Posted by Grant on June 16, 2008 – 1:18 pm
Filed under Funny, Travels
In the last week, I figured I was on 7 different flights for my travels. And we all know that every time you get on a plane, the flight attendant has to walk through their little spiel that most people tune out. I am usually one of the people tuning out but I did catch something a flight attendant said on one of the flights. As she was explaining how to put on your oxygen mask, she said a great line. As serious as could be, she said…
“Don’t forget to breathe.”
Maybe that line is always there and I’ve just missed it but is it even possible to forget to breathe?!
I also always enjoy the instructions on how to use a seatbelt…for those who haven’t been in a car ever in their life.
Posted by Grant on June 12, 2008 – 6:38 pm
I spoke in Corpus Christi today and decided to enjoy the moment tonight by hanging out on the beach…
Posted by Grant on June 12, 2008 – 4:56 am
As a speaker, I spend a lot of time traveling but I also spend a lot of time searching for cost effective flights to travel on. Earlier this week I booked a ticket for a trip to Denver next week and out of Springfield the ticket was nearly $1,000 but out of Kansas City it was $370. Wow.
I know jet fuel is expensive right now but I didn’t think it was that bad…
Posted by Grant on June 10, 2008 – 6:08 am
Filed under Random, Travels
I’m in McAllen, TX today and tomorrow speaking at a seminar. But one thing that I’m really excited about is that I’m staying at a Holiday Inn Express. Do you remember the infamous Holiday Inn Express video?
But this morning whenever I received my wakeup call, something happened that I wasn’t used to. Normally hotels have some type of recorded message wishing you a “cheerful and magnificent” day…or something like that.
But this morning, my wakeup call came from an actual live person.
It caught me off guard and thankfully I didn’t say anything stupid expecting it to be a recording. But it got me thinking…I would kind of like to go down to the front desk and interview that person because I bet they could tell some great stories of how people answer their phone. Naturally, people aren’t at their best when the wakeup call comes in so I’m sure they would have some pretty humorous stories to tell.
Posted by Grant on June 4, 2008 – 6:12 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I’ve got a couple of great events I’m speaking at this week for Missouri teenagers. Tomorrow night, I drive up to Columbia, MO and will be speaking Friday morning at the closing session of the State 4-H Congress, which is basically their annual state conference for high school students. I did an event for Missouri 4-H back in February for their middle school students, which was a lot of fun, and they invited me back so I guess I wasn’t a complete bomb. I finish up Friday morning and drive back home.
Then on Sunday, I’ll drive back up to Fulton, MO where I’ll be speaking at the opening session of the Missouri Student Council Leadership Camp. This will be a really exciting event to kick off their camp so I’m really looking forward to it.
I’ll try to post some pictures and keep you updated on how the events go. I can’t wait!
Posted by Grant on May 13, 2008 – 5:45 pm
I’m in Chicago for a few days speaking at some seminars and have had a great time hanging out in the city. Here are some pics from what I’ve been up to:
From my hotel room on the 22nd floor…Hancock Building in the back there…
From the Cubs game last night at Wrigley Field…
I walked a few miles around the city this afternoon so here are a few pictures from that tour…
Posted by Grant on May 12, 2008 – 3:01 pm
It never ceases to amaze me what being nice to others will do for you. I’ve had three different occasions in the last week at three different hotels where just by being nice brought some type of “reward” to me.
Last week, I got a free dessert from the hotel restaurant; yesterday I got a room upgrade; and today as I checked into my hotel in Chicago, I got upgraded to an awesome room with an amazing view of the city.
How?
Just by being nice! It’s not that I’m anything special or did anything unique. I just went out of my way to be polite and nice to people and apparently, it paid off well. Now of course there is no sense in doing something nice just for a “reward” but it makes for a nice cherry on top of the sundae.
Who could you go out of your way to be nice to this week?
Posted by Grant on May 12, 2008 – 4:26 am
I’m sitting in my hotel in Chicago and am just thankful to have finally made it. Yesterday was one of those not-so-perfect travel days! Let me explain…
I get to the airport and notice the flight has been delayed an hour. Eventually, when we board the plane, they back away from the gate where we proceeded to sit for another 2 hours because of weather delays in Chicago. So after arriving 3 hours late, the baggage took forever to get unloaded and then the car rental shuttle seemed to take extra long. Even the guy directing traffic said it took too long! And finally when I arrived at the hotel, they didn’t have my reservation. After about 15 minutes, they found it but it was under the wrong dates, the length of stay was messed up, and the billing information was jacked up. So I finally got to my room close to 4 hours later than I expected. But you know what…
It was no big deal.
Why?
Because I decided that it was no big deal. As we sat on the plane waiting and waiting and waiting, I couldn’t help but overhear other people griping and moaning about the delay. As if all their whining was going to make a difference. That is just the way life goes sometimes and you choose what your attitude will be about the situation.
I’ve heard it said that “sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield.” Or “sometimes you’re the bird and sometimes you’re the statue.” That’s just the way life is, isn’t it?
So if you already know that’s the case, then what good is it going to do to have a poor attitude? Obviously, it is not going to do any good.
And as easy as it is to have a bad attitude about anything, it is just as easy to have a positive one. How? It happens when you decide it is going to happen.
What situations make it really difficult for you to have a positive attitude about?
Posted by Grant on May 9, 2008 – 7:27 pm
As I type this, I’m actually sitting on the plane, high above the clouds, headed back home from Chicago. I had a really great week of seminars but I’m wiped and ready to get home. Unfortunately, it will be a quick weekend because I fly back to Chicago on Sunday afternoon. So I definitely want to spend every moment I can with my girls between now and then!
Next week I’ll be in Tinley Park, Chicago, and Arlington Heights speaking at some seminars. They are all pretty close to one another so travel should be pretty simple this week. While in Chicago, I am hoping to go to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field on Monday or Tuesday night. I do have mixed feelings about this however, considering I’m a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. So going to a Cubs game is somewhat sacrilegious.
To make up for it though, next Friday I’m flying to St. Louis to meet my wife and we’re going to the Cardinals game on Saturday. I definitely can’t wait for that. I’ll try to post some pictures from Chicago and from the Cardinals game for your viewing pleasure.
Stay tuned…
Posted by Grant on May 4, 2008 – 8:21 am
Filed under Events, Travels
I’m at the house this morning finishing packing up some odds and ends and getting ready to hit the road again for the week. Usually about one week each month, I work with an organization as an independent contractor doing full day seminars for business professionals on time management and organization. But for May, I actually have 2 full back to back weeks coming up which is pretty grueling. But at the end of next week, I’m flying to St. Louis to meet my wife and we’re going to a Cardinals game which will be awesome!
So today I fly to Detroit and speak there Monday & Tuesday. Tuesday night I’ll catch a flight to Indianapolis where I’ll speak Wednesday and Thursday. When I’m done on Thursday in Indy, I’ll drive to Chicago and speak Friday there and fly home Friday night. It is certainly a full week but I enjoy training people and watching them have those “aha” moments where the light bulb clicks on.
In addition to time management and organization, we also talk a lot about balancing life and finding work that you’re passionate about – two subjects that I love to teach on.
So while it is fun meeting new people and running around, I sure miss my girls! I’m just thankful for the power of webcams!
