Perhaps one of the most interesting experiences, and most unique challenges, during my consulting in France occurred not at work, but after.
I had just arrived, and after introductions, had spent the day explaining to the supervisors the approach I would use, and the details of the work I would do.
We then all went out to dinner at a truly wonderful restaurant, having a full multi-course meal.
At the end, my colleagues kindly offered to select a cheese plate for me, and did so.
They then watched intently as I tasted first one and then another of the strongest, most pungent and most interesting cheeses ever manufactured.
And by smiling, and in good nature appreciating both the joke and the cheeses, I became not a visitor, but a colleague.
Learnings and lessons:
The challenges of each assignment and sets of work can and do vary.
Meeting them in a manner befitting the company and the country is important, and always rewarding.
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Not Dirty Water
A colleague and I were visiting a major facility that uses quite large amounts of cold ethanol as part of a fractionation process, to help obtain purified proteins from human plasma.
As we walked around, we noted puddles of water under the piping.
"Leaks", I noted, pointing to the puddles.
"No, no, that is simply condensation off the outside of the cold ethanol pipes. See how clean it is."
We continued to review, and in another area, found another pool of water, this time clearly dirty.
I was thrilled to find this, and pointed this out, with vigor, to our guide.
"Look over there, at the dirty water. What is going on?"
My guide looked over, and turned to me to explain, "No, you are wrong again. The water is clean. The floor is dirty."
And was very pleased with himself.
Learnings and lessons:
People see what they want to see.
People accept small problems, as long as they believe the big problems are under control; of course, they may not be identifying big and small correctly.
