Big Sky vs. Big business
The day before yesterday in the evening I arrived in Montana. I love Big Sky Country! I am here to work with my contractor (my father-in-law) on my new home and shop. As we began to lay forms for the footings on the house yesterday I couldn't help think about the difference between this work, and my former career. In both situations I built things. As head of development for my former company, I was responsible for all store location building, maintenance, repair, etc. Here I am just a tradesman plying a trade. As the executive, I think I may have lifted a hammer twice during my career, yesterday I must have drove a couple of hundred form stakes and did various other jobs.
This new work as a tradesman is a throw back to an earlier life for me. I have always loved to build things. I especially love to work with wood. I had convinced myself that I was still building things as an executive when in reality I was only doing administrative work and decision making. Yesterday was good! Vary hard work, but good. At the end of the day, I was tired, sore, and stress free. It was a great feeling. I realize I am in terrible shape for doing this work even though I exercise regularly. But to be physically tired at the end of the day rather than mentally drained and stressed is, for me a positive change.
Meanwhile back at the firm, at my former company that is, things are grim. They have announced another cutback of home office staff of about 30% (350 jobs). This is on top of all that has occurred since I left. In addition, they have stopped the building of all three brands of stores excepting those that were previously committed. In a public company you grow or fail. A major acquisition that was needed to make earnings this year has failed and the company that was to be acquired went to a direct competitor making them much stronger in the industry. Unfortunately, it does not appear that there is any plan working that will save the companies earnings this year. Not that they are going out of business by any means. Last year we had our best profit year and threw off $637 million in free cash. This year it looks as if that may be cut in half.
It feels good to be in Montana, building a home and a future for my family and myself.
Alive and Kicking
Sorry about the long break in the saga. I haven't been ill in several years and even though as an executive I was one of the few lucky ones to have gotten a flu shot in the midst of the shortage last year, I still got the flu and it was a doosey! I don't remember feeling so sick before. Anyway, I am back up and at it. In the midst of catching up on all that was left while I was down, I have been amiss in writing to this blog. No more, as with all things in life right now, thing are a moving again.
This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to rejoin my father, a great man, and a mass of people, ordinary caring wonderful people in a volunteer charity event. Now I have done many charity events in past years but from a different perspective. I was either a representative of my former corporation or made large donations on behalf of the corporation and was regarded or generally presented as such. This weekend I was just my dad's son and a volunteer to assist in the event.
My father has long been a charity volunteer and coordinated. He is in his seventies and still more active than many half his age including myself. It has always been that way. I remember as a kid in high school, my father would get up early before going to work and go swim, run, and play racketball. Then he would at times ride his bike to work. I tried to get up for a while and keep up with him but I couldn't then and I still can't now. But it was great to be with him and most of my brothers and sisters to support him and assist in the MS (Multiple sclerosis) walk.
It was a great event and extremely rewarding to be there as just a volunteer and see all the people, both volunteers and walkers all there to support a common purpose. Those are great moments when you see the best in people. It means a lot more than time when I had just cut a big check.
Don't get me wrong, the support of corporations are critical to charities but somehow much is lose in translation coming from the perspective the large donor. You know you are helping by writing the check but you rarely get out and really associate with those you affect. Anyway, as part of my new life. Our family's new life, we will and are making more time for real charity. We are also much more richly rewarded and I appreciate the opportunities I have to serve through my father's efforts. In a couple of months he will, once again, be on the MS 100 mile bike ride! He has been the oldest rider for the past several years, but there he is, riding, raising money and awareness for this research. No, I don't think I could finish the 100 miler if I tried, but I am starting to ride again. Maybe, by next year............ Thanks dad, I hope when I grow up, I can be like you!
I am actually in Montana this evening. Life is good! But that is for my next post.
