Red Sea

   

Scott and I (in the picture above) hit the South Coast beach this morning around 9a. We had a full day ahead of us and had to get some snorkel time in prior to 12p. At 9a, the weather was ideal at 75 degrees and the water was temperate. Shortly after finding a covered spot, we jumped in with the snorkel gear some friends let us use.

The bottom of the Red Sea is full of coral and fish of all shapes and sizes. Small orange fish can be seen within the expansive, bright coral against the deep blue backdrop of the water. We hit the water at the perfect time for the sun to start slicing through the water, reflecting the colors brightly of the floor.

I am one who sees God more through nature than in things made by man. While swimming through these historic waters, the heavens were declaring the glory of God.

Souk by the Sea

We are in a small town on the edge of the Red Sea. From the water, you can Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. As you can imagine, the city is quite diverse due partially to the close proximity to other countries.

As the sun started to fade, we walked around the beach front where the locals gather. A sea of people on the sea. We spent time taking in the culture, shooting photos, and sitting.

Already planned, we headed to the Souk by the Sea (market by the sea) at 6p. This is an outdoor market in the heart of the city. It is a beautiful collision of business and culture. While at the Souk, we were able to see a few of our friends and meet new friends. It is cool to see how time grows people when they are open to growth.

The idea for the Souk is that it provides a safe opportunity for families to come and enjoy local culture and products. It is also strategically located in the heart of the city and situated along a popular tourist area. In the shape of a square, the Souk is made up of many outdoor-style event tents. There are also tents within the middle of the square along with a big open space for eating and congregating. Situated as the focal point, a stage is located near the open space and showcases local talent and actors for the kids. The Souk was bustling with energy and excitement.

As a business guy, I enjoyed seeing this model work in the city. I would say that this is a example of what is being called Shared Value. This concept (coined by Harvard Professor Michael Porter) is that businesses, when operating well and within their core capabilities, can create economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and thereby expanding the total pool of value. 

The Souk by the Sea is creating economic value while also creating new value for the community. For example, one of the booths showcased local handmade products made by Jordanian women. This company employs local women and also makes many of their products out of recycled materials. So my question is, how am I creating shared value?

Cups of Tea

After landing at 11:20p, I proceeded through customs and exited the airport around 12:00a. I was picked up shortly after by Scott in a Kia rental car and informed of a plan to head down to Aqaba that night. After a brief tour of Amman, we dropped off the big bag I brought on the trip for the foreign workers at the guesthouse at 2:00a. We finally decided to get a few hours of sleep around 3:00a.

Wake up came at 6:30a for me, even earlier for Scott. He was actually kind enough to make an amazing brew of Stumptown and eggs. At 7:45a, we started a four hour drive to Aqaba through Ma'an. 

We stopped along the way at a tea stand  (and for a bathroom break). While not be used to being in country, the experience of greeting locals, being accepted with smiles, and enjoying a delicious tea was disarming. While not completely comfortable, I felt walls of apprehension break down in that exchange of .25 Jordanian dollars for two cups of tea.

14 Hours 27 Minutes

A German voice just came over the P.A. announcing that the Emirates flight I am currently on is scheduled to be 14 hours and 27 minutes. For those who have not been on Emirates before (which I have not), it is a nice ride.

The steward and stewardesses are dressed to impress in Middle Eastern style fashion. There are five sections, the first of which is first class (offering the sleep pods). The other sections are spacious, and personal toiletry bags, blankets, headphones, and pillows are provided on every seat. Also, everyone gets access to free movies and entertainment which makes the long trip a little more palatable.

So now to my set up. First, I had to check my back-packing back at the gate because it weighed too much so I am streamline. In terms of location (within the 5 sections) lets just say that if the tail fell off, I would be the first to go. Also, the last 5 rows only have 2 seats on the end sections so my middle seat turned into an isle row! However, the reason for dropping off the third seat is to make room for the bathroom...which is within arms reach across the isle from my seat.

This flight is the most diverse experience I have had in a good while. I have traveled to Seattle often over the past two years (50+ trips) and have never heard of or seen "S Gate." This is the international terminal and as soon as I entered S Gate the trip became real. 

I leave with excitement and all the trust I can muster.

Ryan

  

Personality Types

I spent a portion of my night going through several personality frameworks including Myers Briggs (MBTI), DISC, Enneagram, and the Keirsey Sorter. This is the type of thing that I get theoretically excited about, but quickly become discouraged by once I sit down and start going through the frameworks. A good buddy of mine asked me the other day what my MBTI was which put this whole personality thing on my mind. Growing up in my family, I have taken most of the tests out there several times. However, one of the struggles that I encounter is authentically and accurately assessing myself. I find that I have a hard time identifying myself and I often have an ideal "portrait" I am unconsciously trying to obtain. From my perspective, I feel like I have skewed my answers to align more with the person I want to be than the person I might actually be.


Knowing my historic challenge with these type of frameworks, the process I have used this time around is more holistic. I have used friends as sounding boards, talked to my parents about my childhood, completed tests, and used frameworks. For now, I focused on the Myers Briggs tool using a combination of the aforementioned methods. For those of you not familiar with the MBTI, it is a tool to help people better understand themselves and others. I have included an overview of the types and tool below:

My Results
For the first time, I am reasonably confident that I have identified a type that fits me. I will first go through the individual dichotomies to flesh out my thinking, then talk about the application, and finally address resources for you to use should you be interested.


INTJ - The Mastermind (Per the Keirsey Sorter)
I think that INTJ best depicts my personality type (within the bounds of the MBTI) because of the following analysis (very "T" like):

Application
This exercise has been both freeing and encouraging to me. The freedom comes from the realization that I am more of an introvert than an extrovert and that this does not mean I am sub-par. For a long time, I have been one to push through the tiredness and exhaustion that accompanies long times with big groups of people. While I love being with people and teams, I realized that I do need to recharge my batteries by being alone. I also learned that my introvertedness is what powers my ability to put on my headphones and work hard for a long period of time. I also have an ability to see long-term that comes from my intuitive and pragmatic approach to life.

As stated above, I am also encouraged by the fact that no matter the "type," everyone has unique contributions that the world needs in order to flourish. Before doing this exercise, I thought I only wanted to be a few of the rare, special types. However, after reading through all the types and their unique strengths, it is very apparent how everyone is needed.

Resources
Helpful framework: Personality Pathways
Portraits of the various types: Portraits
MBTI Basics: Myers Briggs Basics
Keirsey Sorter: Keirsey Sorter Types
Book: Quiet - Great book for more introverted people