So… how does one begin to write about a journey halfway across the world that began rather surreptitiously via a little check box on your annual employee evaluation about what you want to be when you grow up?
I guess you can say that’s how this all got started- a willingness to travel and share your expertise and knowledge to expand business in other parts of the world. A simple box, and an “X” inside it, stating that you were willing to take on new roles in foreign lands across thousands of miles of ocean. At least, I think that’s how this all got started.
The Conoco “TMT” (Talent Management Team) was, as far as I understand, developed to share the talents of the staff, to identify the company’s future business needs and to further optimize the development of people with highly specialized skills. It’s all about managing talent that can be shared globally to successfully implement targeted strategies across key markets.
I have to say I am very proud of my husband for all of his hard work at the office. And yes, I do think he has highly specialized skills. Aside from the diligence at the office, he is a fantastic husband and father, he does laundry extremely well, is a well-seasoned (pun intended) sous-chef, and he is also extremely talented at galvanizing me and the kids to help keep life running smoothly here on the home front. Although these are great talents, most likely they are not how he landed this assignment halfway across the world. His background is very diverse- exploration geology (well analysis and drilling), contract management, pipeline optimization, marketing and gas trading… and those are just the highlights. He has a true talent for working with people, is very sincere, and highly dedicated to his work. He shares responsibility and knowledge willingly, and to coin my favorite work phrase, he “plays in the sandbox well with others”. These are the things that bind people together and help develop strong working relationships. And its all about these working relationships that create opportunities for advancement in developing markets.
It started with a simple conversation about that check box. He indicated a willingness to travel and work in other areas of the world. Thus, an interview process was initiated when a position became available in Australia, working to further develop Conoco’s LNG markets. Once again, my hubby- who ponders every aspect of every decision, brings this idea home for me to mull over. And once again, being a “go-with-the-flow” type of personality, I say “Why not? Interview and see where it goes!”. His last words as he walked out the door the next morning were “there are probably 30 candidates who are interviewing for this, so the possibility of me being the last man standing are slim to none!” Famous last words. Yet I had the same sixth sense that I had for the polar tanker adventure, journaled in wherepolarbearsdare.blogspot.com. We would eventually be faced with a decision: Go or No Go! And yes, it happened again. And after much more thought and discussion than we had with the polar tanker trip, we said yes, we’ll take on a new trek, albeit a much longer venture than 5 days!
It has been a whirlwind tour thus far, and we haven’t permanently arrived there yet. But we’ll get there, and we’ll see what life has to offer on the other side of the world for two people who thrive off of adventure, travel and the excitement of sharing all of this together- as a team.
This blog is dedicated to our four beautiful children, who have earned the right to share this adventure with us, albeit most often from a long distance. Without their encouragement, their excitement and their love, we would never be here. They are far more normal than the two of us crazy people should have ever hoped to raise, and their steadfast support has meant all the world to us as we step into this long journey- for the very first time, without them being close by to share this new world. It will be an adjustment. Not without mishaps, quite a few tears, some exotic travel, and amazing learning opportunities. But most of all, while grasping life some 8000 miles apart from those we hold dearest to our heart and soul.
Off to the Land Down Under…
The former “Alaskan Adventurers”
