Alotta' Thought: Weekend Adventures, Interviews You Never Knew Happened, and More!
The annual (or semi-annual depending on the year) Wisconsin Dells boys trip took place last weekend and was a blast - as usual. I'd love to go into details of the weekend, but nothing but trouble would come of that exercise. As Raj and I rode home, a torrent of thoughts went through my head. As I/we get older and as these types of outings get harder to make because of our family and work lives. Thus, the value on the time and experiences like these is greater. I wish details could emerge about the people and their personalities, but it would be unfair to openly scrutinize people without giving them the benefit of retort - and in some cases, it would be downright inappropriate. So, the following is a little disjointed and purposefully ambiguous.
Adventure Most years/times we have gone to the Dells, we rent a cabin a short stint outside of Wisconsin Dells (everyone assumes everything up there is in the Dells, when in reality, most of the big resorts are in the jurisdiction of Lake Delton, not Wisconsin Dells) somewhere along the Wisconsin River. Matt set this up the first time five years ago and although some of us were wondering what the hell we were doing in the podunk Dells, it turned out to be a fantastic trip and a fantastic idea, long term. This year, we thought we would have quite a few more people than normal, so I, as this year's organizer, got a bigger cabin. Well, there were less people than the normal. Not by many, but by enough to have initially made me worry we went overboard. I was wrong. The cabin was much better, more secluded and big enough to accommodate the typical monkey fun that goes on. There will definitely be a next time and it will be at the same place if I have anything to do with it. Although the train rolls by every hour or so, the cabin has a great view and easy to find location.
Josh and I ended up going out for a great and yet miserable ride on Saturday. It took us 20 min. to cover the distance that took 40 min. on the return. Plus, he had to deal with a bum rear derailleur on the Giant TCR he is borrowing from me (for the time being). No rear gear shifting control and 20+ mph headwinds do not make for a comfortable combination. Besides the headwind issue, the ride was unbelievable. Highway O (in that area) is newly paved and we saw all but two cars driving on the 13 mi. ride. I wish I had taken more time to go further, though. It would have definitely been a brutal return, but another 10-15 mi. out would have done the body and spirit good. I'll reserve that for next time, I guess. Ironically, we went out in a light rain and by the time we came back, the weather started to clear and the sun came out.
Saturday evening was much more subdued that Friday night. We went out Friday and stayed in Saturday. No adventure there, other than the ridiculous steak dinner Raj cooked Saturday night. This was far better than the $650 dinner for six we had at Kaminski Bros. Chop House at Chula Vista last year. When you combine expensive with horribly prepared food, it is hard to leave without feeling gutted. The quiet Saturday night is mainly due to the fact that we're all getting two old to go all out two nights in a row. That's a good thing, though. I actually came home awake and with extra energy - not used up and drained down. Adventure is good - in Massen (in moderation).
Interviews One of the most interesting aspects of being on a trip like this is that you have an opportunity to see people in a semi-natural element. What I mean by this is that without the normal inhibitions, people's relaxed nature starts to shine and it gives you better insight into what drives them. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the true person shines in moments like these. Plenty of people give a different face to their coworkers at work than they would ever dream of doing when out with friends. But, this face has an impact, nonetheless, on how a manager can better deal with that person. This is quickly leading to what I've thought most about: finding good people to work for our business. I'm obsessed with building a long-term top notch team for our companies. I am not my father and while I wish I were when it comes to his tenacity, insight, and talent, I am not. I know there are areas where I am severely lacking and if we are going to continue on the path of success he has set before us, we will need extraordinary people to fill the voids he leaves - whenever that is. So, weekends like this give me an opportunity to interview. Yup... interview. Never forget that the best jobs come through knowing or meeting someone... even in the oddest of places like the Dells.
There were two people in particular I had in mind - one of those, maybe someday positions. They have no idea who they are. One would be shocked to even consider it was a possibility because of the circumstances under which we were talking. But, it was. I walked away from both conversations with one of those wow... I woulda' never imagined this is the way things are based upon what I have seen up until this point feelings. Those who are in a position of hiring well paid managers know what I mean - you beg for the time to spend with a person you are thinking of hiring so that all the baggage is laid bare. 'Tis better to know ahead than afterwards. I haven't made up my mind on either, but I was left with this:
Confidence is paramount. Both of you have it. But both of you think I'm someone or was being driven by something that I was not. It was a LOL moment when it hit me. You think I'm talking to you about something that I'm not. In one case, you are misreading my intentions and are definitely missing some real opportunities. In the other case, you were simply oblivious - for reasons I don't quite understand, because you're pretty damn intelligent.
The most interesting aspect of interviewing people who don't know they are being interviewed is that the bigger surprises come from how different their home personality may be from their job personality. Not that this is unusual. I am wired differently at work than I am at home - although, partial to my upbringing, I would argue that I am inclined to act more like I do at work at home than vice versa. Anyone up for a re-interview is fine by me...
More Time with friends has an amazing way of re-energizing you. Most of us have known each other for most of our lives - literally. The ability to relax and interact in a no-pressure environment with people like that is amazing. It never ceases to amaze me how different our lives are, though, than what we thought they would be like. One common thread among the attendees: we never thought we'd still be in contact or even be in the same area that we are today. (Perhaps two or three of us did, but the majority didn't.) It is always interesting how life leads in directions you never imagined.
