Non-Linear (Intern Edition)
The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela. It’s over 3,200 feet high. That’s nearly two One World Trade Centers stacked on top of each other. Laos’ Khone Phapheng Falls are the widest in the world at 6.7 miles! In Niagara, approximately 681,750 gallons per second of water flow over the Horseshoe Falls – nothing compared to Congo’s Inga Falls’ 11.22M gallons per second! What exactly does all this have to do with business and life? Everything.
Waterfalls
The waterfalls can be naturally tall, wide, heavily flowing, or cascading over miles. Waterfalls are formed through glacial troughs, rocks moved by fault lines, or steep mountain lakes flowing down through valleys. Waterfalls evolve over time as rocks erode and the force of the water drubbing the land below focuses pressure. They can be man-made to suit people’s needs, like Cascata delle Marmore in Italy. When you take a step back and look, it is all non-linear. A river will traverse in a predictable line – albeit often meandering back and forth – only to experience a sudden gravitational free-fall to a plunge pool below.
If you visit a major waterfall as I did recently, it feels like so much is happening all at once – because it is. There is the roaring, rumbling sound. There is also the white noise that has a relaxing effect on you. With the mist coming off the water, you feel happy. Waves are everywhere. It is as if water is throwing a party for itself – a big celebration of life.
Parenthood & Interns
Another celebration of life is parenthood. Parents come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, some are wide. They come in many ways – naturally, through adoption, via marriage. They tend to be non-linear in their lives too. A person goes from never-a-parent to suddenly-a-parent, for the rest of their lives (hopefully). A parent raises kids at home, then abruptly becomes an empty nester. Overall, it is a joyful, non-linear adventure – just as water taking the leap off a waterfall.
Meanwhile, a student goes from academics to a work environment in an internship. It is a big shift from one setting or situation to another completely different one with a whole new set of rules. It is a non-linear leap into the unknown. Life is celebrated here too – it is marked with newness, beginner’s mind, didactic moments, and an abundance of aspirations and dreams for the future.
Feedback
Parents can leave their mark on an internship program. Here is some feedback from this summer’s intern program:
“…He said one week into the internship that it was the best job he has ever had…he said that he now understands that he needs to find a job that maximizes what he can do for the organization, helping him curate various career options.”
“She is more confident in speaking about business and has more ownership of herself and her impact in that space. She is carrying herself more confidently and engaging in discussions more easily.”
“I feel the internship experience with Agile Rainmakers is quite different than many others based on the client project work and opportunities afforded to the interns to present the work. I also feel there is a genuine care and compassion to help the interns learn more about themselves and develop/grow through meaningful opportunities, experiences, and encounters.”
“She got real world work and life experience. The client assignments, which included teamwork dynamics with the other interns, were direct applications of her studies at school.”
“I feel that he has become much more independent, and he truly seems excited about his opportunities to learn new things. I was a little nervous for him to move to a big city from a small college town, but he has transitioned extremely well and has certainly grown through the experience.”
“I think he has also matured substantially from living on his own and navigating both work and life in a city environment.”
That Happy Feeling
How do you like our zig-zaggy newsletter this time? You can’t predict the next one. No one can, just as no drop of water knows when it will fall in a celebration of life.
Whether we are talking waterfalls, parenthood, interning, or feedback, it is all non-linear. Let go of doing everything you can to make your business and life linear. They aren’t and don’t be surprised when non-linear events happen. Embrace the adventure that life is, just as waterfalls evoke that happy feeling.
P.S. While we're zig-zagging through this newsletter, get How To Intern Successfully to start the academic year off right for someone you know in college.
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