Plane, train or automobile: Matrix
Mission: Management Training. I was originally going to be an observer/coach for one of our newly certified Trainers, so I was looking forward to watching the workshop rather than facilitating the workshop.
One of the key learning moments in the workshop is when the managers coach another manager through the conversation we are practicing. You see so much more about the effect of your words and the flow of the conversation when you are not the one talking! I was really looking forward to this viewpoint so I could improve my facilitation!
Alas, the other trainer had something come up so I ended up facilitating the group myself. We still had a great time and one of the managers really took the training to heart. He started using some of the skills on the first night and emailed me on Friday to let me know how he had used the skills to get through to a Team Member that he had previously struggled with. WIN!
Number of human interactions: 7. That's about the smallest number I would like to have in a workshop - it's hard to work in small groups if you start out as a small group.
State(s) visited: NC
City visited: Durham
Interesting fact about this city: Home to the Durham Bulls. They are a farm team for the AL East leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Halpert says: Rays??? Rays??? You know Travel Wife is a Yankees fan... why do you want to rile her up?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080719
Plane, train or automobile: Jet City Woman by Queensryche is echoing through my head.
First time this year I have flown in back to back weeks. I flew on our preferred carrier, US Airways, which has recently changed their Dividend Miles program. I used to get a minimum of 500 miles for a Roanoke-Charlotte leg on a trip... but no more. Now I get actual mileage (155). So let's cut my miles earned by 2/3, cut out my in flight snack and start charging for the second bag. Give me less, charge me more - what a great business model!
SkyHigh Airlines still has the best frequent flyer program...
Mission: Management training for 14 store managers in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Number of human interactions: 23
State(s) visited: NC and AL
City visited: Tuscaloosa - Roll Tide! I am not an Alabama fan (sorry, Richie!), but I do know that it is one of the "name" schools that UCF has beaten in football. One good thing about college towns - they have Moe's!!!!
Interesting fact about this city: Other than Alabama football, I'm not sure.
Halpert says: What does "Roll Tide" have to do with elephants?
First time this year I have flown in back to back weeks. I flew on our preferred carrier, US Airways, which has recently changed their Dividend Miles program. I used to get a minimum of 500 miles for a Roanoke-Charlotte leg on a trip... but no more. Now I get actual mileage (155). So let's cut my miles earned by 2/3, cut out my in flight snack and start charging for the second bag. Give me less, charge me more - what a great business model!
SkyHigh Airlines still has the best frequent flyer program...
Mission: Management training for 14 store managers in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Number of human interactions: 23
State(s) visited: NC and AL
City visited: Tuscaloosa - Roll Tide! I am not an Alabama fan (sorry, Richie!), but I do know that it is one of the "name" schools that UCF has beaten in football. One good thing about college towns - they have Moe's!!!!
Interesting fact about this city: Other than Alabama football, I'm not sure.
Halpert says: What does "Roll Tide" have to do with elephants?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080712 - Minneapolis Part I
Plane, train or automobile: Back in the air at last! I flew Delta airlines to Minneapolis and then hitched a ride with the Division Manager to the hotel. Our workshop was at the hotel, so I really didn't need to go anywhere. Why spend money on a car that is going to sit in the parking lot for two days?
Maybe next time I can travel on SkyHigh Airlines...
Mission: Management training for 11 store managers. This was a good group and I had the opportunity to spend a little extra time bonding with them - the Division Manager took us all out to dinner at the restaurant next door after the first day's session. When your division covers western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, you take advantage of times when your Team is together.
Number of human interactions: 13. There was this absolutely delightful lady working in the hotel restaurant every morning. Extremely friendly, customer focused and wanted to make sure that everything was going smoothly for our group. One of the best hotel experiences I have had this year. I stayed here.
State(s) visited: OH (really KY since the Cincinnati Airport is in Kentucky) and MN.
City visited: Minneapolis and Elk River.
Interesting fact about this city: One interesting fact - the Mall of America. I didn't get a chance to visit this time, but I have a return trip coming up in a few weeks and will have some time to visit MOA.
So the Mall of America and... two interesting facts!
The Minnesota Vikings. I was a fan while Daunte Culpepper was the QB - us UCF boys have to stick together. We drove right by their practice facility and I saw many Vikings stickers, license plates, shirts, etc. while I was in town.
So the Mall of America, the Minnesota Vikings and... three interesting facts!
In Advance Auto Parts news, our new CEO Darren Jackson got the Roanoke media all fired up when he decided to continue living in Minneapolis. Darren was the CFO for Best Buy and has a lot of business ties to the community. Originally, we were supposed to have a small office for about 10 executives in Minnesota and everyone else would remain in Roanoke. While on this trip, AAP announced that the Front Room merchandising Team would be based in Minneapolis. As you can imagine, the local media in Roanoke is having a conniption!
Halpert says: The water slide was totally awesome! I wish Travel Kids had come along!
Maybe next time I can travel on SkyHigh Airlines...
Mission: Management training for 11 store managers. This was a good group and I had the opportunity to spend a little extra time bonding with them - the Division Manager took us all out to dinner at the restaurant next door after the first day's session. When your division covers western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, you take advantage of times when your Team is together.
Number of human interactions: 13. There was this absolutely delightful lady working in the hotel restaurant every morning. Extremely friendly, customer focused and wanted to make sure that everything was going smoothly for our group. One of the best hotel experiences I have had this year. I stayed here.
State(s) visited: OH (really KY since the Cincinnati Airport is in Kentucky) and MN.
City visited: Minneapolis and Elk River.
Interesting fact about this city: One interesting fact - the Mall of America. I didn't get a chance to visit this time, but I have a return trip coming up in a few weeks and will have some time to visit MOA.
So the Mall of America and... two interesting facts!
The Minnesota Vikings. I was a fan while Daunte Culpepper was the QB - us UCF boys have to stick together. We drove right by their practice facility and I saw many Vikings stickers, license plates, shirts, etc. while I was in town.
So the Mall of America, the Minnesota Vikings and... three interesting facts!
In Advance Auto Parts news, our new CEO Darren Jackson got the Roanoke media all fired up when he decided to continue living in Minneapolis. Darren was the CFO for Best Buy and has a lot of business ties to the community. Originally, we were supposed to have a small office for about 10 executives in Minnesota and everyone else would remain in Roanoke. While on this trip, AAP announced that the Front Room merchandising Team would be based in Minneapolis. As you can imagine, the local media in Roanoke is having a conniption!
Halpert says: The water slide was totally awesome! I wish Travel Kids had come along!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080704 HAPPY 4TH!!
Plane, train or automobile: Matrix.
Mission: Slightly different this week. I am working through a company certification program for my own development and because our Team will most likely begin running this program soon, I need to be familiar with how it works. I met with one of our HR managers and one of our Division Managers of the Year to review business related topics. Both did a great job of covering the material - I learned some things that will help me in the classroom and I learned how the process is used by the real-word facilitators. In between, I met our Operations Training Manager at a new store that he had opened the week before. This store was rocking and rolling - selling more parts and having more fun - and the manager had been through one of my workshops back in June. I'd like to say that his being in my class led to the strong sales, and I know that there are MANY factors that contribute to on the job performace - but I can dream, right?
Number of human interactions: 10
State(s) visited: NC.
City visited: Lexington / Durham
Interesting fact about this city: Lexington, NC is the barbecue capital of the world. And what did I do for lunch there???? I made myself a ham sandwich at the Regional Office - the Admin Assistant there keeps the fridge stocked so the staff doesn't have to leave the building. I am SO checking out the BBQ next time I visit!
Halpert says: Does Moes have a BBQ burrito?
Mission: Slightly different this week. I am working through a company certification program for my own development and because our Team will most likely begin running this program soon, I need to be familiar with how it works. I met with one of our HR managers and one of our Division Managers of the Year to review business related topics. Both did a great job of covering the material - I learned some things that will help me in the classroom and I learned how the process is used by the real-word facilitators. In between, I met our Operations Training Manager at a new store that he had opened the week before. This store was rocking and rolling - selling more parts and having more fun - and the manager had been through one of my workshops back in June. I'd like to say that his being in my class led to the strong sales, and I know that there are MANY factors that contribute to on the job performace - but I can dream, right?
Number of human interactions: 10
State(s) visited: NC.
City visited: Lexington / Durham
Interesting fact about this city: Lexington, NC is the barbecue capital of the world. And what did I do for lunch there???? I made myself a ham sandwich at the Regional Office - the Admin Assistant there keeps the fridge stocked so the staff doesn't have to leave the building. I am SO checking out the BBQ next time I visit!
Halpert says: Does Moes have a BBQ burrito?
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