It as been a hectic month traveling across America. Trips have been made to Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania, and this week I will be in Los Angeles, CA overnight and several nights in Charlotte, NC.
Darlene and I spent three days Chicago with Motorola where I addressed key leaders and exploring how else we can help the Motorola family. They gave me briefings about their direction which was insightful in understanding the company and their work force.
Currently it is Mass Mutual’s Quota Buster seasons and I have contracts speaking at many of their events. I have met some amazing people and been treated like a celebrity. In Horsham, PA I spoke to two agencies and did roundtable luncheon for 8 individuals. The discussions at lunch were probing into how people succeed, but also with compassion for others. One agent is looking at how we can partner to help an under privileged school in his community. Another believes that my keynote was ideal for the commencement address at the Navel Academy in Annapolis.
In Florida not only did I get to address an audience that gave me one of the longest standing ovations, but two executives from companies came to hear me speak. With in 24 hours they booked me for a conference in Chicago in October. Suddenly Chicago is becoming the city I am speaking in the most, doing 3 events there in a matter of 8 weeks.
While in the area, I also got to hook up with an old friend who I had not seen in 16 years. Dave Bricker sailed on a beautiful wooden vessel across the Atlantic. We met in Horta, Fial, in the Azores and hung out for a week or more. He sailed to Gibraltar and I ended up in Ireland. We were both poor but filled with hopes and dreams. 16 years later we re-connected after he read Hope Merchant and e-mailed me. We both have changed from free, single, broke adventures to today, married men, with families and businesses, remembering those care free days and planning to share them with our spouses, children and grandchildren. Dave and I are planning to meet back in Horta next summer with our families aboard Darlene and my new boat. There is much more sailing in our future, and Dave has visions of what my next Open 60 will look like. There are some radical ideas kicking around.
We have been so well treated, that going home is almost anti-climatic. At home we do not have a chauffer and a stretch limo with nice drivers who are so eager to be of assistance. But at home, we have other important things that make our quality of life so amazing. Unfortunately the mosquitoes are keeping me out of the garden, and we are in a drought that I have had to turn off the pond pumps as the main pond is unable to supply the water to the rest of the ponds.
