You all may think we have been on one long vacation since leaving the corporate world in October of 2011. I can tell you, that is not the case. The work involved in this traveling around is equvalent to running a small business and to ensure a smooth and successful operation means we each have important roles to play. Because it is only a two man operation, as you can expect, we wear more than one hat.
I won't go into details of our company and bore you with its operating plan and strategic priorities, but to give you an idea, this business is not unlike ours.
And as we are now thinking ahead to the day when we will re-enter the corporate world, we are wondering how the past years' experiences and responsibilities will fit on a CV.
So, let's start with Jens' many roles:
1. Captain: the responsibilities of a Captain are quite similar to a Vice President of a company. They both have nice titles and carry overall responsibility particularly in times of crisis, but in the day to day operations they don't have much say in what actually goes on. One key administrative task is to maintain the Captain's Log.
2. Chief Engineer: Responsible for maintenance of sail boat, dinghy and now vehicle. The Chief Engineer is responsible for energy supply, refrigeration, sanitation systems, water supply and all related equipment. Must ensure all systems are in excellent operating condition; plan and execute regular maintenance activities and do repairs as needed. Must have an appropriate level of spare parts on hand keeping in mind the limited storage space. Skills required to be successful in this role are a good working knowledge of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems with the ability to troubleshoot and repair systems.
3. Driver: Must be licensed to operate a 44 ft sailing yacht, a 10ft dinghy, and a 4WD motor vehicle or similar. Taking direction from the Navigation Manager, the driver must be prepared for long journeys with stops which may be frequent and unexpected (for biological breaks, photographic opportunities, wildlife on the road, scenic views, wandering stock, fish on the hook, dolphins at play, etc) and sudden changes of plans. A high level of stamina, flexibility and patience is required.
4. Head Cook and Dishwasher: This is a new role for Jens having taken over from the First Mate when we reached land. Must be able to produce two course meals on a two-burner hot plate with one frying pan and one pot. As food storage is excessively limited, strategic planning is required. Also responsible for ensuring an adequate water supply.
5. Pack Mule (when hiking, tramping, trekking, etc.): not much experience required here, just a keen willingness to carry the heavier load. Physical attributes would be a strong back and legs.
6. Photographer's assistant: must have the zoom lens at the ready at any given moment. Also, must be prepared with the pocket camera to be used as and when directed by the Staff Photographer.
7. Fisherman: this role hasn't been required for some time, but during the first two years it was a critical role. The fish, when caught, had to be brought on board, filleted and cooked to perfection.
Evelyn's roles are:
1. First Mate: first priority is to ensure the Captain has everything he needs and is adequately rested, fed and hydrated. During long days at sea, it is necessary to replace the Captain at the helm at regular intervals. The ability to maintain a positive outlook during endless days at sea is an asset.
2 Finance Director: input into the budget setting process and monitoring and reportimg of expenses are the key activities. Must also have the credit card at the ready but able to use it with discretion. Also responsible for tracking and paying bills. Knowledge of Excel is required but a background in Finance is not necessary.
3. Communications Director: The primary responsibility is writing the blog and choosing the appropriate photos. With more than 25,000 blog views, this is becoming an increasingly important role. The blog is also used to document the journey so it must be complete and factual while still somewhat entertaining, keeping the varied readers in mind.
4. Navigations Manager and Co-driver: Plans the route to be taken, distance covered and time required to reach each destination. Must keep the driver informed and up to date of any changes. If needed, will replace the driver for short periods of time. The Navigation Manager is also responsoble to keep a record of the journey.
5. Laundry and Housekeeping: not much skill required here but must be adept at operating a large variety of washing machines and good at getting the most out of a load of laundry. Interior upkeep of the boat is the respnsibility of the Housekeeper but now having downsized to a car, housekeeping duties are minimal.
6. Tour Director: To be successful in this role, you must have previous travel experience. It is necessary, however, to thoroughly research the region using a multitude of sources such as Internet, travel brochures and books, and various travel web sites such as Trip Advisor. The Tour Director is also responsible for booking flights and making travel arrangements ensuring the lowest possible fares have been secured.
7. Staff Photographer: the staff photographer is responsible for digitally recording the activities of the company at all times, regardless of lighting, subject matter and personal interest on the topic. Photos may and are often taken from the vehicle in a drive-by situation. Preference is given to photographs of a National Geographic quality, but substandard photos will be accepted. Photos must be reviewed, culled, and catalogued so as to be available on a moments notice. A slide show documenting the highlights is required for each journey.
Well that pretty much sums it up. And if we gauge our success on how happy we are, I would say we are both doing a damn fine job. I sure hope we get a big bonus at the end of the year!
