You can't start the next chapter of your life, if you keep rereading the last one.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Saturday, June 10, 2017
My thoughts on the BlackBerry KEYone
Well it's been a few weeks since my new BlackBerry KEYone arrived from overseas.
Yes, as is the case for the last few, if you want to get your hands on the latest BlackBerry device, you have to source from an overseas market, or grow old waiting for it to be made available in the Land Down Under. But I get it, Australia is quite a small market population Wise, even if we seem to a country full of early adopters.
I transitioned from the BlackBerry PRIV, the first Android BlackBerry, and the transition was very simple (thank you NFC), and finished with the KEYone set up, the PRIV factory reset and wiped, and my Google account disassociated from the PRIV.
Couple of first impressions regarding the KEYone:
- It feels good in one hand and feels much more solid, compared to the PRIV
- I'm not a fan of the silver trimming, but the new skin/case that's on its way will hide most of this
- It sits comfortably cradled within my hands and the physical keyboard easily became very comfortable and earily familiar (barking bark to the BBOS devises such as the 9700 range)... back to the future?
- Battery life is awesome! Unlike the PRIV, which couldn't seem to venture too long away from power to recharge, I was quickly put to ease and don't have the same feeling of charge anxiety
- Rebooting is very quick
- Nougat is very similar to Marshmallow (Android operating systems)
- The KEYone is way quicker than the PRIV, with the same apps loaded and the same settings. The speed difference is noticeably wide apart, and the KEYone doesn't seem to suffer the same lag and delays the PRIV does.
The downside to the KEYone is the simple lack of good protection availability. As mentioned before the case/skin I have ordered and awaiting delivery, was not available at the time of the launch, and so my KEYone has gone unprotected for the first part of its use. Luckily, I've been able to source a book type case from eBay, and it now offers short term protection. Australia is not well represented for accessories for the KEYone, and those which are around, have seem to have brought along a significant price margin increase.
I didn't partake in the DTEK50 and DTEk60, which were BlackBerrymobile's first hardware devices, as they are glass slabs and as everyone who knows me, understands my preference for the physical keyboard, and the Z10 and Z30 were the only BlackBerry glass slabs I've owned.
BlackBerrymobile is the new hardware provider of BlackBerry devices, and underpinned by TCL. So I can't speak about their first 2 attempts of a BlackBerry device, but for the KEYone I can give a resounding thumbs up to BlackBerrymobile, for their on point, on message interpretation of what a BlackBerry device should be like. TCL in most aspects, successfully channeled the key words pointers to the BlackBerry of old, and I for one, couldn't be happier.
The KEYone is a great interpretation of the BlackBerry legend, and it does for most parts, successfully merge BlackBerry traditional high points (physical keyboard, solid feel, ease of action cradled within my two hands, long battery life, interpretation of the hub) with the usability of Android's Nougat (lots of apps), and basically it all works well.
To sum up my initial experience, there is a physical keyboard legacy/reminders from the BBOS devices (BlackBerry Bold 9700 series), the togetherness from the BB10 BlackBerry Passport (including battery life), moulding these together using Android OS (Nougat), presenting a device which demonstrates clearly BlackBerrymobile's future pathway. And for me, this is exciting!
The KEYone is a great interpretation of the BlackBerry legend, and it does for most parts, successfully merge BlackBerry traditional high points (physical keyboard, solid feel, ease of action cradled within my two hands, long battery life, interpretation of the hub) with the usability of Android's Nougat (lots of apps), and basically it all works well.
To sum up my initial experience, there is a physical keyboard legacy/reminders from the BBOS devices (BlackBerry Bold 9700 series), the togetherness from the BB10 BlackBerry Passport (including battery life), moulding these together using Android OS (Nougat), presenting a device which demonstrates clearly BlackBerrymobile's future pathway. And for me, this is exciting!
Thank you BlackBerry and thank you BlackBerrymobile (and thank you TCL) for keeping the brand alive and very well!
My thoughts for now,
Thomas
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Perseverance & giving someone a chance
(Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)
A couple of weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of immersing myself in a very positively inspiring movie, "Hidden Figures". For anyone who hasn't seen the movie yet, the Preview is HERE.
It got me thinking on quite a few levels .... the perseverance and sheer tenacity of the ladies (above, referred to as "Computers" in the movie) to succeed in their individual goals; and how their sheer will to win positively impacted others around them, including those much senior. In the build up to the end of the movie, I was almost cheering squadding them out loud, encouraging them to succeed, and urging them on. It made me think, taking me from the 50's - 60's through to now and what this inspirational movie could do for me in my current career.
For the uninitiated, I am a Business Development Manager for HELP Employment & Training, a division of HELP Enterprises. We work within jobactive and Disability Employment Services employment contracts, throughout South East Queensland. Within those contract, we are privileged to work closely with 11,000+ jobseekers, and our team (across 37 Employment Sites) are doing everything we can to gain sustainable employment outcomes for each and everyone of our registered jobseekers.
I believe the vast majority of the jobseekers HELP Employment & Training are working with, really do want to work, but need to overcome barriers to achieve their goal ... employment. We are lucky that the employers we work alongside with, understand they can remove a barrier and provide someone who is unemployed, the chance to employment. And why do they do this? Good question, and one that is sometimes not that clear to answer. But never the less, we are honoured that our employers make the effort to work with us, and our jobseekers.
And that special moment, when one of our employers presents us with a wonderful vacancy, when a jobseeker is given a chance to succeed, and they then run hard with the opportunity, is one to be cherished and remembered ... adversity has been faced off, and told to stand down. And that over generalised perception of unemployed people, is proven wrong, yet again.
What those ladies, in real life (not the glorified, slightly glossed over movie version), had to endure and persevere, in order to gain the success they truly deserved, is not being belittled here, but stands as a reminder for me, of what someone can achieve, even when faced with intolerant adversity.
Well worth watching and immersing yourself.
Thomas
Sunday, August 16, 2015
A career job with a purpose
I started with HELP Enterprises on the 9th June 2015, and I guess today marks 2 months with this fabulous organisation.
HELP Enterprises marks a first for me ... the first employer I've worked for who hasn't been seeking profit for profit's sake, profit to line the shareholders' back pockets, or profit to keep the board well funded.
In a nutshell, HELP Enterprises' drive for profit is all about "enhancing the lifestyle and independence of people with disabilities", pure and simple.
I've never experienced anything quite like it, and relishing the environment within the organisation I work for.
Let's be clear though, HELP Enterprises' various divisions are there to make profit for sure, but it's what the profit is used for makes all the difference ... "enhancing the lifestyle and independence of people with disabilities".
Now, if you slightly alter HELP Enterprises' mantra to "enhancing the lifestyles and independence of people with disadvantages", it makes perfect sense to me, why HELP Enterprises won 3 jobactive contracts (Brisbane North (Somerset), Brisbane South East and Gold Coast), leveraging from & building on the experience in Disability Employment Services. A logical step forward.
To support our 3 jobactive contracts, HELP Enterprises now has 37 jobactive sites throughout South East Queensland, and 3 Business Development Managers (one for each contract's region). As the BDM for Brisbane South East, Employment and Training, my role is to introduce HELP Enterprises to the medium to large enterprises / corporates / organisations and have a conversation.
There are no specific pre-conceived outcomes sought in having these conversations, just an intent to keep it open and honest. Of course, as you would expect from my job title, Employment and Training are a key part of the conversation I bring to the table, but there are some amazing divisions of HELP Enterprises, underpinning what we do, that are also introduced:
- Manufacturing (including MailSafe, BinSafe, Traditional Awnings)
- Training (Qualifications, unaccredited programs and short courses, VET in Schools)
- Schools: Hospitality, Technical Studies, Community Services & Business
- Fison Food Factory
- Wholesale Nursery
- Logistics
- Packaging & Assembly Services
HELP Enterprises has been referred to in the past as "Brisbane's best kept secret" and that's changing, one conversation at a time.
I am proud to be a part of the HELP Enterprises' family and assist with the growth and recognition of a fabulous organisation, that since 1968, has been "enhancing the lifestyle and independence of people with disabilities".
I am open to a conversation .... are you?
Thomas
homas Skennerton, Business Development Manager, Brisbane South, Employment & Training, HELP Enterprises
M: 0405 240 239 | E: thomas.skennerton@helpenterprises.com.au |
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Two ears and one mouth ....
(This is a re-release post from this blog .....TferThomas, from January 2009, and for me, both personally and professionally, remains very relevant today).
Recently this old saying has surfaced in a number of conversations and presentations that I have been privileged to be a part of. I thought I should share my thoughts here, and share the love of this age old saying.
You have two ears and one mouth, and that's the proportion you should use them.
How many times in the past have you been in an important meeting, and when concluded, only to find that you appear to have missed some key, critical information? It has certainly happened to me on a number of occasions. Until, that is, someone shared the love of this old saying to me.
If you can actually resist opening your mouth, and therefore not talk, but more importantly, concentrate on what the other party is discussing, the chances of you absorbing what they are trying to say (whether directly, or indirectly) increases exponentially... to your favour.
And this is the point, by gaining the direct and indirect insights (ie. the world according to the other party), you are leaps and bounds of someone else (perhaps your competitor).
But this doesn't just apply to business dealings.... again, how many times have you had a conversation with your loved one, and later, could not recall what he / she was really drilling down to from within the conversation? Its happened to us all, and will continue to do so, if you don't zip it.
Of course, verbal acknowledgments do assist the non verbal signs, confirming the simple fact you are listening, but that's just the point.... two ears and one mouth.
So the next time you are sitting with someone (business or pleasure), give it a go, and let me know what the outcomes were.
My thoughts,
Thomas
Thomas
Follow Thomas @TferThomas
What my Beagle can teach me about recruitment
So it is now almost the end of my 5th week in my new career path as a Recruitment Consultant with a niche recruitment consultancy, Electus Recruitment, and it got me thinking as to what my Beagle Rahi can teach me about recruitment. After all, he has given me some valuable lessons around networking (see: What my Beagle can teach me about networking), so let's see what the little fellow with the big nose and floppy ears has to add here.
Greet (happy to talk): no matter what type of day you're having (busy, frustrating, problematic), greet someone in a warm and friendly manner, and focus just on them, and not on whatever else is happening in your little part of the world. Rahi is always eagerly friendly with greeting friends; new or old, and everyone needs to be greeted.
Pay attention: don't just hear, listen, really listen and take in as much as you can. A dog handler once told me not to bother speaking to Rahi as he won't understand the spoken word ... ah, wrong. Rahi knows "walk", "drive", "bathroom", "sit", "bed", "dog park", plus a few more. Someone's been paying attention, big time!
Get to know you: okay, a Beagle uses his big black nose (normally wet) to really get to know you, and once he knows you, he never seems to forget. While I don't condone the use of a wet nose and smell, do take the time to get to know the person you are speaking to, and find out how you may be able to assist them.
Be positive: always interact in a positive manner, regardless what sort of day you're having, or what sort of news you have to deliver. If it is bad news, stand in the other person's shoes and work out how you would like to receive the news (especially if it is bad news). Rahi is pretty adept now at judging moods, and he leans in and cuddles in a bit closer, if he senses your day has gone to pot.
Feedback: Rahi thrives on feedback, and learns from it. He cannot read your mind, and relies on body language and other signals. Same with me ... if you don't tell me, and we are not sitting face to face, chances are I'll miss something important (and I cannot mind read). But, if you tell me, like Rahi, I can work on the feedback; good, bad, indifferent ... it's all very important to me.
Follow up: My Beagle is really rather clever at remembering people, places and things, and isn't backwards in coming forwards to follow up on these opportunities when he has the chance to (although it must be said, there are other things that he should not be doing (sitting on a bed perhaps?) and he blissfully chooses to be ignorant. And so it is with recruitment ... when a course of action is taken, follow up is an integral part of the work flow. I have been complimented on my follow up processes in the past, and it's one skill I was pleased to bring with me to the recruitment industry.
Be persistent: Beagles are known in the dog world as one of the most stubborn breeds, and a breed that doesn't normally just take "no" for an answer. Rahi is certainly no different. But thinking about it, neither do I, and I am known to be patient and persistent, when there is a task that I know has a conclusion that just has to be reached, and more importantly, I know it will add value to the other party, I will be persistent and follow through (Rahi on the other only thinks of himself with some of his wants *wink*).
Now to print this article off and tape it to the wall near my desk, so I am continually reminded of my Beagle's lesson about recruitment.
I hope you have a productive week.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)