Masters

Friday, May 29, 2015 1:50:00 PM Posted by Jeanine Norden 0 comments
And here we go.... I have graduated as a MBA student.  Today, I sit here and smile about this degree, but while there, it was not exactly a walk in the park.  My MBA journey started with an entrance exam where you have no clue if you're right or wrong of have a clue what is going on.  This was almost a full day entrance exam.  From there, it was a very long application to complete, which included some research to be done and some business references.  That was part of the walk in the park.  With a slight hick-up in my application (on the University's side), eventually I got accepted. 


After a bit of fluffy stuff, we started with orientation week. I met my first syndicate for the first time, and surprise surprise.... I was the only woman in my syndicate. By now, I am used to this in the work place, as in the banking world and at a certain level in an organisation, that is usually the way your life pans out. The journey started and right in the beginning we did an Amazing Race through the streets of Jozi in a mini-taxi. As MBA students together, everyone was going for the win! We were 100% sure that we were in first place and didn't stop pushing for a second! We were travelling up and down and saw amazing things and heart breaking things around the city. We are usually so sheltered in a bubble that you don't get to see the 'tough life' that manifests itself in the streets of the CBD. And then the moment arrived. We got to a school/day-care for young children in the middle of the CBD. We went in and were supposed to paint a picture with them. Being the only woman in my group, I had two kids with me. I didn't mind. Now at this point, I think it is important to mention that I do not have children, nor have I ever really 'wanted' children and I don't really 'like' children all that much. But something happened there with those children in the CBD. The looked at me and kept on calling me 'teacher' in those sweet little voices. They said "Teacher, look here!" "Teacher, like this?" "Look Teacher, look!" About what felt like two minutes into the painting activity with them, I was told that we need to move on. So unlike me, I broke out in tears, and said that I first wanted to finish painting with them. (Now I suppose this is the moment where 1000 things ran through my mind, as how their parents didn't have time for them, and who would make time for them to finish a picture with them, and how doing this to them now would create a devastating memory that will last in their little minds for the rest of their lives) Then, Thato said - we cannot win this race, it is OK, but we will allow Jeanine to first finish painting her picture with these children. And at that moment, my MBA really started!
With Thato saying that and my syndicate agreeing with him, was probably one of the most selfless moments I had the privilege of experiencing in my entire life thus far. This was the moment where I realised, that I have to make some changes.
 
During the MBA I had a rollercoaster in my personal life! I started the two years with one of the most amazing line managers any person can wish for.  I knew I had the support I needed.  And then, he changed roles and my job and career that I loved changed.  Six months into my MBA, I decided to resign from the company I was working for, due to ethical reasons.  This meant resigning form a company where I won an award for the person who contributed the most to achieving the strategic goals of the organisation.  I was the youngest person and only female to ever win that.  Resign from EXCO – one of my dreams.  Leave people behind who I cared for dearly, go into the market without having another job secured.  Hardest of all, leaving the job that I absolutely loved!
 
Obstacle number two - a week later, go in for emergency surgery.  At least I now had time to be at home and recover.
Challenge number three, start a new job, where it was something totally different from what I used to do, travel throughout Africa to Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and several others (remember - I'm studying my MBA and I have mandatory class every Monday evening, Wednesday evening and Saturday) - so you need to plan your travelling very fine to fit all of that in. I got assigned a portfolio that I've never managed before. Change Management, training, country enablement and several others - and that across 19 African countries, where 5 were operational at that point in time.
I already mentioned all of the travelling. I am a traveller at heart and absolutely loved going to all of these countries, and I'll blog about my experiences travelling Africa in a later blog. I would typically have class on a Saturday, fly out the Sunday, make a plan for the Monday class, fly back the Tuesday night, land back in South Africa the Wednesday morning (at around 7), go home, shower and go to work, and from work straight to class and get home at about 10 PM. This was just some of the obstacles I faced.
Furthermore, I found out in January of 2014 (on the same day, 1 hour apart), that I had tumours on both of my ovaries and that they could be cancer. Secondly, I got diagnosed with a neurological disease, which was killing my nerves. Like I already mentioned, I don't have children, and before going in for the operation, they asked me to sign that the specialists were allowed to remove my ovaries during surgery if it was in fact cancer. This was one of those really devastating moments in life and the last thing on my mind was my MBA at that stage. Irrespective if I already had children or not, it was something that would remove my option to ever have my own children. I walked out of hospital, with my ovaries intact, the tumours removed and clean of cancer. Now, concentrate and go back to my MBA.
 
Next moment, exam arrives.  I went writing exam with my stitches of my operation still intact.  I passed both those exams.
 


Now, nothing can get worse than what I already went through - right? Wrong! In August, 7 months after the removal of the first tumours, they have returned. I went in for operation number 3 during my MBA. The tumours were removed and everything went well during the operation - this was done on the Thursday. The Friday, while at home recovering, one of my employees visited my home to resign, the Sunday, I travelled to Ghana for a week, once again - stiches intact! About 20 days after that, a wonderful gentle man decided that it was a wonderful idea to drive over the red light, into my brand new car! Bumper gone!

 

Now, the end of the year is approaching and I need to finish my thesis. I went to Japan on a global module during October and returned on the 28th of October. I landed, went home, took a shower and went straight to a conference after travelling for almost 24 hours straight. That Friday morning, just after 4 AM, I received a call from my mother. My sister, who was pregnant at the time, lost her baby at full term. I raced straight through to hospital to visit her.

Now, seriously - drama must be over, yet again not. I received feedback from my supervisor about my thesis on the Thursday evening. He hated it & told me to rewrite my thesis! It was due for the Monday - 10 November 2014. I had 3 days left! I had a little panic fit, and decided that I've been through way too much over the past two years to give up on this dream of mine, and I shall push through, no matter what. I worked for three days and three nights without any sleep. I cried here and there, focused again, and went back to writing.

At 00:00 on Monday morning, 10 November 2014 (my birthday) I lit a candle and sang happy birthday to myself; cried for 30 seconds, and then started working again. At 06:10 on Monday morning, 10 November 2014, due day for my thesis, I finished writing it.

I went to the office, went through the whole document again, printed it and went home to get dressed for the celebrations of that evening and my final submission of my MBA! I usually hate my birthday, but 10 November 2014, was the best birthday of my entire life! I was a wake for 5 days in a row! I celebrated that evening with the largest amount of joy in my body that I ever experienced. I managed to conclude my MBA on the happiest note ever.

Now, you might ask why I took the time to write all of this down.... I write this to tell you that many things will happen in your life. Things will happen irrespective if it fits into your plan or not! You can choose to give up, or you can choose to push through. I managed to push through all of this, despite! Never once did I miss an exam, or a class (that I didn't pre-arrange and CAUTH up)! Never once did I give up, never once did I make excuses, never once did forget those kids who I painted with and the reason I started what I started.

I hope that my story can be an inspiration to others, to not give up! To not wait for others to make things happen, to not achieve what you set out to do in the beginning.
 
I have since graduated and officially hold a Masters in Business Administration







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Madagascar and the cat

After a quick business trip to Namibia (Windhoek), I returned to South Africa for a brief day and a bit.  Exhausted, yet excited, I made my way to the airport once again, awaiting my flight to Madagascar.  When you fly, you see the duration on the ticket and prepare yourself for that.  I saw the time, knew that I had a connecting flight, but it’s just a flight like the hundreds I’ve been on before.  It’s a matter of fact; it cannot be nearly as bad as many of my previous flights.  Its three hours for flight number one and then an hour and a bit for flight number two, so fairly short. 
 
I don’t think that anyone can be blamed for thinking that that is to be expected from the flight and travelling from Johannesburg, South Africa to Madagascar.  Trying to check in is where the first problem started.  Starting off, I went to the wrong airline.  Clearly there was a reason why I could not check in online the night before; although I could see my flight on the airline’s website. I was supposed to fly business class.  As one does, I went to the business class counter, only to find it non-operational.  I preceded my check in and was greeted by the rudest ground staff.  This was one of those lovely flights that make you take a bus ride to the plane.  We got on and I noticed that there were only about 20 people on the bus.  Odd for a flight, but here we go.  Sign number two should have been when the bus kept on driving and driving.  Passing hanger after hanger.  The military ground staff shouted:  “Nobody leaves the bus until I say so!”  As we got off the bus – another military like ground staff shouted that all hand luggage shall be hand in.  The woman with red hair, red framed glasses, a different shade of red shirt and short studded cowboy boots announced firmly in her foreign accent that she shall not hand over her luggage.  I stood firmly behind her and concurred.  Insisting to take my hand luggage with me – I entered the very small plane with my small suitcase proceeding up the narrow seven steps.  I showed them how my suitcase can fit into an overhead compartment, comfortably! 

We had a complement of three flight staff.  The captain (a lady), the guy sitting next to her in the cockpit; who knew that that was no cockpit and madam flight attendant.  I continued with my normal flight rituals.  Sunglasses on, my travel pillow next to me and my phone on flight mode.  The tiny plane made its way into the air, after giving way to a monster plane.  On serving brunch, madam asked me if everything is alright.  With little sleep and the Joburg city in my bones, I had no choice but to indicate that I’m highly irritable and frankly, pissed off!  She politely apologized and the captain made her way to Antananarivo with thirty minutes to spare (Note the star announcement).  Arriving at Antananarivo, I quickly realised – this is not exactly Africa as I’ve seen it.  This is Africa as I haven’t seen it before.  Remembering the porter trick from Bali, I strongly indicated that I’m an African woman who does not require assistance.  From the second I set my foot out of that door, I had beggars surrounding me.  It was nearly impossible to move around without either a woman with a baby on her back begging for money, or a child that cannot be older than three years begging or grown men, begging for money for beer.  Yes, beer.  They said it that bluntly.

I managed to get some cash from the local ATM (after bribery to show me where it was of course) and a woman hitting me while drawing money, saying that I can now give her money as she’s seeing me draw money.  Hot, tired, hungry and still Jozi pissed off, I spotted the only coffee shop at the airport.  I immediately saw that all the waitresses have nose rings.  Another universal trend very quickly revealed itself to me.  Internationally it is believed that you, as a woman, have money or are seen as wealthy if you have long lightly coloured hair, long nails, thin eyebrows, wear high heels, paint your toe nails a shade of red and wear yellow gold!  If you then have the ability to throw some animal print or leather in the mix, you know you have arrived.  At the table next to me, I could clearly see a very wealthy woman seated.  She had a small boy with her.  Apologies, two.  The one was her son and the other, her boyfriend.  They could not have been older than three and nineteen respectively.  She could easily be forty.
Eventually the gate opens to check in.  Search number one.  Standing in the business class line, I identified that this flight must mainly have business class seats.  The number of people lining up was staggering.  The Arabian prince standing in front of me had six bags with him.  In one, Johnny Walker Blue Label.  I saw he had a very thick wealthy passport.  Lots of gold on it to match his tight shirt and thick gold chain around his neck.  I think his hair stood up that way because his shoes were so pointy.  I think it was the blood circulation to his hands that got impaired due to his tight jeans that made them flap flap flap.  Who knows what the story is.

Now for search number two.  I made my way through probably twenty search officers to the delightful area of one corrupt coffee seller and wooden chairs.  There is only one terminal.  Every flight in Antananarivo departs from there.  The ground staff finds their way onto a chair and then shifts the name from the board and shifts the new name in.  Almost like you see high schools change the name of the rugby teams at a match on the match board.  Now I know my destination.  Tulear; which I’ve seen spelled in three different ways and all seem to be acceptable.
At last, I have a business class seat.  Seat 19 A.  I had no concept of a row 19 in business class, but given the amount of people that stood in that line, I had nothing else to think.  I make my way up the six narrow steps with the prince, the wealthy lady with the boy and the woman with the two cats.  I’m seated in the very last row.  Business Class!  In Madagascar, it seems like the last two rows are business class.  Ultimately, the prince was seated in the front, along with the wealth lady.

 

I Need To Write

It's been a while since I had time to write a bit.  Lots of drama and so many exciting adventures passed by without me writing.  Soon, before the end of the week, I'll provide an exciting update on my career change, beautiful Bali, being an MBA student at a top business school, love, vanity and lots more.

Tough Decisions in Life

I often question why I do things the way I do. The answer in my mind is extremely simple... It is the right thing to do. It is the caring thing to do. It is what any sensible person would do....... Or is it?

I\'ve noticed that so many people do things so much different than me. I simply cannot not ask myself if I\'m the person who clearly don\'t know what to do, or if I\'m the only person that can spot wrong from right. There\'s been so many life influencing decisions that I\'ve been forced to take in my life lately. The part that is so incredibly tough is that I have to make all of these on my own. Sometimes one really doubts yourself in these type of situations. There\'s been motions of house buying, moving, saying so long to friends

Extreme Balance

How contradicting is it to say extreme balance - as balance is the one thing that cannot be extreme.  If you attempt to find balance by means of extreme measures, it will be impossible to find that balance.  I've been amazed by the events & shocks that seem to continually travel my way.  Events that involve babies being born, hearts being broken, jobs being lost, financial constraints, smiles, laughs, laughter, tears, hope (lots and lots of hope), adventures, challenges, more tears and a sense of fear.  All of these are insane contradictions on a day to day basis.  


One think that I have always known but have never had the guts to admit was highlighted by a friend last night.  She said - Nini, you do everything you do - in extremes.  And, yes - I do.  I have complained & searched for the ability to have balance in my life. More than once before.  I am (or have thus far) not been able to achieve a level of healthy balance.  Saying healthy balance is a contradiction in itself once again. 

Right now - any form of balance will be healthy.  Last night, I had to admit that I have the inability to do anything in life if I do not do it to an extreme.  I know no other way.  I cannot love somebody - if I don't love them with every single part of who I am.  I cannot do my work if I don't do it with every single thing that I have and offer every single part of me to be able to succeed.  I cannot maintain a friendship if I don't dedicate every part of who I am and what I can offer to a friendship.

I am the person in a relationship that will text you in the morning, wishing you a good day.  Text at night - asking how your day went.  I'm the friend that will check up on you when you have a broken heart & fill your glass with wine as many times as you need.  The one that will make chicken soup and buy packets & packets of meds to help when you're sick.  Get you pretty flowers for your desk when you start a new job & spot the lost soul and take them with on holiday cause I can see their heart is hurting & they need a change of scenery & crowd. 

That's the things I do and it makes me happy to do these things.  But to allow somebody to do the same for me is once again one of those impossible tasks.  My 'believe' that nobody else can do something as good as I can.  Nobody can help me the way that I can help myself.  I set unreasonable expectations & goals to myself, as that is the only way that I can push my own boundaries.  The way that I can 'control' the situation & ensure a high level of standard.


Isn't it strange how hard one can be on oneself?  How you can cause self inflicted pain your your own strict unreasonable standards.  I has a giggle by myself thinking that I'm going to be that old lady in the old age how that will insist on doing things herself and then go racing down the cliff in her wheelchair. (At least a smile there)


So starting off with being an extremist & managing the art of balance remains such a difficult expectation.  But, a balance in life is required to achieve happiness.


So in the words of my dear friend - just let it be & enjoy not running after your own tail.

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Fly little bird fly

I never in my life thought I'll do it.  Never did I think that I will get a tattoo.  Lately the thought's been playing round in my head & I decided that seeing that one only has one life, why not.....

In between the time of me changing jobs and moving forward with my life I visited a recommended tattoo shop.  I walked in there with a couple of pictures that I googled of little swallows and had the artist draw them first.  Being myself I was full of sh*t as it had to be 'perfect' and fine.  After a couple of tweaks to the picture - I had a cigarette & geared myself up for this permanent engraving on my back.  

A little bit up - a little bit down.... And so, the positioning was where I wanted it.  I sat down on the chair with my head bowed forward & the sound of the tattoo 'machine' started.  I must admit - it was without a doubt not painless, however not even close to as painful as I thought it to be.  30 min later and I had my three little birdies on my back.

There's no specific reason why I chose swallows, but the fact that they're pretty.  Then one night I had a conversation with a friend & we were talking about children & their imaginary friends.  I told her about my imaginary friend I had.... I little blue bird.  I walked around with the little blue bird on my hand all the time.  I remember when my parents weren't home, my little blue bird & I could fly.  I don't recall if the bird had a name, but when I close my eyes I can still see that bird in vivid detail!  Perhaps it is that little bird that stayed in my imagination many years later and ended up represented on my back. 

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Taking the big leap

Friday, May 27, 2011 12:02:00 PM Posted by Jeanine Norden 0 comments
I think that I'm fairly honored that I got to know myself to a great extend by now.  In business I love making decisions and acting out on them.  In my love live, I sometimes take forever to take a decision & other times I act out on my decision almost immediately.  But when it comes to my personal life and what effects the ME - I find it incredibly hard.  It takes me a long time to actually 'confirm' the decision and really make up my mind about something; but boy.... once I've done that - there's no holding me back.

In the past couple of years I've been through so incredibly much.  Some decisions were easy to make; others took me a while to actually make them.  Some - I haven't even made yet.  If I look back on the Jeanine of 3 years ago; I can spot the difference immediately!  And I must admit - that is something to be proud of.  I have made so many changes and I'm in such a good emotional state right now that the only thing that I still have as part of the 'past' is my current position.  Now - I've said this before and I will say it over and over again... I L.O.V.E my job!  I am very happy where I am and I love what I'm doing.  My work is my 'escape' from the world.  It is actually the one thing that sets me free.  Because of all of that - I had to set myself free.  I have resigned after many years and I'm taking the leap to something new.  It is hell of a scary thing!  It is something that I didn't really think I'd do.  Besides the bit of healthy fear I am overwhelmed with excitement.  I cannot wait for my first day.  I did it.  I took the leap!

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