Business Travel, Exploring, History and Kids

Business travel is tedious as anyone who does it can tell you. However if you do it right, you can make each trip memorable. I just returned from a business trip to Springfield Illinois that I managed to make memorable not just for me, but my colleagues... and my kids.

But here is how I did it -

1) I planned ahead for a babysitter for my kids during my presentation and business meetings - work with the client to see if they have anyone working there with kids you can hire - talk to the hotel to see if they have a service - look into local mom groups who might have a resource - you can always rely on online matching services for day care

2) I paid for way too much, but gave the babysitter a plan. I didnt want my kids sitting in a room playing video games. I wanted them to see Springfield - it is after all the Land of Lincoln.

 3) I made sure the moms who worked at the client's offices were involved. They really took to making sure everything was ok.

4) I introduced my kids to everyone at the office before they took off.

5) I added in days. Look you have to teach kids how to travel. You have to teach them how to get excited about new places. And you want to make the trip memorable for them. So rather than rushing to get back home, we went and explored Springfield and Chicago.

What lessons did I learn?

- Start early - plan in advance and you'll be fine
- Know that using your miles and paying for your ticket doesnt guarantee the reservation will stay together
- Think through babysitting arrangements
- People who fly these days have no courtesy... don't expect them to give up their seats just because yours got moved. Yeah... I had a guy do this.

Only 3 Left To Go

This week I crossed Idaho and Montana off of my list of states I hadn't been to (Utah and Wyoming were also on this trip, but I had been there before).  I'm now down to 3 - Alaska, Wisconsin and North Dakota.

However one thing has rung true.  Every state has had something absolutely amazing about it.  If you haven't been out there, you need to.

This country has more to offer than you can begin to imagine.  We are all so different in so many ways, and yet so very alike.

Oh, I've also got the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico under my belt, so I am only missing Guam in those territories.

Independence Day

The most American Things Ever.

If you can't laugh at this, you can't laugh.

Happy Birthday America.

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!

Another Perspective

Getting to see things from another perspective helps you realize your own limits in vision.

Today I got to take one of my boys with me into LA.  We had some work to do, a few meetings, and then a chance to play.  He'd been there before.  But it became a playground to him.

LA is an amazing place and he was filled with wonder.  And most people get blind to it all.

It reminded me back when I first moved to DC.  I looked at the Capitol Building and realized that is the seat of power for the world.  Most people scuttle by it without much regard.  I made myself a promise at that point.

"The second I walk by this building and am not in awe is the second I need to leave because I've become too jaded."

That day never came for me.  And I try not to let it happen anywhere I go.

Candidate Trump... and What it Means

Everyone is making a big to do about Trump running for president. Lots of speculation. Lots of assumptions. Lots of guesses.

Also, a lot of posturing.

However this isn't the first time we have seen an otherwise non-politician entering a race.
- 1992 We had Ross Perot, a Texas Billionaire, took a sizable amount of the vote
- 1996 Perot came back, to less effect
- 2000 Ralph Nader came in to the race and pulled a lot of Democratic support from Gore
- 2004 Rev. Al Sharpton was the second to last candidate to withdraw in a field of 10
- 2008 saw Alan Keyes return, but there were primarily elected officials on the ballot
- 2012 we had Herman Cain, a businessman who's plans shaped how candidates presented theirs

So the question isn't can they run, how far they can run, or can they get the nomination.
The question is what will the discussion be centered around, and will they make an impact?

Looking at the elections of the last 25 years - Perot and Nader made an impact in the discussions and outcome. Sharpton was able to define an opposition to war, and Keyes and Cain were able to present a series of plans that shaped discussions and presentation styles.

However in order to actually become the nominee, you have to have support across a large swath of the party. Only time will tell if Trump is able to build that support.