1-week to go.........

So, as I sit here and write this post (perhaps my last before I board the plane), it's exactly one week until I'll be boarding a plane for what's been described as both, "the trip of a life time" and "the defining experience of an IBM career.  In short, I really hope they're right.

This past Wednesday we had our final Team or Pre-work call where our sponsors and leadership went over the last minute logistics and fielded any questions.  "Everyone have at least 1-call with their clients?" "No, doing dangerous activities, no excursions alone, no leaving the country."  "We've never had anyone need to be bailed out of jail.  Don't be the first."  All of it, very good advice.  So, after 12-weeks of pre-WORK, tons of calls, lots of laughs over WhatsApp with our teams, plenty of discussion with our clients and about our clients SOW, it's come to this.....1- week until it's "Go time." 

So, in my previous post I briefly mentioned our assignments.  NO this is NOT an IBM 30-day vacation, we actually do A LOT of good great work in the world.  Our large CSC team of 15 has now been broken down into 4 Sub-Teams.  Each of us have been assigned/selected for a particular NGO (Non-Government Organization) to support for a particular Statement of Work (SOW).  My high-performing, highly qualified team will be working for CEED~ Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development- Slovenia. http://ceed-slovenia.org/ Over the 30-days we will work closely with them to accomplish some very specific requirements with hopes of future usability and scale-ability for them.  While I'd love to dive into exactly "what" I'll be doing and gush on how interesting and passionate my client is about their mission....I'm going to leave that for a future blog post AND after we actually meet them in person and better define their scope of work.  IBMers love a challenge.  :)

So, my CSCSlovenia2 CEED team is comprised of me, a dynamic Partner Client Executive from Chicago, IL- Angela, a collaborative IT Specialist/Technical Tester from Guadalajara, Mexico- Lucy and a hilarious but dedicated, Technology Specialist/Architect from Sao Paulo, Brazil- Adriano.  In a few short weeks we've become as close as long-time friends over phone and text chats.  At times we've shared our thoughts, concerns, family pictures, humorous memes/videos and anxieties.  It's already been a great experience.  Remember, the IBM CSC program is HIGHLY selective so, my team members are truly cream of the crop, high-performing consulting ninjas.  I am surrounded by AWESOMENESS and I haven't even described the other 10 people on the CSC team.

As I'm winding the lengthy post up, I have to "shout-out" to really the most important team members I have, my family.   Since the moment I applied, was selected, found out my country assignment and now in final preparations, Erin & my boys have been completely supportive.  They've listened to my rambles about the work & calls I've been on for which they have no understanding.  They've sat and watched YouTube videos with me about the country, they've been extra quiet when I've been on calls where I'm trying to get to know someone over the phone from around the world.  In short, without them this wouldn't be worth it and I couldn't have been successful in getting this far along with what little sanity remains.  I know it will be harder for them than it is for me and feel twice as long while 1/2 as long for me.  I will miss them more than they'll know, but we'll all have grown from this experience.

Finally, as I wrap this up and look down at the time on my laptop, do the time zone calculations I realized I will have been in the air for 6 hours with about 2 more to go before I land in the Netherlands to await my connection to Slovenia.  The first weekend is already packed with kick-off activities and tour of the town.  I look forward to meeting my fellow CSCers, our local support team and the client.

WOW!  This is going to be AWESOME!

~Chris

#IBMCSC #CSCSL2  #CSCSlovenia2

...here I am with 3-weeks before I leave.

Here I am, 9 weeks into the Pre-Work & preparation and while I've executed all the pre-work assignments and been completely present with my full-self during the calls and work, I feel completely unprepared and anxious about what is out in the "unknown" of this assignment.  We have a great support team who has walked us through the pre-work, answered any and every question and worked with our various Slovenian clients to draft an initial statement of work.  What's to worry? Well....

I've been told it’s impossible to be totally “ready” for something like CSC, so a person must go into it this knowing you must adapt and give yourself space to acclimate to a new country, new city, new people and a hundred other “new” experiences you can’t foresee or plan for.   HOWEVER, if you know me, you know that's not me...I like to be prepared.  I pride myself in being ready and anticipating the unknown and the associated risks.  I go to great efforts to know & understand a person, project and/or company before I take on an assignment.  Yes, the pre-work and team do a GREAT job at most of that, it's up to the individual(me) to fill the gaps.  In this case, I don't know what those gaps are, because I've discovered new and re-opened gaps everyday.  It'll be fine says the 2 CSC Alumni I've spoken with, it's all part of the adventure.  😀

As I now finish this post, it's exactly 2 weeks from my departure date and the anticipation, excitement, anxiety and general nervousness are not over the assignment or the people but perhaps the logistics. I know I'll survive and it will make for great memories and stories.

Since my last post, we've received our project SOW and actually spoken briefly to the client.  Now, I am really looking forward to the project I've been assigned.  It involves and organization who supports Entrepreneurs and Executives of new and small companies beginning their journey.  In short, it's almost as if it was designed for me.   More on the assignment later.

 

I have to work in this paradise?   YES!!!!

I hope to have one more post before I depart for Slovenia.

Chris

#CSCSlovenia2  #CSCSL2

PS.  Blogging isn't easy.  You can also follow me on Twitter here;  @cg95
PSS I look forward to sharing some of my own pictures and not those from the internet (but there are sooo many).

Intro and my wanderings into the IBM CSC Program

 I thought my wandering had finally come to an end when I joined IBM nearly 6 years ago.  Boy was I wrong, it's really only just begun.

Earlier this year I was told my application was accepted and I would be one of the select few chosen for IBMs Corporate Services Corp. (CSC).  Harvard Business Review: CSC Article
I was thrilled and humbled beyond words.  The opportunity to see a new part of the world outside of the United States and serve as part of this group to give back, again, has be awestruck.

Several months pass and finally in June of this year I was informed I would be part of a group of 15 IBMers from 8 different countries.  Each has a unique skill, story and experience to bring to our team.  As part of the June team reveal we also found out WHERE we would be going to serve.  We would become part of the 2nd team ever to go to....Ljubljana, Slovenia.  Where you ask? Slovakia? NO!! S-L-O-V-E-N-I-A.  So after a quick search, North of Croatia, South of Austria, East of Italy, West of Hungary and a former part of Yugoslavia. 

So,  now we know where we are going it begins the 12-week PRE-WORK Process.  All part of a plan to handle the logistics, training and getting to know each other process.   







I've spent the past few weeks getting to know our team and of course researching what I've now learned is a pretty unique and beautiful country.

As part of my CSC assignment I plan on blogging my experience to share with my fellow CSCers, IBMers, curious friends & family.   Stay tuned!!