'What really matters to you, and why?’

Where am I now?
Am sitting here in our Chomoio warehouse office, in the middle of an unbelievably strong shower (you wouldn’t believe it! hence the word I guess), having just flown back from an exhausting two days in Maputo. We interviewed 13 people: everyone from the director of agriculture, economists at World Vision, numerous other NGOs (non-government organizations), scientists at the seed institute and ministry of agriculture, agents for our competitors, agricultural consultants (my competition!) … people who knew all about seeds! It was exhausting, but we got heaps of great data (a consultants’ dream!) and made lots of good contacts.

The great thing about being in a place like Mozambique – even though people are always late to things (frustrating for choleric personalities like me!), is that no one seems particularly booked up – a lot of our great interviews came by just “dropping in” to people’s offices after speaking to someone who recommended them. It would never happen in Sydney …

We had two hours on a bumpy propeller plane there and back (the same one I took before). I find I do a lot of my good thinking on planes. On these flights, there was no food (or flight attendants for that matter!) so there was lots of time to think.

Think about it!
The question ‘What really matters to you, and why?’ is a 7 page essay question I had to answer as part of my post-graduate studies applications. I had answered the question about a month ago, but, having met lots of cool and interesting people who’ve done cool and interesting things, the questions dawned on me again, as I began to think about the future. In particular, what work should I be doing over the next few years? Should I study again? Work overseas? Take up professional dancing? As I reflected on the people I’d met and stories they’d shared, I wrote this journal entry …

“My walk with God is far more important than anything. However, having a great family is a close second … when I speak to people who I’ve met here who are divorced or don’t like their marriage, I hate to say it, but it’s almost as if everything else they’ve achieved is much less important. And when I think about “would I rather have a high impact ministry or successful career and be in an unhappy marriage” or “average work but be in a great marriage and loving my kids” it’s a no-brainer, really …”

You might be thinking this is nothing revolutionary, and in some ways, it isn’t. However, when I analysed (and no, I didn’t draw a graph … though there’s one just round the corner, I’m sure) how much energy I was pouring into thinking about present and future career and how I can excel and have impact versus energy poured into my current family and thinking about how I can be an excellent family member, the contrast amazed me: the vast majority of my thinking and doing time was being spent on something which, in the end, was well down the list of ‘what really matters to me’ …

Anyway, I’ll keep reflecting! I have a weekend on the farm (hello sorghum and goodbye internet!) …

Blessings
john

A “hidden photo” taken in stealth with my digital camera in our competitor’s stores …! (ah, the life of a consultant)