CEO visit

March 3,2025, Monday night,7:51pm,pacific standard time,apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today the company CEO visited our branch. He spent the afternoon meeting with office leadership and a couple marketing reps. I thought it went very well and told him so. He agreed. At 5pm we left for a short drive to the city of Orange for dinner with our medical director. All in all it was a good day.

Preparing for regional team visit

6:45pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Monday night, December 5, 2022. Drove to Palm Desert from Arizona this afternoon. After briefly checking in at the office I left to shop for snacks. The regional team is visiting the next couple of days and they need food for breaks. I am glad they are coming but, it adds another layer of stress. We still haven’t fully recovered from the rebranding events of last week. Oh well, it is only two days. I am sure we will find a way manage.

Start of thanksgiving week

6:04pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Monday evening, November 21, 2022. If I stayed in Orange County this week I would have felt I should have left for the desert. But I chose to come out here, so of course I wish I stayed. I guess the saying is true; you always want what you don’t have. I will make the most of the situation and enjoy it best I can. Overall, the day has been fine; the office is slow, the roads are busy and the stores are packed. I will work tomorrow, then head to Orange County or Valencia, California Wednesday afternoon to celebrate thanksgiving with my daughter and her mom’s family. All in all it should be a good week.

September 1

4:29pm, pacific standard time, Oakland, California, USA, airport, Thursday afternoon, September 1, 2022. More meetings and staff reviews today. The office was non-stop from 8am to 3pm. I left for the airport at 3:30, dropped off the rental car and looked for something to eat. There are not many dining options at the airport. I ended up having a protein bar and some water. I will grab dinner when I get to Orange County.

A practical note

6:06pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Dublin, California, USA, Tuesday evening, August 30, 2022. Spent the day meeting with employees and getting to processes. Overall things should go well. It isn’t perfect but not unmanageable. On a practical note, I was excited to learn the office building has a gym. Everything at the hotel is nice, except the fitness center is terrible.

Dublin, California

5:13pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Dublin, California, USA, Monday evening, August 29, 2022. Took my daughter to school this morning then caught a plane to Oakland, California. After driving to Dublin I checked in to the hotel, mapped a route to the office and got groceries for dinner. Tonight I will do some ironing then go to bed early.

I would have been embarrassed

8:53pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Friday night, August 19, 2022. Dropped my daughter off at school this morning. First day of high school. Boy, has time has gone fast. Afterwards, I drove to Irvine and found an office building with an empty suite. The door was propped open with marketing material set out, indicating potential tenants were free to enter and look around. The place wasn’t busy so I walked through the lobby to the back area. It was empty and most lights were off but, there was power to charge my devices and enough cell reception to use my phone’s hot spot. I stayed for three hours and got a lot of work done. It was nice to have a place to camp out but, I must admit, I would have been embarrassed if someone walked in and saw me.

Lack of professionalism

2:28pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Friday afternoon, May 20, 2022. Last Thursday, regional management came to the office early. At 9am they started meeting with staff, letting them know their positions had been eliminated. When they were done they met with me. They said my position was eliminated but, I could stay on if I wanted with a reduction in pay and title. Mind you, no formal offer was presented, nor was a severance agreement available if I declined. Nonetheless, I asked for a day to think about it. On Friday, I went to the office, took care of some things and turned the offer down. That was a week ago. Though I have asked for paperwork formalizing the separation numerous times, I have not received any information regarding the decision, the status of my benefits or a severance package. I am dumbstruck by the actions of this company and extremely disappointed by the lack of professionalism.

Always ends up being wrong

Written 6:09pm, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, Tuesday evening, March 29, 2022. The office will permanently close soon. Two tense meetings yesterday pointing out a “lack of viability” made that clear. What does it mean for me, my family, our future if this office closes? I could stay in Arizona, get a new job, see what next year looks like. I could look for a job in California like I planned, but last month I applied and interviewed for a job in Orange County and it wasn’t a great experience. I could pack everything up, go to Wyoming/Utah, be close to my mom (she will be 80 this year). I could try someplace new (Las Vegas?) I am frustrated. I can’t keep looking for-and taking- jobs I don’t have the talent or desire to do. I am caught in a vicious circle; my resume and financial needs keep me looking for executive jobs, and I am good enough to get them. But after a year (if not sooner) we are sick of each other and disappointed with the results. It is absurd. I need to make a change. There is creative energy that flows pure in my heart. I want to honor and pursue that. Where does it lead, if anywhere? Can I set ego and practicality aside? Am I selfish for wanting to change? No matter what the choice, it always ends up being wrong.

Someplace else

1:55pm, in my office, Phoenix, Arizona, Wednesday afternoon, December 15, 2021. It is natural, when things slow down, to think about being someplace else. After all, life is more enjoyable in reflection, when current circumstances cease to demand attention. This afternoon I left my office, drove to a nearby park and sat in my car. As the bright sun warmed me, my mind wandered to last year. I recalled being in Dana Point, sitting on my couch, experiencing a similar moment. It was not a perfect time. The ongoing pandemic resurged and large group restrictions were in place. My wife and daughter had moved out and my mother, recuperating from a nasty fall, had moved in. I was settling into a new job that, unbeknown to me, was going to end in three weeks. It was not a time l felt particularly content, yet sitting in my car, remembering it, all I felt was peace. Now I am looking at decisions I will make for the coming year; Will I stay in Arizona? Or maybe move back to Orange County? Perhaps even end up somewhere I have yet to discover? Many times in life I find myself missing what was left in the past and that makes me realize something; come next year, when I have a moment to reflect, I very well could be enjoying the sunshine of a similar afternoon, in a new someplace else, missing the very place I am now.