Musings – 90-Day Mentoring Challenge 2020

Time to update on my progress in the 90-Day Mentoring Challenge. With 2020 fast approaching, and already over 150 requests to join this intake, I decided to review where I am at and how things have gone so far.

After working with Microsoft technologies for over 20 years and specifically working with Microsoft Business Applications since 2003, I have accumulated a little knowledge of running Microsoft Partner Practices, hiring and working with consultants, and implementing Microsoft Business Application projects. One thing I have learned is that it just keeps getting better and better.  The technology is getting better and the people in the community are more open and giving of their knowledge than ever before.

In the last couple of years, we have seen the rise of the Power Platform and with this rise comes opportunity. In the next three years we will see our community expand at an unheard-of rate. All over the world, people, no matter their current skills, training, or background will be able to reskill with tools that will empower them to be software and app creators of the future.

The social impact of what Microsoft is doing with the Power Platform is unprecedented in the jobs and opportunities it enables, and it allows people of all ages, experience, and geography to earn above-average incomes and provide for their families.

My goal with the 90-Day Mentoring Challenge was to share my skills and experience at no cost. By making it 100% online-only events and FREE. I know that no matter where people are located in the world, if they have internet access and a webcam they can learn and launch their careers in Microsoft Business Applications. Or enabling those who have fallen into this career of working with Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, and Power BI, or any of the finished apps of Dynamics 365, to look at the career paths available and make informed choices about their future.

A common question I get asked is “what’s in it for me?” My answer is in the form of this quote from the movie Pay It Forward “Call it generosity between two strangers.”

Look at the movie trailer here to refresh your memory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfW0wCV9iFI

Three big favours for three other people.  I am using technology to try and get beyond three, but I am hoping everyone takes this opportunity to learn and then Pay It Forward for three other people using their skill and art.

I first launched this in 2018 and had 57 people signed up, I ran it again in 2019 and had 110 sign up, and now as of this writing for the 2020 intake there is a total of 151 people that have signed up.  Did everyone attend or will they all attend? No, for whatever reason life can get in the way, and not everyone will see it through to completion.

But the stories that people have shared with me, how the 90-Day Mentoring Challenge has impacted them, and their careers are enough for me to continue doing it. The cut off for this intake is December 31st 2019, so if you know someone that needs this program please get them to apply here https://www.nz365guy.com/90DayMC

You can also view that page to see some of the quotes from people that have completed the program.

Here is a list of countries that people have attended from:

• USA

• Canada

• England

• Ireland

• Scotland

• Iceland

• Norway

• Sweden

• Germany

• Mexico

• France

• Australia

• New Zealand

• South Africa

• Philippines

• India

• Dominican Republic

• Nigeria

• Kuwait

• Republic of Armenia

• The Netherlands

• Pakistan

• United Arab Emirates

People that have attended have come from a range of backgrounds including:

• People that work for small and large Microsoft Partners

• The individual that is Self Employed

• Independent Consultants

• People who work with various Microsoft Business Applications Software Products in their everyday job

• People considering changing their careers

• Microsoft Employees

Each time I start a new intake, I take the things I have learned since the last intake and update the 90-Day Mentoring Challenge, so the content stays fresh. Interestingly I have just had a Microsoft Employee get in touch with me to ask how he can be involved in mentoring others based on his 15 years working at Microsoft and the experience with Microsoft and the Business Applications community.

I feel there are many more that would like to empower others by Paying It Forward, so let’s see how things will pivot in 2021.

As you look at your life and career how can you Pay It Forward?  What may be small for you could have a massive impact on others. It’s the seeds we plant in other people’s hearts that grow to become our most significant legacy.

It does not need to be mentoring; it could be starting a local user group, creating a video to help others based on what you have learned, supporting people that may be struggling with the stresses you don’t understand.

There are many ways that you can take what you have learned, the skills you have, the art you create, the perspective you bring and give it away expecting nothing in return.