I love meeting and seeing people in the airport. Well, I love meeting seeing people in general, friends at home, Kristina in Honolulu (or wherever we go), and family, but there is something about people lurking in the airports and on planes.
Today I the President of a Company called Connect point. He was by far one of the most humble, personable presidents that I have ever met. Kraig, have you met many presidents of companies before? Well, to be honest, I do not know what ‘many’ constitutes, but there have been others. Each one contains his/her own background, pursuit to greatness, but this last guy put me in awe.
A psychology major, this guy’s current company is a roof diagramming software company that utilizes satellites and drones to take easy and accurate roof measurements for insurance companies. The goal: minimize the number of insurance related injuries to claims adjusters (and make a couple of $$$ doing it). No, the individuals are not losing jobs..yet, because the satellites can’t perform damage assessments.
Isn’t that something? Satellites, roof measurements, drones, detailed diagrams. Absolutely incredible where things are going. Pretty soon satellites are going to be used to cut hair. The other day, I used a pen and paper to write a part of a story. Now we have million dollar satellites and drones for insurance bids. In-frickin-credible.
The best part about this guy is that we looked over, saw what I was reading, “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect,” by John Maxwell and started talking to me. From here we talked about other great books (gladwell, pink) and his company. We didn’t overdue it; you have to have space. Intermittent conversations in First Class are interesting; they need to be well timed otherwise it is awkward and uncomfortable. For the rest of the flight I watched 60 minute episodes (depressing) because they talked about “the winter of our hardship” when DHL in willmingham?, ohio went under. Talk about a perspective shake up.
After exchanging business cards, I didn’t inquire about positions, but more about what he thinks about “Blink” by Gladwell. I hope he writes. The last guy I talked to wrote a bit which was neat.
With one interaction there is bound to be more, and the next one was more from a lurking perspective. In Atlanta travelling from the T concourse to the E concourse (for those of you that haven’t been to Atlanta airport, this is from one end of the airport to the other and Atlanta is an international airport; it’s huge), I spotted a unique looking lady. Yes, unique. I could have used a combo of the clichés, gothic, rebel, liberal, contemporary, you name it, all of those fall into her description. 3 earrings on her lip, a half dozen in her ears, nose, eyebrow, some type of dyed hair, skinny jeans, baggie shirt, vest, sour/confused attitude (well, this is what her face displayed), and numerous bands. My favorite part: She wore two bands on the right wrist that said, “F*&U! You” and “F&%$! Off.” Guys, for those of you that know me, you might get a chuckle out of this, but every part of me was desperately itching to talk to her. I wanted to SO frickin bad, but I couldn’t think of the appropriate clichéd comment to say. “Why do you hate the word?” “Hmm, am I to take that literally.” “How was your childhood?” “I love your artwork.” Perhaps, I could have gone this route, “Where are you travelling to? Portland?” All in all I lurched forward, climbed closer in the rising escalator, but ran out of real estate and missed a golden opportunity. Ah, failure. One successful interaction followed by an unsuccessful one. To be honest, I put partial blame on myself, but also partial blame on when Kristina makes fun of me. She is key in preventing me from making abnormally awkward interactions, and this certainly could have been one. Next time you meet her, or get a chance to interact with her, ask about impressions of me attempting to talk to someone. You will laugh out loud.
Overall though, gang. I am taking off for Honolulu as we speak. There are a couple of individuals that are left to take their seats, but I am off. The picture below awaits me....in 9 hours and 19 minutes.
Shoot me a message, give me a call. I hope all of you are doing well and thinking of the beautiful summer that awaits Minnesota and/or the city that you currently live in.
Love, Kraig
