After seven years, my business has taken another turn, as one would expect from a life in perpetual Beta. Starting tomorrow I will be spending a good part of my time supporting research at Mount Allison University. I have accepted a term contract as Knowledge Transfer and Partnerships Officer in Research Services. It’s a very interesting role and I’m looking forward to branching out of information and learning technologies and working with life sciences, among other fields. The work is full-time (though not by freelancer standards) and then turns to half-time. It’s like a working sabbatical for me. There’s even paid vacation time – I have not taken a vacation in ten years.
Jarche Consulting will continue as a business and I will still blog, but probably less frequently. There are over 1,700 existing posts here for anyone to peruse. I also intend to discuss issues around technology and knowledge transfer in the context of higher education. You can expect more knowledge management type discussions. This will definitely be a learning experience and I look forward to expanding my network and my knowledge.
With less time to concentrate on my own consulting, and business development, I will focus on working with my colleagues at the Internet Time Alliance.
Let me now officially add the disclaimer that the views expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views of any past or current employers or clients.
One interesting point: my e-mail address will be the same one I had a decade ago while at the Centre for Learning Technologies.
Best of luck in your new endeavor!
Thanks, Maryanne. I see it as having a long-term primary client, meaning a lot less time required looking for new work.
Good luck Harold! I hope the work goes well & that when you have your vacation it’s awesome.
That’s great news, Harold! I wish you all my best for this new role.
Thierry
Merci, Thierry. I look forward to continuing our work at eCollab together :)
Congrats! I’m happy to see live & current know-how being accessed by academia – the congratulations are mainly for Mount Allison University
I’ll make sure I tell them, Joan ;)
Congratulations, Harold!
As it happens, what I am trying to do with the Smart Work Company has much in common with the KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) scheme in the UK:
http://www.ktponline.org.uk/
Enjoy your working sabbatical :-)
All the best to you Harold;
I think it will be exciting to have someone with your background in social media tackling issues of transfer. I’ll be looking forward to any potential findings.
Congratulations! Of course, being somewhat selfish I hope you’ll still find time to share great resources over Twitter and through your blog.
I count on you to boggle my brain regularly!
Je te souhaite du succès dans ta nouvelle aventure! Best to you and I hope we will have opportunities to collaborate in the futur.
My business is not closing, I’ve just taken on a longer-term client who will demand more of my attention ;)
Seven year’s itch? ;-)
Always good to switch sides every now and then! Any plans for the vacation days yet?
I have to earn the vacation first, Martjin, so probably some time in the Fall – maybe cycling :)
Harold, our loss is their gain. You know I (and we) wish you well, and look forward to what you continue to share. Cheers to a new adventure!
Thanks, Clark. I have no intention of disappearing.
I just wanted to say thank you for all the incredible knowledge and wisdom you have shared with us – your readers and twitter followers – in recent years. Honestly, your Twitter feed and blog has provided me with more value and brain food than any other internet outposts that I frequent. Respect, gratitude, and bon vent for all your future ventures!
Congratulations Harold. I am at congress in Montreal with David Phipps at York (and his crew of ResearchImpact). If you are not connected yet, let me know and I will make the introductions.
Thanks, Denise. Sure Peter, go ahead and make the introductions – thanks.
Congratulations, Harold! Now you will have a much more stable and relaxed life. I am also a freelance, having an stable contract with an University, and that’s good, while not leaving other clients. Good to know you now have holidays too. :-)
Let me joint the chorus of well-wishers, happy for your chance to contribute, learn and grow AND take a vacation. I look forward to reading your insights here, albeit less frequently
Congratulations on the new position.
Hi Harold – congratulations on your new role and for taking a leap in another direction. Your site is a great resource and I will still be visiting in the future.
Best of luck,
Dennis
Thanks for all your knowledge and wisdom you shared with us thus far. I hope you enjoy your new position. May it be an excellent learning experience for you.
“A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.” ~ Sam Ervin.
You’ve done both by sharing your wisdom and experience. Wishing you the best of British in your new position Harold.
Thanks to everyone for your kind and encouraging words. This blog has been my multi-view window on the world and enabled me to connect to some very interesting, intelligent and curious people, such as yourselves.
I encourage other readers to check out the websites of Maryanne, Tim, Martijn, Clark, Denise, Peter, David, Kare, Bruce, Dennis, Meryn and Paul. We can learn much through our networks.
I come somewhat late to the congrats and encouragement messages, but here comes mine nevertheless:
– best of lucks
– have nice vacations whenever they are
– don’t tell your employer you’re on a semi-sabbatical when they hire you!! :DDD
All the best,
ismael.
It’s a semi-sabbatical from freelancing, not from work, Ismael ;)
Congratulations Harold,
Maybe we should talk to David about re-creating the CLT!
Cheers
Thanks, Tony. My first day on the job, I went to the Bennett Building and was met by Darren. It was like going back in time a decade.