Ha! I'm sure some of you are very surprised to see today's title. Work. Am I working, going to work again? What kind of work? Or is it still about... oh no... that secret book? Well, let me tell you it's not about the book and I'm not working. The rest of the explanation will follow later. About today... Well not much news. It was a very average quarantine day with no unexpected exciting surprises. That's not meant in a bad way; we're still doing fine.
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| This was a good joke today though. The hotel celebrates its 2nd anniversary and this was a little extra for breakfast. I love the "Thank you for staying with us"! LOL |
Today is even a little bit of a "rest" day. Rest in the sense that we've been doing a lot of exercises over the past week and it was time to take it a bit easier for a day and let the body rest and recover. And uhm well, maybe that even counts for the little secret book; just skip 1 day. Maybe maybe. Not sure yet.
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| Also loved this one: another apple for dessert. I think it goes back to the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"; probably it extends into "6 apples in 8 days keeps corona away"? Joking aside, happy to get some fruit, absolutely. Yet I would be so happy with something else than another apple, there's so much good (and local!) fruit in Malaysia! |
Work! Well, here's what happened. Today I suddenly got reminded that I had a Teams meeting at 4pm. A meeting with OVO, Ondernemers Voor Ondernemers (Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs) in Belgium. Allow me to explain. OVO is a non-profit organization, aiming to support entrepreneurs and ngo's (mostly in Africa) through a connection with Belgian entrepreneurs. One of their main activities is to invite start-ups in Africa looking for support, coach these and arrange a first financing round for the selected ones (up to max 50k EUR). One of the main criteria for these start-ups to be eligible to work with OVO, is to contribute to sustainability (in relation to the UN SDG's) via a technological solution.
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| Yep, the real fun with a Teams meeting (with all the typical glitches). To be honest, as an office I wouldn't mind to work from this place! |
This sounded like music to my ears when I heard about it. I strongly believe in an approach to stimulate entrepreneurship for development, rather than through donations and development collaboration only. Furthermore, OVO works with a team of experienced volunteers to select and coach these start-ups, without getting involved directly in their operations. Again, a great approach, relying on local talent and developing rather than replacing it. So, while in Belgium, I got in touch with OVO and offered my services as volunteer. Just before leaving this was arranged, and I'm now getting started. It's a volunteering position that allows me to be as much or as little involved as I can or wish, depending on my availability and location.
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| OVO focuses on connecting (Belgian) entrepreneurs and companies with sustainable projects in (mostly) Africa, a lot of it though the sharing of expertise from experienced individuals from industry |
It brings together a lot of things I like (in my professional life). Working with people and coaching them, and their organisations, to a higher level. Being involved in business plans, screening, improving, getting things done. Last but not least, contributing to sustainable development, where it's needed most. So I'm quite enthusiastic about getting involved actively!
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| While I have your attention, especially for my friends in Belgium: if you think you can get your company interested in contributing (several ways to do this), or even you yourself, this is how it works - or just give me a buzz... I'll connect you. |
So the work surprise wasn't as big as you thought, huh? Still, as we will most likely be in KL for a while without long travels, I am indeed looking around (a little) for an interesting project to work on. It's not a goal as such, it would just be a nice thing at the right time... Who knows, I might surprise you still!