Last week's fancy dinner (see a couple posts down) reminded me of a story about my entitled 20-something youth… a time when I thought the world was here to serve me (when I was a bit more of an @ss#o/& than I am now… I think).

It was the beautifully aligned glasses across the open tables that gave me the flashback.

I must have been about 23 (twenty years ago). I was selling insurance.

To supplement my income, I waited tables in a popular restaurant in Georgetown. On this particular shift, I was standing doing nothing and the manager (a young person, as well) came to me and said…

"If you don't have anything else to do right now, in your section, make sure all the place settings are aligned nicely. I want you imagine a string held over your row of tables, above the glasses. Those glasses should be perfectly aligned. Understand?"

It's possible she added a please or two but that's not the point.

I remember thinking (and saying with my eyes, I'm sure), "You're a fanatic." I remember being angry and thinking her request was just busywork.

And now, like so many things with an added 20 years of experience, if I were to see a video of my response, I'm sure I'd be embarrassed.

She was serious about her work. And now, she's the reason I like going to particular restaurants, shopping at particular stores, and working with particular companies.

Attention to detail. Care.
To a fanatical level.

I know it's a long shot, but if you're reading this and you think you're the "fanatic" I'm writing about, please email me your address. I'd love to send you an apology gift.

tgim

While it played on the radio, my 8-year-old said…

"That sounds like Barack Obama."

"What?"

"You know… Ba  Rack  O  Ba  Ma."

All I could think was, "Man, this guy is charmed."

(The he smiled at me, Ba Rack o Ba Ma… Me and my drum.)

It follows me everywhere.

The Spaniard and I were in New York last night (212 area code, deservingly so) combining business with our anniversary (sweet 16).

In our room at our hotel was a Zagat guide. I opened it to a page with a Gordon Ramsey listing and thought, "I love my lady but we have bills to pay."

A couple entries down was the Gotham Bar & Grill with a 27 rating at about half the per head price (but still big money). The address was 12 East 12th Street — two twelves. Done.

Our review after the jump.

Continue reading →

“All right, let’s bring it home.  
                  
If you was hit by a truck and you were lying out in that gutter dying… and you had time to sing one song, huh? One song people would remember before you’re dirt. One song that would let God know what you felt about your time here on earth. One song that would sum you up… you telling me that’s the song you’d sing?

Or would you sing something different?
                  
Something real, something you felt?”

I don’t know if Sam Phillips (produced Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and others) really said that to Johnny Cash at his first audition, but those are the words in the film (Walk The Line).

When I need focus and want to get inspired, the clip and words always pump me up. You can watch it here (click skip and then the “Believing in Yourself” button in the lower left corner). The scene opens just after Cash plays it safe with his audition tune.

If you sell, you might remember the truck thought as you prepare what you leave for your voice mail messages. If you’re a marketer, for all of us (please), remember it as you create your marketing collateral.

This one works for me, too.

tgim

Given the environment (and the bailouts), I'm guessing our veterans would better appreciate our bankers working today in their honor rather than sitting at home.

Even the public school children in my area have a half-day.

Are we completely asleep?!

“I’m ’bout to put out some light.”

– Timothy Edwards
   Pastor, Roanoke Chapel Baptist Church

A few years ago I was running with a friend of mine at Lake Gaston in North Carolina. It was about 7 in the morning when we came up on some people cooking outside a small church on a little country road (a scene right out of the movies).

They were preparing for their Homecoming weekend and invited us to attend. We had plans that day but joined them at their worship service the next day (neither of us are Baptists).

Over the years, it’s been the warmth of the people and the gospel choir talent that’s had me going back any time I’m there.

This past summer, in the heat of some rolling thunder preaching, Reverend Edwards (perfect for the movie) let those words above out. I thought they were great and kept trying to figure out a clever way to work them onto the blog. Too many weeks I held them back (ironic given the quote). I’m sorry.

Let’s put out some light.

tgim

(the church above is their older facility which is right next door to the place they now use… services last a couple hours and can really get going… if you like something quieter, maybe a little more suburban ; ) this won’t be your place… 2nd and 4th Sundays starting at 11 although it tends not really to get going until 11:30).

For an economic environment like the one we have, there are too many office parking lots empty before 8:30 am and after 6 pm.

And for those of you in the financial world enjoying our (the taxpayer) assistance in making sure you have jobs and we in turn might minimize our chances of further financial meltdown … I'm begging you (now as a part owner of your securities, I think, although I still don't completely understand), please give us more effort and time over the next few years.

tgim

(8 – 7: the new bankers' hours? don't you think you should?)

If you have the time (outside your money hours, of course), catch The Choice 2008 (a PBS Frontline program).

You can watch it in 9 – 15 minute pieces over a few days or all at once. I found it to be one of the least bias pieces on the campaign I've seen.

To have this kind of content, available free and on-demand… how do the networks get anyone's attention* anymore?

All of the shows begin here.

(*i admit, i'm 30 Rock fan… okay… Mad Men, too, but that's it… seriously… no… i'm serious)

Think about our work (contribution).

No matter if we feel lucky or not with what we've been given (or earned) as our opportunity, we're ultimately just stewards of it for a brief period in time. It will be handed off to someone else at some point.

If we thought of it as a box to be given to someone else, what would we want the recipient to think when they opened it up?

Wouldn't we want it to be something that's difficult to improve upon?

tgim

They came by the house last night…

Here’s Sage and Sarah…

We were a little suspicious about Hillary when we noticed her legs.

(Okay… it’s me and The Spaniard. We’ve been married a long time.)