Thursday, April 19, 2007

Top 10 Signs You Work in Consulting

It's 11pm and I'm still in the office. I thought that it was kind of ironic that I laughed at this. (Yes, tonight I did eat Nine Marys for dinner, slurrrp).

10. You lecture the neighborhood kids selling lemonade on ways to improve their processes.
9. You get all excited it's Saturday so you can wear casual clothes to work.
8. You refer to the tomatoes in your garden as deliverables.
7. You find you really need PowerPoint to explain what you do for living.
6. You normally eat out of vending machines and at the most expensive restaurant in town within the same week.
5. You wear gray to work instead of navy blue to make a bold fashion statement.
4. You know the people at the airport and hotel better than your next door neighbors.
3. Ask your friends to "think out of box" when making Friday night plans.
2. You think Einstein would have been more effective had he put his ideas into a matrix.
1. You think a "half-day" means leaving at 5 o'clock.

Thought from Level 13

I'm in the office now looking from my 13th floor office window. The freeway is full of drivers going home to their family. I have a deadline for a report that is due tomorrow at 8am. I don't know how long I'll be here.

Like all of you I'm deeply saddened by the senseless killings that have occured at Virginia Tech. So much promise now lost. So many unfufilled dreams and shattered families. Such a loss.

May God comfort the mourning hearts of every family member and friend left behind.

An observation though, if I may. This incident has shown me something. We own the media. The messages we communicate are more powerful than the messages we see on 6pm news. Our cell phone cameras, our blogs, our myspaces and facebooks - this is the new age of media. The cell phone footage from V-Tech that captured the gun-shots going off in the background has to be one of the eariest things I've every seen. Then there are the victims myspace blogs. Family members posting messages of "I hope you're okay" only to be shortly realised that they were not okay. Now these blogs stand as a vivid portrait of heartbreak and loss.

May God bless you and your families always.

Our God is mighty to save.

Daniel.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

More meanderings

I was talking to my career counsellor at work the other day about where I would like to use my consultancy skills in a few years - what path would I like to take? The options - strategy & operations consulting for big business or technical integration consulting for big business.

Where do I stand on this issue?

Indonesia, one of the biggest coal and oil deposits in the world is largely at the mercy of big business as they take their resources using their cheap labour. I think that if I were to continue along this path, I would use my services to help grow local national businesses within Indonesia and other South East Asian countries.

Anyway, it's late. I'm on coffee and just meandering. Writing whatever comes to mind. I'm going home now. Easter Sunday tomorrow.

Christ is risen. There is hope for better days.

Meanderings

God willing Gayle and I will move into South-East Asia within two years to embark on mission work among Gods beloved. God willing I won't be afraid to follow.

God willing I will not be burnt out from this crazy consultancy career.

God willing I will be granted the strength and courage to overcome my fear and walk in the purpose that God created me for.

We do not live for ourselves and of ourselves. We were created by God and for God.

I stand at a cross way now. I have two paths before me. I can choose to walk in this career where the opportunity for comfort and security seem real. Travel and financial opportunities. Just working for a tier-one consultancy opens up many doors that are not open to many. But my heart seems uneasy with this.

Is this all there is? Living to work? Living for comfort? No!

I was not called to believe in God for belief does not move to action. I was called to follow my Christ regardless of the consequence or risk.

Will I serve the persecuted church? Will I serve the beloved muslim brothers and sisters? To live amongst them and with them? Will I be a Christian? One who follows Christ? Or will I be afraid and retreat into selfishness and the world.

A scripture that's been on my heart lately:

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who faced such opposition from sinful man so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12)

We are ambassadors.

We are servants.

We are beloved.

We are not forsaken.

We are cherished.

We are being renewed.

We are called for mission.

Jesus said: "Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Love your neighbour as yourself."

Live each day for Christ as though you know no other way to live.