What I learned in Africa

Today I leave Nairobi, where I have called home for the last 18 months to move to China and to continue pursuing (in a different capacity) the same mission I have bought into with d.light 18 months ago - to provide equal quality of life for people below poverty line.  I am excited for the new opportunity as it enables me to work on a more strategic level to drive the company's direction, and for the first time in my career, I not only feel passionate about what I do, I actually have a vision of where I would like to take this organization.  It's an exciting new leadership opportunity, albeit it is also very intimidating! (wish me luck)

As I reflect upon what I have learned during my stint here in Africa, 2 major themes:

(1) It's good to be results-oriented, but sometimes we need to define "result" in a way that's not so one-dimensional.
I was discussing with a good friend here on what we have accomplished in Africa.  It's funny that we both agree that it's very difficult to pin point a tangible result we've achieved in the last 18 months.  As I leave the d.light Africa office, while there is a consensus among my colleague that I've contributed a lot to the organization, I couldn't say "because I am here, I was able to drive x% growth to this business or sell x million more lanterns".  This made me feel uneasy as this kind of statement was something I frequently put on my resume back in my Corporate America days and was the way I can validate my contribution.

This really makes me re-think my definition of "result".  My business background has conditioned me to define result in the business context (i.e. profitability, top line growth, market share...etc.).  Although there is a significant focus on leadership and how one impacts employees in an organization, no one will give you a big bonus or put you on the front cover of FORTUNE magazine if you are universally loved and respected as a good leader, but was unable to deliver immediate quarterly business results & increase shareholder value.  However, in the developing markets (and particularly in the social sector), there are sooooo many factors at play that any one person really cannot ensure / control business results, especially on the timeline that I'm used to in the developed world.  My manager was telling me that a lot of the things I've put in place today probably will only come to fruition in the next 2 year or so, and I think in my past role, that is simply too slow and hence unacceptable and equivalent to "failure to deliver"!

Interestingly, I was encouraged to consider the positive change I was able to make on the people I worked with; in another word, instead of measuring my results solely using "business metrics", measure them also in "human metrics".  For example, was I able to elevate the skill level of the African staff? Did I put in place processes and routines that brought about more discipline in the way we do business?  Did I set an example on the type of work ethic people should have and inspire others to do the same?  Did I bridge the western thinking with the local mentality to enable better working relationship globally?  If I think along these metrics and consider how I was able to impact the "people" around me (in addition to the single minded "business" results), it doesn't feel like I've spun around and achieved nothing anymore.  I could honestly say that I made a tremendous impact on the people I worked with, and that will have a lasting positive impact to the business that can be observed maybe several years from now.  I think I could be OK with that (it will just be hard to put on the resume)

(2) Difficult environment brings out the best and the worst of you, but this is the best (if not only) way one can truly learn and get better.
Not surprisingly, my parents and some friends are quite relieved that I'm getting out of Africa and moving to a more "safe" environment in China.  I will not deny that living in Africa can be tough from a physical comfort stand point, but more so, it puts a lot of mental stress because nothing works here.  A lot of things may seem to have simple solutions, but navigating through the people to execute these simple solutions just seem ridiculously impossible at times.

As a result of this type of work environment and the passion & pressure to deliver, the work hours and stress level usually goes through the roof.  I have screamed and yelled at people more times than I've ever thought was acceptable  in a professional setting.  I have called people incompetent in their face and acted like a total bitch on numerous occasions   I have gone through phases where I felt naive and manipulated and want to give up.  I have faced corruptions and been proposed business deals in the grey area that really challenged my business ethics and values.   Working in Africa has brought the worst, ugliest side of me that I did not know existed.

On the other hand, Africa also brought out the best out of me and I was surprised looking back on how much I've stretched.  I discovered why I get comfortable quickly and make fast friends with locals.  I found patience and grace that I never knew was in me, and I experienced how unique & powerful my cross-cultural background and personality could be when it comes to bridging differences and moving teams forward, and will now leverage it as a strengths in everything I do moving forward.

Facing myself in my best and in my worst was probably the best thing that ever happened.  It was by no mean pleasant, but it forced me to be honest with myself, to accept what I can and cannot do, and to think hard about where I want to draw my limits as well as how I should protect myself.  Facing myself in my best and in my worst gave me confidence by turning things I "thought" I could do into things I "know" I am capable of achieving.  It is empowering and liberating!

While I'm no adrenaline junkie when it comes to lifestyle and hobbies, I could see how one can get addicted doing things that pushes oneself to the limit.  In a way, what I am doing in a professional setting is not fundamentally different from adrenaline junkies.  It's really less about "stretching" one's ability but more about self-discovery and understand who we are as an individual.  There is no book or lecture that we could take to uncover the hidden parts about ourselves, human beings are complicated.  Just like alchemists put metals through fire to get it to its purest form, I think sometimes we are all on a mission (conscious or subconscious) to define who we are in our purest form, and the only way to do that is by putting ourselves through the fire of life and difficult situations, may it be a physical challenge (like that dude who free fall from space) or intellectual challenge (like scientists seeking the cure of cancer) or mental challenge (like many of my friends who are working to make the world a better place AND those who are courageous enough to become parents).