I am in the home town of my favorite football team the SF 49ers. Went and had a good dinner up the street (And in SF the mean up) It was a hard trip walking there and easy going down hill. Anyway, it has been one day and I am tired of being cold already. It was in the 60's when I got here and after dinner it was getting colder.
People ask how we in the Midwest can handle the thunderstorms, I ask how can they handle the fog? It is like an alien life form that attacks. I have never seen something so thick. The top of buildings just disappear. And I am told that today is mild.
The next thing that is difficult for me to get used to is the sound of the city (ALL NIGHT LONG) From that trolley dinging its bell at 6am, to people honking, fire trucks, police and just the sound of traffic at all hours of the morning. With all the concrete it just echo's. It sounds like trucks are going to come through my window. That should explain how I slept. I believe I can now understand how others feel that come to the Midwest and miss that sound. You can probably get used to the background noise. Sure glad I do not have to.
Looking forward to good learning today. Always sharpening my skills and becoming more productive.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Did a little rafting
Went Whitewater rafting yesterday at http://www.americanadventure.com/browns and had a great time. Like usual, the make you sign the form that this activity could result in death and you cannot sue them.
Anyway, took the 2 hour trip to the location with the Kardel family. I felt right at home. There kids reminded me quite a bit of my own. I did learn quite a bit from the German exchange student that has traveled the world. I even learned a bit about the European union and negotiations (This is what his dad does)
Back to the White Water adventure. A storm was rolling in and it rained a bit and got a bit windy (For Colorado standards). We had to wear the life jacket and the helmet along with the splash jacket. I did not really understand why you would need a splash jacket, it was in the 80's. Well, when the water is 50 degrees you quickly understand.
We did see a couple people in our group get launched out of the boat. None on our boat.
The experience started out slow. Small rapids and pretty slow. Dustin, our guide was from the south and was very good. He taught us strokes. Forward backwards, left and right forward and such. That came in useful later.
The views were amazing. Huge rocks, cliffs and a few houses. Then came the real rapids. We got real wet and had to work hard keeping the boat going in the right direction. Somehow I am not sore today.
Just another experience off the bucket list. Next I will have to take the family when Car gets a bit older.
Anyway, took the 2 hour trip to the location with the Kardel family. I felt right at home. There kids reminded me quite a bit of my own. I did learn quite a bit from the German exchange student that has traveled the world. I even learned a bit about the European union and negotiations (This is what his dad does)
Back to the White Water adventure. A storm was rolling in and it rained a bit and got a bit windy (For Colorado standards). We had to wear the life jacket and the helmet along with the splash jacket. I did not really understand why you would need a splash jacket, it was in the 80's. Well, when the water is 50 degrees you quickly understand.
We did see a couple people in our group get launched out of the boat. None on our boat.
The experience started out slow. Small rapids and pretty slow. Dustin, our guide was from the south and was very good. He taught us strokes. Forward backwards, left and right forward and such. That came in useful later.
The views were amazing. Huge rocks, cliffs and a few houses. Then came the real rapids. We got real wet and had to work hard keeping the boat going in the right direction. Somehow I am not sore today.
Just another experience off the bucket list. Next I will have to take the family when Car gets a bit older.
Friday, July 24, 2009
A great day of Sales Learning
So we discussed everything from hiring to marketing. It is amazing how getting together with others in IT field.
I think the biggest take away was that sales people do not need to be IT specialists. Rather they need to be business consultants that speak to business owners about busines solutions.
I think the biggest take away was that sales people do not need to be IT specialists. Rather they need to be business consultants that speak to business owners about busines solutions.
Spending a little time with HTG 15
Drove to Denver yesterday. Was a pretty quick trip. Couple of hours on the phone and the rest getting caught up with the world with CNN. Listened to the HTG Members business update. There is a parallel between their updates and my own HTG 3 group in the problems and triumphs of business.
Anyway had a great dinner with that group at www.thefort.com Once again, I will bring back pictures to Caden and Carsen (My boys) and they will probably give stories of where dad was and nobody will believe them. There were teepee's (SP) and cannons and more. So if your keeping track, in the last year, I have seen the Simpson's, Who Ville, Jaws, and much more. The stories that Caden will tell in first grade should be interesting.
As always it is great to sit in a room of entrepreneurs and feed off their energy. Listening to plans of the future, the struggles of cash flow and just hearing stories of the Deli line.
Anyway had a great dinner with that group at www.thefort.com Once again, I will bring back pictures to Caden and Carsen (My boys) and they will probably give stories of where dad was and nobody will believe them. There were teepee's (SP) and cannons and more. So if your keeping track, in the last year, I have seen the Simpson's, Who Ville, Jaws, and much more. The stories that Caden will tell in first grade should be interesting.
As always it is great to sit in a room of entrepreneurs and feed off their energy. Listening to plans of the future, the struggles of cash flow and just hearing stories of the Deli line.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Calling them back
I have made a commitment in the last couple of months to call everyone back that leaves me a message. Initially I thought this was a mistake. It can be up to 5 telemarketers a day.
You cannot believe the surprise of these people when they get a call back. It throws them off their game. Recently, Logitech was one of those calls back. After realizing who I was and why I was calling back, he had no game plan. No partner program in specific and was just reaching out. After working out some details we have come up with a win win for both of us. You never realize where the next opportunity comes from.
A couple of years ago I received a call from a company called Lightspeed. (Feel free to try and GOOGLE that name. Every company founded in the last couple of years is called that) www.lightspeedsystems.com Anyway I ignored their call. One of the reps suggested that we do business with them. Now we have sold more than a half million dollars in their product, that was a great call. If I would have paid attention to the call, we could have started that partnership earlier.
How many opportunities are we too busy for, ignore or simply do not realize. It probably happens more than we know.
You cannot believe the surprise of these people when they get a call back. It throws them off their game. Recently, Logitech was one of those calls back. After realizing who I was and why I was calling back, he had no game plan. No partner program in specific and was just reaching out. After working out some details we have come up with a win win for both of us. You never realize where the next opportunity comes from.
A couple of years ago I received a call from a company called Lightspeed. (Feel free to try and GOOGLE that name. Every company founded in the last couple of years is called that) www.lightspeedsystems.com Anyway I ignored their call. One of the reps suggested that we do business with them. Now we have sold more than a half million dollars in their product, that was a great call. If I would have paid attention to the call, we could have started that partnership earlier.
How many opportunities are we too busy for, ignore or simply do not realize. It probably happens more than we know.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Vince with the Slap Chop and ShamWow!
I agree with the commenter. Vince is just the newcomer to the game of "As seen on TV" With the passing of Billy Mays, Vince is now the most recognized face of the group.
Besides, ShamWow is better named, has a better demo and and more all around purpose than the Oxyclean ever was.
Besides, ShamWow is better named, has a better demo and and more all around purpose than the Oxyclean ever was.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Confidence versus Cocky
Have you met people who were cocky? They can be some of the most obnoxious people ever. Yet you want to be confident. Where is that balance?
In my experience the confidence is in things you know. The cocky comes when people are confident and either wrong or have no experience in the area. It is difficult to know when you know enough to be confident (There are always people who know more than you do, and you do not know what you do not know).
There is the opposite when you have people who should be confident and do not share their skills or knowledge. So I guess it comes down to balance and sum of your experiences.
In my experience the confidence is in things you know. The cocky comes when people are confident and either wrong or have no experience in the area. It is difficult to know when you know enough to be confident (There are always people who know more than you do, and you do not know what you do not know).
There is the opposite when you have people who should be confident and do not share their skills or knowledge. So I guess it comes down to balance and sum of your experiences.
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