Inspiring Discovery

I like to help out people who are trying to figure out what their career is going to look like; especially those people who, like me, are entranced by the size and depth of our world and all of the different cultures and places to see.

Often, the question I get is about getting started. As someone who hires people for overseas projects, one of the key factors I look for is a proven ability to live and work in a foreign country. Having spent your summers in Greece doesn’t count; I need someone that has struggled on a daily basis to work across cultures and deal with all the bad things that come your way living overseas.

This, of course, begs the question – how does one get that experience if nobody will hire them? One way was, is, and probably will be into the future the Peace Corps. I was a volunteer in 1991 in Botswana and it was a fantastic experience.

There are a lot of reasons not to become a volunteer. What other ways are there? My advice, and its scary advice, is to pick a country, get on a plane, find an apartment and look for a job. Easier nowadays in the age of the internet, but still an expensive proposition with considerable risk.

My idea: A website matching recent graduates willing to pay their own way overseas with needy organization capable of paying local wages but not much more.

There are plenty of articles running around on the bombing in the Luna Caprese Restaurant in Islamabad Pakistan. Obviously it caused a lot of consternation on the part of the guys working here, many of whom considered this a very nice place to work. We were particularly concerned about a shift in the attack patterns of terrorists who had been targeting police and military.

Since that time we learned that four FBI agents were amongst the injured; we also learned that the Lahore bombing targeted a building that had permanent FBI offices. We are resting easier, but no less cautious.

Today’s Dawn newspaper had an article that the Government in Pakistan was looking at closing some 20 restaurants and guest houses that were operating out of residential areas in Islamabad. Their reasoning is that these restaurants – frequented by foreigners – were now a hazard to other homes in the neighborhood. Reading between the lines, there are a whole bunch of things someone could take from it – excuse for a land grab, etc. etc.

Nonetheless, it makes an interesting point. Most of these restaurants have been operating outside the law for a long time. Pakistan has decided on a look-the-other-way strategy for its fledgling businesses (which is catching up to it on labor codes), but ANY business that works under these circumstances is at risk at any time for someone who gets the notion of taking action.

I recently took a job.

That is much more monumental a thing than it ought to be. From March 1999 when I left The Services Group, I’ve been a freelance consultant taking jobs when I want, where I want, how I want. Now, I work for someone. All the time.

The deal is that I’m going to take assignments over the next two years that I probably would have taken anyway; I’m in Pakistan now, and there’s another contract coming up for 4 months there that I’ll (hopefully) lead. After that its off to Iraq for about 18 months.

The difference is that now I have a job to come home to. I’m not only managing my own career, but now I’m looking out for my company too. I no longer am supposed to read the DevelopmentEX job board, I’m no longer supposed to probe people to find out if their projects have short term assignments. Its a weird change for me.

I’m confident I made the right decision. I’m particularly confident that if I had to work for someone, I’ve picked the right company.

It still feels weird.

And thats a very bad thing – particularly when you are pasting your website all over creation and people are actually visiting only to find out that you haven’t been home for months.

So for all those people that mistakenly clicked on the Inspiring Discovery link, I am alive.

I am a contract employee. In three months, my regular earnings come to a grinding halt. I am now in the process of identifying another source of earnings. I probably won’t be able to get something going right away – it could take some months before something gets rolling.

And thats not a bad thing

Several years ago, I went through the same thing – without the notice period (I was asked to resign). I was terrified of the unemployment. Eating my savings. Bumming around the house UNEMPLOYED. The shame. Being broke. Not providing for my family.

But I had something of a game plan, so I wasn’t completely terrified (just a little). I was going to network; join associations; write.

I took a few training courses and I joined associations that I knew nothing about. it was fantastic! One of the best times of my life. It was expensive, I spent money and didn’t take much in.

I’ve come to love the contract lifestyle because of this. How many other professionals get to take 3 month mid-career breaks to learn new skills and build a Japanese rock garden in their backyard?

What if….you spent your whole day… everyday… concerned with nothing else but the goals of the people who are around you? You dedicate yourself to helping your boss achieve his/her goals. Your administrative assistant to achieve his goals. Your peers to achieve their goals.

You get home, and you focus on your spouse’s goals. Your children’s goals. You consider your parents’ goals, and help out there. And your friends’ goals.

What kind of life would you lead if you never focused on yourself at all?

I ask this because I know myself – and I know that I am at my personal best when I work and think outward; meaning that I do things based on what other people need. When I let things slide and focus on myself, I become acutely concerned with accumulation. If I can’t afford to buy stuff, I gather free stuff. I download information onto my hard drive that I might never read.

Is it possible to live a life of total service to others around you? This isn’t about serving soup at a kitchen (although its very noble), this is about working a high-end, well paid professional job and simply ignore yourself in the process.

As I begin my literature search on the subject, I haven’t found much at all. The closest thing I’ve found is team building and how to participate in a high-powered team.

I have a lot more thoughts on this. Next post.