First Networking event

Hello there!

Last week I went to my first ever networking event in London. The event was a meet up with the UK Sport Network, networking and a Q&A with Richard Ayers.
It was an enjoyable evening, the Q&A session was really interesting, it had a big focus on digital media and it's impact in sport. Which is quite remarkable, as brand and other industry's have flourished with using digital media. However, sport is still quite behind, not only in the UK but globally as well.

Although I enjoyed the evening afterwards, it was quite daunting at the beginning. Through my own research about how to network I know the basics, I'm not a particularly dull or boring person and I can talk for Britain. However it was nervous as you do hope these connections you make here can lead in to job prospects. 
So after getting a drink at the bar and starting my first chat to a stranger it wasn't long before the Q & A started. I must admit I didn't quite follow everything they were saying as a few parts were brand new to me. But it was very interesting. 
Luckily I did bring a friend to keep me company. This did three things....
1) I could always stand and talk to at least someone
2) if I got stuck or shy she could help (could lead to dependence of her in the conversation)
3) push me to talk to these strangers

What I did find interesting about this networking event it was quite a small gathering compared to other events I have heard of, just about 100 attendees. It was in a Sports Cafe in Piccadilly so nice and relaxed atmosphere. I found interesting that I was the only student there and the only person looking/hoping for a job through this. Which I think proved more difficult here as everyone would have long conversation about what they do and if they could become job clients etc. 
I did sometimes feel a bit out of my league and hard to start something, if at the moment all I do is 
study and have a part time job, that doesn't relate to what I want to do in the first place. 
However, I did talk to a few people and have a interesting conversations with them. One man was so lovely he even gave me some career advice! 

After I got home, I got a few new follows on twitter and some Linked In connections from people I didn't think we're that interested in me or some didn't even speak to me. So I am assuming I made some sort of good impression! I followed up people with emails and to those who said they could help me. So fingers crossed....

What I did learn from this is what to expect in future, it not about how many people you talk to or how many business cards you give out but the quailty of those conversations and you just got to jump into the deep end and do it! You may even surprise yourself! 

Looking forward to my next event
Wally Woman x

Lance Armstrong- winning at all costs?

Hello there,

For serveral years and more intense recently Lance Armstong has been under scrunitiy for cheating, using banned substances and lying.  This seven times Tour de France winner and Olympic Brozne medalist has recently been stripped of all trophies and medals ever won in professional sport. He also took part in a no holds interview with the Queen of interviews Oprah.

Although, Lance Armstrong, the sport of cycling and most likey Lances charity, Livestong have  all been disgraced. There are still many unanswered questions. I hope in the light of recent events more in depth interviews are carried out and some sort of justice is made.  This man has cheated his way to success, demolished millions of peoples hope and dreams, and something needs to be done to clean up the sport of cycling.  

Whilst talking to my house mate about this issue, he expressed a view of "he was just a cyclist, he didn't murder loads of people, why is there so much news on him, it's just pointless". While I do slightly agree with him, Lance isn't a murder of people. But he has slayed dreams of young people wanting to be like him, cancer surviveors who admire him, cycling fanatics who love the sport. One mans mistake and wrong doing is another mans broken dream. 
Sports  people are made great by their talents, the support around them and their loyal followers.  They are pushed to succeed by themselves, their team and supporters. So when they cross the finish line first or win the match, they owe a lot to themselves and everyone who got them there. So them being a good role model to people isn't much to ask when so many people have helped these sports people achieve greatness. 
Lance has not only cheated like many other cyclists in the past. He lied, continuously and defiantly. That is what I think is the one thing that hurts so many more people than him just cheating his way through, Lying... A powerful and hurtful thing.

However I also understand that the sport person feels a huge amount of pressure from all angles in their life . Us the viewers, sports fans and wanna be champions, we all play our part in demanding more from these people. For example, Wanting a better competition, more hills, faster races,  and indirectly forcing the race organisers to make it like this. Perhaps forcing is too strong there, as they didn't have to make it extremely hard, I'm sure the Tour would still be successful and create lots of money. But who knows...

Going back to the interview, lance with Oprah. One of my un answered questions is why Oprah? Watching highlights and things, Oprah wouldn't have been my first choice to interview this man. She, for me, doesn't delve deep enough in certain areas and just brushes over others. 
However, she did manage to get the truth, which is always a start. 

Here are some clips from both part one & two of the interview. Please check them out, they are definatly worth while. 

Part one 
http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/8854829/situation-was-one-big-lie

Part two

http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/8858810/highlights-part-2-lance-armstrong-oprah-winfrey-interview

You can catch the full part on the discovery channel at 8pm tonight. 

Lance is definatly emotional, but I still feel he hasn't quite opened up fully. He doesn't seem sorry enough,  just not enough of anything. But then he may just be in world wind of emotions, or a professional liar. 

Let me know your thoughts and views. 

Wally woman x

Google yourself- it's worth a go!

Hey

When I was younger and still did until a few days a go, thought that googling yourself was pointless as nothing would come up as I wasn't famous or been in the news or anything like that. However, times have changed and with the globalisation of social media you can and do show up in google searches. This is slightly worrying as anyone can find you and track you down, read tweets or posts and even see those pictures you wished no one could see.

Now, if you can see it then just think about who else can see it....EVERYONE! This is extremely important if your about to graduate. Around 81% of employers look you up online before they meet you. So if you've written some fantastic CV and cover explains and showing how amazing you are, then they google you and see all those tweets about going out getting wasted, fresher steals or those awful pictures. Maybe you should think a little about what you put on the Internet or when your fraping some one.

I'm not saying change everything, just be a bit more careful, or change privacy settings so they can see you have a profile but can't see anything else. If you really don't believe me about the consequences of what can happen with mis judged posts then check out channel 4 tv documentary- 'don't blame Facebook'. It certainly was an eye opener. People lost jobs, sent to prison or lost relationships due to social media.

Google yourself, re read your last five tweets and maybe de tag yourself from those pictures. Every little helps when trying to get your dream job!

Wally woman x