Consulting
Oh, the irony. The archetype consultant wears a suit, hangs around airport lounges, works until 3am to get some charts done and revolves around ROI or the like. There is a specific type which will invariably generate an allergic reaction in me for sheer superficiality.
On the other hand, the field I work in actually requires such consulting services. It’s not as much about selling equipment (although this will ensure my paycheck), but many organisations, whether Fire Services, Military or other safety related company departments, will develop very specific risk scenarios that require bespoke solutions. If a factory or public transport shuts down for some time, there’s a potential economic element to it, apart from personal injury and property damage. Examples of such affected critical infrastrucures are plenty.
So now, there is an increasing part of my work dealing with those specific requirements. For instance, how do you safely lift a tram with a person stuck underneath, that is slanted at 15° and no crane can reach? What kind of damage control set do you put together for specific military and civilian ships? Iron ore mines?
Risk mitigation is the underlying element, but the process leading to a product sale is actually a classical consulting process: listen to the clients’ requirement, do an assessment that is not only technical, but also tactical, and produce a product that not only includes gear but also training and perhaps even a tip or two about tactics.
The bottom line? I am in the Consulting business. But one that includes such occasions as being picked up by a fire engine from the hotel and being deposed there by a VIP tramway in the middle of the night :)
Back to the roots: workplace
It’s been a while since I’ve sat here last. It feels good and right to have rejoined old fire department. It’s got nothing to do with one being better than the other. Anyone who doesn’t have a “home” as such probably will appreciate the importance of a pivotal point in life. For me, it matters more than I originally thought. Anyway, here I am today, again driving this fire engine. It felt really good.
Cup of Coffee?
This morning I went to Veendam to collect our trailer. I called ahead and spoke to one of the guys. What he had to say: “There’s a cup of coffee waitong for you”. Sometimes, it’s the small things that mean a lot.
When it all comes together
This one’s a little bit hard to describe, but there are moments in life that bear a lot of weight, in whichever way. Yesterday was one such moment. I’d been preparing for a “lift” workshop where the goal ist to free a car trapped underneath a truck. Everything until then had been paperwork, phone calls, e-mails and the like. The moment the trailer was delivered, everything suddenly unwound. It was real.
There’s more depth to this story, but this is not the time and place to dwell on it. I am glad it is over, and I am glad it worked out OK. Today was a huge relief. Oh, and there aren’t many things in life that beat chucking big things onto small things. Here’s a link to the pictures.
Growing pains
Here’s one to never growing up. I was really lucky to secure five toy trucks at the supermarket last week, as well as some simple building blocks. Both to be used as practical props during the workshop next week. Man, did this make me happy :) Nice side effect: does your job involve any toys?
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Welcome
Welcome to Irakli West's personal pages on the Web. I am Danish, live close to Munich in Germany, and run FWnetz, an online magazine and training resource for firefighters. In real life, I am Regional Manager Northern Europe for Paratech, teach Heavy Rescue (it's fun, challenging and serves a good purpose) and try to learn more about USAR. I am a member of the Munich Volunteer Fire Department as well as @fire, a USAR and Wildfire NGO outfit.
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