-Left home Away from family; freedom and independence to be fully accountable and responsible for myself and appreciating life and finding out what it is going to bring.
-Spending the rest if my life with Alex and loving him, sharing and getting to know him more and more each day that passes by, my fellow who I cherish my life with.
-Going to New York to experience the culture and being in a stimulating environment in which for me to thrive with my creativity, to challenge myself by taking the reigns in broadening my horizons.
-Going to Japan to find a home, live and thrive in my own natural way - peaceful way of life, certainty, structure, to be happy and satisfied.
-Getting shelf to have a more functional bathroom, to feel like I have an organised personal life and give me more mindful pleasure and a peace of mind.
-Interacting with people and working in a team and socialising making new friends in work. To feel connected with other wonderful beings that work with me, to appreciate and to share and cherish life with and to expand myself further.
-Doing something I love to bring the moneys in to get the best out of life and feeling like it has meaning. So that I feel like I am contributing and am good at what I do. So I can enjoy life and not feel guilty about having a reason to live because I am a live, loving being.
-Throw myself into making my way in life. Live in the present, not ever have a past to bite at me, it's behind me and it is there to help me learn and do things in a better way (To enlighten me and my approach to life), there to be leant from. Contribute to other people. Getting the wheels of life turning.
-Excited about being excited! Because Life is worth living. Because it can be spent in a positive way. Because we all have a choice which is to be infinite. Because we have a choice and that is the way things are. Because we all die in the end anyway.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011
Essay Summary
Summary word count: 930
The UK Fashion Industry is growing, with an economic value worth £20.9bn in its annual contribution to the UK’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product - collated by analysing the industry’s profits and wages (known as gross value added (GVA))). Selling an assortment of goods and products – Including womenswear and menswear through to handbags and shoes – plus the contribution of fashion education, fashion marketing and fashion media, the industry employs an estimated 816,000 people in the UK (The Guardian, 2010). The different sectors within the fashion industry that are available to me are fashion design, retail, manufacturing, creative and marketing/promotion. The sector I am hoping to succeed in is promotion because it is a very broad sector and professional roles includes photographer, journalist, stylist, graphic designer, plus many more other roles. It is hard work and a person must be very self motivated to succeed.
Throughout the first decade of the new millen ium, the manufacturing sector of the industry had mostly been outsourced to countries like India, China, Indonesia Sri Lanka and Turkey. However due to the current global issues like climate change and positive brand images generated for businesses who reduce their carbon footprint, coupled with the decline in jobs market with the current recession, there is a growing trend for companies to offer high-skilled apprenticeships in manufacturing in the UK. One recent example is ASOS; UK’s most successful online retailer, who will be funding the UK’s first National apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles (FashionUnited.co.uk, 2011)
According to The Value Of The UK Fashion Industry Report 2009’s SWOT analysis, one of the noted weaknesses of the industry which has opportunity to improve was Barriers to sustained success for new talent, which expressed how there was a lack of entrepreneurial skills, like building a sustainable business model, among graduates of fashion in the UK, deterring financial institutions from lending money to UK graduates because of the seasonality of their products, and high upfront costs of collections (p77, report, The Fashion Council). This has prompted me to have awareness in the opportunity of room for improvement where my knowledge in business skills, theories and know-how is concerned to deepen my well of transferable skills, which I can use to my benefit in the future.
Throughout the course I have learnt how to refine my ideas in to realistic products, which my targeted consumer may want to obtain. This means that I have refined my creative abilities through my understanding of the market, in order to create a more desirable product whilst still trying to maintain my personal philosophy that products must seek to inspire as well as existing for their utility; especially within menswear where clothes are more subdued in design compared with women’s wear. Saying that, on the first day of the course we were told to be aware that these are exciting times in the menswear industry as there is a sense of mystery and fun within up-and-coming menswear fashion, internationally.
Because I found out that less than 1% of the fashion industry consists of designers I decided to broaden my scope of opportunities. I felt that in the elective, for the promotion Project where we had to create a magazine supplement for The Gentlewoman magazine, I started to feel that design might not be my area of interest within the fashion industry. I really enjoyed the project where I was the creative director and I had to think about what, where and how the overall message of our supplement would be instigated.
Working in a group for this project was an eye opener. Even though I had worked in a group before for last year’s E&E project and I had learned a lot about my personality, throwing myself into the Gentlewoman project allowed me to analyse after the project more accurately what my natural Belbin team role currently was. Taking the test once before the project and once after I found that there were significant differences in how I thought I interacted in a team and how I actually did. Where before the project I thought I was a Completer-Finisher (action orientated, scoring 25 points) and Monitor-Evaluator (thought orientated, scoring 15 points), it came to my surprise that upon more accurate and vivid reflection, the result had changed and I was actually more well rounded than I thought. The results were:
1. TW – scoring 13
2. CF – scoring 11
3. SH, PL, ME – jointly scoring 10
4. CO – scoring 6
5. RI, IMP – jointly scoring 5
This result was more reflective of my experience and more accurate also I think, because I enjoyed the overall experience of the project meaning that this is where I am most comfortable. In taking the role of a Team-Worker with other attributes most comfortable, it was no wonder I was not enjoying the Menswear pathway where I did not enjoy working on my own in comparison. I still like to get things done and always careful to delay the feeling of a sense of accomplishment for fear of not being thorough with my work (CF). However I found my strengths lie in enabling and encouraging teams to gel and achieve, especially where my interpersonal skills were concerned and this I think was how our project was successful in the end, because we worked together and combine our pools of energy. My weakness lies in being an organizer (CO) and self-presentation (RI). This is in part to do with my late diagnosis of a learning difficulty I have (diagnosed age 15) and having never picked up basic organisational abilities, which I work to improve everyday.
Bibliography of Websites
The Guardian (2010) [accessed on 17/04/2011]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/15/british-fashion-industry-report-business
The Fashion Council (2009) [accessed on 17/04/2011]
http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/valueoffashion
Fashion United (2011) [accessed on 15/04/2011]
http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-news/fashion/asos-to-fund-uk-manufacturing-apprenticeships-2011041511785
The UK Fashion Industry is growing, with an economic value worth £20.9bn in its annual contribution to the UK’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product - collated by analysing the industry’s profits and wages (known as gross value added (GVA))). Selling an assortment of goods and products – Including womenswear and menswear through to handbags and shoes – plus the contribution of fashion education, fashion marketing and fashion media, the industry employs an estimated 816,000 people in the UK (The Guardian, 2010). The different sectors within the fashion industry that are available to me are fashion design, retail, manufacturing, creative and marketing/promotion. The sector I am hoping to succeed in is promotion because it is a very broad sector and professional roles includes photographer, journalist, stylist, graphic designer, plus many more other roles. It is hard work and a person must be very self motivated to succeed.
Throughout the first decade of the new millen ium, the manufacturing sector of the industry had mostly been outsourced to countries like India, China, Indonesia Sri Lanka and Turkey. However due to the current global issues like climate change and positive brand images generated for businesses who reduce their carbon footprint, coupled with the decline in jobs market with the current recession, there is a growing trend for companies to offer high-skilled apprenticeships in manufacturing in the UK. One recent example is ASOS; UK’s most successful online retailer, who will be funding the UK’s first National apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles (FashionUnited.co.uk, 2011)
According to The Value Of The UK Fashion Industry Report 2009’s SWOT analysis, one of the noted weaknesses of the industry which has opportunity to improve was Barriers to sustained success for new talent, which expressed how there was a lack of entrepreneurial skills, like building a sustainable business model, among graduates of fashion in the UK, deterring financial institutions from lending money to UK graduates because of the seasonality of their products, and high upfront costs of collections (p77, report, The Fashion Council). This has prompted me to have awareness in the opportunity of room for improvement where my knowledge in business skills, theories and know-how is concerned to deepen my well of transferable skills, which I can use to my benefit in the future.
Throughout the course I have learnt how to refine my ideas in to realistic products, which my targeted consumer may want to obtain. This means that I have refined my creative abilities through my understanding of the market, in order to create a more desirable product whilst still trying to maintain my personal philosophy that products must seek to inspire as well as existing for their utility; especially within menswear where clothes are more subdued in design compared with women’s wear. Saying that, on the first day of the course we were told to be aware that these are exciting times in the menswear industry as there is a sense of mystery and fun within up-and-coming menswear fashion, internationally.
Because I found out that less than 1% of the fashion industry consists of designers I decided to broaden my scope of opportunities. I felt that in the elective, for the promotion Project where we had to create a magazine supplement for The Gentlewoman magazine, I started to feel that design might not be my area of interest within the fashion industry. I really enjoyed the project where I was the creative director and I had to think about what, where and how the overall message of our supplement would be instigated.
Working in a group for this project was an eye opener. Even though I had worked in a group before for last year’s E&E project and I had learned a lot about my personality, throwing myself into the Gentlewoman project allowed me to analyse after the project more accurately what my natural Belbin team role currently was. Taking the test once before the project and once after I found that there were significant differences in how I thought I interacted in a team and how I actually did. Where before the project I thought I was a Completer-Finisher (action orientated, scoring 25 points) and Monitor-Evaluator (thought orientated, scoring 15 points), it came to my surprise that upon more accurate and vivid reflection, the result had changed and I was actually more well rounded than I thought. The results were:
1. TW – scoring 13
2. CF – scoring 11
3. SH, PL, ME – jointly scoring 10
4. CO – scoring 6
5. RI, IMP – jointly scoring 5
This result was more reflective of my experience and more accurate also I think, because I enjoyed the overall experience of the project meaning that this is where I am most comfortable. In taking the role of a Team-Worker with other attributes most comfortable, it was no wonder I was not enjoying the Menswear pathway where I did not enjoy working on my own in comparison. I still like to get things done and always careful to delay the feeling of a sense of accomplishment for fear of not being thorough with my work (CF). However I found my strengths lie in enabling and encouraging teams to gel and achieve, especially where my interpersonal skills were concerned and this I think was how our project was successful in the end, because we worked together and combine our pools of energy. My weakness lies in being an organizer (CO) and self-presentation (RI). This is in part to do with my late diagnosis of a learning difficulty I have (diagnosed age 15) and having never picked up basic organisational abilities, which I work to improve everyday.
Bibliography of Websites
The Guardian (2010) [accessed on 17/04/2011]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/15/british-fashion-industry-report-business
The Fashion Council (2009) [accessed on 17/04/2011]
http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/valueoffashion
Fashion United (2011) [accessed on 15/04/2011]
http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-news/fashion/asos-to-fund-uk-manufacturing-apprenticeships-2011041511785
Yes! and...
Consider this post by Patty Walters reviewing a book by Patricia Ryan Madson:
http://improv4life.blogspot.com/2011/04/experience-adventure-with-yesand.html?spref=tw
Don't play it safe - play it Bold! Here's to living a "Yes" adventure!
YES! And...
Ipp Submission
I just handed in my IPP assignment.
The presentation the IPP team provided us with was a lot more helpful than the brief ever was. I found that I repeatedly referred to it on a more regular basis whilst having the file open on my computer in the background. When I was checking off each point, I felt like I had truly finished and felt very good inside. However I didn't truly truly feel like I had finished until the deadline had come: 17:00. Even though, I had used up all three attempts to submit and could not have possible submitted anything furthermore. I must improve on this attitude I think, because (hopefully) there will be plenty of times when I complete assignments early, and I need to be able to move on when a project is completed. This tactic would prove beneficial. I also vow, from this experience that I will make an effort now to be less afraid to talk about stuff online. I will worry less about my worries and be more accountable for my thoughts, being more transparent.
Affirmation:
I release all that is unlike love. There is time and space for everything I want to do.
The presentation the IPP team provided us with was a lot more helpful than the brief ever was. I found that I repeatedly referred to it on a more regular basis whilst having the file open on my computer in the background. When I was checking off each point, I felt like I had truly finished and felt very good inside. However I didn't truly truly feel like I had finished until the deadline had come: 17:00. Even though, I had used up all three attempts to submit and could not have possible submitted anything furthermore. I must improve on this attitude I think, because (hopefully) there will be plenty of times when I complete assignments early, and I need to be able to move on when a project is completed. This tactic would prove beneficial. I also vow, from this experience that I will make an effort now to be less afraid to talk about stuff online. I will worry less about my worries and be more accountable for my thoughts, being more transparent.
Affirmation:
I release all that is unlike love. There is time and space for everything I want to do.
Belbin and E&E
My role was the assistant manager. In the Belbin test I had the strongest likeness with the Team Worker Pro file.
As we had to come up with an initial idea for business, we all sat down and generated ideas as a group, when we were finally happy with our idea, we came up with a list of tasks in order to realise the product: plan team meetings, and set ourselves goals and deadlines, we had to set weekly meetings to manage. Our time effectively. From this, each of out team chose which tasks we wanted to do and this then determined which job roles we were titled ourselves under which consisted of Management Research and Development, Finance, Marketing, Product Design, Product Development and Branding. Because I was a pushy character from the beginning, Myself and the whole team agreed that My Natural role would be Managing Director. As I was Managing the group, I thought each team member would feel more responsibility towards each of their own tasks if they chose it themselves for them to feel more accountable for each of their own task, each of which were vital to the completion of the project. As I thought communicating was a Key part of this project, I set up a written blog Where each member of the team would be able to post concerns, queries questions, findings to keep in touch with each other. This I also thought would be motivating for members to acknowledge each other’s progess. As I was the Managing Director (Assisstant to the Project Leader) of the project, this project help me come out of my shell as I had to interact with the team on a regular basis and surprisingly at the time it came very naturally to me. When I talked with my peers after the project, the only criticisms are that I could have listened to my team more and that would have aided lubrication of progress more within the project in communication and stress levels. I will take this on board for any future projects that I do.
As we had to come up with an initial idea for business, we all sat down and generated ideas as a group, when we were finally happy with our idea, we came up with a list of tasks in order to realise the product: plan team meetings, and set ourselves goals and deadlines, we had to set weekly meetings to manage. Our time effectively. From this, each of out team chose which tasks we wanted to do and this then determined which job roles we were titled ourselves under which consisted of Management Research and Development, Finance, Marketing, Product Design, Product Development and Branding. Because I was a pushy character from the beginning, Myself and the whole team agreed that My Natural role would be Managing Director. As I was Managing the group, I thought each team member would feel more responsibility towards each of their own tasks if they chose it themselves for them to feel more accountable for each of their own task, each of which were vital to the completion of the project. As I thought communicating was a Key part of this project, I set up a written blog Where each member of the team would be able to post concerns, queries questions, findings to keep in touch with each other. This I also thought would be motivating for members to acknowledge each other’s progess. As I was the Managing Director (Assisstant to the Project Leader) of the project, this project help me come out of my shell as I had to interact with the team on a regular basis and surprisingly at the time it came very naturally to me. When I talked with my peers after the project, the only criticisms are that I could have listened to my team more and that would have aided lubrication of progress more within the project in communication and stress levels. I will take this on board for any future projects that I do.
i found interesting that less than one percent of jobs in the industry involves designing because even though i knew this to an extent i didn’t realise the percentage was so significantly low. It makes me wonder what other job roles doesn’t involve designing and makes me feel positive about the scope of opportunities that are available. This makes me perceive my course differently as it makes me define what I do more consciously and notice that although some things I do on my course doesn’t come naturally to me, I see this as a good reason to seek out skills to develop that would spur me on to become more versatile, enabling me to utilise skills for fashion in a wider sense and even related fields. This broadens my horizons of the future because the point is to remain open and flexible.
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Waiting is never a good idea
I cannot from now on wait until I have done all unnecessary things before moving on to what matters. When I have done with things that don't matter, it actually means I have used up a lot of concentration and mental energy. Therefore it is not a good idea to wait.
Avoiding the short term altogether
Analysing goals
In a lot of goals that are really worth their value in achieving, short term pain is gone through in order to experience the long term pleasure of rewards/benefits. Case in point: assignments as an example. It occurs often also, that goals that are not worth much value from achieving often provide short term pleasure, but not much long term benefits. Case in point: watching a repeat of your favorite episode of human planet [or insert TV program here]. There are anomalies but generally this is the case, and there is a balance to enjoying each day that life brings you.
The source of my worries, troubles and my life in general, comes from my capacity to go through short term pain. This is what I once prized as my ability to see beyond the present 'short term pain' into the future to see 'long term pleasure', and to hence achieve goals.
However, it has prevailed that I have been restricting myself from short term pleasures as a way to punish myself for not going through short term pain. Avoiding the short term altogether. This is in the hope of negatively enforcing myself for avoiding short term pain in the hope of seeing the long term pleasure, motivating me to pursue it. This does not work. For doing this has created what one could call a vicious circle of misery from not experiencing any pleasure whatsoever, or being in the present and enjoying the moment.
Restricting short term pleasure does not help in the seeking out of long term pleasures, but rather the opposite. Being miserable helps to only see other misery in the past, present or future, pushing any vision of hope or happiness out of the immediate consciousness. When pleasure (as well as pain) is not experienced in the short term, one could argue that this restricts a person from envisioning a long term altogether: the pains or pleasures of different choices to be made.
Hence, this technique of restricting short term pleasure as a means of self punishment does not help one to become motivated into pursuing their dreams. What could help is rather analysing one's choices: being clear of what the short term pleasure of a decision is, and what is the short term pain that is being avoided. Then, what is the long term pain that will come from avoiding the short term pain? And what would be the long term pleasure from going through with the short term pain, having sacrificed the short term pleasure?
In a lot of goals that are really worth their value in achieving, short term pain is gone through in order to experience the long term pleasure of rewards/benefits. Case in point: assignments as an example. It occurs often also, that goals that are not worth much value from achieving often provide short term pleasure, but not much long term benefits. Case in point: watching a repeat of your favorite episode of human planet [or insert TV program here]. There are anomalies but generally this is the case, and there is a balance to enjoying each day that life brings you.
The source of my worries, troubles and my life in general, comes from my capacity to go through short term pain. This is what I once prized as my ability to see beyond the present 'short term pain' into the future to see 'long term pleasure', and to hence achieve goals.
However, it has prevailed that I have been restricting myself from short term pleasures as a way to punish myself for not going through short term pain. Avoiding the short term altogether. This is in the hope of negatively enforcing myself for avoiding short term pain in the hope of seeing the long term pleasure, motivating me to pursue it. This does not work. For doing this has created what one could call a vicious circle of misery from not experiencing any pleasure whatsoever, or being in the present and enjoying the moment.
Restricting short term pleasure does not help in the seeking out of long term pleasures, but rather the opposite. Being miserable helps to only see other misery in the past, present or future, pushing any vision of hope or happiness out of the immediate consciousness. When pleasure (as well as pain) is not experienced in the short term, one could argue that this restricts a person from envisioning a long term altogether: the pains or pleasures of different choices to be made.
Hence, this technique of restricting short term pleasure as a means of self punishment does not help one to become motivated into pursuing their dreams. What could help is rather analysing one's choices: being clear of what the short term pleasure of a decision is, and what is the short term pain that is being avoided. Then, what is the long term pain that will come from avoiding the short term pain? And what would be the long term pleasure from going through with the short term pain, having sacrificed the short term pleasure?
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