Plane, train or automobile: I spent the weekend prior to this workshop in South Dakota visiting my family, so there is a flight involved (just not on SkyHigh Airlines). My rental car was a very appliance like Kia Spectra - 4 wheels, 4 doors, a seat and a steering wheel.
Mission: Mangement Training. Boy, did I make an assumption that came back to bite me! When we had originally booked this class, it was going to be a combination of two divisions with half of each division going one month and the other half of each division going the following month (this class). I assumed that both divisions were sending all their managers. The division managers wanted to make a change and have each division attend as a group - no problem for me as I had already booked both trips. Last month in Minneapolis, I had one full division and was looking forward to working with the second group. The first day of class arrived and I was all set up and ready to go. I was chatting with a couple of management Team Members when the DM asked if I wanted to get started. Lo and behold, it was 9 a.m.!
Me: "Where is everyone?" I was looking at the two (2) people sitting in the room.
Him: "This is it."
Me: "There's only two."
Him: "Yep."
Me: "You remember how this works, right? I need at least 3 people to form one skill practice group..."
Him: "I'll sit in."
Me: "Are you sure you want to do this? We could save some meeting room expense, lodging expense and rental car expense and let these two get back to their stores."
Him: "They made the commitment. Let's do it"
So my previous low of 7 participants has been eclipsed by this class - hereafter known as "The One with Two People" (extra bonus points if you can tell me what popular TV show named each episode "The One...." (Travel Wife should let both of my other readers have a chance to answer first)).
I learned a lot adapting the course to two participants, and ended up having a successful session.
I also had the opportunity to have dinner with the attendees and a spouse, after which we went to Starbucks (the spouse who joined us works at Starbucks, so we got a really good discount!). The locals like to head down to Lake Front Park, so we spent some time down there walking around and people watching. Overall, a very pleasant evening!
Number of human interactions: 4
State(s) visited: MN, WI. Wisconsin always brings a smile to my face. It is the 48th state that I have visited. I used to spend my summers on my dad's moving van traveling all over the United States moving people. I had been in 47 states, with Wisconsin being the only state in the Lower 48 that I had missed. It took until 2005 for me to get to Wisconsin. I was with some coworkers and as our car neared the border, I stuck my arms and legs straight out in front of me (I was not driving) and started yelling "Finally! Finally!". I had to explain my outburst before they sent off for a drug test.
City visited: Hudson, WI.
Interesting fact about this city: A nice little town on the St. Croix river.
Halpert says: Ha, it only took me 8 months to get to Wisconsin!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080803 - South Dakota
Plane, train or automobile: Unfortunately, I did not get to fly SkyHigh Airlines (we really need to get them signed up as the corporate airline). I flew Delta back up to Minneapolis and spent some time with my mom, cousins and grandparents.
Mission: Visit the family. My mom remembers almost everything that people ever say and she remembered part of a comment I had made two years ago when I visited by myself. I mentioned that I didn't draw a big crowd without the Travel Kids back then, so she made sure that I had plenty of adoring fans on this trip. My aunt and uncle, two of my cousins and their husbands (and kids!) were at my mom's house for Friday Night Pizza - on Saturday night.
We then went to see my grandparents on Sunday - they are both over 90 years old and still feisty! They had gone to a wedding the day before, at which my grandfather claims to have gotten a bruise on his hand from fighting off the girls. I hope that I can have that much fun 50 years from now!
Speaking of family, Travel Wife and I decided not to attend her cousin's wedding in September; mainly because they don't want any children present at the wedding. Travel Wife got the invitation with hotel information for New York City - the nuptial location. The cheapest hotel was $279 a night! Contrast this with my family in South Dakota - as my mom was discussing visiting the grandparents, she said that we would leave the Springs about 3 p.m. and my uncle and cousins all said "You can have dinner at Ruby Tuesdays in Mitchell!". When we arrived at my grandparents, we confirmed our departure time and my grandmother exclaimed "You can have dinner at Ruby Tuesdays in Mitchell!" My family treated that restaurant the same way I would treat Disney World, the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon!
Number of human interactions: 11
State(s) visited: MN, SD
City visited: Yankton and Wessington Springs. My mom lives in Yankton and absolutely loves it there. My grandparents live in "the Springs". Check out the population on the Wessington Springs page
Interesting fact about this city: Anne Hathaway House and Shakespeare Gardens. My grandparents put a lot of time and effort as volunteers over the years making the Gardens what they are today. As recently as last year, my grandmother was still on the payroll.
Halpert says: Shakespeare... in South Dakota???
Mission: Visit the family. My mom remembers almost everything that people ever say and she remembered part of a comment I had made two years ago when I visited by myself. I mentioned that I didn't draw a big crowd without the Travel Kids back then, so she made sure that I had plenty of adoring fans on this trip. My aunt and uncle, two of my cousins and their husbands (and kids!) were at my mom's house for Friday Night Pizza - on Saturday night.
We then went to see my grandparents on Sunday - they are both over 90 years old and still feisty! They had gone to a wedding the day before, at which my grandfather claims to have gotten a bruise on his hand from fighting off the girls. I hope that I can have that much fun 50 years from now!
Speaking of family, Travel Wife and I decided not to attend her cousin's wedding in September; mainly because they don't want any children present at the wedding. Travel Wife got the invitation with hotel information for New York City - the nuptial location. The cheapest hotel was $279 a night! Contrast this with my family in South Dakota - as my mom was discussing visiting the grandparents, she said that we would leave the Springs about 3 p.m. and my uncle and cousins all said "You can have dinner at Ruby Tuesdays in Mitchell!". When we arrived at my grandparents, we confirmed our departure time and my grandmother exclaimed "You can have dinner at Ruby Tuesdays in Mitchell!" My family treated that restaurant the same way I would treat Disney World, the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon!
Number of human interactions: 11
State(s) visited: MN, SD
City visited: Yankton and Wessington Springs. My mom lives in Yankton and absolutely loves it there. My grandparents live in "the Springs". Check out the population on the Wessington Springs page
Interesting fact about this city: Anne Hathaway House and Shakespeare Gardens. My grandparents put a lot of time and effort as volunteers over the years making the Gardens what they are today. As recently as last year, my grandmother was still on the payroll.
Halpert says: Shakespeare... in South Dakota???
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080802 - Certfication Plan
Plane, train or automobile: Matrix - car of choice of superheroes everywhere!
Mission: A little personal development this time. I spent some time with our Commercial Sales Team to learn about our DIFM (Do It For Me - repair shops) Acceleration strategy. Time well spent!
Number of human interactions: 2 plus a lot of visits to repair shops!
State(s) visited: NC
City visited: Charlotte
Interesting fact about this city: Charlotte is the Queen City of the South. I usually see Charlotte from the air, and from the inside of the airport.
Halpert says: I didn't even know there was stuff outside the Charlotte Airport!
Mission: A little personal development this time. I spent some time with our Commercial Sales Team to learn about our DIFM (Do It For Me - repair shops) Acceleration strategy. Time well spent!
Number of human interactions: 2 plus a lot of visits to repair shops!
State(s) visited: NC
City visited: Charlotte
Interesting fact about this city: Charlotte is the Queen City of the South. I usually see Charlotte from the air, and from the inside of the airport.
Halpert says: I didn't even know there was stuff outside the Charlotte Airport!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Travel Log - Star date 20080726
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?
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 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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