Back from Slovakia, soon to Rotterdam

Along with Mr. Bush's Air Force No.1, there was another plane landing about the same time in Tallinn airport yesterday late evening. It was a plane, which carried me back to Estonia.

I came back from Slovakia, where I was chair at their national conference.

I was chair before, but it was the biggest conference for me as a chair. And it was excellent! It was successful conference, where people were actually crying in the closing plenary. It was emotionally very high event.

And I had opportunity to influence it all - imagine that you are actually able to influence the mood, the energy, the learning process of around 120 people at the same time! I am thankful for such an experience. I am also thankful for the great chance to work with excellent people from our facilitators's team that me and Zuzka, a conference manager, were leading.

Faci team of Autumn Conference 2006 in Slovakia

One of the best moments there was an election of new President of AIESEC in Slovakia. They had three candidates. Three people, who dared to stand out from the others and say loud, what they had to say to everyone.

The right person got elected. And I was so proud seeing all three of them going for that, making speeches, answering questions. Because I went through similar experience about 9-10 months ago.

In about 1,5 weeks am going to Rotterdam, where I will be one of 10 people from all around the globe, who are going to work along with AIESEC International in Global Steering Team. We will be discussing global strategies and global solutions for all our nearly 100 countries in the network.

That's kind of experience, which few people in my age can have. That's kind of experience AIESEC is offering to me.

That everything is cool, of course. AIESEC is really great.

But today I called to my parents, because they have their wedding anniversary today. After 7 minutes of speaking to my mother I just realized once again - there is nothing more important right now in my life than my parents for me. People who raised me as I am. People, whom I owe everything I have.

When we feel like doing something good

"Kui mõnikord tekib tunne, et tahaks teha midagi head, siis kasuta neid hetki"
("When sometimes you get the feeling that you want to do something good, use these moments")

This is the slogan of Heateo Sihtasutus (Charities Foundation) [www.heategu.ee] - Estonian non-for-profit organisation that attracts me very much with its mission and the means it executes its mission. Majority of its workers are AIESEC alumni.

Today I had chance to be present in roundtable of Estonian organisations which are dealing with development of leaders. AIESEC is one of the founding organisations (along with JCI, Junior Achievement, Rotary and Invicta) of the roundtable that I personally have big hopes in.

We spoke about how to transmit good idea to the society. Good idea like need for development of leadership skills in people of all ages.

Founder and head of Heateo Sihtasutus, Artur Taevere, inspired me with his understanding of things, his passion and his determination. He is just about 26, but he managed to make his NGO to be one of the best-known in Estonia with just 3,5 years by simply doing something good for the others.

He told that in order to transmit good idea to the others, you need four things (simple and obvious, but they tend to be forgotten far too often):
1) Good idea is not enough, you have to have one leader, who will execute the idea and who will have good nerve not to "jump out of the train"
2) Idea (message) should surprise, should have ahhaaa moment inside.
3) Idea should be important or deal with inescapable problem
4) Idea has to have external supporters

I will try not to forget these four simple rules, when I will start to execure my own good ideas in the future.