When I was 36, I had had a lot of different experiences in different fields but felt a shortage of ability to formalize it and, as a consequence, frustration due to lots of unnecessary moves I made. I was sure there must be knowledge to resolve this discrepancy. I sought that knowledge and got to know the Systems Management School (SMS). When I enrolled in the Systems thinking course in 2019, its content impressed me. Like any student before and since then, I had almost zero understanding of systems thinking after the first attempt and finishing the course. Still, more important, I got confidence that with that knowledge, the framework I was deep in, my experience would get a significant boost.
Next 2020 year, I was engaged as a volunteer and started to translate the Systems thinking course into English. For me, it wasn't a trivial job. First, I have never translated any Russian to English professionally. Second, the course volume is frankly both huge and tough. But I had a lot of support from the school's founders Tseren and Anatoliy, and people who have been doing this work with me, the volunteers. I'll tell you later on about Tseren and Anatoliy's support; now, I'd like to tell you more about the volunteers.
One needs a very insightful and very valuable program to run a volunteer program. The program declaration must not diverge from the actual performance because intelligent people are very false sensitive.
People becoming familiar with the school's agenda start not only learning its transdisciplinary approach but helping to develop the school, its presence, and its approach. They are willing to help with a lot of tasks that the school doesn't currently have no resources for. Only educated people are able to pivot in the right direction. And all of those who now volunteers for school understand that. Translation editors, designers, programmers, administrators, beta-testers, lots of roles and expertise the school is given by their people.
For almost two years, I've been working with volunteers, and each time this type of cooperation makes me excited. I totally understand their motivation because this type of cooperation with the school is fairly bidirectional. You do a job, and you get back full support for learning and managing. Even if one faces a difficult life situation, the school always considers how to help and provides the support it can.
After confirming a job to be done, somebody answers me that they don't need to be paid. Just think about it! I'm so proud to be with SMS when I hear that.
My translation position has been on a volunteer basis for one year. During that year, we translated and launched the Systems Thinking course in English. Then I continued working with SMS on a project scale, and after the next 10 months, we launched a new brand named Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and Management. Check out our website http://eem.institute. This work would be impossible with no permanent support from volunteers.
I sing an ode for you people. You are incredible! Let's move on to our insistent endeavor toward a better world. It needs our help. And fortunately, we know how to make it happen.