Will I Get Used To It? I guess I should go to more concerts. For the first time in something like... Read>> Posted January 29, 2009
Snowed Under Well school is certainly back in session. Yesterday marked my return to classes for the... Read>> Posted January 13, 2009
Epiphany - Eureka! I'm sitting in my own house in Charlottesville VA listening to Sufjan Stevens' "Michigan" album,... Read>> Posted January 06, 2009
Thanksgiving - Darden Style I seem to be taking forever to put this B-School student in gear. To carry... Read>> Posted December 01, 2008
REGARDING A CONSULTING CAREER or: Ten Reasons to Focus on your Family This past week has been a whirlwind.
I began work on two new projects simultaneously - all while continuing to work on another. I planned a trip to California, neglected a few details, had a good time, had a bad time, brought a dizzying array of design thinking, business training, art training, and people skills to bear on a problem in three hours, narrowly escaped destruction, and slept only 12 hours in five days.
Upon returning to the land of the living this morning I checked, wrote, and delayed writing several emails and then got down to the task at hand... But what was the task at hand in this kind of situation? I am awaiting further direction on two projects and the other is in a sort of infinite holding pattern until I decide to go all-out.
Which I am not prepared to do.
Which means I started to think about my family. Wife, parents, brother, sister, etc. It seems like the only time they press themselves to the front of my mind is when I'm quiet. And this morning I've been still. The incessant sound of my desktop computer fan is the only sound besides my fingers typing that persists. That and the muffled sounds of busy work that I need to get finished "sometime this week".
This has just all been a setup. I wanted to explain why these moments are important. Last night I went out on a date with my wife for the first time in a while.
*pause*
That should sound a bit sad. That's the point. While I am still appreciating this momentary intrusion of sanity into my life I thought I'd take advantage of this time and make a list for you. Without further ado, here are my top ten reasons why consultants need to focus on their families more.
10. Because home-cooked food is way better than anything in an airport and, contrary to what the marketers tell us, you can only get home-cooked food at home.
9. Because no one cares more about you than your family and when you are frequently alone, care is exactly what you need.
8. Because focusing on client's needs can train you to become overly goal-oriented and cause you to forget that life is actually about living - not problem-solving.
7. Because your family is often the only honest voice in your life. And though the truth can tear you down it can also build you up.
6. Because the quiet voice in your head telling you to pay more attention to your family is probably a Godly one.
5. Because when all the money has been counted and the value has been created, the greatest source of joy in your life will come from your family - if you've managed to remain a part of one.
4. Because no one appreciates your sense of humor like family does.
3. Because they can often help you through challenging times - if you give them enough information to understand what you are going through.
2. Because your family often needs your help just as much as you need theirs and you can only help them if you know what they need.
1. Because nothing brings your lofty goals and horrible days back to center like a long conversation with your wife/mom/dad/sister/brother/cousin...
Posted October 21, 2009
Posted by: Beth Drechsel
Posted 2009-10-21 15:17:25 Dang... I knew it Posted by: Christof It looks like Beth Drechsel turned out to be a robot after all - couldn't find a way around my sophisticate robot-detection system...
So sad... And to think, I always thought of her as my kind Auntie with the great Banana bread recipe. Posted 2009-10-21 17:06:46 mom Posted by: Brenda God speaks in the quiet, a whisper.......good stuff there.....love you! Posted 2009-10-28 12:30:22
Posted by: Lauren This post makes me miss my husband. Posted 2009-11-02 19:50:06 Time heals all (most?) wounds Posted by: Christof I think, in case people can't do much about their separation from their families, they should hold on to the fact that it's still best to believe in the power of your family and your need to maintain those relationships than get cynical and start coming up with excuses for why it's fine to be away from them.
Anyway I understand Lauren's pain -my wife and I are frequently separated- but think that this pain is probably nothing more than God's reminder to fix the family's order as soon as possible.
As C.S. Lewis said it - pain is often the hammer blow God uses to get our attention when we're not listening.
Posted 2009-11-03 16:45:44 Insightful Posted by: Monwar Hussain That was a wonderful top 10 list. More than half resonated with me. Thanks! Posted 2010-01-04 12:46:14 COMMENT ON THIS POST
