Running for MCP of AIESEC Norway 2010/11

Now I can announce it, to myself and to the world. Yesterday evening, I sent the application from an Internet Cafe in Lamu, Kenya - which thankfully:

1. actually was open
2. had Internet
3. had a computer working
4. had electricity
5. had opening for my pendrive

Choices:

How we make our choices has always interested me, and the last two days I was brutally exposed to my own decisionmaking. Sometimes choices are easy, but sometimes they are the hardest thing in the world. Running for MCP has been one of those choices for me. I knew all along I wanted the experience, but at the same time I was doubting about so many things.

In the morning of Christmas day, 25th of December, I was walking around in Mombasa with my girlfriend. All of a sudden I decided - "No. I am not applying". The decision felt certain, and at that moment right. I found an Internet cafe and sent a short email to my amazing MCP, who always supports me in everything I do, as I had promised him I would tell him when I (finally) decided.

Good. Done. Finito. Bravo!

No. You know the feeling of knowing a choice was wrong after only you had made it? Only a few minutes after stepping out of the Internet Cafe my mind was doubting. And an hour later I felt like I had just made the stupidest mistake of my whole life. NOOOOOOO! Of course I want to apply. It's the most amazing opportunity I will probably EVER have, and it's working for a cause I believe in with my whole heart - AIESEC Norway! What could be better?

But I had "made my decision". That night, I felt like crap. I ended up staying up, changing my whole application, living it, feeling it, imagining it - seeing the year as MCP of AIESEC Norway in my head. And I was loving it. Every minute of it.

So yesterday, on the bus to Lamu (if you ever get the "chance" to take the bus from Mombasa to Lamu, think carefully about how much you enjoy a "bumby ride" before you book - but Lamu is amazing!) I was thinking the whole day. For 8 hours during that transport it became clear to me.

I sent the application last night, and it all feels so right. I am calm (and hellish nervous!) and proud of myself. And I laugh at decisionmaking in generally and this process for me. Months of agonizing, pro's and con's, advice and non-advice (Mum!!!) and simply no decision.

Only when i had decided against did I know I should decide for. And where will the path take me? Well, first of all to Achieve in a couple of weeks time!

Now: Do you want an Exchange Revolution in AIESEC Norway?

Structure, people and focus

I am sorry. Let me rephrase that: Focus, People and Structure.

Focus: Exchange. More Exchange and better Exchange. Passion and fun of Exchange.

[yes, by doing this we develop loads of other exciting things, and by creating structured leadership experiences around the exchange we foster that as well. But there is no management without operations.]

People: If you want to be in AIESEC - do AIESEC.

[That means working your ass off every single day to make Exchange happen. Every single action should be related to this. If you think AIESEC is too much work, if you think that doing this is not too much fun or two rewarding, if you think that exams and other stuff is more important - or simply AIESEC is not for you - hey - that's fair enough. But please, leave this organization. Now. There are no excuses for why you, who are in AIESEC, cannot prioritize AIESEC. That is a choice that all those outside AIESEC make. How much work is alot of work? Every morning when you come to school, you should come to the AIESEC office and work. And during the day, between your studies you should work. And after your day, you should work. How much? If you cannot dedicate 2-3 hours per day for AIESEC (that means 15-20 hours a week) then, hey, I guess it's not for you.]

Structure: Design it around the operational actions of Exchange - not the strategic areas of "an organization"

[Talent Management, Communications, Finance are support teams to let the organization do Exchange. If necessary, reduce these teams to only a VP and let the teams that are recruiting. Get rid of ICX teams and turn them into DT Incoming raising teams (Incoming Exchange Non-Corporate: ICX NC). Make CR teams match and service their own TNs]

Now is the time. Not soon, not tomorrow, not "after we have seen abit". And definitely not "next quarter". All organizations and companies dream of next quarter as some sort of holy land of salvation, profitability and calm. Forget about it. Now is the only time that matters.

If not?

Last one out of the office, please turn off the lights.