Playing Disc

Between meeting unique and fascinating individuals, I spend lots of time with our 8 month old puppy. We hike, battle, hang out in the shade, and, her personal favorite, play disc.

For some reason, she finds it easier to retrieve mid-combat roll. Have a watch.



She does this every time. If you don't believe me, here is another throw?

I don't have time for you

It goes down as one of the shortest, most unproductive networking meetings ever. Thank goodness it wasn't over coffee as I would have had 2 sips and wasted $3.72.

Somewhere between saying hello and starting my 2 sentence introduction of being new to town, I was interrupted.

"So what?" asked the long black-haired, middle-aged woman who, as I entered her cluttered office, remained behind her desk. "What do you want?"

"Connections," I responded, trying to match her brevity. "I'd like to know what you do."

"Are you looking for job?"

"Well, yes." I said a bit uncomfortably. "I'm seeking my next career step."

"Well, welcome to Charlottesville. It's a college-town, and the University is on a freeze. There are no jobs here or anywhere in town. I have investors breathing down my neck for performance. I don't have time to help you. What else do you want?"

At this point I had a choice: I could either remind this unpleasant woman that I wanted to learn more about how she helped professors turn ideas into profitable (hopefully) businesses and for what, specifically, were her investors looking. Or I could move on.

Realizing this was going no-where, I chose the latter.

"Nothing."

I stood, reached across her desk to shake her hand, and thanked her for the 90 seconds. She didn't reach back. Maybe she was startled that she had gotten me in and out of her office in under 3 minutes. Maybe she was afraid of germs.

As I left her office happy with my decision to move on, it dawned on me. When free time is all you have, don't waste a minute of it with unfriendly, unhelpful people.

Are You Going Too Much?

If so, the drug companies would like you to consider FloMax.

EL Haynes Charter School has found an absolutely creative, much less expensive, and equally as effective method: a milk crate.

A fascinating, high performing public charter school in DC (of which you will here significantly more about in future posts), ELH has replaced the traditional hall pass with a milk crate. Need to go to the bathroom? Here's your milk crate.

Who wants to carry that? I bet you will find your trips reduced by 25% or more.

The Grand Experiment

During the tightest economic time we (or our parents) have ever seen, my wife and I contemplated walking away from solid careers providing very comfortable salaries. I say contemplated, because 4-weeks from my d-day (decision day), work dried up thrusting me into what we call "The Grand Experiment."

For some, our experiment is norm. Others can't contemplate it, calling us nuts. For us, it is certainly different, but also exciting and life-growing. In a nut shell we define our experiment as:

1. Leaving or being forced to leave a comfortable income-stream.
   
2. Packing what fits into a 26' Penzke. (and giving away what wouldn't).
3. Relocating 500 miles from our closest friends (120m. if you live in DC) and family to Charlottesville, VA* where Amanda commits to graduate school and, in-turn, all that comes with a student life-style.
   
4. The craziest one: leasing the house we own to 5 college guys ranging from Freshman to Junior. (Hey, at least the grass is getting cut... hopefully :)
   

4-weeks in and life is certainly interesting. We are adjusting well to the life-style change. I have met some absolutely fascinating people and heard both some incredible and incredibly boring stories. Many of which will be shared in forth-coming posts.

Keep well.

* For those that don't know, Charlottesville, VA is many tings. It's a small college-town of 40K people located in the Shenanadoah mountains. It's incredibly pretty. It has 21 wineries within 20 miles. It's also as you quickly find out and never forget: home of late Mr. Jefferson (Thomas not George from the show) and his school, UVA.

The Breakfast Bowl is Back

We are back for a variety of reasons, but namely, it's because of you. Each week you willingly make a small contribution to my current gig of: professional networking, pro bono project management, and volunteer work. Because of this, I feel I owe you updates as to exactly how your money is being spent, other than the occasional beer.

As a reminder, it's called 'The Breakfast Bowl' because it's my goal to post in the mornings, giving you the day to read at your convenience. What mornings? you ask. Well, hopefully every morning. Sure, now and again, I may have some afternoon or evening posts. But, hey, who doesn't like breakfast for dinner?

What do I hope of you? Well that you read it, chew on it, and then comment back. It can become our shared breakfast bowl. Tell me you hate it. Tell me you like it. It doesn't really matter. But your feedback will help keep me posting.

Cheers!