One of my favorite things about this island is waking up (usually around 6am), grabbing breakfast, a cup of coffee, and walking out onto the lanai to enjoy the scenery. No thoughts, no worries, pure observation.
For your context, it is currently noon on a beautifully, sunny, yet windy Saturday and I am sitting on Tommy's couch out in Ko'Olina watching the Arkansas-Alabama football game...Ingram knows how to play the game of football. But, before we continue, don't assume that because I am on my computer right now that I am recovering from a late night (it was, by the way) or fighting off a couple of late night cocktails (me? kocktail kraig?).
Last night was a special occasion; it is Tommy Nordling's last weekend on O'ahu. He will be pursing a wonderful career and personal opportunity, seeking managerial responsibilities of his own store and 'hopefully' a future engagement with his stunning, long term girlfiend Kaley. To continue on, we were invited out to his boss's place for a send off bar-b-que. With a large Target contingency, John (the boss) instantly huddled everyone together to share favorite stories of Tommy. From his endearing nature, contagious personality (can be said about this entire core group of individuals), to recurring accounts of sincerity, and of course, wonderful humor, it was special to witness these tears, laughs, and reflections.
Although the opportunity did not present itself to share a personal story about Tommy, this forum allows endless chances. Without further adieu, here is the speech that I whipped up while listening to the others last night:
First, I want to thank you for coming to Tommy and my one month anniversary. It is fantastic to have this crowd of people to share and rejoice in our love. Most of you do not even know who I am, Hello, my name is Kraig Olson, but that is beside the point. Some of you have heard the phrase that behind every hard working man is a beautiful woman (to some variation). Well, in our case, this is basically true, 'behind every hard working man (myself) is an even better looking, harder working, more sincere man (point to Tommy).
My friend Patrick Riordan (also a Target ETL...if you don't know the acronym, get with the program) would occasionally talk about Tommy and his escapades in Hawaii, but I took that for granted; he said, Tommy is a great guy, an absolute fantastic individual. For those of you who know Pat or even don't, he isn't one to necessarily talk too much about items like this. Well, do you know what, Pat couldn't have been further from the truth. Tommy is not just a fantastic individual; he is the best of individuals.
That would be an initial kick off speech, but for a specific story about Tommy, perhaps this will give you a glimpse. After flying back from Minneapolis, Tommy and Jeff encouraged me to stopy by Gordan Biersch (sp) for dinner. With it's close proximity to a fine family restaurant (cough, cough, Hooters), you can guess where we went after dinner. Exhausted after the beer and knowing that my birthday was the next day, I called it a night, but that didn't stop these guys. Long story short, someone, by sheer happenstance, encountered the 24 hr flu.
Later that weekend, everyone came over to my place in Waikiki and the first thing that Mr. Nordling did was present to me a birthday gift. Genuinely saddened at the fact he couldn't make the b-day festivities, he bought me a Crown Royal Reserve bottle of whiskey. I couldn't have asked for more.
Overall, Tommy is going to be greatly missed, and I only hope and pray to stay in close contact with him over the years to come.
***
I feel the long windedness and can take a hint. So, what is happening the rest of the weekend? Here is the potential plan:
1. Pool in a half an hour at my place
2. Grocery shopping
3. Grilling by the pool
4. Yardhouse-Bar with over 100 beers on tap!
5. Vikings = 7am
6. Sunday fun day (workout/beach/friends)
7. Invited to another gathering Sunday afternoon in Diamondhead
Should be an entertaining weekend and I look forward to enjoying the endless sunshine.
Oh yeah, by the way, I went on two dates this weekend and couldn't have asked for anything more; they were incredible.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
You Travel for Work?! Exciting! How often?
The interesting thing about the travel requirements on this project is going through with them. As I sit on my parents couch in Blooming Prairie, MN at 5:50 am CT, watching repeated chick flicks, (sorry folks, this is all that is on TV right now), I can’t help but think that this is the perfect time to blog. Knowing of the delirium that consumes me right now, brace yourself for a whirlwind of comments.
I asked a group of my friends this the other day, “What’s your airplane?” For those of you that aren’t down with pop culture, or hip hop music to be exact, B.O.B performs a tune titled Airplanes. The chorus opens the song with this line:
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I can really use a wish right now.
At first I was pretty naïve, material in fact at the concept of what I would wish for, but as this idea of looking up at the stars and wishing/hoping for an event to happen lingers on, I abruptly halt materialistic fantasies (wealth, cars, jobs-consider this material) and shift focus. What lies on the end of the street, just after the skid marks of my own vision, is passion; No, not that kind of passion.
The truth of the matter is that my airplane, my wish, my passion is to help people; I love teaching, coaching, and pray that I continue to be placed in positions where these talents are maximized. Sitting on the plane the other day next to an entrepreneur who recently sold his company, the audacity of this gentleman shocked me into a startling realization. At first the discussion (more of a presentation if you ask me) seemed to fit the mold of basic natter, but abruptly shifted to unexpectedly relatable topics. The man said that after he sold his company, a piece of himself left, and now as he was getting paid to assist in the transition, he felt like a whore. I didn’t know how to respond. Other people around me did; they put on their headphones.
Avoiding diving into “Life Lessons with Kraig 101,” I found this interesting and will simply leave it at that, cutting off the potential pages of reflection.
So…How? Why? What on earth am I doing typing this early in the morning? Why am I not in Hawaii?
I was fired.
JUST KIDDING.
Once a month for the next three months I have training in Chicago. Here was the flight schedule:
1. Depart Hawaii at 10:30pm HST (3:30am CST)
2. Connect in San Francisco, CA and depart at 8:30am PST (11:30am CST)
3. Arrive in Minneapolis, MN at 2:20 PM CST
4. Drive to home in New Brighton and stay there until 5:00PM
5. Return to Airport and have conference call.
6. Depart Minneapolis at 7:45 PM CST
7. Arrive in Chicago at 9:00PM
8. Training Friday morning.
9. Depart Chicago at 3:30PM CST
10. Arrive in Minneapolis at 5PM CST
11. Depart Minnesota at 11:45am CST on Monday
With this instability, my clock, time zone, whatever you want to call it, has absolutely no idea what is happening. Since Wednesday at 10am CST (5am HST when I woke up), total sleep time is 16 hrs.
It’s Sunday.
Whoa, end of The Notebook, sad.
At 6:15am CST (1:15am HST), I am going to force myself to take a nap. After all, I tee off with Chris Stenzel and the Princess (Dave Albrecht) at 8:30am in Byron. Watch out world.
Monday, September 13, 2010
What is it? (The opening month's theme)
9/11-With the intent to write a daily journal entry since my arrival August 16th, it's strange, almost unnerving to find it already September 11th. Yes, I am not going to just glance over the symbolism or even monumental moment in US History, but this journal, my history, is going to push the nation to the bench. Is it unpatriotic for me to think/say that?
The four and a half weeks since arrive have been a whirlwind of "what seemed to be" headless chickenesque efforts at work, tiptoeing captain obvious project risks, adjusting to paradise (it IS an adjustment), endless partying, and, leading the marathon events, establishing new friends in this isolated place. But, first, here is a quick run through of events:
What subjects am going to write about: 1) Work 2) Friends 3) Girls (what type of Kraig Olson blog wouldn't be complete without this one, right?
Work is going to be interesting here and I am slowly dusting off the cobwebs, itching, ready to sprint as if I am regaining feeling in my legs. But unfortunately, you can't sprint before you can walk and I am working on progressing to a speedwalk right now. By Tuesday, I will be sprinting and the work pace/dedication/effort WILL be back to normal. More to come next blog.
Perhaps the most intriguing piece about the time I have spent here shifts towards connectors. Malcom Gladwell wrote about connectors. Take a second and see if you can already begin to think of what the subject of the following paragraphs will be.
Jeff Barlow is a connector: Contagious personality, positive attitude, never ending smile, wide eyed deer in headlight look, and a genuine love for people (BTW, Jeff might be more fickle than I am folks).
It's true; Time flies. Two years passed since I last partied with Jeff and we picked up where we left out...Out of Control. No details necessary here, but the nights have been a blast. No, no women, no silly hook ups, no overly unusual antics, but just pure fun.
Somewhere in the midst of all the fun, however, Jeff is the center point for 12-15 additional, non work, friends that I now have as part of my inner circle. I listed them above (Tommy, Ken, Kelsi, Kelli, Kristina, Aaron, Josh, Leanne, Charlie, Kumi, Katie, just to name a few). It's incredible and I only look forward to the days, weeks and months to come.
It would be one thing to rant and rave about Jeff's ability to connect people to people, but the most important thing to bring up is Jeff's ability to connect Quality People to Quality People. Each of these people's is unique, varyin backgrounds, life paths, but at the core of each of them is a specific trait...Caring. Sure there are spin offs of the word: generosity, sincerity, honesty, etc., but it ultimately comes down to the fact that each person, each male, each female appears to care about the individual first.
That's it, that's some of the moments and recurring items on my daily, weekly plate. These blogs are going to become more frequent. Ideally daily, but if I fail to live up to this expectation, well, wait patiently for the next journal entry.
Love Everyone.
Oh yeah, watched Pay it Forward today; interesting show, neat concept. Let's start.
The four and a half weeks since arrive have been a whirlwind of "what seemed to be" headless chickenesque efforts at work, tiptoeing captain obvious project risks, adjusting to paradise (it IS an adjustment), endless partying, and, leading the marathon events, establishing new friends in this isolated place. But, first, here is a quick run through of events:
- August 16th-Arrival
- August 17th-20th-Work (Observations, process flows, team meetings, blah)
- August 20-23rd-Party too hard w/ Jeff Barlow (Meet Tommy Nordingling; He is a solid guy)
- Auust 23rd-24th-Work/Project Kick Off/Summit
- August 24th-Red Eye to Portland
- August 25th-Old Client visit
- August 26th-27th-Conference in Portland
- August 28th-Chris Cole's Wedding
- August 29th-Fantasy Draft/Lunch with Family
- August 30th-Flight/Dinner with Tommy, Jeff (Introduced to Ken)
- August 31st-September 3rd-Bday/Work/Team Context/Work
- September 4th-Hang out with Jeff
- September 5th-Jeff at KoO'lina/Lagoons/Tommy (Introduced to Kristina!)
- September 6th-No Jeff; Tommy/Kristina and 'Secret Beach' in KoO'lina (Introduced to LeAnne/Aaron Stinar), Snorkel, Turtles
- September 7th-10th-Work/Invited to Tommy/Kristina's for Vikings game
- September 10th-Invited to Driving Range, Dinner with the Stinars (Meet Josh Stinar, Charlie,Kumi); Other notable attendees include: LeAnne and Kristina
- September 11th-Group Barbeque at the Condo (Stinars, Charlie, Kumi, Ashley A (Co Worker), Tiffany (Co Worker), Jenn (Tiffany's Friend), Kristina)/Coconut Willies/Early Night
- September 12th-Kraig Day
What subjects am going to write about: 1) Work 2) Friends 3) Girls (what type of Kraig Olson blog wouldn't be complete without this one, right?
Work is going to be interesting here and I am slowly dusting off the cobwebs, itching, ready to sprint as if I am regaining feeling in my legs. But unfortunately, you can't sprint before you can walk and I am working on progressing to a speedwalk right now. By Tuesday, I will be sprinting and the work pace/dedication/effort WILL be back to normal. More to come next blog.
Perhaps the most intriguing piece about the time I have spent here shifts towards connectors. Malcom Gladwell wrote about connectors. Take a second and see if you can already begin to think of what the subject of the following paragraphs will be.
Jeff Barlow is a connector: Contagious personality, positive attitude, never ending smile, wide eyed deer in headlight look, and a genuine love for people (BTW, Jeff might be more fickle than I am folks).
It's true; Time flies. Two years passed since I last partied with Jeff and we picked up where we left out...Out of Control. No details necessary here, but the nights have been a blast. No, no women, no silly hook ups, no overly unusual antics, but just pure fun.
Somewhere in the midst of all the fun, however, Jeff is the center point for 12-15 additional, non work, friends that I now have as part of my inner circle. I listed them above (Tommy, Ken, Kelsi, Kelli, Kristina, Aaron, Josh, Leanne, Charlie, Kumi, Katie, just to name a few). It's incredible and I only look forward to the days, weeks and months to come.
It would be one thing to rant and rave about Jeff's ability to connect people to people, but the most important thing to bring up is Jeff's ability to connect Quality People to Quality People. Each of these people's is unique, varyin backgrounds, life paths, but at the core of each of them is a specific trait...Caring. Sure there are spin offs of the word: generosity, sincerity, honesty, etc., but it ultimately comes down to the fact that each person, each male, each female appears to care about the individual first.
That's it, that's some of the moments and recurring items on my daily, weekly plate. These blogs are going to become more frequent. Ideally daily, but if I fail to live up to this expectation, well, wait patiently for the next journal entry.
Love Everyone.
Oh yeah, watched Pay it Forward today; interesting show, neat concept. Let's start.
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