to go by train, metro or observe the nearest neighborhoods.

Traffic jam in São Paulo

In São Paulo you may find people with different social classes and its ok, if in the city next to some more or less modern building you may meet bunch of houses called slums (трущобы), and you can even imagine how people might live in these conditions – housings built from several different-sized wooden boards covered by the cardboards as an entrance to the “house” or smth else. There are certain parts of the city full of slums and there is always some boss of the slum which is ruled by him. Remember, the Mexican soap opera "Wild Rose" («Дикая Роза»)? So, the same housing concept. Well, it’s still looked “nicer” than the living conditions in India for poor people who belong to untouched cast.

Slums in São Paulo

People are expressive and emotional, with warm attitude and positive even if smth goes wrong and not according to plan – they still keep it simple! People look differently, you can’t certainly say “Hey, that’s definitely Brazilian!” – they might look like dark skin Afro-Brazilian to white skin with blond hears and blue eyes. So depends again where the person comes from – South or North part of the country? Amazons or savannas?

Quite few people speak English in Brazil. And that makes I guess trainees to be put to the conditions of learning local language. I find it perfect!

There are loads of Japanese people live in São Paulo and they even have their own neighborhood.

The Japanese-speaking community of São Paulo live mostly in Liberdade Neighbourhood.

To be engaged in criminality among young low class people is quite common and all the time my friends were scared me to be attentive with my bag or any other belongings. I know, that’s should be in any country you travel, but in Brazil this should be your first rule. It’s quite ok, if in the street or even in the metro full of people, one person comes closer to you with gun or knife hidden in the shirt and tells calmly “That’s robbery… Give me your bag and watches”. Or when you sit in the car in front and someone comes to you and tells to get out from the car and then you find it several blocks ahead with no laptop bag at least. These cases are common in big cities like São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, don’t know about the other cities. And you are lucky when police is somewhere around and some cases you might get some stuff back, if you are smart to react immediately.

Because of those social issues, for young people from poor families it’s quite easy way to start being engaged to criminality and if you don’t pay attention to them in a certain time, the may go down and follow the example I showed above. In Goiania city we have visited one NGO, which is supporting young people from poor families in their -teens to learn and study how to enter the legal job market – so they attend this school and after that may work legally in certain places. I’m sure, that’s one of the small examples how third sector in Brazil helps to prevent social crisis like that. And it was really admiring to see, how people are into that with the whole concept and idea they have. It made me to think about social issues we have in my country, this concept can be relevant anywhere in developing countries.

Well, that’s some general observations I have noticed being in Brazil and I’m really happy that my parents supported me with an opportunity to visit this country. Well, I’m already keen to come there back for internship maybe and doesn’t matter which type of it, at least for two objectives – learn Portuguese and capoeira.

These are simple reasons which make people travel around the world…

Smog in São Paulo

São Paulo Sé Cathedral

PS. If I manage with my time, I will write back about IC experience, as hectic time is coming in AIESEC… Try to enjoy autumn and don't get freezed! :)

2008-08-22T07:21:00.006+03:00

BRAZILIAN ADVENTURES

Well, let me tell you where I am now, for those who don’t know that… Since the middle of the last week I am in the country where some of you are dreaming to be, the country with the huge cultural history behind it, one of the biggest country and developing region of the world, totally another continent – I’m in BRAZIL.

I have arrived here with my entire MC AIESEC Estonia team for AIESEC International Congress, the hugest conference ever in our organization which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It’s expected to be the richest and flashy celebration of success of our organization since it was established in 1948 after the II WW, capitalizing on what was achieved and what impact brings AIESEC to country communities until now.

Before the conference started we have attended the study tour from LC Goiania to the region of Brazil called Goias, here are some pictures from the tour.

After that we had 3 days of conference pre-meeting, where it was a great pleasure for me to meet again certain AIESEC friends and chat with them on what’s going on with their lives, as well as share about my feelings being in international MC. Until now feeling like a happy puppy to be here :)

Some postings with photos will be coming soon,
Aika

2008-08-01T17:09:00.005+03:00

Somehow I have subscribed to Robin Sharma's newsletter and now getting it directly to my e-mail periodically. That's one of the lastest and very simple posts, but might be helpful in one day... even today...

RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES

Hi Aigerim,

Life is a balance. A balance between performing at your best and enjoying the journey. Yes, presenting your best self to the world is critical to a life well lived. Yet, joy matters too. There is no point in getting to the top of your mountain and realizing that you missed out on the journey.

Taking time off and rejuvenating keeps you fresh. A long lunch with a friend inspires you. Going to the zoo with a kid changes your perspective. Sitting quietly on the porch sipping a coffee lets you pull back from the noise. And they become moments that you'll look back on.

Without breaks your well quickly runs dry. Your energy dwindles. Your dreams are no longer as inspiring. Cycling back and forth between regeneration and work keeps you energized and fresh. (Of course, you know that you can spend too much time in rejuvenation. It's a balance.)

Do you know what charges your batteries? Is it being in nature? Is it travel? Is it time with friends and family? Whatever it is, make time for it this summer.

Rejuvenation Tips:

Stop Doing Something
One way to open up to rejuvenation is to stop doing things that aren't working. Finish a project, clean out your files, hire a kid to mow your lawn. Once you remove the things you are tolerating you have more time for simple joy.

Time with Friends
It doesn't have to be structured and you don't have to talk about anything important (or anything at all). Just do something you enjoy doing together.

Go For a Walk
Walk through your neighborhood with no goal. Notice the sights and smells. Walk slowly.

Give Yourself a Day Off
Allow yourself to totally let go of work. Forget about errands or to-dos for a day.

Explore
Go on a road trip. Check out a new city. Try a different restaurant. Anything new and different will invigorate you.

In Leadership,

Robin Sharma

TIME TO THINK ABOUT MYSELF

2008-07-31T01:23:00.010+03:00

Was not writing for more than a month nothing to the blog, but it doesn’t mean that I didn't have anything to tell you. So, there are quite many things to share from my daily life, but it’s always the matter of time, cause it always takes time from me to actually start writing something meaningful… So, sorry, guys :)

One of my personal aims during MC term is simply start paying attention to myself... I don’t remember at all, when last time in Almaty I had time to spend on my own – simply read a book which I want, have a calm walk from the city, think through the things to do in the nearest future and simply don’t rush anywhere… Yeah, maybe I’m complaining a lot, but its just the truth… Here in Estonia you have quite enough time to do all of that and smth. more, because for now the only responsibility I have here is AIESEC. And actually the country itself gives you such a mood – loads of green areas, calm nature without fast-changing landscape, sea nearby… Maybe that’s only my feeling, but that’s the way it is.

Well, I have several aims to be accomplished after my year in Estonia, they seems to be quite obvious, but very much important for me.

First of all, I want to prepare myself for master program degree in some European school. There are quite many things which are behind that, like choosing the right school and program I want to study which will be up to my interests and in some point the financial resources are also should be taken into account. And now the most important thing for me is preparation - pass several exams like language certification test and GMAT to be able to submit my documents to the school. Seems to be quite OK, but for sure loads of inner will is needed to keep it on track till the end. But that’s the next level I have to strive for and the next personal aim, which will very much contribute to my future plans and career. At least, I hope so… Well many things to think through, but I still didn’t start to deal with that. Somehow postponed until the “dark weather days” in Tallinn, when you don’t very keen to go out, as everybody frightening me with here… Let’s see, I will try to update you on that after some time.

Secondly, I wanted to find my personal interests and start following them. Here is already some progress in it – I have started to be very much interested in photography, but more or less it’s just like a hobby. It teaches you quite many things as I understand from my experience now, especially its being attentive to the beauty around you which you may skip from your eyes being very busy with life-routine. And here in Estonia, if you like being with the nature, it’s a perfect place for that. You may check some of my favorite photos of Estonian nature in Flikr (my ID is smileyaika) and here are some as well…

Also I found out my new “love” here – its Brazilian capoeira, which bring me a lot of motivation and physical challenges, which I haven’t had for quite a long time. But that’s some other story…

The third thing I wanted to write is about being independent, but in the sense not to follow the certain “standards” what young people used to have in my country and I’m sure not only there, but among any other young society, where the materialism gets the upper hand. I also want to be financially independent from my parents, which is still under my year plan here and I’m sure I’m going to start dealing with that soon. I have always been an independent person in the sense of decision making and I guess how my parents brought me up and it really helps me a lot here in Estonia mainly in creating inner mindset to count only on my own, because there no one else, who will take care of me…

Well, why am I’m writing all of that personal plans here, because of the simple reason – I give a promise to myself to keep that on track during the year and just inform you about that. There is a saying “it’s not a plan, if its not written down on the paper”… And if you don’t have anyone to track you or you don’t have small inner “push-ups” to start with that, then just give a promise to someone… So giving a promise to you, guys :) But I still need to have a talk with my mentor whom I didn’t approach for a long time, but who actually helped me a lot with personal preparation for MC and I’m sure will help me with external track on my personal development – I need that definitely, as self-motivation might go down some day…

So again nothing inspirational, just thoughts of a normal person who cares about herself... :)

1 month of my Estonian life…

2008-06-21T16:14:00.017+03:00

This week I was surprised that I have spent already 1 month in Estonia. True, time passes so quickly! There were quite a lot of moments which can be posted here as a separate topic but I would like just quickly look through them what was happening with me…

Really cool thing that I wanted to post here in the blog is Tallinn Old Town Days which were happening during the very first week of June.
“Taking place each June in the heart of this historic city, Old Town Days is a great medieval festival which sees the streets filled with participants dressed in the traditional clothes of that period. Events include a traditional street market, authentic medieval food and drink stalls, street entertainers, folk music and traditional dancing”.

This year Old Town Days were organized already for 27th time and for now that’s the most popular event in the capital, with activities throughout the week. Our MC office is located in the very centre of Old Town and that’s why every day we could somehow observe the activities happening around. I think that’s really amazing event which is promoting not only Estonia as a country but also shows how rich by culture it is. I would not tell how many tourists were coming here during Old Town Days – MANY! :)

I didn’t have chance to attend the activities as full as I can but could somehow cover the main things I’m interested in during weekends. Also, it was very good finally to be like a tourist in Tallinn, take pictures and get to know the city where I will live a year of my life…

During Saturday me and Kristina (my MCP) were discovering the Old town days together and you may see some pictures taken that time…

Then in the evening I was enjoying the weekend day on my own… I love that here in the summer you can just sit on the grass in the park, take your food in the store and enjoy being yourself. That’s what I did and recently heard that there is some African band playing the live music… The rest of the day I spent in front of the scene dancing by the rhythm of African live music… They were performing several national songs but also I think there was reggie :) That’s what made me simply HAPPY and then in the end I didn’t regret money to buy their CD…

There were so many people who asked me the same question – so how do you like Estonia? That’s the typical question that people ask to foreigner… And you know I’m always replying the same that I’m pretty enjoying being here and that’s true. I think that living such a life I have now maybe was one of my inner wishes… Just the lifestyle is different rather than in Almaty as I don’t have to rush somewhere all the time, being stressed, spend my nerves struggling with certain people, not to have time for myself and simply live the routine… I don’t want to say that I don’t like my city and didn’t love at all the life before, but maybe I had just to take a rest for a while and look to many things from another perspective and start missing my every day Almaty life… I know, that it will come, but for now, I love being here - in the small green country…

For now, I have certain things which I’m really enjoying here in Estonia and that make me smile as well, but I guess I can tell about that a bit later when the time comes as many things I’m still trying to learn…

Last weekend I was having Outgoing Preparation Seminar for young people who would like to go on internships by AIESEC and I would say that it was really very much useful seminar for me not only being a facilitator but also to for my personal cultural integration here. And I understood that for now I’m in a “Honeymoon” stage of cultural adaptation when I feel excited, everything seems beautiful and amazing for me...

Sometimes I’m feeling alone as don’t have any other community except AIESEC here, that’s’ why always happy when there is an opportunity to spend time outside of my home place and travel somewhere.

…

Today I received a letter from my mom… With my dad I’m communicating quite often via e-mails, but mom wrote me for the first time. It’s really so sweet to read mails from your parents when they write the things which they used to tell you in a real life – the ones we always, as “smart” kids, know for sure, seem obvious for us and almost all the time don’t accept as “we know better”… :) But when you receive the same reminders from your parents via e-mails, you see between the lines how sweet these “instructions” are - they make you only smile and value the feelings of your parents a lot when you are especially the only one child and far for now… I’m taking as a habit now to write my parents every Sunday a kind of report what’s going on with me here and do I follow their instructions, offers and remember the things I promised…

23-24th June are coming the national holidays in Estonia - Jaanipäev or Midsummer days, as I’ve been told that’s one of the most welcome days in Estonia and everybody here goes out of the cities to the countryside to celebrate it…

Jaanipaev – This is the climax of the midsummer events. June 23 is considered the night of magical powers and is the eve of Jaanipaev. The traditional way to celebrate this event is to head out to the countryside. Here the citizens of Estonia will light bonfires and dance and sing around the fires; they will also look for the mystical fern flower which is supposed to bloom only on this night and will bring luck to those who find it.

See you soon…

2008-06-02T11:45:00.023+03:00

In my first posting I would like to share with you feelings which I was having while leaving already for my MC year in Estonia – exactly talking about my almost 3,8 years being an AIESECer of Almaty LC in Kazakhstan.

Yeah, that’s definitely true – time passes very quickly and how things can come around one day that you think back and are not able to imagine – so many things you have reached, developed personally, made impact on people, got real firends and just simply, I would say, have grown up with this organization… And I would really thank very much those people who showed me the way to be in AIESEC and I really value everything I gained and reached personally during these years.

I have been always quite an active member of AIESEC Almaty, for now don’t remember at all the motivation for being like that from the beginning. But maybe international perspective… Or I think that simply I was valuing a lot young people who are DOing something for better future… And I wanted to DO the things too and be proactive during my university life…

… 2004-05 term… Passed selection and delegate of LTS which was a huge shock for innocent girl who just finished school – introduction to AIESEC culture… First fears calling to company manager, first results in incoming exchange, matched intern and issues with him, being buddy of 2 interns…

My first question – do I need to be here?

… 2005-06 term… applied for the first position in AIESEC as Finance coordinator and steps to make the difference to establish something to work in this LC area, CEEDer in AIESEC Eskisehir, Turkey – my first international experience, Finance Director Meeting in Moscow, first national AIESEC Ru&Ka conference, first talks about AIESEC XP implementation - being fan of it…

I was learning and gaining a lot during this year, but that’s was the beginning of my journey…

… 2006-07 term… quite competent to continue with LC finance and being elected for EB as VP Finance - my first year to work in LC board and finance system in LC works quite well, the best international conference ever – ITC 2006 in Lithuania which gave me a lot of understanding about myself as a person and first real networking with AIESECers abroad, YouCan! international conference in Poland, first try to work on PBOX and no exchange results, Millennium Development Goals project with UN…

And in the end, I’m the only one person who has enough skills and experience to be LC President next year…

… 2007-08 term… being elected for LCP and feeling quite ambitious together with my team in reaching amazing results and make the difference, first Annual Report event, LC and EB planning, boom in incoming exchange – bringing internationalism to LC, LC culture establishment, International Congress in Turkey, first Developing Leaders Day, EuroCo in Lithuania, great people recruited to LC, intense work with first MC Kazakhstan, first National Congress, finance sustainability, EB 08-09 elections – the biggest in the history and I have successor!, transition and Annual Report…

That’s all…

That’s how I lived approximately my years in AIESEC… I was trying to put somehow the BRIGHTEST MOMENTS in each term but for sure so many happy emotions, stressful moments, sometimes tears, hard work and fun is lying in between of these lines… I still remember the phrase of our alumni, who was always telling us, being that time fresh members – “you will get from AIESEC as much, as you will bring to the organization”… And that’s really true, year by year, when you look back, you are starting to understand that quite clear…

On 1st May I have officially finished my term as LCP of AIESEC Almaty without not having any doubts that its was the most SIGNIFICANT YEAR in the history of our LC with loads of results reached in all the areas… People say that it’s impossible to reach everything during the year what was planned and stay realistic to that. But I would say that’s possible if you have a REAL TEAM who is also ambitious like you and believe in success together. Seems to be like in a fairy tale, but I LIVED IN THIS FAIRY TALE with my Executive Board team the whole 07-08 year…

What I understood is that how hard it is to loose the OWNERSHIP to the work you did, especially being LCP. You want many things to be continued and let your LC grow up to the next level of its development, that’s why in the last days before I left, I was extremely worried to finish everything till the end and give the last inputs and ideas from my side… It’s like your OWN CHILD, when you are afraid that he starts making his own steps… And till now I’m still trying to make myself not to get very much involved in the decision making, but let the new team make their OWN DECISIONS, failures, successes and results… Let them have their ownership in what they do and not being afraid but AMBITIOUS towards upcoming LC year! Anyways, we are in AIESEC and we always learn… Let it be our playground for BETTER TOMORROW…

I guess that’s common among people to look back on yourself once a moment – like having a big stop when you go by train to some city… I’m looking back to myself right now and think that AIESEC years of working on the local level gave me a lot in building my personality especially knowing my own abilities and having self-confidence. There are some natural characteristics which every person has and which you can only make stronger, but there are also some that you have to discover… Right now I’m quite sure that HARD WORK, RESPONSIBILITY AND PERSISTENCE are the base skills which make person “reach his stars”. But there are some of them which are also important, that I found out in myself after some years, is BEING ENTREPRENEURIAL, SELF-PERFORMING, POSITIVE TOWARDS FUTURE AND RESULT-ORIENTED… Sure, we are not perfect and there are some “black” sides which everybody also has, but it’s always important to be focused on your strengths than weak points…

…… At EuroCo 07 in Lithuania (international conference specially designed for LCPs), when its was exactly the middle of my term, I understood that many things what I was doing in AIESEC, many processes and things which I started to establish and work on my own, when there was no advise from anybody - I’m doing in a RIGHT WAY… You know that’s such a cool feeling when you get a big satisfaction and sort of evaluation of your work! During this conference I was totally crashed in a positive way, that something is missing from my “plate” and I would like to taste some other “dish” out of many other menus I have in life… And it has to be something UNORDINARY, CHALLENGING AND INTERNATIONAL one, which will be strongly connected to my future professional plans…

2008-09 term…

Being elected for MC AIESEC ESTONIA TEAM… That’s totally another life story which I have just started today – 1st June 2008…

2008-06-01T20:21:00.008+03:00

Finally I found some time to start my blog posting here… To my mind it’s very much useful instrument not just to keep informing your friends and relatives on how you are living if you are abroad and what you are thinking about but also to share some of your personal feelings when you doubting about something, feeling happiness inside, tired, exhausted, need advise and so on… For now I don’t know how it will go from my side, but I have already felt several times that I need to start it, when also I was located in Almaty, but actually, you know, when the big city routine is “eating” you and you don’t have any minute even for yourself to be tet-a-tet… I guess, some people will definitely understand me…

Ready to be always with you…