Form the lap top of the RD

February 28, 2011 in Uncategorized

Dear All,

What should we do with all that inspiration?

I meet inspiring people every day, they have the ability to focus my thinking, help me understand situations, keep me motivated and make me cry.

David and I visited the South of Thailand last week, and met a number of people who are really making a difference. A widow from the conflict who has started her own Batik business as a way of getting herself out of the house and now she sells all over Thailand, a professor from Prince of Songkla University, the first University graduate from his village, who is now supporting his community based fishery business, a woman who lost her son in the conflict who has done interviews on TV and works with community radio telling her story so that others will understand the impact of conflict.

Each are leaders in their own way, each has used their experience to benefit others and have turned challenging and difficult experiences into a positive.

I see Oxfam staff who are also inspiring too. Staff who really believe in the values and commitments of Oxfam – who want to role model them and take them into their everyday life. Staff who work long and hard to try and achieve the best quality programming they can. Team work, commitment and effective communication are all hallmarks of Oxfam staff.

With SMS we are entering a period of change, I do think the vision for SMS is inspiring and what we are trying to achieve will bring greater impact to poor people.

I know that sometimes we will look at these changes in a ‘not-so -positive’ way – because its difficult, will take time, will take more work , may not achieve what we hope – But we need to turn our thinking around, and be inspired by all those people who are really inspiring, and have turned a negative into a positive. We also need to role model this and ensure that SMS is at the centre of our thinking, planning and communication.

 Bejamin Zander encourages us to look at everything as an opportunity (do watch the video link below) Benjamin Zander – Art of Possibility clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTav0D3YIN4

and so lets use all that inspiration to make things happen.

Have a great month!

Sarah

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