The Summer Riptide

Summer is a time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. The water is great, and people tend to be more open-minded and optimistic. As with all things this year, summer is a bit different too. More time has been spent using technology than normally would be the case and perhaps less time has been spent on the waves. So we have all had to adapt. What I would like to share in this newsletter is how Agile Rainmakers evolved this summer to make the most out of this time and its unique challenges.

Preparation

Our summer started in the spring when a decision had to be made about moving forward with three summer interns. We considered the difference an internship makes for a student in the long run, the opportunity for our clients to accelerate their business objectives, and the marginal costs of hiring great talent over an eight-week period. Not only did it become evident that Agile Rainmakers needed to move forward with the internship program, but also that given the global pandemic and the strain on many families, Agile Rainmakers had a duty to move forward and to increase the compensation paid to these interns. To do so, a new client had to be acquired in May to make the economics work and to ensure that sufficient, interesting, and impactful projects would be available in June and July. On June 1st, the first day of the internship program, we announced that pay would be double what was already agreed upon and that an inspiring and unique client had been engaged.

To manage the remote work environment ahead, we agreed to limit the amount of Zoom usage, leveraging good old-fashioned conference calls, group texts and group emails instead. We conducted training for the first three days to cover what our mission and vision at Agile Rainmakers is, our relationships with each other as a team, and how to balance our work-life priorities. This meant communicating emphatically that by no means are the interns going to be asked to work beyond nine to five every day unless it was a passion or calling for them to do so. Agile Rainmakers emphasized business is like a career in surfing, not just the Billabong Pro Teahupoo competition. To drive that point home, Fridays would be half days with the last hour spent on reflections on the week facilitated by our reading of trusted business books. This was not required, however as budding leaders exploring entrepreneurship, these books were consistent with the interns’ goals and ambitions. In other words, reading these business books in their free time was a natural expression of their interests.

Results

With June completed and one month to go, it is clear our team of interns has delivered well beyond the expectations of clients and themselves thus far. What makes the water conditions perfect, you may ask, especially if you have an intern right now who isn’t experiencing an extraordinary summer of fulfillment, freedom, and abundance? In a word, empowerment. The interns are empowered to set their own priorities and timeline. They learn from each other—not compete with each other—to accomplish client purposes as a team. Agile Rainmakers created a structure of empowerment with great talent. The success of the summer, however, is 100% the accomplishment of the interns themselves. They are making it happen.

What’s next? In June and July 2021, we will expand this internship program four-fold and provide clients once again with the opportunity to add some speed to their productivity. By expanding our advisory team with 12 new interns next summer, Agile Rainmakers will work to ensure personalized teams of highly motivated individuals eager to make a difference for our clients. If you have interest in this, please reach out. This program, aptly named The Summer Riptide, will take your business on a high speed current to productivity. It is designed to limit downside and maximize upside—positive skewness, once again—for all involved.

Thank you for reading. Enjoy your Fourth of July Weekend!

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