Australian Journal: Epilogue
I flew out of Auckland in the best Qantas could offer, business class on a 747, no first class on the plane. But the seats were new, state-of-the-art, and reclined into full, flat beds.
My neighbor in the adjoining seat, Phil, is a motor yacht captain, who was flying to Ft. Lauderdale to take the boat’s owner into the Caribbean. His wife is, as he called it, “chief stewardess” on the boat, so they travel together, but she was already there. He commands a crew of six.
He told me that the luxury yacht, Le Masquerade, which you can see in other photos here, the huge white one berthed outside the Park Hyatt, was nearly 200 feet long and cost about $60 million.
The flight was exquisite, I slept for six of the eleven hours, and pulled my usual hocus pocus at LAX: I try to travel with just my briefcase and a carry-on, and I flew to Australia and then New Zealand with no problem. But in New Zealand there are a lot of cranky and bureaucratic people with Qantas, and they told me on the first flight, to Auckland, that the bag was too big, and on the second, to LAX, that it was too heavy. (It was neither on the way out.)
So, I allowed them to check it through to Boston, but when I pick it up in LAX to clear customs, I simply keep it, and American Airlines, much less cranky, has no problem accommodating it in first class on the way to Boston. That prevents it from being lost and saves me 45 minutes when I land at 11 pm in Boston.
More kudos for American: At LAX, the terrific club has private shower rooms. There is a luggage platform, vanity, hair dryer, bathroom, and shower. I was able to shave, shower, and change my clothes (not possible if I hadn’t reclaimed my bag) and felt great. The flight attendants and I were talking jewelry while waiting for the plane to board (they loved my ring) and they commented that I didn’t look like I had flown in from halfway around the world.
“They have excellent facilities at your club,” I pointed out.
“We wouldn’t know, we don’t have access to excellent facilities,” they smiled.
It’s been a fabulous trip. I’m taking the next two weeks “off,” except for phone calls and some writing. I’m contemplating the fact that the upcoming Million Dollar Consulting® College in April, and the 627 and 0-300 Workshops in May just could be the final such offerings of those programs. Then I’m on to other things.
My driver picks me up in the stretch limo in Boston (I’m posting this from the limo), and I hope to be home sometime just after midnight. I haven’t a clue what time it really is for me, but I know the dogs will be happy to see me.
© Alan Weiss 2009. All rights reserved.
Alan Weiss
Obama’s mistake is submitting to Nancy Pelosi’s class warfare tactic, which gets her re-elected in San Francisco, but is an ignorant and crass tactic that actually decreases jobs and spending. I don’t think you need to worry, it’s a good problem to be making so much money that you need to consider a large tax bill (and be prudent, save up for it). At one point, the marginal tax rate was 80% in the US, and in delightful Sweden it actually topped 100% in the past! Nothing like incentives for innovation!
Jim Bradford
Alan, welcome back!
I’ve enjoyed your reports from the field and all those great pictures! They were inspirational to this fledgling consultant.
Once you have caught up on your sleep I was wondering what you think about the recent bailouts and massive spending bills in the US. I worry that just as I am progressing from 4 figures to 5 to 6 and maybe 7 it will become increasingly hard to hold on to the money due to a Robin Hood Congress that never tires of mugging the rich.
…Jim
ryannagy
Alan wrote:
“I’m contemplating the fact that the upcoming Million Dollar Consulting® College in April, and the 627 and 0-300 Workshops in May just could be the final such offerings of those programs.”
Alan – Fascinating comment. I tried to tell myself that I don’t believe you, and that you are simply using scarcity and a fear-tactic in order to fill those workshops. (That’s not an insult, by the way). But it doesn’t matter if you are or you are not. I find myself more motivated to sign-up after reading it.
– Ryan
Alan Weiss
Ryan, thanks for the candid comment, but those who know me know that I don’t use “bait and switch” kind of tactics. The College has run much longer than I anticipated, about 12 or so, and I will probably schedule in the future only on demand, which would require a dozen people. The others, 627 and 0-300, I’m presenting for the third and second times, respectively, and I seldom do more than that, and usually only in London and Sydney. So, no fear tactic, just fair warning. I’m moving on!
John Shaver
Regarding Alan’s plan to wrap up the 627 and 0-300 workshops:
Alan’s path reminds me of a similar path followed by Patricia Fripp’s famous brother Robert. Since 1968, whenever Robert felt that a particular flavor of King Crimson had run its musical course he made dramatic changes (always in a more interesting and challenging manner).
I’m looking forward to seeing what exciting new path Alan will blaze for all of us.
Alan Weiss
I think the world of Fripp and her brother’s work. The embers for the blaze are heating up.