Friday, December 20, 2019

Just a quick update (after 5+ years)!

I know I pretty much ghosted this blog but as a university era blog, I've been really conflicted about keeping this up as I am in an advanced stage of my professional life now.

So what's been up with me?

Well, I got into digital marketing right after university and I've been doing this for over 10 years now. I've worked in-house and on the agency side and have had several successes to be proud of.

My career journey has taken me from Singapore to Karachi, then Lahore and now I'm in my fifth year in the UK. I also got married and will soon my celebrating my 9th anniversary early in 2020.

These past few years in London have been mad. When I quit my fabulous job at a top IT consultancy in Lahore and moved to London, I almost started with nothing.

Homeless. Jobless.

And a baby on the way.

Yes, I had a baby on the way which is why I quit and joined my wife in London. It was a mad transition.

But I was extremely fortunate. Within a month we found ourselves a home (in Balham) and I got a job on the agency side in central London (near Victoria).

And then the baby arrived. What a permanent change to our lives!

Needless to say, with two working payments, no support structure like immediate family or friends nearby (who are baby-friendly) and no financial backing from parents, it's been a busy time.

My wife has since returned to training as an Accident and Emergency specialist in Medicine, and I have founded my own company called Locals Talk (I almost never find the time to update my company website), but we're doing well and growing month on month.

We also have an online clothes store for cute baby clothes with free delivery to Australia, UK, USA and Canada. I need to setup a Boxing Day sales campaign for it soon.

I've somehow managed to find a great work-life balance working only 3 days a week and making more than I did when I was working full-time at a company in central London that has now gone into liquidation. I'm not sure if I will pick up another job unless it allows me the kind of growth and flexibility I have become accustomed to.

This year, 2019, I've also managed to fit in a bit of travelling around Europe, which has been a dream for my wife and I. We first went to Venice in Italy and then Barcelona in Spain - the two most culturally-rich countries in Europe.

Hopefully I will keep this up in the following year that starts with a visit to the parents in January.

Now that you're all caught up, here's wishing you a lovely Christmas holiday and a Happy New Year!

I'm going to try and keep this blog running again with tids and bits.