long time

Well, it has been ages since I was here. So much has happened. You may have guessed that during that time I have been very busy and indeed I have. Following the completion of an enjoyable contract with HEROtsc (great people) as implementation director, i moved onto BT. Based in Dundee I enjoyed the worst the winter could throw at us. from a work perspective, the challange was to drive improvement into 18 KPI's whilst ensuring that the inexperienced front line management group developed. I have to say it was hugely satisfying to see the changes in performance and approach from these people. All KPI's have improved significantly and I am confident that my old friend Andrew Bailey takes on an operation on the path to success. The usual gap after a contract and the opportunity to improve the golf handicap did not materialise and I am now conducting a review of a customer service operation for an SME in London. The buisness is almost 40 years old and so are some of the processes ;-) Its an interesting challenge and I hope there is the appetite within the business to drive the change but the next week or so will tell. This week i will be 5 years married (where did that go) so I need to get off an buy the wife something. Tradditionally its wood. Not sure a chopping board and knife bl;ock are gonna be sensible purchases. Best get me thinking cap on. Cheers D

How very interesting

Good afternoon,

What a glorious day 31 degrees in Buckinghamshire this afternoon. Summer is truly here.

I have remained busy over the last few weeks and am delighted to say that the transfer of ownership between HEROtsc and Vodafone has occured without major hiccups. The task for the rest of the month is to bed down the service and plan for the future.

Of course this means I will soon start the search for my next assignment, but I feel positive.

An amazing thing happened today. I made a remark on two social network sites. The remark was "Why do some people equate career progression with the right to be rude to staff and colleagues". Within minutes I have recieved many emails from contacts. Some have simply agreed with the sentiment, some have asked who has upset me? (the answer is no one) But an extrodianry percentage have asked if I have aimed that at them........ INCREDIBLE...... The answer is NO, to everyone of them.

However what does it say about the business world that we work in and the people there in. Are so many people being rude to staff and colleagues? Is it because they think that it is acceptable?

Personally I am more worried that so many people think they may have been rude and so question if I am aiming this at them. I guess the message must be if you are questioning yourself on this, then on Monday morning perhaps you may want to reassess how you deal with tasks challenges and the people around you.

As I said at the begining its a glorious day, lets not spoil it for ourselves or more importantly anyone else.

Now its almost beer o'clock

Cheers

Dave

So Busy

Hi,

I can not believe it has been over 6 weeks since I last posted on here. Since then I have been on holiday and worked very hard at HEROtsc. The world cup has started, though Englands is nearly finished. Wimbledon has begun, the US Open is finished, well done to Graham McDowell, The Deraby and Royal Ascot is behind us and at last, this morning the sun is out.

Work wise I am now close to the formal transfer day as HEROtsc take over the running of the Vodafone UK High value customer service operation. It has been an interesting project and I have greatly enjoyed co-ordinating and directing so many diverse work streams. Of course, for the operation the real work begins on 1/7/2010. When they have to deliver the right results to both client and company. I am confident that the ground work is in place to ensure that this is going to be a huge success.

For me, of course this will mean that I soon return to the search phase for my next project. What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, I was at my lowest point. Desperately worried that things really were about to get as bad as they could. Since then I have been largely, continuously busy for 11 months. Long may it continue.

Of course the budget today will be of huge interest as a continued recovery is reliant on Mr Osbourne not switching off the life support machine. But we will see.

Alaska has been poorly lately and this has been very concerning. Her tail was down and she seemed very unahappy. After numerous visits to the vet it was decided that the problem was, she had bruised or hurt her tail by wagging it too much. I must be the only person who spends fortunes at the vet because his dog is too happy!!!!

Any way must get on, I'll try to get back sonner next time

busy busy

Hello.

its been six weeks since I last posted and my what a busy six weeks. So i finished at Tesco had a couple of panicy weeks as normal and then it all started to happen.

I was offered the role of Customer Service Director by SJD Accountancy, it was a very exciting offer and my god it was tempting to return to permanent recruitment. But we just couldn't qet close enough on package. I chose to think it over during the Easter holidays and low and behold on Good Friday had a call from a former colleague who is now COO of another business and by the following week I had joined as Interim Implementation Director.

Then the fun started, Volcanic eruptions, general elections you name it. Still I have started and am working hard. I am currently taking a coffee break from a home working day, the dogs are desperate for a walk, but there is no way I am going out in this rain.

Tonight its out for a beer with Dad to watch Liverpool attempt to overcome a 1-0 first leg score line in the Europa league semi. However the big dilema is the game at the weekend. To have any chance of getting 4th place we must beat the "no history / no class" chavs from the Kings Road. However that will almost certainly hand the title to the Mancs and beat our record number of league titles. My great hope is that Chelsea dont just turn up and expect us to hand them 3 points. But I have no conifdence on that one.

So there's me speaking my mind, not always a good idea. Ask Gordon Brown. Mrs Duffy really has given the tories a golden chance. What a nightmare week it could be next week. The Mancs could win the league and the Tories could be in power. Does nobody remember what a mess they made of it last time!!!!!!

So come on Reds.... lets have one more go

See ya soon

Nearly there

Good morning,

Mixed news over the last few days. My original contract with Tesco ends on 23/3, I have been asked to pick up a retention piece of work, however its been done in a way that has asked me to prove my value for a week before a formal offer is made. A little bit dissappointing based on the fact that I have been proving my value for 4 months. I have another potential piece of work with a previous client so perhaps things aren't so pressured.

My company website is a year old this week and today I passed through 5000 hits. Take a look www.callen-cm.co.uk. I am very pleased with this.

The big week of racing approaches with Cheltenham starting next week. I will be taking a couple of days out to watch. My tips to follow

Cheers

Busy busy busy

Good morning!

It been ages since I wrote on here. I have been so busy. It seems ironic, considering that this blog was born out of the frustration of having no work.

My project at Tesco Telecoms is growing rapidly, however my role is now handing over to a permanent team member. We have talked about other opportunites so lets see what happens.

The last two months have been crazy with snow, travel, new puppy chaos everywhere. That said we managed a loood a lovely holiday in Feb for my wifes 4oth (she wont thank me for mentioning that). I have spent most of the time in Liverpool and that has been good, although cooked breakfast, large dinners and no gym have destroyed the adonis like physique.

On the up side the golf restarts tomorrow with a celebration round for my good friend Kevin Dyers 50th (he wont thank me either). I am looking forward to that and hope the back will hold up. Then its out for dinner with my wife to celebrate my own birthday. I dont care, so I'll tell you, I'm 41.

So with a nervous anticpation of whether my contract is to be extended, i'll sign off till next time

D

New puppy need a new contract

Hi

Well, what a week! I have been so busy the last week or so. I spent most of last week in the north west with an outsourcer. Been busy but fun. I also managed to break away for the evening on Wednesday, until the Reds lost. I thought going to the match would be good.

I am back up there tomorrow for at least 3 days. But fun as it is the contract is ending, so the search for something else starts now. I once again feel quite confiden, there seems to be lots of people willing to discuss things, so lets see.

Well this weekend brought some shocks. Saturday, a neighbour asked Ellie if we could look after there baby whilst they moved house, didnt think they meant for the whole day. Mind you on the up side they did come and collect him eventually. Still at least it has convinced Ellie that we have enough kids.... phew.

But at the end of the day he had convinced us to take in a new puppy. So on Sunday, Buster the 15 week old Jack Russell became part of the family. Alaska is largely relaxed about him, but I suspect she is just calculating how many meals she can make from him. Its fair to say she has made it clear that her bed is out of bounds. Not unlike most women I have met.

Speak soon