Glowing Water (Intern Edition)
When is the last time you felt like you were glowing? Is it recent or long ago? And what have you found out about yourself and others since? These are interesting times in business and life. So, it is time to feel the light around you and within.
Milking Sea
Sometimes the oceans glow, particularly in the Arabian and South East Seas. Scientists are not quite sure why. The unexpected light generated from the deep is so great you could read a book with it. On rare occasions, it has been reported by sailors for over 400 years – dubbed milky seas.
Interesting word, “milky.” Milk connotes nurturing and pureness. And it can mean to take advantage of someone. In either case, all this light generated from the sea changes the environment. Some creatures hide at night – now they cannot. Maybe bacteria cause this bioluminescent phenomenon to attract fish that eat them. That way they can survive in their gut. The question remains, “What are the seas mysteriously doing and who benefits?”
Glowing Sea
Last night I visited the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since moving to Chicago nearly 30 years ago, I have mainly noticed Northwestern (feels like Duke), U. of Chicago (Princeton), and DePaul (Providence College). Yet, this thriving vibrant community less than 3 miles from my home has gotten little attention. It is a mystery to me as to why, especially after last night.
The UIC students in the Portfolio Management Team presented themselves extremely well – knowledgeable, courteous, inquisitive, and hungry. The professor who invited me was effusive about them and I could see why. They love to make waves with each other to get to the truth. What an encouraging environment! You could say – in an unexpected way – they are glowing.
Studying Sea
When you look at those around you where do you see unexpected glowing? Who is nurturing you? And, who is milking you? How do the environments you dwell in surface? Where can you take responsibility for the waters you drift in – milky or dark?
I invite you to enjoy noticing and studying things. What can you study at work that remains a mystery for you, like the milky seas are for scientists? Why not come up with theories and test them out? Learn why things glow, and why they do not. Pause. Reflect. Think. Test. Act. We train our interns to do so. What about you?
There is no mystery as to what there is to do in interesting times. Discover the secrets of the light within while you nurture yourself and others.
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