Toronto Segway Tour Was Awesome

The family vacation to Canada was a huge success.  Quebec City, Montreal, Niagra Falls, and Toronto over 10 days was fast paced and we covered a lot of ground.  We recommend a Canadian adventure to everyone: Amazing cities, nice people, great food, and lots of things to see and do.

A highlight of the trip was Segway Ontario (Oh yes, we are "those" tourists who did the Segway Tour!!!). Most of the family had been on Segways in the past, but our youngest daughter had never had the opportunity.  You have to be at least 13 to ride Segways in most cities that have such tours, and before this year Kate was too young.  When we heard about the tour of the historic Distillery District near Downtown Toronto, we singed up.

(***Tip:  Sign up in advance online.  We did three days in advance and found most of the time slots during our visit to already be filled).

The tour guides, Eric Bell (listed on his business card as "professional guide and longboarder") and Jill Sullivan (Listed on her business card as "book enthusiast") were both knowledgeable and fun.  They spent just over an hour teaching us to ride the silly machines, and then educating us on the Distillery District.  Turns out this area and the 150+ year old buildings have a colorful history.  We heard things we never would have known had we just roamed around this destination shopping and restaurant area.  Heck, we even stopped for samples of locally made chocolate and local craft beers (who doesn't love beer and chocolate?).

We did one-hour tour and my only complaint was it was too short, so I am not sure if the 30 minute tour would as good of an option. Go for the longer version and enjoy the ride. 

If you are going to Toronto, you gotta check out Segway Ontario as you will learn more about the history of the city (yes history of booze, death, cholera breakouts, child labor, etc...) and have a lot of fun. While expensive for a family of four, everyone agreed it was one of the best parts of our time in Toronto (which was all great). 

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Cal Worthington and His Dog Spot

In the late 60s and early 70s every kid in Southern California (and beyond) new knew Cal Worthington.  Cal owned a car dealership in the Los Angeles area and dominated the TV Commercials with this quirky ads.  

Cal always had his "Dog Spot" at his side, but it was never a dog, instead an exotic animal that he would lead in or ride across his car lot (The dog not being a dog thing made a lasting impression).

He died this week at age 92. While I never met the guy, when I heard the news of his passing the jingle "Go See Cal, Go See Cal, Go See Cal" flashed through my mind with the image of him riding an elephant.  Who says advertising does not work.  The Saturday morning cartoons of my youth were sprinkled with this guy selling Fords and showing off a zoo-ful of his "dogs".

Rest in peace, Mr. Worthington.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Car Trouble When Traveling. Yuck.

Nobody looks forward to spending a Saturday getting their car fixed.  It is worse when you are 500 miles away from home and have an something go wrong with your family's transportation.  

Yep, it happens.  This is when you hope for a run in with above average customer service!!!

The A/C in our Honda Odyssey stopped blowing cold air once we arrived in New Orleans for an impromptu family vacation.  While the temperature was warm and just starting to show signs of humidity, the weather had not yet reached the heat of the summer (I cannot imagine no A/C in a car in the summertime in the south!).  However, the nine hour drive back to Texas in 90 degree heat was not going to be fun.

I try to teach the kids that every problem has a solution.  While they are not always easy or inexpensive.... you need to seek out options rather than sulking about the problem itself.  

Thus, dad would skip the morning activities in the French Quarter and going to the Aquarium and see if I could get the car fixed while still in Louisiana.  Thank goodness for the internet, within minutes I had the address of a local Honda dealer only a few miles from downtown NOLA.

I showed up the next morning at Royal Honda in Metairie, Louisiana at 7:30 AM (They opened at 8:00).  I knew from their website that they did not accept cars without an appointment on Saturday, but I was hopeful they would fit me into their schedule.  Honda has always shown superior customer service and I just knew they would try to help... if they could.   (I cannot say that as easily about the service for other brands of car I have owned..... but this Odyssey is our third Honda).

The team at the Royal Honda Service Department was great.  They agreed to take a look at the car, and fortunately the problem was a simple fix (a fuse relay had failed... not the whole A/C).  I was in and out in less than three hours and the cost was minimal. Our road trip was not impacted by this small mishap and by lunchtime we were back to our regularly scheduled family fun (which meant driving an hour out of town for the Honey Island Swamp Tour!!  The highlight of the whole weekend!!!).  But better yet, our drive home on Sunday was cool as a cucumber. 

Thanks to everyone at Royal Honda.... This was a "Customer Service Victory".

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Wheaton's Law

Wil Wheaton (yes, the guy from Star Trek: Next Generation) is known for a simple saying that is a good rule for everyone to learn and live by online (and offline):

"Don't be a dick"

It was originally stated by the actor at a conference to online gamers in regards to sportsmanship, but has come to be known to be advice for all aspects of life.

I became aware of this when a person I know said something highly snarky and a mutual friend called me to discuss the motivation of this person toward pompous jerk tendencies.  I tweeted a random question asking why some are prone to such behavior, to which several online friends pointed me to "Wheaton's Law" as the best way to live.

It is simple, but so true.   

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

The Small Things You Do Can Make The Biggest Impact

I was the keynote speaker at a major conference and I was suffering from dry and chapped lips (most likely from having been in Colorado the night before and then traveling by plane all day).  Dehydration?  Who knows, but it was not comfortable and clearly distracting me from preparing for my upcoming presentation.

Chapped lips is not something that I encounter much, but about thirty minutes before I took the stage it was clear this was going to be a distraction.  I needed to get some ChapStick (or something), but I was at a large convention center and not sure how quickly I could find a Walgreens or CVS.

Scrambling to figure out my options I walked by the booth of PMSI (Professional Marketing Services, Inc.). They are a promotional merchandise company (think: SWAG) who was exhibiting at the conference.  Their booth was extremely comprehensive (as you can put your logo on anything these days!).  I asked if they had lip balm, explained my situation, and handed me me their sample right off the board (Velcro and all)..

Wow.  I love small acts of kindness that helps another person in need.  So often people look for reasons to say "No", but they never blinked - their first reaction was "YES". The small promotional product sample solved the problem... I never noticed the cracking lips again for hours.

I do not have the need to buy any SWAG at this point... but I have their card on file for the next time I need promotional items.  It is the little things that a company does that shows they are a class act!

"Thank You" to the good people at PMSI.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

My Laptop Billboard

I put a "Laptop Billboard" on my computer.  When the lid is up, this is what others now see instead of a blank sheet with the manufacturers logo.

Thoughts?

thom singer

The Downton Abbey School of Business

There were three lessons for entrepreneurs in embedded into season three of the popular PBS show Downton Abbey:

1.  Times they are changing.  Lord Grantham learned this the hard way.  As much as he wanted to cling to the past successes, he came to realize that one cannot live in history.  You have to be looking ahead all the time or you could lose it all.

2.  Anyone can pull themselves up.  Tom Branson's move from chauffer to member of the family was about more than his marrying Lady Sybil.  He had to be willing to look, listen and learn to earn his real place at the table.  His humble upbringings could not hold him back, nor would the death of his wife.  My guess is in season four he will grow even more into a leading place in the family business (never underestimate an Irishman!).

3.  Just when you think you have it all, a truck comes around the bend.  Matthew was not paying attention as he sped along, thinking he had it all figured out.  There is always something out there that can mess up your day, and looking at the clouds only takes your eyes off the road.  Plus the seatbelt had yet to be invented.

Season three was plagued with hardship for those upstairs and downstairs at Downton Abbey.  My guess is there will be more of the same next year.  But they will be back and pushing forward, just like entrepreneurs do everyday.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer   

Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison - Ten Years Later

January 30, 2012 is an anniversary of sorts.  It marks a turning point in my career... one that did not seem so good on that day ten years ago....., but now is simply a bump in the road of my journey.

It was January 2003.  I worked as the Texas marketing and business development manager for the California based law firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.  I had been there nearly two years and enjoyed working with this group of lawyers and the rest of the professional staff.  It was an interesting place to work, and these high achievers pushed me to be the best I could be (there was also some dysfunction, but for me.... the good outweighed the bad).

The economy, especially the tech sector, had been rocked by the boom and bust of the "dot com" companies, and the firm had clearly felt the pain of the collapse of the tech and venture bubble that came around 2001.  The firm had financial issues and there had been talk about a merger with a larger east coast firm.  But alas, no white horse arrived to save the day.

While we all knew, on some level, that the firm was vulnerable, few had predicted the total demise.  As the announcement was made that the whole firm would close, it seemed surreal.  Senior partners in San Francisco had voted to close the decades old San Francisco marquee legal firm.

Poof.  It was gone.  The whole place would be shuttered two weeks later (February 14, 2003).  Non-essential personal (think MARKETING) was terminated immediately.  No severance.  Not COBRA.  Nothing.

That was ten years ago this week.

I was fortunate.  A group of attorneys brought me with them to another firm where I served in the same role for another two years.  I then moved onto other industries and eventually starting my own companies.  These days I am still consulting with lawyers on how to grow their brand and increase their visibility within their business communities.  I also speak at legal conferences and at law firm retreats.  I enjoy this part of my job, as the lawyers still challenge me, and I think I do the same for them.

Today I am writing about Brobeck because anniversaries can make us nostalgic.  While the firm had it's issues, I have come to realize it also was a special place to work.  The attorneys respected the professional staff (well, most of them did....  The notable exceptions still are remembered!).  And this firm was always open to unique marketing and business development ideas.

The people I worked with were among the smartest and most aggressive professionals I have ever known.  They allowed me, as a "non-lawyer", to perform my duties as an executive member of their team.  I am appalled when I see lawyers who do not respect their staff or others, as it undermines their own long-term potential business (Those who act like jerks are often leaving money behind, and don't even know it!).

I toast the ghost of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison here on my blog, as even with the bad parts, it was a highlight of my career.  I think about the attorneys who believed in me and allowed me to re-create the marketing position in my own image.  Their faith in my ability has shaped the rest of my career.  Plus many of them continue to hire me to train and consult at their current firms.  Most of them are my friends.

The shock of the closing of the firm leads me to the lesson that time puts everything in perspective.  The day the firm closed I was nervous, confused, unsure and angry.  Today I have my own business and enjoy serving all my clients in a variety of industries.  Time does seem to heal most of our problems.

I realize that not everyone who I worked with will look at this anniversary with the positive slant that I share here.  After ten years some are still bitter about the whole situation.  But I am proud of the work I did at Brobeck and wish the experience had lasted a little longer.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

PS - It still makes me laugh a little that the firm's slogan / tagline was: "Brobeck: When Your Future Is At Stake".  The idea being they were who you turned to when there were serious issues.... of course the firm itself ended up having issues that gave it no future.  ;-)

Who Remembers Southfork?

If you are old enough to remember the Reagan years, then you know the most famous white house of that era was NOT in Washington DC.

Nope, not by a long-shot.  

The most iconic mansion of the day was the Southfork Ranch.  Let's face it, we all know who shot JR and the Dallas ranch home of the Ewing family's escapades was as memorable as any character on the long running series. 

While I have lived in Texas for 21 years, I had never been to the home of Miss Ellie.  On a recent family trip to Dallas we drove over to tour the ranch.  It is now not only the set for the new TNT Dallas series, but is open to the public daily.

Part of me was horrified that we were going to the outdoor set of a 1980's TV show.... but another part of me loved driving down the famous driveway and sitting by the pool where they found the body of Kristin Shepard (she is who shot JR, and was later found dead in the Southfork pool).

While I did not watch Dallas for the whole 13 years it was on CBS (I was in college for much of that time, and my Friday nights were occupied with other activities), I did see enough of the early episodes to feel at home roaming the ranch.  We sat by the pool and remembered the days of big Texas hair.

As goofy as it sounds, it was fun to visit the ranch.  My kids, who were born nearly two decades after the show's heyday were bored to death.  By the standards of today's TV mansions Southfork is very small.  Had Hanna Montana lived there I am sure it would have had more appeal to the younger members of the family!

The new series (Dallas airs Wednesday nights on TNT) has resurrected interest in the ranch tours.  They also rent it out for private parties, weddings, proms, etc....

What famous TV place from your childhood would you like to visit?

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Tennis Anyone?

My teenager took an interest in tennis this summer.  She took lessons and did a week-long camp to learn the basics and was excited to go play, even in the Texas summer heat.

Unlike her four years of Karate (she is a Black Belt), this is an activity that requires a partner to play.  I have never played the sport, and am overall not a natural athlete, thus I was not sure I was suited to go knock the ball around.  Plus, I did not want to play tennis.

I promised her in June that if she still had an interest in tennis in September that I would take lessons.  Last week she joined the Tennis Club at her high school, and is practicing three days a week.  I see what comes next.... I am about to become a tennis player

I will start my beginner lessons in either September or October (I need to schedule the classes around my travel schedule, and thus I must choose a month when I am around on the same day each week).  There are a couple of local places I can take adult lesson, and then there are leagues and clinics that will follow.  I am not sure I am thrilled about this, but I always try to keep my promises.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Would You Trade Me?

I was a teenager when my mother fought cancer.  As she lay dying I was understandably upset.  She squeezed my hand and pulled me close.  She whispered in my ear. "Would you trade me?".  I did not understand the question, so she asked, "Would you trade me for a mother who would live longer?".

WHAT?  Oh God....NO!  

I became more emotional.  She smiled at me and added, "If you would not trade me, then you have to learn to deal with this, and find strength in the experience.  I want you focus on the best parts of our life, and not this one part".

She did not want to die.  She fought the disease for three years.  But in the end, she worked hard to find the words to teach me an important lesson.  I have thought about this many times over the past 27 years.

No matter what you are facing, ask yourself "Why am I here".  When you know your purpose it helps you get through the hard times.  I know now, as a parent, that her purpose was clear in that conversation.

If you cannot change a bad situation, do not let it define you.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

How To Become An Expert In Your Job

Jason Alba wrote a good article about "How To Become An Expert In Your Job" on his JibberJobber Blog.

He uses me as an example, and my Conference Catalyst program.  I am humbled by his positive comments and observations.

I share this because he makes good points (even if you take the focus on me out of the equation).  Success in any area does not happen by accident or luck.  You have to be intentional in your actions.

Check it out here:  http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2011/06/02/how-to-become-an-expert-in-your-job-search/

Have A Great Day

thom

Face Up, Face Down, or In Your Pocket?.... Where Is Your Cell Phone?

I had a wonderful lunch with two friends today.

Two of us had our phones on the table, the other had his phone in his pocket.

"Face up" glanced at every call and text (he did not answer...that would have been rude), and the other two looked that direction, too, with each buzz of his phone.  "Face down" and "In Pocket" knew their phones were transmitting calls, texts and emails to them during the meal, but did not look until they reached the parking lot after the meal.  "Face Down" had his phone ring as lunch began, as he forgot to switch it to vibrate before lunch... but he fixed that after the interruption.

Maybe the best answer would be turned off and left behind at the office or in the car.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

PS - My phone was face down.  But not sure that is the right answer.

I Won An iPad From My Dentist!

Who says going to the dentist is not a great thing?

I will admit, I am not a fan of the whole dentist thing. I wish I could skip it, but good oral hygiene requires that I go from time to time.

Several years ago, at the recommendation of a friend, I tried Dr. Deano Sakos at Westlake Hills Cosmetic Dentistry. Turns out the doc and his staff are great, and thus I found a dental care home. While I do not make it in every six months... I do get the old chompers cleaned more often because I like the folks at the dental office (and they do not make me feel bad for not coming as often as they recommend).

This fall my dentist was encouraging people to join his Facebook Fan Page. Let's face it, who wants to "like" their dentist on Facebook? If you joined their FB community you were automatically entered to win a chance at winning an iPad. I was game and signed up right there from my iPhone.

To be honest, I never thought of this again. I did enjoy the occasional updates and friendly tooth oriented reminders that crossed my Facebook stream,...and they do not over post with FB updates, but instead share important info and fun things that go on in the office.

Today I got a call from my dentist office. I thought they were reaching out to schedule my next teeth cleaning, but instead they were informing me that I was the BIG WINNER.

"No Way?"

" Way!"

" No Way?"

" Way!"

Yep, I won an iPad.

I was overly happy about this whole thing. Even more excited were the kids when they got home from school. I have not seen the iPad in five hours and it now has 4 pages of free game apps.

Thanks Dr. Sakos!!!

If anyone ever needs a great dentist in the Austin area, I cannot say enough good things about Westlake Hills Cosmetic Dentistry (and not just because I won a prize!). If you go to them, tell them I sent you. I cannot promise you will win anything, but you will have better teeth.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Holiday Memory From Three-Years-Old

When I was a very little kid (about 3 yrs old) on Christmas Eve when I went to bed my older brothers (who were all teenagers) jingled bells outside and ran past the window with a red light (Rudolph's nose as Santa's sleigh did a low fly-by).

It was a perfect example of the magic and joy of Christmas to a child.

The next morning those same older brothers pretended to break all my new toys to see if they could make me cry. Come on... they were still "older brothers" !!!

What is your holiday memory??

Have A Great Day

Thom

Thanksgiving Getaway - Bandera, Texas "Dude Ranch"

It was August when my wife suggested "Let's do something different for Thanksgiving"

Those six words lead to several discussions about exactly what a "Destination Thanksgiving" might look like. The problem was there limited money to spend on a vacation, thus it had to be something close enough to home to drive, and yet different enough to inspire us to take action.

We decided on two nights at the Twin Elm Guest Ranch in Bandera, Texas (a two hour drive from Austin). This "Dude Ranch" experience, complete with a large group Thanksgiving meal and several horseback trail rides, was appealing to both parents and kids. We told family and friends we would be out-of-town this year, and made our plans for a fun and relaxing western experience.

The ranch is rustic, but not run-down. If you prefer to stay at a "Four Seasons Hotel", I would not recommend this style of vacation. The guest rooms and cabins are older and small... but very clean. The grounds are not manicured like a resort, but instead a real ranch experience. The dirt roads and barns are functional, not designed as landscape. It is a bit more like "roughing it" than we are accustomed... but that was the whole idea!

The food was simple and yet fabulous. Everyone in residence at the ranch ate together in the dining hall upon hearing them ring the bell. Yep, a big triangle that could be heard across the grounds, sounded to bring everyone running; "Come 'n get it!". Everyone talked and shared stories over meals, and it made for a family atmosphere, albeit groups of strangers!

Captain and Miss Victoria, who manage the Twin Elm, give the place the warm feeling that permeates throughout the ranch. They take care of everyone's needs and made sure that all were welcomed.

The kids practiced roping a metal cow, and took over the game room pool table, air hockey and Foosball (although a bit worn, they still worked). We all played cards, read books, and hiked down to the river. The idea was to just have a low-key and relaxed few days without having an agenda or being on the go the whole time.

On Friday night there was a Rodeo on the ranch grounds. This would have been great, but we only lasted about half-way through because it was 34 degrees outside. Burrrrrr. We did see some professional rodeo cowboys get tossed off a few bulls before having to head back inside.

The highlight of the trip for all of us were the trail rides. We had three rides, two on Friday and one on Saturday. The horses were easy going, which was important because the kids had never ridden before, and I am not very experienced on a horse. Each ride was over an hour throughout the beautiful Hill Country trails. My wife, Sara, is an experienced rider and would have preferred the chance to run the horse though the meadow,.... but this was not the type of rides available. My gentle walk on the one eyed horse, "Rooster", was just fine for me!

We also drove to Medina, Texas to the Apple Store. Not the "Apple Store" that you city folk are thinking about (no iPads to be found). This bakery and restaurant sold all things Apple (think the fruit). I am adding this to this post because we had the best apple strudel ever. We bought one on Friday and shared it in the car. We drove back the next day (30 minutes round trip) to get four more.... because it was way too good. If you visit the Twin Elm, you must add this drive to eat some apple pie or strudel to your trip!

Getting out of your routine is great. In this case it was for Thanksgiving... but anytime you shake things up and try new stuff it can bring big benefits. Our family had a wonderful shared experience, the kids are now big fans of horseback riding, and we found a new and affordable place for a long weekend.

I recommend a "Destination Thanksgiving" for anyone (to a Dude Ranch or other place out of the norm). No cooking the meal, prepping the house for guests, or clean up!!! Yes, you miss the fun of a large family gathering.... but some of those at the Twin Elm brought their whole extended clan for the weekend. Maybe next year we will convince everyone to come with us!

Have A Great Day.

thom

I Ate Rudolph - Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs

Yes, it is true -- I ate a Reindeer Hot Dog..... AND I LIKED IT!!

I enjoy eating at food carts, food trucks, food trailers, etc.... I am amazed at how good the food can be at many of these roadside portable restaurants. This trend is big in Austin (hot dogs, Thai food, cupcakes, ice cream, crepes, donuts, etc... can all be found in trailers around town), but other cities are now coming on board with these unique eatery's. Dining at these establishments keeps with my rule of only eating at local food places when I am in a strange city.

I had some extra time following a keynote speech I gave in Loveland, Colorado. I headed to downtown Denver and the 16th Street Mall, which is one of my favorite areas in any city I visit regularly. On one main corner there was a large crowd gathered around a shinny silver hot dog cart. My investigation showed it was guided tour of Denver Food Carts. About a dozen people were being taken around by a perky tour guide to sample the best of the sidewalk cuisine in Denver. (Great idea, by the way... does anyone do this type of tour in Austin?)

I moved on, but later got hungry and returned to Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs. Behind the cart stood Jim himself. A 50-something gentleman who had been slinging hot dogs on the corner of 16th and Arapahoe for over five years. His little food cart has been selected by people's choice in the "Best of Denver" surveys every year.... and the #1 restaurant for Denver on YELP is none other than Biker Jim's!!! (I too will leave a review on YELP).

His menu is not the standard issue hot dog. I could not resist trying the Alaskan Reindeer Dog (tis the season!). My apologies to Rudolph, but DANG.... this was good. So good that I had to immediately get back in line and try the Elk Jalapeno Hot Dog... which was equally amazing (although two was a lot of food, and more than I needed for my mid-afternoon snack).

I spent about 30 minutes with Jim, watching him finish up his day, selling the last few dogs. He also gave some of the remaining food to a couple of homeless kids who live on the streets on and around the 16th Street Mall. He had a great rapport with these guys, and you could tell he really cared about them.... and they equally cared about Jim.

He is in the process of opening an actual restaurant (a big step after five years on the corner), and then with proof of concept Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs could got national. I see a combination of brick and mortar AND street carts. The hard part for Jim will be replicating his magnetic personality. There is something about this guy that makes you instantly like him. I always appreciate the efforts of entrepreneurs, no matter what their business of choice. Be it software or hot dogs, you still need that entrepreneurial spirit to find success. Jim's got it.

I am very glad I ventured into Denver on this trip to Colorado.... and even happier that I experienced these hot dogs. If you are going to be in Denver... do not miss this one!

Have A Great Day

thom

Fish Tacos As Comfort Food

When I arrived at college in San Diego in 1984 there was a little local taco shop that had one location near the beach. They served "Fish Tacos". While these tasty tacos are now a common menu item around the United States, at the time they were an un-heard-of novelty item that had been discovered in Baja California by adventurous surfers who routinely went to San Felipe, Mexico to ride the good waves.

One such surfer, Ralph Rubio, enjoyed these so much he opened his own taco shop near Pacific Beach in San Diego. The trend took off and Rubio's is has over 180 locations.

It is my favorite fast food. They do not have locations in Texas, but every time I am in San Diego (or most other parts of California, Arizona, Colorado or Nevada) I have to hit them up for a couple of "Fish Taco's Especial"). The menu has grown over the years from just "fish tacos", but I have never even tried the other food they serve.

This week I was one of the speakers at a convention of CIO's and other technology executives in Palm Springs. My role as "The Conference Networking Catalyst" means that I am engaged with the audience throughout the event, not leaving me much time to leave the hotel. But I had spotted a Rubio's near the airport, and scheduled just enough time to eat my lunch there before departing for home.

I ordered the "Pesky's Combo", which did not even appear to be listed on the menu anymore, but they still knew what I was talking about. Two fish tacos "especial", beans and chips. They were amazing. Delicious. Heaven. Yum. (You get the idea). So good I ordered one more taco just because I knew it would be a while before I could get back to a Rubio's.

I also purchased three churro's to bring home for Sara and the kids. I have gotten them hooked on Rubio's too, and we eat every lunch possible at this chain on our annual trips to California. I figured a fish taco would not travel well on a plane flight, but a churro might make it home as an edible treat.

Dan, working behind the counter, had spotted me taking a photo on my iPhone before walking into the store. He had laughed with me about it, but once he heard my story and my love of his restaurant, he took a special interest in my enjoyment of this meal. As I left he gave me some Rubio's "stuff", including a beach bag with the logo on the side!

Not only do they have great food, but amazing customer service. Oh yeah!

Who would think that a fish taco would be "comfort food"..... but my memories of my five years in San Diego (plus all the great vacations back to "America's Finest City") are all wonderful.... and filled with meals of Rubio's Fish Tacos!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Happy Birthday, Dad

Today is my dad's 96th birthday.

Here is his video birthday card from my family. While he does not use the internet or have a smart phone .... My brothers will make sure he sees this! I wish I lived closer so I could see him more often.



He has seen a lot of amazing things happen in the world over the last century!

Happy Birthday, Dad. You are a great dad and role model.

thom

Thom Singer's Strategic Partnership with Starbucks (Unofficially!)

Looking around as I write this blog post I see the familiar muted earth-toned yellow and green walls. The smell of fresh coffee fills the air, and the availability of free Wi-Fi keeps me connected to the outside world. The comfortable nest of my "movable-feast" of an office location gives me comfort and peace of mind no matter where in the world I find myself.

It is my place.

I work from Starbucks. As a professional speaker, consultant / adviser and author my location is often on sight for a client, but the rest of the time I need a place to get stuff done and hold meetings. My house does not always serve me as a place to work effectively, as my wife runs her business from home, and the kids come and go all the time. I like the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop, and Starbucks has served me well as my office of choice for several years.

They do not know it, but they have become a strategic partner in my success.

I have free office space regardless of being in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Detroit, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Sacramento, Houston, Boston, Washington DC, Denver, Laguna Beach, Tucson, Seattle, San Antonio, El Paso, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta, Orlando, Nassau (Bahamas), Barcelona (Spain), Ottawa (Canada), Toronto (Canada), Dublin (Ireland), Paris (France), or nearly any other city I have found myself in the last three years.

I can connect to the internet, meet with clients, write a blog post (as I am doing right now), grab a cup of coffee, eat my lunch, and ask directions and other local questions of interest from those who work there (they are always nice and have become my own personal concierge service when I am in a strange land).

From my side, I am both a loyal customer and advocate. They keep up there side of the bargain by providing predictable products and services that allow my business to prosper. Oh, and without caffeine, I am not sure I could ever take the stage and speak to hundreds of people at 8:00 AM at an industry conference, law firm meeting, or sales kick-off. They fuel my pizazz some days when sleep does not come (I have trouble sleeping in hotel rooms sometimes).

Have A Great Day.

thom