Riding The Crest (Intern Edition)
The sun just barely starts to peak over the horizon of the Pacific Ocean – its golden light warms a thick layer of billowing clouds floating in the far-off morning sky. The sound of the ocean swelling and breaking on the shoreline is tranquil and beautiful, but dangerous and powerful at the same time. It’s a meditative juxtaposition that’s reminiscent of the balance required for surfing – and my summer internship at Agile Rainmakers.
Dawn Patrol
During the entire 22-hour flight to Sydney, Australia, I could feel the anticipation, a nervous but excited fluttering feeling, building up deep inside me. I felt my heartbeat race as my family and I stood atop the cliffs at Bondi Beach at dawn, watching the surfers paddle out in the early morning. In the same way, as I embarked upon my first day with Agile Rainmakers, I had that same sense in the moments before each introductory client call. The tangible emotion coursed amongst all four of us interns, as we groms (a young and inexperienced surfer, or grommet) faced the challenge ahead of us.
The Impact Zone & Making the Drop
Despite my eagerness, I recognized my own fear that I wouldn’t have enough experience to truly do Agile Rainmakers and our clients justice. But, the only way to do it was through it and I embarked towards my first weeks. The beginning of the summer was akin to the impact zone, a surfing area where the waves are breaking the hardest and where beginners tend to get hurt. Like the beginner surfers struggling to their feet but only hanging on for a few seconds before sliding off, I navigated the trials and tribulations that any young intern must overcome to integrate him or herself into the well-practiced routine of an established business – the prolonged 8-hour workday as opposed to the shorter bursts of effort at school, trying to quickly understand the industries and business situation of each of our clients, and balancing initiative and leadership with teamwork and flexibility. When surfing, there is a split-second decision that has to be made whether to commit to the wave or not. In that second, I chose wholeheartedly to take the drop into Agile Rainmakers’ Summer Riptide program.
We interns got to know each other on Zoom, moving from awkward greetings to comfortable professionalism to close friendships that I know will live long past our 9-week internship. Chance made us colleagues, but the fun and laughter, encouraged by the community-based Agile environment, made us friends.
I learned the ins and outs of our morning stand-up and end of day meetings, anticipating how Rob would respond to my questions to the point where I would propose an answer along with my question. His warm smile and head tilt was all I needed to know I was on the right track.
I prepared for each and every meeting with our clients, my discomfort of the unknown quickly rising into a burning drive to push myself each and every day, supported by my fellow interns who were in the thick of it along with me and my incredibly understanding boss who wanted nothing more than for us to have a fulfilling, intentional summer learning experience.
From the Crest to The Lull
When surfing a wave, the average ride is probably less than 30 seconds. It feels like not much more time than that could have passed since my orientation, but today is my last day as a summer intern at Agile Rainmakers. I’ve learned that just as surfing isn’t about impressing others or gaining as much speed as possible, interning isn’t about competing with others or building up a resume. It is about starting and ending each day with drive and intentionality, about listening and learning and immersing yourself in new experiences. Completing a deliverable that can truly add value or having an incredible, thought-provoking client meeting elicits that same feeling of group accomplishment and pure freedom as watching the surfers catch that perfect glassy wave on a calm morning with a beautiful skyline and my cheering family surrounding me.
Surfing is essentially about being able to stand up on an unstable board on an unstable surface. The business world is no different – my summer at Agile Rainmakers has taught me to always be willing to experiment and above all to persevere. To move my weight to the left or the right in search of equilibrium. To take a step forward or back to find my groove. I may fall at first, get slapped back or lost amongst the waves. But in the end, I will have found my very own balance.
And tomorrow? I will be in the lull reflecting and building upon all that I have learned, waiting for another opportunity to catch a wave. - M.W.
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