Hello

So it is the 1st June! It was one of those beautiful mornings where the sun was out, the sky was crisp blue and there is no humidity.  I have a really pleasant walk to work and for those of you who remember Boston Gardens covered in snow, it really is starting to take on a different look and feel.  They were even planting palm trees today!  I captured a picture of some flowers to give you the feeling of Boston in bloom. 

So what was I thinking as I was walking home to the T this evening!  After three weeks I am now presenting my Project recommendations for approval tomorrow morning to the Senior VP responsible for Marketing.  The journey to this stage has not always been easy!  There have been times of frustration as I waited for key stakeholders in my project to respond to my emails and calls.  Finally it all started to come together last week and I managed to persuade a Regional Director in Virginia to accept my proposal for a Test in his marketplace.  I would love to go into more detail, but you know how it is!!  It is a strange experience to be presenting a project proposal and having to be able to talk the language and answer every possible question that I may be asked in the life of 'auto insurance'.  In a normal work environment I would still be on my induction programme with very little expected from me.  I really want this Project to be approved in order that I can really ramp up my work, my engagement outside the walls of my grey cubicle and start to feel that I am truly adding value.  So my challenge as I type this blog this evening is how I curb my personal enthusiasm to move forward and think of it inside the head of the sponsoring VP.  Yes there is money involved to make it happen, pleased to say that has already been budgeted.  The challenge is that this will be the first Test market on the back of a comprehensive piece of work by the Boston Consulting Group and I need to make sure that I am delivering against the organizations goals and aspirations. I hope I am on target! (my boss believes that I am!)

So by this time tomorrow evening I will either be revisiting the scope of my project or booking my hotel and flights in Virginia!  I am sure my peaceful walk in the morning will help position my thoughts and feelings prior to my 9am meeting.

Will keep you updated.

P

PS - For those of you who are interested I have restarted my blip journal today and hopefully will make more entries over the summer than I have the rest of the year!