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It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)
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Friday, September 20, 2002
A Bit Too Much Drama For Me! [Once again, no 1 Ago today. I will get back to it. Time, it is always that in my life that is in short supply :) ]
This was an emotionally draining day. Sometimes, it seems like this clients employees save up all of their pent up emotions for my visit. And I am truly amazed at some people and how they operate. For example:
This one warehouse person has huge gnads in my opinion. He came in asking for a week off, so he could go look for another job, since this is too fast paced for him. This is the same person who is sitting in the office eating breakfast after coming in late, while their is total chaos going on around him in the warehouse. I do have to salute him for his approach. As much as I would like to at times, I don't think I could go to Lori with a request like that.
I can understand why consultants like myself can be looked down upon at times. Sometimes, the solutions we come up with aren't feasible. Even though, it is the right "procedure", it may just not be practical for their application/situation. On the other hand, the clients should look at themselves! I create solutions that are in my "alledged" mind easy and just a matter of thinking for a minute. These people are amazed at the solutions I come up with. But if they would have just thought for a moment, they could and would have come up with the same solution! It is times like those that give me confidence in if I wanted to go out on my own (instead of working for Da Company), that I could be successful.
Don't get me wrong. I do work hard. Sometimes, I think I should just work on how the system that they bought from us works and not worry about the ramifications or how the business is running overall. I know my brain wouldn't be working so hard. I could say things like, "F2" here and "key letter resolution" without breaking a mind sweat at all. And at the end of the day, I would be much fresher than what I am after a day like this. On the other hand, they are my favorite client, bought 20 days of consulting when I did their audit, 6 more at my suggestion and just indicated they are probably gong to buy 12-18 more after next month.
Which would be a good point to jump off from them. By that point, I should definitely be well on my way out of Da Company and with any luck whatsoever doing my coffeehouse.
At least I get to go home today. Julie has not been feeling well all week and I want to get home and see what I can do to help out. Short flight tonight and get home early (10:00 PM???) I love my life...oh yeah! (lol)
posted by John Panico at 7:26 AM
Thursday, September 19, 2002
What happened???
Where does the time go? I wrote for Monday and it is now Thursday morning. The time since then has been mostly a blur. No 1 Ago today. Just no time to do it. Maybe this evening, but not likely.
To recap, Tuesday, I was still at the client's in Salt Lake City. I got up early and got to the client at 7:00, since I had to leave on my sojourn to Birmingham at 3:30. That doesn't sound too bad until you understand that I didn't get there until after midnight. I love my life...lol.
All that doesn't matter though. I was on my way to my very favorite client. But since I got in so late and with expectations that I would be staying late to help with an upgrade, I didn't exactly hurry in at my normal 8:30.
I actually stopped by to check out a coffee house house called Lucy's run by a nice woman oddly enough named Lucy. Lucy was kind and gracious when I told her that I am very interested in opening up a coffee house of my own. As much as I would have liked to hang out and chat with her, I did need to get to the client's. Although they are my favorite client and I know they really appreciate me, I don't want to mistake kindness for weakness by abusing the time they pay for.
As I walked through the door, I could tell there was stress in the air. Not really directed at me. In fact, if anything, they are relieved that I am there. These folks are kind of funny in that regard. I am always telling Cheryl that I don't have any magic dust, that they could do what I do for them. I am not sure they really believe me, because people are very open to me when I am there.
The bottom line is that everyone there is vastly overworked and literally exhausted! The owner is not a bad guy. Sometimes, he just forgets who he is and what people need. And these folks don't need much. Acknowledgement of what they have done would go a long, long way. They have just had 3 consecutive record months and the owner isn't happy. He should be! Most of my clients are just hanging on. At best many are just holding their own. His company is growing at a 25% rate! If he would just say that he appreciates their efforts, it would mean so much to them. But he doesn't.
I do a quick 10 minute touching base with different departments to get a feel of things. It reminds me of where we were 3-4 months ago. The morale is hurting. The last time this happened, I devised an action plan to get them out of that. They implemented it and the results were wonderful! I can't tell you how many folks thanked me for the little things I did.
But they are doing those things now and things are reverting back to their old ways. I need to take this up a level. This is a place I would love to work at. The company has so much potential and good, talented people. They just need guidance. And I think I could do it.
I can't say that I spent more than 30 minutes on the system during my visit. I pretty much spend my time working on some procedures and assessing just how bad the situation is. I am scheduled to meet with the owner on Friday and want to be able to tell him where we are at and what I think will help to get us over the hump.
I end up going for drinks with Cheryl after work. The day went by so quickly though, we are both amazed that 6 PM came so quickly. Cheryl and I go for drinks usually at least once on my visit. We go to there normal hangout and as luck would have it, there are a couple of Cheryl's co-workers there. It was fun and a good stress release for all parties.
Tomorrow is another day. Let me sleep on the whole situation.
posted by John Panico at 7:57 AM
Monday, September 16, 2002
And so it begins…. ( 1 Ago )
I am beat. I am just through my day’s work at the client here in Salt Lake City. The two hour time difference combined with the total 9 hour trip yesterday has me a bit tired. I feel like I started work at 9 AM Sunday by doing the weekly reports, and then packing for this trip.
As I headed to the elevator this morning, the person getting in with me said aloud, “The beginning of the work week.”. That is when it all hit home with me. I can’t remember when that statement held as much weight as that one. It seemed like a burden just thinking about it. The bad part of it is that I really don’t have anything or anyone that I am not looking forward to this week.
And maybe that is the problem. When a statement like that wears you out, maybe I should be looking at other things to do instead of the job I am doing currently.
Monday’s Mission is done and in the books. Check it out.
Anyway, I have other things that I need to accomplish in mind and body this evening. What’s that old poem? “And miles to go before I sleep.”
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