Rolling off… What a difference

Well every project is different that is for sure. After 10 months on the same project you certain get used to things. The interesting part about being a consultant is that you get a new job on a pretty regular basis. At first I didn’t want to roll off. I had carved out a good role for myself, the client didn’t want me to go (even if they weren’t will to pay so I could stay), and I had a routine down. But now that I have moved on it I do have to say that location can make a huge difference, clients are really different, and while the work is similar each role is quite a bit different.

Starting a new project for me is pretty much like starting a new job, or new semester in college, or moving to a new neighborhood. While it is exciting and I enjoy doing it I get stressed out for a little while. Most of this revolves around getting my mind wrapped around a new role and defining the tasks that I am supposed to accomplish and learning my surroundings. Unlike most occupations as a consultant part of the reason you are brought in is because the client needs help figure out how to do something. So while there isn’t a lot of heads down work to do there is a lot of mental preparation to be done. The days are long and you need to make an impact immediately. You have no idea what you are supposed to be doing, you are supposed to tell the client how you are going to do what you don’t know you are doing, and you have to have tools and documents setup with in the first week to help do what you don’t know you are doing. So I get a little stressed. After two weeks though I am normally pretty happy and back into my comfort zone.

The next fun part of rolling off one project and onto another is simply finding your way around. Normally we try to stay in hotels just a few miles from the client, but now you have to find your way through an airport, to the client, to the hotel, and find some food. Later on so you can have kind of a normal life you want to find some entertainment as well. I also tend to get lost the first few times around an area. But this is also the best part of going to a new area; new sites, new places, new attractions, new bars, new restaurants, new clubs, new museums, new sports arenas, and so on. I love to travel (thx for the gypsy blood dad!) and explore so this is one of the biggest perks of the job. I especially like being in a new downtown where I can walk around for a few miles a day in different directions. In fact this is my first week on the project and I have maybe five places already I want to check out, and that list will continue to grow!

Now so far it has been a major difference between these two projects. Starting with flying to the client where I now take one flight instead of two and I get to leave an hour or so later in the morning. This mean more sleep! Next after close to a hundred flights I got upgraded on both my flights this week. So I got that going for me which is nice! Next at the airport it is a shorter walk to the rental car (which I don’t have to share anymore) and an easier drive to the client; that is much shorter than the drive in Dayton 10 min vs.25 min. So these things are nice. The hotel is nicer, a full service Hilton in Downtown Milwaukee vs. a Courtyard in a suburb of a suburb(Dayton). And finally last but not least the client is cooler. Not just what they sell but the way they run their business. I didn’t have to wait 2 weeks to get my computer access (1/2 day), they want to be involved in everything, and everyone really cares about the company. The corporate site is absolutely amazing – this may all be do to the fact that my current client is the manufacture of an American Icon. To top it all off the client actually knows what they are doing.

I think once I get comfortable and my role is more defined this is going to be a great project. Though, I will miss the project team from BPE (my last project). In fact because the team is so bid there are actually less activities going on after hours, most people have settled into a routine and that is too bad. But I think I can light a fire under everyone, maybe I just need to start an entertainment committee. I think after the next couple of weeks this will become a great opportunity even if I get a little stressed from time to time.