Last issue we shared how everything is ambiguous. Look at light and water. We don’t think deeply about either – even though they are ever present and crucial for our survival. Yet, at the same they are quite ambiguous. We also saw there is ambiguity in our work and play. Returning to these ideas now, how does this make you feel?

Life is ambiguous, isn’t it? There you are working away and you find out something that can have more than one interpretation. Someone – perhaps a manager or a customer or a client – says they want to talk to you privately. What could that mean? What’s the feeling that’s right there? Is it good news or bad? Or, you do something great for your company and everyone appreciates it. One year later, however, that same thing you did is viewed undesirably. How can this be you wonder?

There are few things in life that give you that feeling of excitement and nervousness in your gut at the same time. These are the moments that you learn and grow while enjoying each obstacle along the way. This summer, I had the privilege of having many of these experiences, two of which really stand out to me.

In the journey of self-improvement, it's easy to get lost in novel new ways to better oneself. For me, it's the new book I have to read, a new workout trend, or working on my morning routine. With so many options, and every one vouched for as “the one to try,” I wondered: everyone seems to have their thing that works, their own secret to success. What do all the success stories have in common?

The media these days has been discussing our favorite topic – water. There is too much of it in some places, too little in others. While some suffer from unprecedented floods, others wait desperately for rain in a drought. Similarly in your career and personal life, there is too much of some things and not enough of others. Why is it so and what can be done?

Interning at Agile Rainmakers is like surfing. Even though the place I call home is only a ten-minute drive from the beach, I never once learned how to surf. But on my walks along the shore, I do occasionally stop and watch the surfers ride the waves over and over again. I’d imagine that learning to surf is similar to learning how to ice skate or how to ride a bicycle. So, how are acquiring a new skill like surfing and interning similar?

What is your idea of a typical internship environment? For me, this summer at Agile Rainmakers, I was fortunate to work in a supportive environment where I achieved my goals of building upon my communication, consulting, and professional skills and was also empowered by the strong bonds that I had formed with my manager, fellow interns, and clients.

In our last of this three-part series, we look at what it takes to get people involved in something extraordinary. Recall, you are aware of something amazing and you want to convey that to those close to you, but how? Given our society views the possibilities for interns and the work they accomplish as limited, the summer intern reflections are an excellent source for this inquiry. As you read, keep in mind this is what the interns said after working in Agile Rainmakers’ Summer Riptide program for just one month.

Utilizing summer intern reflections, we are continuing to inquire into what it takes to get others involved in something phenomenal. On the surface, this sounds like an easy thing to do. Who doesn’t want to get involved in something extraordinary, right? The reality is it just isn’t that simple, just as looking at the ocean surface tells you nothing about the activities beneath.

Ever experience or feel part of something that was really amazing? What did you then do? You probably felt like sharing it with someone close to you. How did that go? They quickly accepted and embraced what you told them and asked you how they could get involved, right? Rarely. Life doesn’t work like that. So, what does it take to get others involved? Let’s explore this in a multi-part series by looking at what we found in some Summer Riptide reflections.

Using your head in business and life is a given. That’s how you make great progress: think, plan, execute, review results, and think again. With some variation, that’s how it generally goes. Let’s consider why sometimes, though you are using your head and logically managing your business, you feel certain urges that may not seem productive - and how water comes into play.

If you knew your wishes could come true in reality - so much so that you could practically feel them happening almost immediately - what would you wish for in your CAREER and life? Perhaps you would wish for a new business partner or soul mate. Or, would it be new office space, a bigger home, a more up-to-date computer or a sportscar? Would you wish for abundance, freedom and joy? What are you wishing for now? And what would it take for everyone to have what they wish for?

Picture waves, lots of them, approaching a shore. What comes to mind? The first thought could be of a picturesque image – beautiful blue and white waves gliding effortlessly to land. It is an eye-dazzling sight. A second thought may be about preparation. Is the shore ready for the waves? Is there something that needs to be done to embrace the waves? Let’s ponder this image for it is quite timely.

The sky and the sea are blue. We speak of “the ocean blue” and “nothing but blue skies.” Blue makes us feel comfortable. The color blue is everywhere and it has a certain effect on us, depending on its shade. Let’s explore the many ways something – this time, a color - can be used in business and life, deftly weaving our water theme as we typically do, shall we?

Did you know that every March 22nd is World Water Day? That’s today and it is about supporting the maintenance of fresh water in a sustainable way. The United Nations has marked and observed this day since 1993. I only recently found out about this day and it makes me wonder about water.

Today I’d like to discuss one of the most important aspects of business and life – one which is all too often discounted or ignored. When it is present, you feel it, though it's hard to put words to it; when it's not present, you feel its absence and wonder how you lost it. It is only one word, but it means so much.

Feels like an unusual title this time, doesn’t it? Well, curious times often call for creative thinking and new perspectives. With business and life potentially headed for uncharted waters and many of us not having felt this way before, how does one cope and what can be found?

Tomorrow, for a brief 19-day period, we will all feel as one as we admire the thrills of victory and glean the lessons of defeat. Yes, every couple of years much of the world focuses its attention on a variety of athletic competitions, this time winter ones ranging from the well-known such as Cross-Country Skiing to the practically obscure Nordic Combined - where an athlete has to be an outstanding ski jumper and cross-country skier. What do these 15 events of the Olympics have to do with your business and life?

Many of our friends aren’t feeling great in their jobs these days. There is a palpable lack of fulfilment and satisfaction at work for many and that has led to a drought of vim felt around the office, domestic or otherwise. What does it mean? And what’s the creative water analogy?

Ever feel like you should reflect and review on the year but just don’t want to do it? If you are like me, you may have felt that way recently too. Why look in the mirror and deal with what you find, even if you know it is good for you? Let’s take a critical view and see what emerges from internal reflection, shall we?