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Worth Waiting

In 2015 and 2016, I was invited to work with a large franchisor on strategic planning for each of their then 12 brands. A couple years went by so I circled back to see if there might be an opportunity for another round. “We decided to use a larger firm,” I learned. “They have more people who will be involved in the process.”

Covid happened. Time flew. Other clients appeared. Yet, I always stayed in touch with the COO, who I’ve known for nearly 20 years. Perhaps the simplest thing I do is wish her a happy birthday each year.

In the spring, that organization’s VP of Strategy contacted me: “We want to do strategic planning for six of our brands this summer and [CEO Name] said I should talk with you.” After a couple of conversations, he shared that, from his understanding, the last round with the larger firm didn’t align with their culture.

This summer I made four trips there to work with the leadership team of each of the brands… helping them prepare for 60-minute presentations to the CEO and CFO. Those are happening this week.

You never know when a former client will come back around. It’s important to stay in touch and continue to be available when needed. This organization now has 19 brands, and they told me to expect to work with the other 13 during the next two summers.

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Family Affair

With kids heading back to school, I’m reminded of that perennial favorite first week assignment: “What I did on my summer vacation.” Many youngsters will respond: ‘We went to Disney’ or ‘I learned to ride a bike’ or ‘Stayed at grandmas’. In our house, however, we experienced something for the first time in 25 summers living here.

There is a crepe myrtle outside our circular laundry room window. In May, we noticed a robin building a nest… and soon sitting inside it. From our upstairs window we saw two blue eggs, so it became a daily ritual to regularly check on the soon-to-be chicks. After a couple weeks, as expected, there were two tiny heads tilted upward with mouths wide open – and momma would return frequently to feed them. (Two things: hatchlings are stranger looking than expected; and, you mean that’s how baby birds are fed?)

After a couple more weeks, the little ones left the nest and were hiding in our bushes, occasionally flying around the yard. It was a great experience to witness.

But wait. There’s more.

Who knew red-breasted females lay eggs more than once a year? Well, they do… and by July we embarked on a second journey – this time with one more settled in the nest.

Soon there were three little babies with mouths open… and we checked on them each morning until the day they tumbled out of their safe space. The past few weeks, I’ve watched with paternal joy as the family of ‘my birds’ hop around outside my office window. When winter comes and they fly north – or whatever robins with a two-year life expectancy do – I’ll miss the little ones and their momma.

So that’s what I did this summer.

The end. 

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Pillow Fight

Last month we traveled to downtown Waxahachie, Texas, for the celebration of my first boss’s 75th birthday. It was quite a Saturday night bash for longtime DFW sportscaster Dale Hansen… complete with a Q&A, during which he spoke about his career, a live auction to raise money for three charities, and a concert by his favorite performer, Rockin’ Jason D. Williams.

Arriving home the next day, I realized my memory foam pillow failed to make the return trip. (My bad!) I called the Marriott front desk and the person who answered said she had it. All I had to do was call back on Monday and speak to the front desk manager.

I did and that person told me to go to www.ileftmystuff.com and fill out a report, then I’d be contacted on how to have it sent to me. Although I lost my Bonvoy Platinum status this year, it was good to know Gold still carried some weight. Filling out the form took five minutes and a person contacted me by email within the hour to let me know I would hear from the hotel soon.

Days passed. Then a couple weeks. I circled back to let ILMS know there was no further response. Finally a month after our overnight stay, the hotel reached out and said they didn’t have the pillow. I responded with a copy to ILMS: ‘That’s interesting, since you had it four weeks ago.’ Within 10 minutes, an autoresponder came from ILMS: “The hotel has your item. Please contact us to finalize shipping.”

I did and learned it would be $125… for a two-year old pillow that cost 50 bucks. So I told the hotel to keep it.

Lessons Learned: Nothing is ever easy… and… never forget your pillow. 

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Role Play

This month, our neighbors directly across the street and next door had tall pine trees that didn’t survive the extreme heat removed – by the same tree service. It was impressive to watch the crew of eight people work together to carefully and safely take down these 100-foot giants.

Some members maneuvered guy ropes. Some raked up fallen needles and small branches. Some carried larger limbs and tossed them into the shredder. Several trunk pieces were so big it took a forklift on tank rollers to carry them to a flatbed truck.

Of course, the most impressive teammate was the young man – who wore a different colored shirt so he could be seen easily at height – that climbed all the way to the top and used a chainsaw to dismantle each tree a few feet at a time. That job takes faith, courage and skill.

They arrived and departed within three hours… and left nothing behind. It was a wonderful example of the importance of teamwork – and I imagine they immediately went to another home and did it all again. 

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Break Time

This is the final day of my self-imposed abstinence from Twitter (which I heard may have taken a new name while I was away?). I entered this one-month hiatus as a personal cleansing, because my favorite time of year approaches… and once things kick off, the ensuing 20 weeks will include frequent – some might say ‘too often’ – check-ins about the happenings around college football land.

As July progressed, this did not turn out to be a difficult challenge. My family and friends kindly obliged to avoid sending me links to Elon’s playground. There may be stories I missed along the way; however, it turns out nothing earth-shattering, life-changing occurred.

Tomorrow, I’ll wake up as usual around 4:45, do stretching and exercises as I listen to Squawk Box on CNBC, scroll through morning reads of a few business newsletters, browse the NY Times headlines, and play Wordle for the 527th consecutive day. Then I’ll head to the YMCA for a six o’clock swim, stationary bike ride and 10 minutes of rowing. When I come home, I’ll add X back on my iPhone and see what’s new in the sports world.

On July 1, I took on one other adventure: giving up my daily cookies and milk for the month. With a limited diet due to IBS, that ritual was one of my few guilty pleasures. How did it go? Much more difficult than Twitterless. Watch out Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten-Free Chocolate Chips and Lactaid milk. Soon, you’re mine.

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