Daily focus - Corinthians 12:1-11 - "We are to use our gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us"

Reading the persons take on this, it does give a good focus for the day, I often recognise attributes in others, but do not as often as I should name or affirm them. We all have been given gifts, whether they are professional skills, a nurturing nature or simply the ability through a word or smile to bring joy to others.

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Now into my third week with Orchid, a couple of quotes seem constantly at the front of my mind - Steve Jobs "Insanely great", and a Helen Keller one "One can never consent to creep when one has an impulse to soar".

Part of the process as I met with potential employers over the last few months has been soul searching about the companies on my resume, and those that I was happiest with. In many ways I feel that since Nexor, and perhaps even more so, Apple I have followed an academic career path. Taking positions because I felt they were right in terms of growth. Then the last few years almost having stagnated as I took positions because of the size or security that I believed those companies offered.

I was wrong about that, Mark Gregory, a career counsellor set me straight, that another lateral move, or a position offering the same thing I had been doing would have been a mistake, it was time to find a more entrepreneurial company as a VP position and step up. Likewise Janet @ Software Consortium was spot on when she said my ideal company would be a small start up, where I could fly and be energized. Both were right, and I have come to realize that what I was looking for in terms of security does not exist in others, but instead within myself. That I will make my own security.

So far this is definitely Mr Toad's wild ride, packed schedules, wall to wall meetings, and even a $300k upfront deal close in my second week. Right place, right time, right company. I love the freewheeling culture, the commitment from every member of staff (OK, there are only 7 of us, but that becomes 8 today, and 10 on July 5th.), even the clients, who are creative, ad agency or interactive branding. A return to my roots with Apple - in many ways it is a similar feel to those days and that what we are doing represents the kind of revolution to people in that industry.

I even enjoy the commute, from watching the various reactions on the train in the morning and the ability to read something business wise (currently SPIN selling again) on the way in, to give my day focus, a gentle preparation for the day, and planning what I want to achieve in my mind before arriving at the office. Through to walking through Dupont in the morning, how the nature, feel and people change and flow through the day - of course whether I will still feel that way in the depth of mid winter remains to be seen. But the company culture will be changing then too, a we grow, new people, new ideas, new projects, we should be 12-15 people by that time.

For now, I feel truly that I have a completely new lease on life, energised, enthused, and even the weariness at the end of each day is infused with its own self righteousness - of a day when much was achieved, and enjoyed.

I posed a question to people I know recently that if they had to describe their lives as a song title, what would it be. Right now I would pick either "Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop, or "Running down a dream" by Tom Petty.

Life is not merely good, its is GREAT ! :-)