Out of Africa
Paraphrasing from my departure blog, I asked “If I can connect technologically from anywhere in the world, shouldn’t I also be able to disconnect from anywhere?” “Shouldn’t I be able to reflect and renew from the comfort of my own home?” The answer is absolutely; it’s a matter of choice. I learned that I can be sans Blackberry, email, cell phone, internet, and calendar, and survive quite nicely. I also learned that the Blackberry, email, cell phone, internet, calendar, and even the people I work with can survive quite nicely without me.
Further, the place (work) seems to (almost) run more smoothly when I am away - perhaps because I'm not in it, so I don't feel the "excitement" of the daily activity. Or perhaps because the people left in charge do most of the real work anyway and quickly rise as leaders to deal with issues surrounding any (and all) given situation(s). In reality, their competence is what gave me the freedom/permission/mandate to get away and vacate. As part of my gratitude for their good work, I would like to thank Sri Renganathan for contributing as a “guest blogger” and for challenging us to increase our awareness by seeing and thinking from the perspective of others.
What other lessons did I learn? Speaking of perspective, I learned that the backdrop of old legacies in post-apartheid South Africa is permeated with a profound lack of bitterness about the past and a profound hopefulness for the future. Their slogan – South Africa: Alive with Possibility – says it all. The country seems to have most recently rallied around preparations for hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup – this gives them something to look forward to…together. There’s a lesson.
Back from the other end of our rather large "flat world," I learned that if the world actually is flat, it must have two sides. I know this now (or have at least deduced it) since the seasons are reversed between Africa and North America and I had the great good fortune to witness it.
I learned that whether you are on the top or bottom of a flat globe, sunrises and sunsets are beautiful, the animal world is a majestic kingdom, and human beings have more in common than not – they are kind, generous, and fabulous.
I learned that life is good. Live it.
Click here if you wish to view a few pictures from the trip.
posted by Neal R. Hoss @ 2:43 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Welcome Back!! Congratulations on your new found personal discoveries. It's a good life when you can count on the people who work for you, to take care of you, whether you are there or not. Your trust in them and their abilities is a great example to the rest of FAS Management. P.S. The pictures are beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your welcome back wishes and comments. I am truly grateful to work at Cal State San Marcos, at this moment in time, with such fine colleagues.
The pictures are fabulous, especially the close up of lions. Thanks for sharing and you were missed.
Welcome back Neal. The pictures are beautiful thank you for sharing them with all of us.
Sometimes it is disheartening when we realize that the “machine” can just keep plugging along without us. We are not that indisposable “Cog” that if missing, the “machine” falters. Over time I have changed my view on this idea. I now think that if in our absence, the machine keeps chugging along just fine, we have done our job in preparing our employees for the future. Although we may be a big cog, properly trained employees are the people that keep the machine running.
Post a Comment
<< Home