The Journey of the ATOMIC Model-Passport to Success - Chapter One

The Roots – 2007

Center for International Trade Development (CITD)

When I started the journey in 2007, I did not know where I was heading. In my capacity as an international credit, collection, finance, and risk mitigation consultant, I landed a contract with the Center for International Trade Development (CITD) in California to work as a consultant helping small businesses navigate the maze of international trade.

As I embarked on the journey with CITD, I did not know my destination; the only thing I knew were my deliverables for CITD, which was helping CITD clients with a variety of business matters. I had the privilege of presenting, speaking, and consulting with small businesses in areas pertaining to international credit, collection and trade finance. I also conducted workshops covering subjects in the field of Cs-Conflict Resolution, Credit, Customer Service, Collection, Cashflow, Commerce, Communication and Culture, and Change.

But how did I end up working with CITD? Mr. Corona, Director of CITD of the Inland Empire (IE), had previously worked with Ms. Marianne H. of the Export/Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank). When she heard what Mr. Corona was looking for to fulfill the parameters of a grant, she contacted him and suggested he reach out to me. Based on that recommendation, he hired me as a CITD consultant.

2007 was a year of travels, speaking engagements, in-house trainings and coaching. The ATOMIC Model was not yet conceived; it was not even on my radar.

However, two surprises highlighted 2007. The first surprise was reuniting with an old childhood friend from the Eternal City—Jerusalem. And the second was speaking at FCIB’s 3rd International Credit & Risk Management Conference in the Middle East, in Dubai, UAE, March 18-20, 2007.

Let me tell you about the first surprise. On January 15, 2007, at 11:09 AM, I received an e-mail from Jill at the National Association of Credit Management—NACM stating:

Hi Eddy,

Hope you are well. We received this email today…. This gentleman…says he wants to get in touch with you…I wanted to pass his email on to you to see if you wanted to contact him.

Thanks Eddy-

Jill

Here is my friend’s e-mail:

Dear NACM Team,

Please allow me to approach you for a very personal matter.

My name is Bassem... I am the managing director of a German company in Dubai called… & I am a very old friend of Mr. Eddy Sumar. For many years now (since 1984), I have been looking for Mr. Sumar.

By chance, I learned that Mr. Sumar has been an instructor & a speaker for NACM.

Would you please help me get in touch with him.

I would appreciate it a lot if you could please forward my contacts to him or at least supply me with his e-mail address. My e-mail address is:……

Bassem    

What a great surprise to receive the communication from Jill at NACM! Immediately I contacted my friend Bassem.

I will share with you some excerpts of a long communication that he sent to me:

Dearest Eddy,

Yesterday, my wife & I were speaking about Jerusalem & about my memories there. I told her about guiding tourists through the city & informed her about an old friend of mine who was the best in this job. I told her that he knew everything about country's history & that he spoke at least 5 languages.

 At this point, I decided to look for you & I searched the Internet. I regret a lot that I did not do so since long time.

You cannot imagine my happiness as I found some reports about you, what you did & what you are doing…. I was also very glad to find a couple of pictures of yours. You might have gained some wait (as almost everyone from our friends did) but your smile is still the same. 

In 1987 I married my wife. She is German & we have 3 children…. In 1988 I moved to Germany & started working for my present company. Since 2004, I am working for our company in Dubai from where we are selling to 16 Middle Eastern Countries.

I am doing fine, but every day I am missing Jerusalem & missing the friends more & more….

Dear Eddy, very often my memory takes me back to the time we had in Jerusalem.

I believe that we were not only lucky, but also blessed to have had such an experience.

The very nice time (in spite of all difficulties) which we had, the very good experiences we gathered & the very special friendships we did.

You never gave up.....

If you plan to visit the UAE (which is booming at the moment) please allow me to invite you to stay with us. My family & myself will be very happy to have you with us.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Bassem  

Was that a sign of things to come?

Let me tell you about my second surprise. Early in March 2007, I was in Lima, Peru visiting some of my client’s customers. On the last day while I was at the airport, I received a phone call from Mr. D., a member of FCIB, the association of executives in Finance, Credit and International Business, the International arm of NACM. He asked me if I could substitute for him as a speaker at the FCIB Dubai Conference? I could hardly believe it! What was he asking me to do? To go to Dubai! And what was in Dubai? My old childhood friend Bassem! I eagerly accepted the offer, and within the week I was on a plane to Dubai. I spoke on Risk Mitigation in the GCC and Beyond. (See flyer & session description below):

Presentation: Risk Mitigation in the GCC and Beyond 13:45 – 15:15

From Turkey to the Yemen and Egypt to Oman, the Region presents a fascinating challenge in demanding individual and innovative risk mitigation techniques. This presentation by an acknowledged global practitioner will focus upon the problem-solving methodologies in this demanding environment. - Presented by Eddy Sumar, President, ERS Consulting Services, USA

I went to Dubai, and what a reception from my old friend Bassem! I spent a few days there in Dubai. During that time, of course, I was able to meet Bassem and his family. We caught up on the couple of decades that had passed in just the short time we had together.

Indeed, life is beautiful and full of surprises! We need to be present, prepared and ready.

This part of the journey highlights key lessons: 

1.      In life, we might not always know our destination(s)

2.      We need to be open-minded to seize any opportunities that come our way

3.      We need to be present, prepared, and ready to sail with the winds

4.      We need to enjoy the journey and create our own destiny and destinations

5.      Goals and milestones can be set as we travel along the newly founded roads

6.      Always see the connection and then make that connection

7.      Network, network, network, and build relationships

8.      Allow yourself to be surprised 

I hope you enjoyed this installment!

Until next time, I bid you peace and harmony!

Stay tuned! Chapter Two—The Roots Expand, 2008, is next.

Eddy—Master OTIS