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March 2002 - Annette Culpan
On one side of the coin changing jobs is one of the hardest things we can do in life. On the other side it is often an incredibly positive step. In one sense you are out of a comfort zone & in another there is fresh life, new lessons to learn, adventures to be had, friends to be made & the opportunity for enormous growth. These opportunities are doorways that must be walked through, even when you love the current landscape.
Leaving my full time role at Vodafone was incredibly difficult & also very exciting. I left behind a job that I adored in Commercial Procurement, a brilliant company culture, a full ‘girl power’ team & the most inspiring & empowering boss I have ever worked for. At Vodafone I felt incredibly supported & this is one of many amazing things I carry with me. On the other hand I have to acknowledge that I was ready for change. I had been in my current role for nearly two years & had likely reached a plateau of sorts. As is often the case in this life things come along just as you require them, or just when you find yourself in a comfort zone.
The first few weeks with the Trust have been full on. They have been hard & also delightful. The hardest part initially was waking up every day & not having a set time to start work or a team to bounce ideas off throughout the day. I got over that one pretty fast as I promptly discovered I’m incredibly motivated when left to my own devices! The delightful part has been making things happen fast. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore change & what I love even more is rapid, effective change.
In the last few weeks I have developed the Trust’s Supporter Database, compiled & distributed the first Trust Newsletter, built a comprehensive fund-raising strategy for the next 12 months & (most exciting of all for me personally) begun Indonesian language lessons! I am convinced that my teacher Vicki is an angel. Her baking would certainly indicate this. My Manager Sue & The Trust’s Clinic Nurse Leader Julia also come along to these weekly sessions & I must confess to being the least advanced in the class, much to everyone’s amusement! We all get spoilt rotten at the end of each lesson with traditional Indonesian pastries & cups of tea.
The biggest challenge I will face over the next year is sustainable fundraising. The Trust is a small, young organisation & right now the attention of many international volunteer services is in Africa and the Pacific, to the neglect of South East Asia. After the Kuta Bombings last year & given the subsequent repercussions on the Balinese economy, the rural Balinese more than ever before need the support of the West today.
Although a crystal ball would be helpful, for now it’s about going with the journey, careful thought & strategic planning. The cause is great, the motivation all good & the Trust team passionate. I feel inspired.
I started packing up my house today into boxes preparing for departure to Bali early May. It felt sad & amazing.
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