Interview with Darlsie Budhoo

As I promised last week, here is the first of the features on women. Our subject today is a young lady who is a team leader and coach at one of SA's big companies.. Darlsie Budhoo; She is someone I have seen grow from strength to strength to her current role of leadership, and I believe hers is a story of hard work and perseverance, pressing against all stereotyping and obstacles to get where she is..(I meant to attach a photo with this interview so you can have an idea of the person behind the answers, but had a technical glitch, I promise to attach it as soon as I can) 1) What part has passion played in your progress in your career? My passion has at many times been the one thing that has kept me going, when the going was tough. Anyone can follow instructions and get the job done, but one passionate person can change the world with just will. 2) What obstacles/challenges did you come across and how did you overcome them, if you did? My biggest challenges were keeping my work life balance in check and managing change positively. Keeping my work life balance is something I am now managing well. I took an EI course and it involved unpacking a lot of personal issues and realising that some of the techniques that I use to manage my work were the perfect solutions for managing my personal life as well. I'm still going through an unpleasant divorce but I've come to terms with it and I'm moving on. 3) If not how are you managing with the current/existing obstacles? I've leant to accept what I can't change and also to adapt. When I was younger I struggled with change because I was constantly looking for security and comfort and everytime changes occurred I had to start all over again. Now I not only embrace change but I advocate for change because I understand that we are an evolutionary species and that the only constant in life is change. Change opens up opportunities for growth and innovation. It also takes us out of our comfort zones and gives us opportunities to learn new things about ourselves and identify new skills we didn't even know we had. 4) What’s your 1st reaction when you come across a challenge, what kind of thoughts run through your mind? My first thought is always one of high alert but this is also my strength because my problem solving thought process is triggered by this. I go into this logical thought space that enables me to weigh multiple possible solutions. My first thought is like my alarm trigger. 5) What kind of support do you prefer to have when you face a challenge? For me the first step is self introspection to fully diagnose the challenge and how it affects me and then I move on to brainstorming with like minded peers to hear their thoughts and direction. 6) What mindset has this journey (to and in this position) developed in you? This journey has taught me to be stronger emotionally. Leading a large number of people is an emotionally draining role. I've learnt that if u're not an emotional rock as a leader, all the training, support and potential means nothing. Leadership is not about the instructions but about having a mutual understanding with each of your staff, which makes it easy to align goals. 7) What has been the greatest lesson you have learned thus far? I've learnt that learning never stops and it's not confined to training rooms and classrooms. I've learn that you can learn a valuable lesson from even from a small child, if you open yourself up to it and stay humble. 8) What do you think is the single most important reason people find themselves unable to progress in life? "I think people don't progress because they have inferiority complexes, they tend to look up to other people which is not wrong, however they also look to them to progress and grow. But, they don't consider that even they can achieve the same or better if they just give themselves a chance or just believe that they are capable. Most people also spend so much time and effort sweating the small insignificant stuff such that they won't even have the energy or capability to identify the BIG opportunities staring them in the face. 9) What words of encouragement can you give to people with the same desires, or people struggling to break through barriers /limitations? "I live by the mantra that "If someone else can think it or do it, then so can I." So while I'm in awe of the world's genius', I also believe that as long as I live I still have an opportunity to make my mark. 10) Any philosophy ( ideology) that you live by? "If someone else can think it or do it, then so can I." That also means so can YOU. Enough said, see you next time.

I’m sorry to have been away for so long, im almost feeling like a has-been, or at most a one-hit wonder in the blogging sphere, but I wont let that happen, at least not this year.Anyway lots has happened in the 3 or so months I have been silent, most of it very emotional and painful stuff but im glad to say im working on it and seeing the hand of God strengthening me and the family by the day. Im not going to say it has been easy, but I can safely say I am learning to let go, lean on and trust in the Lord who knows everything from beginning to end, and is never taken by surprise by anything that happens in our lives. I am still quite confused and sometimes quite emotional but suffice to say I know God works all things together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I am not going into details because this is a family issue and affects more than just me. All i can say is we lost a young man so full of life one minute and the next he was bedridden, and then gone in a set of bizarre events that have shaken me to the core and left with more questions than answers, but God remaains good all the time. So as an affirmation of my continuity within the blogging community i want to commemorate Women's Month by featuring a few women i consider to be trailblazers in their small worlds. you may not know them but i believe their stories are universal and will touch and minister to one and all. So watch this space and prepare to be encouraged. Adios..!! stay blessed and continue to fight the good fight of faith

Of friends and friendships....!!!

So what is a friend, I’m sure we all have varying definitions and understanding of this word, but a saying goes..”you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with”, so whichever way you look at it a friend is a very important influence in one’s life. Friends can be there for a season and move on and some friends are for life, I have been very fortunate in my adult life to have made lasting friendships because as a child I did not see myself as a very friendly or friend-worthy person. Now why am I talking about friend today, well it is because this past week I have had such a tremendous experience with friends that I was left with a glow. I learnt that friends can be people who are close to you, people you see every day but never thought they could be your friend. So when I heard this saying of you being the average of the five people you spend most of your time with, I got worried, no offence to my friends because I don’t really spend that much time with them anyway. I came to the conclusion that I do not like what I see and certainly do not want to end where I could foresee myself going with my current set-up. So I decided to be very intentional about how I interact with the people around me most of my day that meant I become intentional about my relationships, and that I work on being a good influence and for the people who influence to be positive influences as well. So in the midst of all that just out of the blue so to say, I got am email from a friend whom I last communicated with some years back, she is younger than me but is definitely wiser and very insightful, and I also got in touch with one of my ex-students from about 10years back, now we have been in touch on and off but it has not been much of a friendship. And to top it all up, I also got connected to another young lady I sometimes take the bus with, I have known her from a distance for about a year now, and when I got on the bus and went to sit with her things just happened, if I may put it that way. All these three young people brought a certain flavour and richness into my life, and opened my eyes to see things in a different way that I had gotten used to. And to top it up a very good friend of mine from high school I happen to work with started challenging me in areas where I needed the push. That was really a prayer answered for me because I had been praying for God to connect me with people who are think like I do, people who would understand my dreams, my weaknesses and so forth, and people I can do the same for. And all these people were right there, it wasn’t new people or something, but God used the very people I had already in my circle t show me that things are not always the way they seem. So I challenge you out there where do you want to go next, are the people you are spending your time with helping you or pulling you down, and what are you going to do about it. Only you can answer that question. HERE’S TO RICH AND FULFILLING FRIENDSHIPS…!!!

Your attitude will determine your altitude is a common saying and one with a lot of truth in it too. I first came across this saying during my first years of teaching and I used to throw it at my students whenever the chance presented itself. I was just using it with no personal experience just head knowledge till a couple of years ago. When I look back at all that has happened in my life I ask myself this question: Would things have turned out the way they did had I responded differently? What I am trying to say is most of the time when bad things happen or when our desires are long in coming we lose faith, become embittered and despondent, and yet you never know maybe that setback was the last step before you get to your goal. Instead of allowing feelings to take over I think one should maintain a winning attitude and persevere steadfastly to the end. I remember a poem when I was in primary school which went something like this: Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, at all the times you can, for as long as ever you can! (I may have missed some words). This is an exhortation like the one in the Bible that says "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain"(1Cor15v58). We are being encouraged here to keep doing good even though it seems the reward is long in coming. Doing good means you disregard how the disappointment may have made you feel, you put a smile on your face and a song in your heart and continue. Not allowing frustration, resentment and all such feelings to take control when things don't turn out as we expect shows an attitude of a winner. When it seems all hope is lost the winner mentality forges on and wills him/her to look beyond the present. A winner's attitude is to look at the desired outcome and work to find ways to beat the odds so you can get to it. A winner approaches the task at hand with joy and he does not fear challenges as they are the building stones of success. I heard a quote recently that says "Adversity is the breakfast of champions", so in this beautiful year of 2012 I'm looking forward to be a winner, and I pray we can all have the mind to look at our circumstances and setbacks as a platform for reaching our goals.

2012...What can I say

And I mean really what can I say because there is a lot I'm looking forward to and lots I wish to achieve in this year. So when I say what can I say it’s not as a cliché, but as something Ì mean from deep within.
So we are already 2weeks into the year and it would seem like things are still the same as they were last year, well at least the way I'm seeing them. For one right now I feel so tired having come out of a very busy period at work with no leave from work to rest. And because I'm tired my nerves are frazzled resulting in me being short-tempered and impatient plus all the unpleasant effects of fatigue. Now you may be wondering why I’m saying all this, well it’s because I just has a particularly tiring day and to top it up, had to wait for long at the bus stop after missing the last bus home. Anyway at the end of the day I realised life is too short to spend sulking over the minor accidents that come our way, we should learn to flow with the wind or swim with the tide.
This past Saturday I woke up in the morning and decided to take a walk to the lake for some fresh air and exercise, to kick-start my day. As I was sitting by the park benches enjoying the cool breeze and watching the ducks waddling something caught my attention and left an indelible mark in my mind. As I was looking at the ducks they were all swimming in different directions, depending I presume, on where each wanted or for whatever reason, and then suddenly they were all swimming in one direction and as I looked closely I noticed that they were being swept by the current. A wind was blowing causing the water to move in a certain direction, carrying the ducks with it. As they were moving with the current, they were not paddling or doing anything at all, but just flowing with the water. It was quite a spectacle to behold. Right there the eyes of my understanding were enlightened and I understood a very important principle for my life right there. As long as I fight against the winds of the Spirit of God, I will find myself tired and probably dissatisfied with most tasks I undertake to do, but it is when I allow God to lead me that I can rest and flow with Him. And as I sat down to ponder the meaning of what that means for me in 2012 I realised that I have been kicking against the current with all my might trying to make progress as much as I could. And yes I made a lot of progress with a lot of sweat, blood and tears, but if I will only allow the will of God to guide me, go where He says I should go as He says and do what He says to do the way He wants it done, I will see much acceleration and progress in my life than ever before. So here is to a glorious 2012 and may we all learn that it’s easier to flow with the tide than against it