Ride Captain (of Industry), Ride!
Today is officially two weeks into my career change. A very diverse day. We started with the CEO of a major tech company here who talked to me about how he grew his company. Actually, he talked at me..at anyone, who was willing to listen.
I had settled in, look at the clock and said..hm..it's 1:45PM. What shall I do.Ah..I'll get in the car. Within 5 minutes, I had met my next guest, CEO of a $800M company, which I know because as we started to talk about stuff, he realized I knew more than just the best route to the airport. We talked M&A's, crisis management, buyouts, rollovers and bankruptcy. As we spoke, he asked if I still do what I do. I told him: Only for a few select friends and CEOs. He asked for a card.I didn't have one. He asked for my name. I gave it to him.Maybe he was being polite. Maybe he was interested. I just knew I maneuvered around heavy road construction and got him to the airport in 17 minutes, not the 32 estimated on the app.
Within 3 minutes of dropping him off, I got a text for a pickup, WAY North Scottsdale. I thought, after picking him up. "I LIVE IN WAY NORTH SCOTTSDALE. And there was no shrimp in the car. This guy lives in one of the most exclusive communities in Scottsdale, even more exclusive than mine!<g> Turns out, he is a golf buddy of a former client who has a second home there. We talked stocks, Chicago, good and bad places to eat and lamented that really talented people in this town come here and go through brain rot. They have so much to offer schools in terms of mentoring but schools just want $$$, they don't 'need' retired CEOS and captains of industry to teach students anything that may help them. That's one reason Arizona is 47th in the country in education. As I dropped him off, after passing the saliva test and facial recognition scanning I headed back out and told him one thing: "When you see our mutual friend and tell him I was your driver, tell him he doesn't need to feel sorry for me. The only shareholders I have to answer to are Hope, Farfel and Schmaltzy."
It was a fruitful way to end the day and the billing wasn't too bad to automatically deposit in my account.
Each time I get a text, I get excited for I have no idea what my day will be like and for me, surprises make it all worthwhile.
What followed was pretty uneventful but interesting just the same. Small talk and talks of substance.Next was a front office Marriott worker on her way to work. She chose to look at her phone rather than humor me. Then there was the transplant from Atlanta who accepted her fiance's proposal and move to Scottsdale. She was on her way to the health club as the wedding was 6 weeks away.
Swinging back around, I drove past the Westin Kierland and got paged by a young executive from Cyprus on his way to Amex. I asked him what side of the island he was from.He said most people don't know there is a Greek side and a Turkish side. Doesn't he know I used to work for MTV!
Next up, Keith from Chicago who spends 40 weeks a year on the road and loaded his clubs into the trunk.I asked him if it was vacation..he said, 'business golf tournament.' In a way I understand. He said he lives in cars and airports. Not an easy life even if it does include golf. He was, of course, on his way to Sky Harbor. As I dropped him off, I got a page for an uneventful ride to Central Phoenix. Not much chatter, but he DID love the Genesis.
I figured..Close to the 51. going home! Except Peggy changed my plans. She wanted to go to the Eastern part of Scottsdale from Central Phoenix. I was pleased. Closer to Farfel and Schmaltzy. She has lived in Phoenix all her life and when we talked about getting out of town, I said: we love the 7-hour drive to Telluride. She said: "You and my husband..and all men. Everything is 20 minutes or 7 hours.I've done the ride to Telluride and it's 9." I argued and we agreed on 8, with 3 stops. Her great home, in a great neighborhood, backs the famous (and infamous due to hikers who don't hydrate) Piestewa Peak. I didn't know about this neighborhood before. Me thinks I'd like to live there when we go smaller.
As I drove into my driveway, I thought: ok.kinda dull morning but life is not always exciting.
I had settled in, look at the clock and said..hm..it's 1:45PM. What shall I do.Ah..I'll get in the car. Within 5 minutes, I had met my next guest, CEO of a $800M company, which I know because as we started to talk about stuff, he realized I knew more than just the best route to the airport. We talked M&A's, crisis management, buyouts, rollovers and bankruptcy. As we spoke, he asked if I still do what I do. I told him: Only for a few select friends and CEOs. He asked for a card.I didn't have one. He asked for my name. I gave it to him.Maybe he was being polite. Maybe he was interested. I just knew I maneuvered around heavy road construction and got him to the airport in 17 minutes, not the 32 estimated on the app.
Within 3 minutes of dropping him off, I got a text for a pickup, WAY North Scottsdale. I thought, after picking him up. "I LIVE IN WAY NORTH SCOTTSDALE. And there was no shrimp in the car. This guy lives in one of the most exclusive communities in Scottsdale, even more exclusive than mine!<g> Turns out, he is a golf buddy of a former client who has a second home there. We talked stocks, Chicago, good and bad places to eat and lamented that really talented people in this town come here and go through brain rot. They have so much to offer schools in terms of mentoring but schools just want $$$, they don't 'need' retired CEOS and captains of industry to teach students anything that may help them. That's one reason Arizona is 47th in the country in education. As I dropped him off, after passing the saliva test and facial recognition scanning I headed back out and told him one thing: "When you see our mutual friend and tell him I was your driver, tell him he doesn't need to feel sorry for me. The only shareholders I have to answer to are Hope, Farfel and Schmaltzy."
It was a fruitful way to end the day and the billing wasn't too bad to automatically deposit in my account.
Each time I get a text, I get excited for I have no idea what my day will be like and for me, surprises make it all worthwhile.
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