4. Following my heart: When giving is more than receiving

My best friend studied Business Administration; he got a specialization in Economics; and like him most of my closer friends. During those years in the university I’ve been involved in several conversations about business, profit, investments, etc, jumping from micro to macroeconomics concepts, and even planning our own consulting company. However my mind was in the other side of the coin.

Started volunteering five years ago, and by then of course I was the “black sheep” of my group of friends, having out of the box opinions about working without salary or spending my time, for them, in “useless things”. During those years their opinions did not change and neither mine, in fact I can say those friends gave me the strength to continue and for that I’m very grateful to them.

Why my opinion didn’t change? — Is a question that was present in my friend’s minds. Young students are energetic, looking for a passion to follow, and mostly they want to change the world. And that is what keeps me going. Doing volunteering I found the opportunity to do something I believed, and I still do, that can create an impact which can not only change my life, but also can provide positive change in others. And this is what made the difference.

Years have passed and I found my self in another country, leaving, learning and enjoying in a different culture, far different than mine; but at this point those two year’s investment of my life in Macedonia brought me the best and most exciting experience I had until now. However two years seem to be too short for making bigger changes, there is still too much to do in this country and too much opportunity that are not been used properly, specially now and in the coming years under the context of the EU integration.

Is needed to find young volunteers to continue the work done in Macedonia, and to spread the impact that can be done, for that objective we need to attract and retain the right people into our organizations. From my specific experience in the past years working with university and high school students I can mention the following learning points.

- The presence of the international young specialists brings a whole new dimension to the projects. The teams are formed by young people from different nationalities and allow learning from other countries’ experiences and initiatives around the topic we are interested to approach.

- Providing the opportunity to put the theory into practice brings the motivation to young individuals to prove themselves what they have learned and what is left to learn, which also provides the motivation to continue supporting as volunteers for the future.

- Programs for young people should be also be run and by young people. The involvement of young individuals provides the trust and energy to the project to be executed from the beginning to the end, which is reflected by the learning of the team members and results of the project.

Over everything we have to be aware that volunteers are the most powerful energy that can create meaningful impact in the society. With a clear vision and common understanding of what we want to create, support or change, they will be able to do it. I can openly share this because I started as volunteer in AIESEC and it changed my life bringing me the most beautiful experience I've ever had.

Thank you AIESEC.

3. Following my heart: Observing, Listening and Learning

— How it feels to be the National President? And two times? — A new executive member from a foreign country asked me with the enthusiasm of someone finding clues of a secret.

— It feels like having a hobby, but more fun — I answered smiling, and it was like that how a long conversation started between both of us, she kept asking me several things, work related, personal related, culture related, university related and we go on until was late and we both felt hungry.

— I want to eat a salad?

— And I want a pizza, I know a place, is called Plaza de Toros… Our “Strategic Food National Partner” — I answered fast, hoping she will catch the small joke.

— Yes, hahaha, you go there often? — We laugh because the restaurant became unofficially our lunch, dinner and coffee break partner, we always went there, it became a tradition, and the employees also knew about us, they already knew all the time what we are going to order, they always come with a big smile offering us a nice table for us, and if is needed to join tables for big groups; for us it was nice to have a place like home.

— Thank you for your time, I know you might be busy especially now that is transition period in the National Committee. But I want to ask you about working things, I’m concern about the challenges we might have the next term and the lack of motivation of the members for support the office.

— That always happens in organization that are working in the same way than pass years, or working in a traditional way. If you want I might give you some advices but I need to know more information. Can you describe me what is happening in your local office? Make a small report.

— Yes, why not. We are preparing for the recruitment period; but the Exchange department is setting goals for the number of students we will send for our term, however the Talent Management department has set already the universities where they will recruit the members, but they have no idea about the profile that exchange department is requiring. At the same time the Communication Department had prepare their Communication Plan for Recruitment, but they haven’t define the target market they have to approach.

— Ok, this is clear and you know it. It is lack of coordination.

— Also I would like that the members had an attitude like mine, working, supporting other activities, focusing in the details, aiming that everything has to be done in a proper way.

— This is lack of commitment. You have to promote the integration of the members; they have to feel that the local committee belongs to them, that everyone feels like a family.

— Another is the office, we need more things but there is no space in the office for everything we want to do. We need more computers, some LCD projector, photocopier, coffee machine and a conference room.

— You are talking about an infrastructure problem. In general some of all the problems you have mentioned might be solved if you ask for recommendations to the members.

— I know, but that really works? It can solve the problems? Because once we made a survey asking for recommendation and only one filled it, and we tried again using an LC Meeting for this, but it didn’t work.

— It works, but is better to talk with them, to have the personal contact; this is how many other organizations are working with their employees, volunteers, etc. It makes the difference.

— I see. But there is more — She mentioned me with concern—. We also have problems with other organizations, they are having stronger promotion, they are recruiting in our university now and they even want to open an office in the same faculty, and even when they are offering things that will never provide, they are taking our members, our partners!

— What you are mentioning now is the competition, and it will continue growing. So you and your members should learn to coexist with it. What you have to do together with your members is to offer what the competition is not offering. So you will have competitive advantage. And actually, according to Michael Porter the three methods for creating a sustainable competitive advantage are through Cost Leadership, Differentiation, and Market Focus.

— Thank you for helping me to see and analyze my local office reality. What do you thing if we rest for today? and let’s have a coffee tomorrow because I have so many other questions.

— Yes, I’m also a little bit tired. Thank you for you attention, it was long afternoon.

At the end of the conversation meanwhile we were walking back to the office, we knew the time spent together was a helpful for both of us. She was catching the learning and the experience that I have, and I felt I was helping her plus I also felt happy about her interest for learning and not to make the same mistakes that the experience teaches.

2. Following my heart: The comfort zone

— Are you Yoel? From Peru?— a tall guy with a Grey jumper approached to me with a funny smile.
— Yes, my name is …. — and without having time to introduce myself this guy hug me like if I were his brother who haven’t seen from long time ago, this funny guy name is Nenad.
I was expecting something completely different, I was told I will live in a really cold environment, with people who barely smile, because now I was heading to the Balkans; but instead I found the opposite side of the coin, they are very warm, hospitable people, somehow I felt still in Latin-America when it was the first time I meet them.
— How are you? How was the trip? What happened with you? … we thought you will not come … — Nenad kept asking me more questions meanwhile he was driving me in his Yugo to the center of Skopje, but me I was just observing the view. I was wondering all the time what is happening in the minds of the people who goes to live in another country with different culture, what is the feeling, I for sure felt weird, nostalgic and happy, afraid and excited, heart broken and in love, everything at the same time, but over everything I felt stronger because one more time I decided to step outside of my safe world or like is known in psychology like the comfort zone.
The comfort zone refers to the set of environments and behaviors with which one individual is comfortable, without creating a sense of risk. In leadership matters is known that highly successful persons may routinely step outside their comfort zones, to accomplish what they wish. A comfort zone is a type of mental conditioning that causes a person to create and operate mental boundaries. Such boundaries create an unfounded sense of security. Like inertia, a person who has established a comfort zone in a particular axis of his or her life, will tend to stay within that zone without stepping outside of it. To step outside a person's comfort zone, they must experiment with new and different behaviors, and then experience the new and different responses that then occur within their environment.

1. Following my heart: 19th of September

— I love you son, go on and follow your dreams… we will be always with you — where the words of my father in the airport.

— Bro, good trip… now your room will be mine — my small sister told me with a evil smile in the face meanwhile a tear dropped slowly on the left cheek of my older sister who was standing behind her.

Then everyone jumped to make a group hug even when we were joking about other people doing those kinds of scenes in the airport, but this time, somehow we knew that this will be a long good bye and time will pass before to see the family together again. It was almost time, the last call for the boarding passenger was announce and after a last strong hug to everyone I went walking to the passport control prepared for my next journey, full of emotions, but before to stop seeing my family I turned back, and a huge flying kiss was the last thing I did before to cross the police control; a strange feeling went through myself and my teary eyes where covered by the sunglasses before to take the plane, but I was prepared because I knew I will come back.

With 24 years, I had the opportunity to lead the national branch of a global organization in Peru, traveled to several countries for International Conference in America, Europe and Africa, being facilitator at national and international level, lead a high quality team members, and more than 200 students from the best universities in my country; in sum I’ve been able to experience to be like a CEO in a really young age.

When once I was doing volunteer work in an asylum because of university obligations, so many things came into my mind, and somehow so many questions where answered; It was nothing about science, about philosophy, about job opportunity, it was something much more simple, it was about the life it self; I have to be sincere when I’m saying I didn’t think about it until years after when I traveled to Poland for an International Conference and had the chance to travel to one of the places that I was curious to see but at the same time afraid to be there, the concentrations camps of Auschwitz, it was then when something changed in my life.

I was crossing the Atlantic Ocean again, but this time with one way ticket; recalling the last words of my father, those words were in my mind during the long 15 hours of traveling, during those hours I was asking myself why I’m doing what I’m doing, the answer was really simple, I was following my heart, that weird feeling when you are in front of something or someone, and you just know, is illogical, is just there, and you just know, but is right.

It was Wednesday 19^th of September, finally I was there, the land who called me with a magical reason, with almost no purpose, but the feeling was there, the feeling to be in the right place in the right moment. A place who became home, a place where I fall in love, a place where I born again, a beautiful place called Republic of Macedonia.

First steps as MCP, some tips and personal thoughts

This is not 100% certified that works, is only my experience, and I saw it work. ;) if there are more tips, so perfect, just be free to share with us ;)

Is a really good experience to be MCP, I can for sure tell you this, and from my past experience I can share some tips.

The First months... transition... legal status... planning... national conference.... lc visits... IC!!!

if your term looks like that... don't panic... is just starting :) but when you catch the feeling (that special thingy :P) everything will start to work smoothly.

Hey, one more time, special focus on legal status and legal representation of the mcp and the finance responsible...

The rest, transition... no matter how good it is, you will always ask to the past team members... they know... really.... and in the worst case scenario if they weren't good on what they did, at least they will tell you what not to do... the experiences teaches a lot

Planning, is the most simple thing that we use to complicate it a lot.... like for example... have a really nice and beautiful plan, but you will notice that is unrealistic, or even worst, when there is no ownership from the EB/Members... (remember... the members are the ones who will execute the plan, if they don't feel it like their own, nothing amazing will happen in the year)

Of course the work is different depends of the team you have, or the country you have to lead... is completely different to run a 800 members country than a 40 members country, each of one has positive and negative sides... but the trick is to see each reality and used as an opportunity (ie. the country is small, 40 members, few lcs.... so maybe you can have LC visit in every LC in the coming weeks and support them on transition, planning, and trainings... it will give you positive vibrations from the LCs and motivation for your team...

Well, those are some things i wanted to share now... for sure there are a lot of more things that every one of us can share... so lets continue with this...

Kind regards,

Yoelo

Претседател - President
АИЕСЕК во Република Македонија - AIESEC in the Republic of Macedonia

Global Village, IPM 2008 Republic of Macedonia

Next Steps in AIESEC :)

A wonderful thing from AIESEC is the Platform of Oppotunities.... but also sometimes is a nightmare... yes, because you have a lot of opportunites at the same time and you need to choose one, but you don't know wich one, because all of them looks really good, and of course, they are... so... what to do???

Ok, this is my perspective, I will share it because it might help to some AIESECer in the world :) is all about GOALS ;)

I'll focus on some facts.... (i'm focusing in leadership opportunites)

International MC is a wonderfull experience, and will help you to have a different vision of the world, even to develop some skill that you might not notice; also can help you to improve other language and is usually necesary if you want to stand for positions as MCP, GN or AI, but mostly for AI.

National MCVP, is a challenging experience, if you want to see your country in a better way in the future, and also being part of that growth, this is for you, it will help you if you want to stand for MCP in your country or MCVP in other country.

MCP, this is one of the most beautifull experience in AIESEC, because you are the strategic leader and ambassador of your country, you need to be aware that you need to have a clear vision of you country in the coming years, and how to get there... logn term vision is a must, sustainability as well... is also hard but the best experience you can have... the experience is important, but even more is the competencies for the position... and the proud for you country... and if you wanted, go for it, but alwats keep in mind, that everything is for you country and not for you... but importan (and this is a personal thought), if you run for MCP, is because you need to stand later for AI, GN Board, Global Coordinator, or a really nice traineeship... i mean, you invested your time for one more year, so why to stay there, go on and you might discover something that you never saw before.

Now always focus in what is your personal vision, remember that AIESEC is platform for your personal and professional development, also remember that for you AIESEC doesn't last forever.. is a youth organization and some day you will need to became alumni and work in a company, create your own one, or finish your master or phd degree, some day you will need to say to AIESEC "thank you for everything, now i have to continue with my professional life"... always remember how AIESEC will help you to your GOALS.... but also more important, remember how your work in AIESEC will support the organizational goals ;) al the time has to be a WIN - WIN situation between AIESEC and YOU ;)

I can not share all my opinion in this post, but always I'm open to talk, chat, mail, with everyone :P there are some experience that should be shared... and also for both sides... AIESEC is wonderull and I'm very gratefull with my organization.

I wish you luck in your next step in AIESEC ;)

A message for my MC PERU Team!!!

Ok, This is an email I send to my beloved MC Team in PERU; I learn a lot from them and thanks to that learning I'm here challenging my self day by day.

The mail is in Spanish, but I'll add the English version as well ;)

The video is in the end of the post :)

AIESEC PERU MC Team 2006 - 2007
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Que tal chicos!!!!!

El tiempo pasa volando, :) y aunque no lo crean ya es mi segundo mes en Macedonia :)
asi que pensaba escribirles un mail, contando las ultimas novedades, las fotos, MOSEM, etc etc....
pero pense que tal vez esto seria mejor :)

espero les guste, es un videito para ustedes ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiLzjPr-2wo

Un gran abrazo desde Skopje!!!

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Hi guys!!!

The time goes fast, :) and with out notice it, is my second month in Macedonia :) so i was thinking to send other mail with some news from here, pictures, MOSEM, etc, etc...
But maybe this would be better :)

I hope you enjoyed, is a small video for you ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiLzjPr-2wo

A big hug from Skopje!!!

My first Month in Macedonia :) (2nd part)

Lets talk about the AIESEC life now… so far I had the chance to be involved in different teams during my aiesec career, but only once I joined to a team when the team was already consolidated as a team, long time ago, but at that moment the situation was different and I was sharing with friends I knew even before to became aiesecer, so there were no challenge at that point of time… what I mean is that now I’m part of this MC Team, but I’m not part of the Team itself, I don’t know very well my team mates, they don’t know me too, so I can say this is the most difficult part of start as MC member after the team was already formed; I know my team mates are trying hard to take me as their MC family, and I know that I’m also trying hard to became part of the family, but for sure this will take more time, is just like this and we need to do it step by step. I’ll admit this, I miss my lovely Super MC and I want to feel the same with my new team.

The MC life is awesome, I remember that the nicest moments in the MC team where in the National Conferences, because we used to spend days before the conference living together and working together, and those where the moments when I felt we were working as one and working in the most effective way. Now I’m having the chance to do that all days, I live with one of my team mates, the MC office is close to the MC flat, and we work in the office for all day, working together and having fun together all the week; this is a experience I missed since I was LCP, and now I’m living it again. Now, as one my dear ex team mates used to say, what is the learning point of this? well, when I worked in mc peru the reality was different, we couldn’t work together in a physical office so we starting to work in the virtual office, which focus us in the communication channels (email, phone calls) and we learned to being effective in that; now we don’t have that need, but even so, I see that those kind of communication skills are so important even when you have you team mate working a couple o meters from you.

The first impression from my teammates to me, well I guess is… this guy need to raise a lot of money for the MC, is completely important and also mainly urgent… and also he has to raise more money for IPM which is also completely important and mainly urgent… so, why he took the challenge? Is he aware of that? Is he crazy? ...... Hahahaha, well is true! I’m a little bit crazy, but I also like challenges, but even more to achieve those challenges :)

My MCP (is still weird to said My MCP for me, hahaha), he started to call me the workaholic Peruvian guy, because he noticed I was working almost 12 hours per day in the office during this past two weeks, also my team mates started to send my mails and msn messages like… why are you still in the office???... Go to home! ... Go to rest! ... Go to watch TV! ... Stop working!!! Its 8pm!!!! … And perhaps you are the only guy who is in the office, right??? … Hahahaha, well those are the message I got during this last days, hahaha, my new team are really cool!

I just want to finish this part with a personal reflection, no matter from where you come from or in what part of the world you are, with AIESECers you will always feel like a family. :)