iMADdu has provided me with an experience unlike any other. What made it stand out as an extremely beneficial skill-building opportunity is that I had been given responsibility. Responsibility to execute projects and tasks that had tangible impact on an organization. This trust was something that I was not expecting to receive and at first was intimidating and frightening. As an apprentice gains confidence and understanding of the working environment, it becomes apparent how empowering this trust and responsibility really is.
It allowed me to learn how ideas were implemented. All of the details and inner workings that most students aren’t exposed to became my duties. And if I didn’t complete them, nobody did. I became a linchpin in the realm of my responsibilities. Ideas are much easier to theorize about than actually execute. If the government is releasing contract opportunities for women-owned small businesses, it seems trivially obvious that if one fell into this category of small business, it could be a great opportunity to gain a lasting and economically beneficial relationship with a federal agency.
“Christian, what is it going to take for us to be awarded one of these contracts?â€
Thinking to myself: “It’s probably like a job application. We fit the description, it’ll be easy. I’ll take care of it after lunch.â€
NO.
Thousands of other small business are competing for a limited amount of contracts and as much as value of service is important, so is value of personal relationships. Especially those within the organizations awarding contracts. Needless to say it was not finished after lunch, and 3 months later, I finally had a list of five contract opportunities that fit our organization well, a point of contact within the agency, and we were ready to send a proposal.
I was able to see the whole course and development of a project from idea to planning to implementation and evaluation. From start to finish. This experience was a valuable way for me to give to the company and grow as a person.
