LOC101.004 - status, status, status, status...

it's all about being diamond or platinum or whatever the highest level you can get.

it's the unwritten rule for new hires to sign up for all the reward programs out there. that goes from airlines to hotels to car rentals to credit cards. it's all about maximizing what we can get, points to acquire, but the eventual end goal is to get the highest status that a program can offer.

with status, comes benefits. that means free upgrades to first class or to a junior suite or to a premium car. and who wouldn't like getting free upgrades for different things. personally for me, the biggest benefit is the first class seat on flights. being a bigger dude, nothing like cramming into a small seat for 3-5 hours. 

all that said, i recognize that i've been blessed to be able to travel on the company dime to get to where i am (from a status to the points/miles). and i know that it's not going to last long, so i'm going to take advantage and appreciate every single upgrade granted.

sigh, dreading the day that'll come and i won't have status or miles.

LOC101.003 - so... what do you do?

to be honest w/ you, sometimes i don't know either.

back in the day, my family thought i worked for a golf company. others think i just travel and eat (which is partially true). how i explain it now is that i help solve problems wherever it might be. it's at the core of consultant work. outside of that, it's all varies/depends. some specialize early in a few skills and become experts. while others focus on multiple skills within a single industry become experts in that area/field.

as for me, i'm probably the later. i usually say that i'm "jack of all skills, but expert in none". i've jumped from to different clients over the years and helped in different departments/operations that i had to pick up new skills through the process. and that works for me because i always said that i wanted to learn a lot of different things to be that "flex player".

so next time you ask, i'll just tell you that i'm the "flex".

LOC101.002 - our LOA (love of acronyms)

be sure to get this ARQ in the BRD by EOD. oh, and update the FDD for that IF as well.

it's not on purpose, i swear! but there's just something about acronyms. maybe it's the fact that we don't want to say as much or say the same thing too many times or just like seeing letters instead of words. it just rolls off the tongue and natural for us. sad thing is that we recognize it and create glossaries at different projects to make sure that we're all on the same page with the different acronyms used at that specific client site.

so next time you see one of us, be sure to shout out some random letters!

LOC101.001 - running into friends at the airport

we don't run into people often; but when we do, it's at the airport.

it's not about the clubs on the weekend or the bars at happy hour or the local coffee shop... for us, it's at the airport. there are countless times i've run into other consultants i've worked with in the past or friends headed to vacation.

when i think about it, it makes sense:

• i'm at the airport twice a week
• the consultants i run into typically have the same travel schedule
• friends going on vacation may take friday off and take the flight out on thursday night

so the next time you're at the airport - look for me. there's a good chance i'm there.