Universal Education

As I write this I'm kicking back after a long and fabulous day in a hotel in Amman, Jordan. The 4.55pm call to prayer has just been broadcast from the nearby striking blue mosque mirroring the one that woke me at 5am. I've spent the day practicing my Arabic while rummaging through an ancient and amazingly preserved Roman city: Jerash.

It's my first time to the middle East and I expected the trip to be my most culturally confronting yet. I'm on just my second day at the moment, but I've been more struck by the similarities than the differences so far.

Of greatest impact to me was a conversation with our driver from the airport yesterday.

He told us so much about Jordan and Amman with the highlight being the huge impact Jordanians place on education. He stated a literacy rate of 96% and told me that while Jordan wasn't an "oily" country, they pride themselves on their "brain factory". He said everyone wants to be more successful and more well educated than everyone else they know. Everyone bar one though: their child. They all want to see their children do better than them. A universal truth indeed.

Its reminded me, when dealing with my international clients in future to respect the differences, but actively seek out the similar motivations and desires that are really universal.

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By Kirsty Dunphey with No comments

Compromise Or Clash

When my husband and I first moved in together I was shocked at his atrocious taste. No – we’re not talking the overly large collection of heavy metal inspired t-shirts here (I would have been unable to get him to budge on them) I’m talking about the fact that he liked CRUNCHY peanut butter?!

Over the past 6 years we’ve grown into the experience of living together. I now eat the crunchy peanut butter and he’s switched to Colgate toothpaste. We’ve compromised and combined rather than clashed for the most part and it’s made our living experience that much more cohesive.

It’s the same experience you’ll find when you go into a business partnership or a team based work environment. Clinging to your own way like it’s gospel doesn’t do anyone any favours. And have you tried the crunchy peanut butter (it’s actually ridiculously good!)

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By Kirsty Dunphey with No comments

With passion and potential is it ever too late to be what you might have been?

I’ve always been really inspired by my father in law who left the forestry industry when he was about my age to become a doctor. I know so many people who stick it out in jobs every day that they don’t love and his story always shows me that if you have the passion and think you have potential – age shouldn’t be an impediment.

I mean if James Cameron (director and writer of Avatar) can decide to pursue a career in film leaving his job driving trucks and if Harland “Colonel” Sanders can have a go at steamboat pilot, insurance salesman, fireman, farmer and soldier before finding his calling at age 66 and bringing us KFC – what’s holding you back?

Thanks to my father in law for the inspiration and thanks to James Cameron – as much as we need truck drivers the thought of Avatar (not to mention some of his other amazing work) not existing is torture!

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By Kirsty Dunphey with 2 comments