There and Back: Chillin in Korean Air First Class Lounge

I know I went AWOL while in Shanghai, but it was a fairly rough thirty-six hours there.

There was a driver waiting for me at the airport, and I had what we used to call the funk of a thousand men after working all day at the Rio then being on planes for twenty-one hours.  I spoke to the Executive Assistant of the China President of the company I am trying to sell, and he wanted me there two hours after I checked into my hotel.  A quick shower and lunch, and I was off to the meeting.

This was at 1:30PM Wednesday (I lost a day while traveling, which is one of the weird things when you go to and from Asia).  Very good meeting with him, as well as one of the key players/decision makers who couldn’t make Thursday’s meeting.  I was done at 4:00 then headed back to the hotel (two blocks away) for some work.  I grabbed dinner and then slept like a rock from 6:00-1:00AM.  I was up and working on other client stuff through my morning/afternoon in Atlanta.

The meeting was 10:15-1:00, and I was pitching through the entire time.  Lunch was in there, but I kept cranking away.  Two of the key players pushed back on certain points and parts of the proposal, but I don’t think it is a deal breaker.  It might cause part of the project to be cut or shifted toward other consulting.

I’m fairly good at it, but it is always a challenge selling an ambiguous solution that ultimately boils down to buying me, my expertise, and my ability to drive results.  I always see the glass as 3/4 empty rather than half full when it comes to sales, and I definitely haven’t closed this deal.  All in all though, a very healthy trip.  It meant Sweetie had to jump in with both feet on other parts of the company, and I think she did a great job from what I hear.

I haven’t been able to get into gmail until I was back in Seoul, haven’t been able to send emails with Outlook, on and on.  I didn’t want to post anything while in China because you just don’t know who’s watching.  This is without any political bias, but it’s difficult for most Americans to really appreciate the amount of growth in manufacturing going on in China.  The first time I went to China was a trip to Beijing in 1994.  It was a closed society, folks still dressed in Communist garb, incredible air pollution.  Capitalism was an evil word, and the people always seemed to have their hand out for something.  Fast forward to today, and it is like the .com explosion multiplied by the Industrial Revolution squared.  just amazing.

Worst part of the trip was a massage by a guy.  I’d prefer to get a massage from a big ugly lady to prevent an erection, but a guy was not exactly the best thing since sliced bread.  No erection, so that was a positive, and he did almost give me about thirty pinched nerves.

I’ve stayed up to speed with the World Series and have written several articles.  I even interviewed a player on my Vegas-LAX flight (Ken Leung).  I had a great interview with Liz Lieu before I left, and I need to write it up and send it to her.  I’ll probably do that on the plane.  There are power outlets in the seat, which is totally sweet.

Carmen has been doing a great job, and I’m excited to get back to work with her more closely.  I’m hoping I can make it to the WPBT Saturday, and I’ll be looking for Fuel when I get in on Friday.  He totally missed what I wrote in one of the articles:

“Tony George had played a smart final table, staying out of the way of big pots yet making moves when he needed to. He moved all-in with 5♣-5♠ and was instacalled by Mueller with A♥-K♠. Pocket fives are a tough hand to play; in fact, I know of one poker blogger from Canada who continually posts fictitious hands where pocket fives win massive pots. At a final table, they get chased down sometimes. J♥-10♠-8♣-6♣-Q♦ sent the crowed into a frenzy as Mueller rivered his straight to take down Tony George (3rd, $218,329).”  Pocket fives suck, basically.

I have another ninety minutes or so here, and I think I’ve eaten every type of snack they have, so that will be then end for now.  Next post will be back at the Rio.  Have a great Friday, and talk to you then.