He boarded the plane in his fine suit. Sat down in his seat by the aisle. He did not like the window seat. Though the view was nice, this was another business trip. Him being punctual, he was seated before the stranger approached, looking to find his location, he knew he was going to sit next this fellow, so he got up and allowed him his seat.
He introduced himself after they sat down and adjusted his briefcase and read things in his folder. Double checking his calendar and tasks, about to crunch in work for the six-eight hour flight, depending on conditions. The flight would be from Chicago toward California.
Please Be Seated At All Times During The Flight. Emergency Instructions Are On Your Left And Your Right Along With At the Back Of Each Seat. A Flight Attendant Will Be Coming Through A Half Hour After Take Off. Please Relax And Enjoy Your Flight.
After instructions were given, Albert got his phone and made a call.
“Hi Phil. Yes, good morning. Yes. Yeah. Thank you. Good hearing you. On the flight now. Yes. Plenty of time. Back home already. Yeah. I know. I know. Look, Phil, I wanted to talk to you about the company. Shell, Chevron and Valero. Raising the prices again for summer. Yeah. Right? Here I am flying. Well, of course. Phillips 66. I know, I know. Yeah. Yeah. It goes with your name. Generation to generation. Listen, what about our hotels? our Best Westerns, Hiltons, people are pouring in right now. Should we? No, the traffic is getting so bad. I am only going for the conference. Yeah, sure. That’s what I always say. Yeah, I know. There for four days, up for three of them. Well hey, let me give Jim a call. Yeah no. I just think we should lower the price because the businesses have been popping No, no. I know. Of course. I know. It is summer. But hey, let me talk to Jim or Larry about opening one up in Oregon and Washington. Well, it would be fun. You’ve seen the numbers. Yeah. Anything we want. I know. Civility is responsibility. Save save save. 25% are families. Another 25% newly coupled. 20% singles, and the 30% is usually co-mingled. Alright. Thank you. Bye.”
“Hi Jim. It’s Albert. Yeah. Well, I know. I just talked to Phil. He told me that. Yeah. Yeah. Right. I see. Yeah. Yeah. No, well that’s what I am trying to clear up. No, just the conference. Yeah. Yeah. I will be back on the 12th. 8 p.m. Right. Thanks. Yeah, no, thanks. Well, that’s what I am saying. Price for gas has gone up, we should lower our prices on the hotels because our small businesses are acquiring new customers. 12% go on an annual vacation. Usually now. Yes we have ties with the banks. Everything but the landlord’s and most property owners. We are. You are right. Civic responsibility. Okay, okay. So raise those prices too? I know. That’s why people don’t travel as much. Save their money, have enough reason to stay. Save up for what though? Okay. One moment. Yeah, the flight attendant Let me order a coffee.”
“Coffee please, thanks. No, no, keep the change. Thank you.”
“Just a $5. I am still not paying $10 for a cup of coffee Jim. I know. If it was $6 I would have given $8. Alright. Anyways. I think we should in Oregon and Washington. Well, yeah. Few parts, absolutely. Of course. I know. It’s incredible. That is why I am flying. Conference of the summer. Come on man. Yes. That’s why I called you. I get 45 minutes. Well you know how Phil is. Sure. Yeah, of course. Is there a better guy than Phil? Oh maybe me? That’s just life Jim. You write yourself all these rules, just so you can break them, then you rewrite them again and see if it’s worth the discipline. I agree. No, I do agree. Loud and clear. Hey let me give Larry a call. Yeah no, he was talking to me about Safeway and Costco and the Walmart’s across the states. Better than ever. Every state is able now. Loyalty my friend. Social dynamics, discipline. It’s what you make it. Yes, every day. Okay Jim. Yeah. Thanks. No, thank you. Alright. Yeah. Okay. Buh-bye.”
Before Albert could make his next call, the passenger next to him interrupted.
“Hi sir, I hear your end of the conversation and please if you will hear me out for a second. My name is Gary and I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s and I am kinda scared you know. I was doing school and now I am done and have to pick a career and now it’s real life and I do not know what you do, but you look sharp and if you have any advice for me that would be really appreciated.”
“How old are you guy?”
“Twenty-two sir.”
“Look, just pick something you majored in. Go for it. Do a search to know what you are getting yourself into. Then, talk to people. Talk to people about the passions you have, the difference you want to make and it will be done.”
“What exactly do you do sir?”
“Well, many things. I work for a company called Strata that me and a few thousand guys through meeting have somehow reached thousands. It’s about asking the right questions and talking to the right people.” Albert took a sip of coffee.
“See this coffee for instance?”
“Yes sir.”
“I like coffee. I have put money into coffee, talked to hundreds of Starbucks employees, Peet’s, you name it. Gas stations of course. I talk to everyone. Everywhere I go, when I have time, I ask name and their aspirations, see how work is going, then put them in my phone, then visit after a year or so and keep in contact in hundreds of ways. And guess what? I contact most of these people in just one month. Just talk to people, shop, have fun and give your best self to everybody.”
“What about medical?”
“Medical is good. Talk to everybody you can in your field. Be friendly. When you go to your store or wherever, talk to them, give a conversation. Nice to meet you Gary. Thank you for reminding me of people I would like to reach today. I appreciate it. We’ll talk later on this flight. Start reaching out.”
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