How to avoid talking politics while on the road…
It’s so easy to fall into the age old trap of talking politics in an election year. We all have opinions and we all have our predictions on this year’s election. Having just spent a week in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana I was reminded everyday why to avoid talking politics. It would come up in every meeting and every dinner. “Romney is going to take it all the way!” or “Obama doesn’t have a chance!” or “Sarah Palin should have run.” Really??? Wow, I’m still sore from biting my tongue all week.
Here are my general rules on how to avoid getting sucked into these conversations.
1- Avoid the argument – Why even try to debate why Sarah Palin should not have run…do you really care? I just smile and take a big bite of bread.
2 – Change the topic – There is always something else going on (Whitney, Oscars, Spring training…) change the subject.
3 – My phone is ringing – “I have to take this call” is my favorite excuse to get away from the table.
I knew my comments would be shut down before I even got my opinion out. I’m from Boston…a slightly different culture then Mobile, AL or Jackson, MS. Following these rules got me out of a potential really bad debate. Instead I enjoyed my grits while we decided if Catholicism was another form of slavery that somehow is still legal…..I’m kidding.
Traffic in Chicago, LA, Boston, and NYC – Why is the traffic going in the wrong direction?
I would think that if it was 5:30 on a weekday, the traffic coming out of Chicago would be terrible, but not going into town. Wrong! Evidently in Chicago, no one works in the city. I had to drive 22 miles from O’Hare to downtown Chicago for a consultant dinner on Tuesday night. It took over an hour and a half to get to my destination. There was no traffic leaving the city, it was all inbound.
On Wednesday I had to drive to Northern Indiana, around Gary area. I decided to leave really early, around 3pm to give me plenty of time. This trip was 62 miles. Once again, the traffic in the middle of the day took me 2.5 hours to get to Indiana. The traffic going into town was a crawl the entire time. Evidently no one works at all in Chicago.
In comparison to LA, Chicago wins for terrible traffic. However, I spent 6 months in Sherman Oaks, CA at the “busiest” intersection in the country, 405 and 101. I recall standing on my balcony at 1am and seeing the never ending line of traffic. The only good thing was traffic was always moving. In LA you don’t quote miles ever…you state in hours. My suggestion is Chicago should quote in 1/2 day, full day, or days.
Boston is another odd city to drive. Downtown is a maze of dead ends and one way streets. No grid or blocks make any sense. Going across town from Financial district to Kenmore the street do go in alphabetical order, that is the only thing that makes sense in my home town. 93N or 93S, forget it. You’ll sit in traffic around the clock as the main highway into and out of the city. The 90 is a straight shoot west and you’ll fly for the first 10 minutes. As soon as you get a couple miles out of town, you’ll hit grid lock. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? And oh, if you see a sign for 95 or 495, just stay away. Evidently everyone who works in Boston lives in New Hampshire.
Finally, how can I not talk about NYC. Well, how about this…don’t drive. Don’t even think about it. Take a car service, not a cab…a city car service. Stay blocks away from your destination area, not miles. And don’t fly into JFK if you have to go into the city. What else is there to say…oh, how about take the train.
Great Article Found Today on Ten Things you should know about airline safety
I thought nothing could bother me while flying. I mean I’ve had to circle around an airport to go through all the fuel because the flaps failed and we had to depend just on breaks. That was in Buffalo, NY…where I was born. I figured that is where I would die as well. But I walked away. I’ve landed when the pilot missed the run way. Thank goodness for sand. We probably all have so many stories of bumpy rides and on board passenger drama. It doesn’t matter what airline…although I still say US Scare instead of US Air. I probably shouldn’t say that, since they seem very effective at landing on rivers. My flight this week to New Mexico was the bumpiest ride I’ve ever experienced. I mean the kind where you stomach jumps into your throat as the plane drops a hundred feet in 3 seconds. I walked away, so all is good.
Take a look at this article I just read. Simple facts, but a must for anyone with weak knees when boarding.
Article link at: http://play.lifegoesstrong.com/article/fear-flying-ten-things-you-should-know-about-airline-safety
TSA Pre Risk-Based Security Initiative
TSA is testing a limited, voluntary passenger pre-screening initiative with a small traveler population at four U.S. airports. The TSA Pre✓™ initiative implements a key component of the agency’s intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security. This pilot program will help assess measures designed to enhance security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer to participate in order to expedite the travel experience.
To read more and apply go to: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/escreening.shtm
Cities that are offering this program include:
- Atlanta: T-South Checkpoint (Delta only)
- Dallas: Terminal C, Checkpoint C30 (American only)
- Detroit: Checkpoint 2 on the ticketing level (Delta only)
- Miami: D2 Checkpoint (American only)
- Las Vegas: D Gates First Class Checkpoint (American and Delta)
- Los Angeles: TSA Pre✓™ screening lane (American only)
New Year’s Resolution
I always thought I wanted to be an actor when I was growing up. I was in every school play, community theatre, went to college at one of the top acting schools, had my 5 minutes of fame, and even got a few pay checks for doing it. But in the end, I ended up getting a degree in Speech and going into Health Care IT. It’s so interesting how things happen. As we start a new year, I find myself introspective on why things happen, and what I should focus on this year.
I just finished watching Larry Crown, and a light bulb went off. It’s about a guy who worked at Target, loved his job more than anything, and was really good at his job. He ends up getting fired because of his lack of education. He decides to go to a local community college and learns so much, and not just in the classroom. He surrounds himself with people who care about him. The young girl who helps him dress right, the friend who gives him a job, the neighbors who help him through change, and a teacher who awakens him both in thought and heart. An inspiring movie to watch at this time of New Year’s resolutions and looking ahead to 2012.
Regardless of whether you plan for a or b…you really don’t have much control at what will happen to you. It’s how you handle and receive what happens to you that can make or break you. My new year resolution is to strive to be a better listener. I’m know I’m always eager to talk…but not always the best at listening. My friends tell me all the time. It’s a tall order for the actor in me, but a reasonable goal for the friend in me.
Regardless of what you resolution is for 2012, I wish all of you a happy, healthy, successful New Year! – Doug
No one is at the office…what am I supposed to do this week?
I love this time of year. People take extended vacations during the holidays, leaving the parking lot full of spaces, the elevator at my disposal, and an empty office. My phone doesn’t ring for hours at a time, and I don’t have any staff meetings on my calendar. What am I supposed to do with myself? Well, here are some ideas…
I’ve been putting off cleaning out my inbox for months. I get a reminder every day that my mailbox is full. What a great time to take a couple hours and clean up my inbox, sent folders, and junk mail. I’m also creating some rules that will automatically take incoming mail and assign them to their appropriate folder…something I’ve been meaning to get to forever.
My desktop has over 50 documents that need to be filed in their appropriate folder, that will kill several hours and really needs to be done. I need to create a better filing system for documents, so I can find them quickly and efficiently. I probably have a lot of duplicate files on my laptop, so I think I’ll clean that up.
I know I have a big presentation I have to give in a few weeks, I’m going to get that started now with minimal interruption. Not to mention it’s the end of the year, so I know I’ll be asked to provide all kinds of 2011 summaries…I’m getting a big head start on that as well.
Finally, my desk looks like a dump truck blew up on it. Do I really need 87 pens and 44 pencils in that huge cup? I think it’s time to create a more conducive workspace. I’ve got paper work piled on my desk from last March! I think I’ll go get a trash bag…
Happy New Year everyone!
Holidays – Do I decorate even if I’m going to be traveling the entire month of December?
Every year I go through the difficult decision of how much to decorate the house. I’ve gone years with limiting myself to only the tree because I’m on the road so much. I start thinking….Who is it for? If you have kids, you have no choice…but you also have man power to help you. The question really is…do I even bother if I’m not going to be home?
Looking ahead at my schedule for December I realized I won’t be home hardly at all. Dec. 1st – 3rd I’m in Indianapolis, 5th – 8th in Albuquerque, Dec. 12th – 15th in Cincinnati, OH, and 19th – 22nd in Santa Clara, CA. I go to Syracuse to see family…so that’s Dec. 23rd – Dec. 27th and finally Cape Cod for New Years Dec. 30th – Jan. 1st. That means I will only be home 8 days in December.
This isn’t the first year that I had to make this difficult decision. I love the holidays, and I normally decorate so much I put Macy’s Santa Village to shame! But in the past I’ve done the Monday – Thursday travel and enjoyed the festive ambiance of my home on the weekends. Plus I always worked remote the last week, so I got a full week of smelling the pine. Not this year.
I think a compromise is in order this year. I won’t settle for nothing…so no Dept. 56 village, train set, or unnecessary items. I will do my tree (in all Waterford and Swarovski again) with white lights and a few pieces here and there. I better get on it today…
Holidays – I’m hosting Thanksgiving and questioning my choice to use plastic…
The last several years I’ve had the honor of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. My partner does all the cooking and I’m responsible for set up and break down. I came across this really nice (and expensive) plastic plates and silverware set at BJ’s the other day. I was thinking, maybe I’ll use plastic!
Now, I have a beautiful table with William Sonoma table cloth and napkins. Awesome candles, Lenox salt and pepper shakers, and an incredible center piece. So I was thinking using plastic would take away from the ambiance. However, I don’t have a set of 12 matching plates or silverware. So I would have to invest a lot of money in buying a new set. From a cleanup perspective, plastic would save a ton of time too. It’s almost like I’m talking myself into it as I write this.
I think as long as the food is good, the family is relaxing, and everyone has a full belly…who cares what you eat on! Right?
Regardless of whether you are hosting or traveling (hopefully none of you are traveling for work), I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Holidays – The Office Pot Luck…do I have to participate?
It’s the time of year where our clients will often have pot luck lunches as a way to celebrate the holidays. As a traveling consultant, I don’t have the resources to bake a cake or make Mom’s famous meatballs. So the question is, if I don’t have anything to bring…do I have to participate? Yes, you do.
Like it or not, you really do have to make an appearence and bring something. I usually volunteer to bring the drinks, a few bottles of 2 liter sodas is easy to pick up. What about paper plates and utensils, also pretty easy to pick up. Not too hard to find a local bakery to bring cookies or cupcakes either. Just because you don’t have a kitchen to cook, doesn’t mean you can’t bring something. And don’t expense what you bring, that is just tacky.
Office parties are a great way to network with full time employees, your project manager, and other consultants. So although you may feel like you are not part of the team being a consultant, if you were invited…they think you are part of the team. Not showing up would be considered rude and might generate a negative reaction from your colleagues. Take a few minutes the night before and stop at the grocery store. Be creative and show up with your holiday smile.
Holidays – Buying gifts at the airport…not a bad idea
We all pass them every week, the little stores in the airport showcasing local city T-shirts and “stuff.” I can’t remember the last time I actually went into one, other than to get a bottle of water. So, the other day I went into one of the stores and looked at all the shirts, hats, and junk that said Indiana on it. What one of my nephews really wants an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt? They haven’t won a game all season! But then I noticed, there are actually some really nice stores in here as well.
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Salt Lake, Detroit…all have really great stores. I usually just run to the Delta lounge and pay them no mind. This got me thinking, “hey, I’ve got several more flights. I could pick up a gift or two each time I’m at the airport.” Let’s face it, the Barnes and Nobles at the airport is way more convenient than driving to the mall. Plus the clothing stores are really nice. I just got my father a great shirt at the PGA Tour Shop. I don’t remember seeing one of those at the mall.
With names like Brighton, Brooks Brothers, Erwin Pearl, and Godiva…you really can get some great shopping done. No tacky Cincinnati coffee mugs, but certainly a great handbag from Brighton for my niece. Certainly not buying a cheese head in Madison for my brother in law, but he’ll love this box of chocolate covered pretzels. Who says you have to go tacky?
Now finally, there is one little logistical thing about doing this…getting the stuff home. I don’t ever check luggage, so I always have a carry on and personal bag/backpack. So another words, anything I buy has to fit into one of these bags. Keep that in mind. You don’t want to have 4 shopping bags and a carry on when trying to board the plane. Small simple items that can squeeze into your purse or briefcase are perfect. After a few weeks of travel, you’ll have 1/2 your shopping done and be ready to start gift wrapping.
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