Life’s Waters (Part 2) (Intern Edition)
Continuing with our theme of sharing about life’s waters, as opposed to what one might learn in high school and college, we share about choppy aspects of life. Why? Because millions of our youth – our future leaders – are interning now. They are learning firsthand how adults in the room act. And they are picking up on way more than you think.
Just Staying Afloat
To survive you must stay afloat in the waters of life. Unfortunately, I have heard of many managers and leaders doing things they would not be proud to share with their own parents. Worse, some would be! Stories I have heard in my 35-year career include an accounting firm manager truthfully reporting to the police and their insurance company their car was broken into over the holidays. To make sure the claim was over the deductible threshold, however, they made up that a gift of figurines worth exactly the deductible was taken too. Go figure?
Another story won the admiration of many at a different accounting firm. At a large sporting event, a Big 4 partner won the 50/50 raffle. The winnings were quite large. Being the tax wizbanger he is, when claiming the prize he gave his son’s SSN. The son was not at the game, but he has the same name and, more importantly, is in a far lower tax bracket. I wonder what else this partner does that lacks integrity. Genius?
And finally, a real estate developer is tipped off that a major company is about to purchase land to build a distribution center. Low and behold, all the land around that distribution center is purchased cheaply prior to this becoming public knowledge. It is who you know, right?
Swimming Lessons
Life’s waters are rough, dear intern. You see, everyone’s just doing what they can to stay afloat. Maybe, maybe not. The lessons taught from these “business leaders” are to take shortcuts. The better you are at it without getting caught, the smarter and more clever you are. You got to collect from insurance, save on your taxes, and make a fortune on land prices appreciating. This is what we have taught – and still teach – the next generation on how to be in business and life. How’s that working?
A Future of Dignity, Freedom, and Abundance
Is there another way to swim through life? What if we stood for integrity? What if we trusted the process or the system? What if we actually paid our taxes, didn’t game the insurance system, or ignored insider information? What if we stood for something bigger in life?
Every morning before beginning any work, Agile Rainmakers Interns read the mission: “Agile Rainmakers is about people experiencing dignity, freedom and abundance.” Though not perfect, we aim to operate – and live – that way. Perhaps a new future is being created through our interns? Perhaps the “just staying afloat” context can now sink? Maybe “dignity, freedom and abundance” can rise above the waves? What if we acted the way we wanted the future to be?
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