Noticed anything different?

Activate Learning Solutions has a new look.

I deliberated long and hard about creating a new website.  I explored the pros and cons; calculated costs; read the risks but in the end what won was that people were getting to know me as….ActivateLearn.

So I had to ditch the temporary living arrangement with the free WordPress site.  I had to make it official.  I tied the knot and permanently moved into my own domain name with a self-hosted website.

It’s quite exciting.  I lose myself through the Ikea-like WordPress plugin library and contemplate downloading  plugins to furnish my new online place but there’s always danger of going a bit overboard in this newly-wed bliss. I must keep it simple.

But why the change?

Some years ago, after continual restructures, downsizing and redundancies in the organisations I worked for,  I decided to take matters in my own hands.

Never again was I going to  take on a permanent role with any organisation (unless it provided something SO different, SO innovative or of course, a business I started).  Instead, my idea was to blend the best of both worlds by undertaking fixed term contracts of 12- 18 months so that I could “get the job done without being affected by restructures, internal politicking and inefficiencies.”

Fixed term contracts met my personal need for doing the work, learning from it, sharing how I did it to others who could keep it going, attending my farewell lunch and waving good bye as I moved onto the next project to repeat the cycle all over again.

But things have changed.  In a workplace of continual flux,  12-18 months is simply too long for me now especially when structures, people, projects, resources are a moving feast.  But mainly it’s a question of control.

I want it back.

In so doing, determine my own lifestyle, the projects and clients I work with and do more meaningful, valuable work that makes me more productive and happier.

So I have been reflecting on “where to from here?” and I’ve come to the conclusion that after this current contract ends in 2014, I’m going to freelance to see where this takes me.

I’m going to have to give up a lot of things such as a steady income, steady work hours between 9 to 5 and a workplace chockers with case studies I can blog about… (I think I’m more sad about this actually).

I will have to find ways to overcome.

I figured after 23 years in Learning and Development across a variety of industries and organisations; with an insatiable curiosity for learning and helping my clients out with their learning programs, the times I’ve been most happiest were the times I coached and helped people meet their performance needs.

It’s time for me to let go of the fear, take charge of my own destiny and like we used to say in the Navy, “Make It So”.

What have I got to lose really?

With Thanks

True to form, I used my personal networks to seek support, coaching and guidance around this endeavour.  I’d like to thank my friend  Priya Chandra for her help on transferring my site and building it into this template.  Priya is an online marketing consultant with considerable experience in helping small businesses with their online digital strategy.  Read her profile here.   If you’re looking for someone to assist you with your website, I highly recommend her services.

I also have to thank Dave Ferguson (@Dave_Ferguson) for his support too.  Although we’ve never met in person, we’ve had some great Twitter and email conversations about work, life, our countries and learning.  He provided ideas and links to plug ins for me to consider for my website.  In fact, over a year ago when I started this journey of considering whether to go self-hosted or not, I recall Dave being the first to provide some advice around this.  Whenever I make out a call for help, Dave’s the first to DM me with the answer.  Thanks Dave!