It was the early 1980s and I was thrilled to be in a job I loved focused on the interpretation of heritage buildings and sites to encourage their appreciation, protection and constructive use. But, British Columbia was going through tough economic times, and suddenly I had three days to pack up my desk and put aside unfinished projects to assume a demoted post in a newly created central agency, the Records Management Branch. It was a shock to the system, but in 30,000 downsized civil servants, I was lucky enough to have been recognized for an ability to innovate and contribute effectively. Ultimately, I faced a choice: be bitter and twisted about the wrench to an unknown field of endeavour, or, embrace the possible. After a bit of wrangling, I chose the latter path.
Records Management is a much misunderstood domain. For the immediate purposes, it is probably enough to know that it is all about seeing the value of information, and applying skills and knowledge to ensuring appropriate availability, retention, sharing and disposal. The work sparked something in me. I realized it is what I had always been doing--arranging data to find meaning. And, if you get a certain satisfaction in arranging things for a better understanding or outcome, then maybe this interests lurks deep within you, too. I believe that one cannot be effective in much of anything without seeking information, sorting it into useful groupings, observing patterns of use, and coming to a readiness for using it for a purpose. Thing is, information is ubiquitous--it is ever present all around us. It is so much a part of the fabric of our world that we do not even see it. And many of us are convinced we lack the skills to cope with it when the sheer weight of information overload emerges into consciousness and squishes out, it seems, our ability to think clearly. Don't underestimate yourself. We're in the process of evolution--and you are part of it!
First steps
When I started learning about managing information, I quickly saw that some automation would help deal with cumbersome lists and papers. I bought my first portable computer: 60 lbs. light, steel-encased, and with the awesome power and lightning speed, C/PM operating system and--64k memory. The little 4" green screen glowed with promise...and lacking financial resources as a young person, necessity forced me to engage free advice from a local "freenet" group of enthusiastic amateur computer buffs. Interestingly, the group was mostly seniors, people who had the time to explore this brave new world. "Gopher" was a network protocol that enabled access to online data ... and suddenly the world (or at least more than I could see from my window) was open to me. It was a crack in the door, light pouring from Aladdin's cave, another spark of excitement about the possible.
Gaining Confidence
Email lists followed, IRC and other forms of communication. And net-relationships were confirmed when a net-friend from Boston visited Victoria in around 1990 (hey, Phil!). While the media seemed ready to search out the dark side of the net, I found a receptive environment in which people are people, and generally that meant support, dialogue, exploration of ideas--and the occasional jerk, who often as not had more than one side and sometimes turned out to be less a jerk and more a novice at communication (on and off then net).
Web Savvy
Growth in my approach to continuous learning had benefits on the job, too. Rising through embracing new challenges and accessing knowledge and help on and off the net resulting in becoming pegged as "up and coming" Assistant Deputy Minister material...at least according to my boss and a couple of ADMs. But, seeing the compromises and finding a seriously egalitarian vein in my net outreach, I opted to pursue an independent course and became an entrepreneur. An inspirational video (sorry, I have forgotten her name) with the message "the only job you are ready for, is the one you already have" and some outrageous organizational "stuff" jump started Interactive Strategies, Inc., my (still listed) British Columbia consultancy. The work focused in management consulting, taxonomy design, advisory work in the area of information privacy and access legislation. And, I found that my personality and rather broad experience (including health, education, tourism, governance, energy, non-profit management) drew me toward coaching. Sometimes, a consulting client would hire me to coach an up and coming manager, or engage in conflict resolution within teams. Soon I explored that area with online coaching communities, and that led to a decision to expand my net presence. It was a period of great learning and a growing sense of personal empowerment. I love passing that feeling on...and have continued to do just that. Early involvement with the Minciu Sodas Laboratory (always grateful, Andrius!) was inspirational with exploration of touchgraph (Alex Shapiro) and Lucid Fired Eggs (Stephan Danic) juxtaposed with questions of spirituality and giving that continues. During this period, I was elected President, Board of Regents, Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), an international certifying body. As a newly minted Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University at GORGEOUS Hatley Park, I brought a conviction to the Board that a web presence for the ICRM, and a membership and Board supported by internal web-based communications was critical to a sustainable organization, and to effective communications among geographically dispersed Regents. Step by step...moving forward.
E-opportunities Knock
In 2002, I was packing up papers on my way out to Calgary to present at
a conference. A last minute email check, and suddenly (again) a
new opportunity slipped in from the internet. Cutting a long story
short, I responded, and "won silver" with an expenses paid interview in
Hong Kong, winning gold with a three-year contract as Director, the
Government Records Service and Principal Archivist for Hong Kong's SAR
Government. It was a richly rewarding learning experience in
which re-positioning a very traditional organization provided insights
into organizational change, east-west cultural similarities and
differences, and business realities in Asia. Turning down the
offer to continue in that Directorate post was a matter of some
internal debate...but the decision enabled a return to the private
sector and a chance to contribute to new developments in Knowledge
resource Development and Intellectual Capital building--world-wide.
Today, the internet is the connective tissue that binds my global
network of shared interest.
Building Profile
Three years in a very conservative, post-colonial civil service meant
keeping a lower profile, internationally, than I had been building in my
professional domain. Now I am re-gaining lost ground, and finding that
the work of earlier years can be built upon. I am active on
professional listservs
as well as more socially oriented ones. In addition, I have
explored and become active (or re-vitalize my action in) several
internet based forums and social networks. The diversity of
thought and experience, as well as the recognition of the lacks that
result from narrow experience and resistance to diversity, is an
ongoing discovery through interaction on Ryze
. One of the gifts of internet technology is that it can make it
possible to comprehend an ever-growing quantity of information, and
establish was to see relationships that would otherwise be beyond our
usual capacity. Sites such as LinkedIn and OpenBC (now rebranded as Xing ), Ecademy and others sometimes overlap, but always extend relationships.
Maintaining Relationships
I should not neglect a personal observation. The decision to come
to Hong Kong meant separation from those I cherish. But the internet
"gift" continues to bridge the distance. Applications, often available
freely through Open Source or GNU license,
have enabled voice, video and text communication to maintain the bonds
of family and friends. What's more, as your skills grow, you can
combine these to create a history that informs, involves and inspires
relationships.
See you 'round the net!
John James O'Brien, BA, CRM, MALT
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Your Story
If you have a story your own, please create and publish
your own version of this page. On the G.E.T.
Wiki,
you will find the G.E.T. page that should be the entry
page to your story. Modify that page to suit your needs. The
Global Engagement Trust is Educating the Internet. Everyone can
help.
Just starting out? As the Global Engagement Trust notes, nothing
happens without engagement, and engagement does call for some simple
"first steps".
Hint: do you use a Mac? Are you on a PC? There are definitely user forums that can be useful for gaining insights into getting the most from your computer. My mother, has just joined Big Blue in Victoria, B.C. My daughter is 20 - you do the math. If Mum can do it, so can you! I'm now back into a Mac and am exploring online forums, and will have dinner next week with a visitor from London who is a long time Mac expert. Connections grow.
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