Internal Waves (Intern Edition)
The experience of your experience matters. How you think and feel later about how you thought and felt back then is what you dwell on over time, isn’t it? Look closely at the holidays of near or yesteryear and see what you find. Found what I speak of? Where are these thoughts and feelings? Though we can’t yet pinpoint them medically, they are somewhere in you – your soul, your mind, and your body.
Tides
We all know about tides. The gravitational force of the moon and sun pulls water on Earth’s surface towards them. As it does so, water rises in some areas and falls in others. Those tides are so great that there are places where you don’t take your sailboat during low tide even though you easily traverse those same waters during high tide. Why? Because exposed rocks can damage your hull or rudder.
Agile Rainmakers has ridden an incredibly high tide over the last 5 years. The diverse clients we have served engage in industries including Accounting, AI, Biotechnology, Cold Chain, Crypto, Financial Technology, Impact, Legal Services, Retail, Timber, and Yoga, to name a few. Along the way, over 20 interns from colleges including Harvard, Illinois, Marquette, Michigan, MIT, NYU, Penn State, Princeton, and Tulane have made their mark contributing directly to those clients through their project work.
Additionally, John Selby and I have written two books, How To Intern Successfully and Intern Management, about bringing dignity to the internship discourse. Over 50 newsletters like this one have been published on our blog. We have also been featured on nearly 30 podcasts. Finally, long-time Duke MBA friend and seasoned business consultant Steve Colten has joined us. He has elevated Agile Rainmakers’ competencies while putting the “s” in rainmakers. In short, high above possible exposed reefs and other hazards, we have been hydroplaning on a wonderful high tide!
Listening
Listening to my mind, body, and soul, and sensing my own internal tides, I called off the 2024 Summer Riptide program this week. A health issue that surfaced last August and landed me in the ER within minutes resurfaced in the past few weeks. A doctor’s visit caused a serious moment of reflection. With all the ebbs and flows over the years, aspects of my health have been neglected and need attention. My experience of my experience is happiness, fulfillment, and…fatigue. After 5 years, the Summer Riptide must wait. The tide is low, so this is the best inaction to take given what bringing dignity to an internship involves.
Body
According to philosopher Fernando Flores, there are 13 recurring domains of human concern. Money and Career are but two. Body (Health) is another, but without Body, you can’t be of service to others, can you? So, choose to raise your sails and challenge the current world sailing speed record of 75.23 mph, or find yourself a nice cozy sandbar to lower your sails and rest upon. Or, find yourself a happy medium somewhere in between. Take care of your Body.
Experience your experience. Listen to your internal waves – your high and low tides – in business and life. Do what works for you to ensure a comeback serving others when the tide allows again.
Here's to you and your awesome future.
Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!
Robert J. Khoury
CEO Agile Rainmakers