Two realities have shaped the ethos of It’s Your Choice:
Firstly - We live in a time of unparalleled career opportunities and choice. One graduate I asked “How are you?” as she worked at an exhibition replied simply “I’ve just left university – and now I’m lost”
Secondly - In the maze of choice, there is a tendency to adopt a “shotgun” approach i.e. apply for anything and everything in the hope you get one! This has a habit of leading to dissatisfaction very quickly. The alternative is to take a more targeted approach – which of course highlights the problem – what to aim at...?
People at the start of their careers have everything to go for: This is either very exciting or bewildering - you will have many expectations put on you by yourselves, parents and educators. Your desires and passions for what you would “really love to do” will often remain deep and buried by the clamour of voices telling you what you should – ought or must do (having spent all this time, money and effort getting an education - you owe it to everyone!).
The value system you have spent from age 4 up to now, says - however we like to pretend otherwise - that high grades equals “good” and success equals achievement, position and material reward ...
It’s Your Choice is not about usurping many years of education - it is about supporting you in the reality that unless careful and honest choices are made early on – there will be a negative impact at some point later. There is the classic scenario of "made it to the top but not happy” – why? Two reasons – firstly because the deeper desires, passions, creative gifts are clamouring to get out and get used - somehow - somewhere and secondly because the core values of the individual may differ markedly from those of the organisation they work in.
Finally, it is very important to recognise that there are - and have been throughout history (Daniel and Joseph in the Bible and countless modern day equivalents), many people whose sense of purpose and destiny is to work within challenging circumstances. These people choose to make it their destiny to make a difference "from the inside" - where their work is ministry - actually all of our work is ministry - mission - even "worship" - i.e. doing what we are made to do - to the glory of our Creator. So this is not about seeking "Utopia" – but about responsibility for acknowledging and owning choices. As is also said we are all a "work in progress" so some people’s destiny will not become apparent till later on when looking back, "it all added up - being equipped, trained, moulded, shaped for a future purpose”.
Firstly - We live in a time of unparalleled career opportunities and choice. One graduate I asked “How are you?” as she worked at an exhibition replied simply “I’ve just left university – and now I’m lost”
Secondly - In the maze of choice, there is a tendency to adopt a “shotgun” approach i.e. apply for anything and everything in the hope you get one! This has a habit of leading to dissatisfaction very quickly. The alternative is to take a more targeted approach – which of course highlights the problem – what to aim at...?
People at the start of their careers have everything to go for: This is either very exciting or bewildering - you will have many expectations put on you by yourselves, parents and educators. Your desires and passions for what you would “really love to do” will often remain deep and buried by the clamour of voices telling you what you should – ought or must do (having spent all this time, money and effort getting an education - you owe it to everyone!).
The value system you have spent from age 4 up to now, says - however we like to pretend otherwise - that high grades equals “good” and success equals achievement, position and material reward ...
It’s Your Choice is not about usurping many years of education - it is about supporting you in the reality that unless careful and honest choices are made early on – there will be a negative impact at some point later. There is the classic scenario of "made it to the top but not happy” – why? Two reasons – firstly because the deeper desires, passions, creative gifts are clamouring to get out and get used - somehow - somewhere and secondly because the core values of the individual may differ markedly from those of the organisation they work in.
Finally, it is very important to recognise that there are - and have been throughout history (Daniel and Joseph in the Bible and countless modern day equivalents), many people whose sense of purpose and destiny is to work within challenging circumstances. These people choose to make it their destiny to make a difference "from the inside" - where their work is ministry - actually all of our work is ministry - mission - even "worship" - i.e. doing what we are made to do - to the glory of our Creator. So this is not about seeking "Utopia" – but about responsibility for acknowledging and owning choices. As is also said we are all a "work in progress" so some people’s destiny will not become apparent till later on when looking back, "it all added up - being equipped, trained, moulded, shaped for a future purpose”.
Stuart Blackman - Workshop Leader & Coach
Stuart has worked with The Students Industrial Society presenting at their Annual Conferences and written a careers book for graduates. He has wide experience running workshops in many different settings with Charity and corporate senior management teams, tackling complex strategic change and developmental issues. He has contributed for many years as a residential school tutor for the Open University Business School MBA and degree programmes. Currently working in the Christian Mission field as a fundraiser, he has previously worked for one of the Third Sector’s most original recruitment firms based in the City. His areas of expertise in senior level executive search include CEO and Board-level appointments in medical, educational and Charities across the voluntary sector. Prior to that he held positions in sales, marketing and change management within three of the recognised leaders in the global pharmaceutical industry. In 2001 Stuart helped plan and then Chair one of the UK’s pioneer social enterprises that built community cohesion through bringing together educational organisations, social services, the police and health – described as “The Jewel in the crown of Birmingham”. Stuart holds a degree from the Imperial College of Science and Technology and an MBA from the Manchester Business School.
BELOW: Stuart supporting the award winning team from The Jericho Foundation at the Sign & Digital UK Awards at the NEC
Judith Lovelace - Our Advisor on Coaching & Career Counselling
Judith Lovelace is a key advisor to It’s Your Choice and has worked closely with Stuart on many projects in recent years. She has her own business as well as Managing Director and Founder of Judith Lovelace HR Consulting. Judith is an experienced human resource professional with particular skills in managing change with organisations and individuals. Her earlier career was in Local Government, then freelance with interim roles in Civil Service, local government at national level and with charities throughout the UK. She has key strengths in logical analysis of issues, problem solving, outplacement, career counseling and support. She also carries out search and tailored selection projects for carefully selected searching companies /public sector and International / UK charities. Educated at Somerville College Oxford MA, Classics - Advanced Studies (Literae Humaniores) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD).
