Full Time Life by Dan Jukanovich

In the following selection from the chapter by Dano Jukanovich, Dano describes the “full time” life that God has called us to. He notes that “God has created us for a full-time, life-long relationship with him that integrates all aspects of who we are, where we live, what we do, and who we do it with.” When God calls us to “full time” life, God calls us over the course of our lives, and perhaps through different careers. Dano’s life reflects a clear calling but this has involved multiple careers. The calling has been consistent but the careers have changed and God has used the successes and failures and experiences to prepare him and shape him for what he is doing now and may do in the future as part of God’s continued calling.

Where I am now is not where I would have planned 15 years ago, but cliché as it may be, where I am is much better than what I could have asked for or imagined. God has continued to develop my character and reveal my interests in ways that align with His will and are incredibly fulfilling to me. There has been a popular movement among mid-life successful Christian business people in the US called “Half-time.” And I reference it in no way disparagingly because it has had enormous positive impact in many peoples’ lives for God’s purposes. I reference it in comparison to what I’m calling “Full-time.” God has created us for a full-time, life-long relationship with him that integrates all aspects of who we are, where we live, what we do, and who we do it with.

My career to-date has evolved through approximately four five-year cycles: military service, large corporation mid-management, small business ownership, and international economic development. I can say confidently that one consistent theme throughout various less-than perfect career decisions has been a genuine seeking of God’s will and endeavouring to do what I thought He wanted me to do. It is this career-long seeking of God’s will for my vocation that I am referring to as a Full-time career.

Today I am in Rwanda continuing to become more of who God has called me to be. The above is only a cursory overview of twenty years that were filled with some very high and very low points from a career satisfaction standpoint. I struggled throughout with pride and insecurity, made significant decisions that were motivated by fear and greed, and spent a fair amount of time generally self-absorbed. But a significant common theme throughout the major decision points was a faithful attempt to discern and follow God’s will often at the exclusion of what was safe and secure. God wants every aspect of our careers to be always (lifelong) and entirely (our whole selves) abandoned to His gracious, life giving, abundantly, joy-filled and masterful plan.
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Author Biography
Dano Jukanovich is a co-founder and Partner with Karisimbi Business Partners in Kigali, Rwanda, a socially motivated management consulting and private equity firm focused on small and mid-size enterprise development. With more than 18 years of experience, Dano has held responsibility for business development and finance for start-ups and established companies including AT&T Wireless before accepting the role of CEO for a mid-sized US Construction company. His background includes five years of service as a US Army Airborne Ranger and Senior Intelligence Officer prior to application of his leadership to a variety of companies. Dano received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993. As part of his military service, Dano lived in Seoul, Korea and learned Mandarin Chinese while studying in Beijing, China. He also earned his MBA degree with a specialty in Finance at Wharton. That same year, Dano earned a Master of Arts in International Economics & China Studies at the Johns Hopkins Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Dano also continues in the West Point “soldier-athlete” tradition having recently completed the 2012 Ironman in South Africa.