Posted by Grant on November 10, 2008 – 9:48 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I had a phenomenal weekend up in the arctic tundra of Minneapolis at the first of three FBLA National Fall Leadership Conferences. I was lucky enough to do the closing keynote with 1,600 students in a room where there weren’t enough chairs…needless to say, the energy in that place was insane! Great event…great students…lots of fun.
I’ll be going to DC this weekend for the second of the conferences, and I can’t wait. After I finish up in DC on Saturday night, I’ll be flying over to Richmond, Indiana and do the closing keynote at the Indiana State Student Council Conference Sunday morning. It’ll be a packed weekend, but I can’t wait for it!
Posted by Grant on October 27, 2008 – 6:08 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I’m packing up this morning and prepping for a full week of travel. I fly out this afternoon and head up to Minneapolis where I’ll be speaking at a college conference tomorrow morning. After I finish up there, I’ll fly to Dover, Delaware where I’ll be speaking Wednesday morning. After that, I’ll fly cross country to San Francisco where I’ll be doing school assemblies at two different schools on Thursday and Friday, and then I’ll fly back late Friday night. So for those of you keeping score at home…
- 4 days
- 3 states
- 9 speaking sessions
- 4300 students
- 3 time zones
- 8 flights
- 6 airports
- Getting paid to do what you love….(wait for it)….PRICELESS!
Posted by Grant on September 7, 2008 – 9:54 am
Filed under Events, Travels
Right now I’m sitting at the Springfield, MO airport getting ready to catch a flight down to Shreveport, Louisiana. I’m speaking at a seminar there tomorrow and then drive over to Dallas to speak on Tuesday. Tuesday night I’ll fly from Dallas to Houston and then be in Beaumont, TX on Wednesday and back to Houston on Thursday. Then I buzz over to San Marcos, TX Friday and fly home out of Austin on Friday night.
Full week!
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Hurricane Ike as that looks like it could be headed towards Texas. I think I’ll just miss it but I’m wondering if I’m going to run into any evacuations on Thursday going out of Houston. We’ll see…
Posted by Grant on August 14, 2008 – 4:22 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I’m traveling to Connecticut today to speak at a student leadership event on Friday morning. We’ll be doing some group mixers, team building activities, and brainstorming ways to help improve their school. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with these students!
And secretly, I’m hoping to be able to buzz over to Bristol, Connecticut to check out the headquarters for ESPN. It is a journey…a quest…a pilgrimage…that every true sports fan must make once in their lifetime!
Posted by Grant on August 3, 2008 – 9:23 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I’m at home packing up some of my belongings and getting ready to head to the airport. I’ve got a full week ahead of me that should be fun, but I’ll definitely be missing my girls. Having web cams definitely helps though…
Tonight I fly into Pittsburgh and drive a few hours to Altoona, PA, where I’ll be speaking tomorrow. Then I drive over and speak in Greensburg, PA on Tuesday and Pittsburgh on Wednesday. After that, I’ll buzz down to West Virginia and speak in Parkersburg, WV on Thursday and Charleston, WV on Friday. And finally, I get to fly home Friday night.
5 days. 5 cities. 5 different hotels. 5 events.
Yikes.
Posted by Grant on July 27, 2008 – 2:36 pm
Filed under Events, Travels
It’s been nice to be home for a few days, but I head back out tomorrow. I fly out tomorrow night and travel to Providence, Rhode Island. I will be speaking Tuesday morning at an event for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
After that, I’m going to drive out to Cape Cod and hang with fellow youth speaker, Jeff Yalden. Jeff is a true veteran in this business and has been in the industry much longer than I have. He’s invited me to come visit for an extra day, so I’m looking forward to chilling with him but also to seeing the Cape Cod area (which I hear is gorgeous!).
I’ll then fly back home Wednesday afternoon. I’m sure I’ll have some pictures to post from this trip…
Posted by Grant on July 24, 2008 – 6:00 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I haven’t had much of a chance to blog this week so I wanted to check in with some updates…
- I spoke Monday in Springfield, IL to a group of state officers from various student leadership organizations around Illinois. I had a great time being a part of the event, but was bummed because I had leave so quickly after the event to catch a flight out of St. Louis. I love meeting students, so I hate it when I leave immediately.
- I flew into Knoxville and picked up my rental car. All they had for me was a bright, cherry red Mustang. It is the kind of car that begs (a) to be driven fast and (b) to be pulled over. I drove over to Nashville yesterday and tinkered with option (a) and thankfully avoided option (b).
- I’m really missing my girls…for some reason, it’s extra bad this week.
- In Nashville, I’m staying at a Double Tree hotel. I like checking in because they give you a free cookie. Wow, how sad am I?
- I’m going to dinner tonight with a buddy from high school who is building his music career here in Nashville. Really looking forward to hanging out with this dude…
- Did I mention I really miss my girls? Only one more night away and then I fly home. Being gone for 1 or 2 nights isn’t a huge deal for my wife or I but when you’re gone for 5 night in 3 cities, it starts to wear on you.
Posted by Grant on July 20, 2008 – 12:16 pm
Filed under Events, Travels
I’m getting ready to leave in the next hour or so to hit the road again. I’ve been home for several weeks with the new arrival of little Emilee Beth. It’s been nice to be home for a while, but Daddy has to go make some money!
I’ve got a 5 hour drive to Springfield, IL where I’m speaking at a student leadership event Monday morning. Then I’ll drive to St. Louis and catch a flight to Knoxville, TN where I’ll be speaking on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, I’ll drive over to Nashville, TN and speak there Thursday and Friday. Friday night I fly back to St. Louis and then will have a 3 hour drive back home.
Just seeing that schedule makes me tired!
But I love what I get to do, so I’m looking forward to being at some great events this week! Plus, my wife just got a new laptop, so we can talk with a webcam and I can see all the girls back home.
I’ll keep you updated on the travels this week!
Posted by Grant on July 3, 2008 – 7:41 am
Last night I had the opportunity to speak at my church in what is commonly referred to as “big church.” I’ve spoken several times for the students there but this was a first with the adults. It all went well and I had a good time.
Anytime I’m speaking to adults instead of students, I have to change my lingo. Talking about things like YouTube, Facebook, and OMG don’t always make sense to the older crowd!
Posted by Grant on June 21, 2008 – 7:09 pm
Filed under Events, Travels
I made a quick trip out to Denver this week and had the privilege of speaking at a youth event out there on Friday morning. The neat part of this event was that it was for students whose parents are in the Army Reserves. Several of their parents are stationed around the country at various bases and others are stationed around the world in combat situations. It was humbling to talk with these students and to hear what their lives are like with parents in these situations.
These teenagers and their parents are true heroes in my mind. It is because of what they do that I get to do what I do.
Here’s a picture after we wrapped up. It was one of those pictures where several cameras were flashing at once and it appears I may be the only one to actually look at my camera!
