eggwards | Dec. 5th, 2003

Yesterday I finished up preparing for my presentation, and then gave it twice, with the little demonstration and everything. We're rolling out another retirement tool for the brokers with the idea that they can do things for themselves, thus reducing our headcount. Lovely idea that doesn't totally work in reality. brokers are a busy, but lazy lot. They don't like to do things for themselves when there's someone out there to do it, and a lot of them don't know or don't care, about rules and regulations. While the product itself will be adopted, most brokers will call to have our people walk them through it, or just do it for them.

Hence the training, trying to tell our own people how to use the product. i gave the presentation twice, and have to do it three times again, today, and another time next week. It lasts about 45 minutes, and man, I was worn out after work yesterday.

I also got an email from one of the guys who was out with us playing putt-putt on Wednesday. I asked him if he'd like to go out to dinner, and he replied yes. Chris is here for business from Miami. He's got a husband named Tony and works for a small software company. Seeing that this was his first trip to Texas, I took him out to Texas Land and Cattle for some steaks and gave him a city tour in the only way you can do that in Houston, by car. As we drove around, Chris remarked that Texas wasn't as western as he thought. I told him, well, I thought about bringing the horse, but it seemed a little much.

I was a good tour guide, full of several little "Chamber of Commerce" type tidbits about the city. I asked him about Miami, which is about the only place in Florida I haven't been. Once again, I'm all about the presentation skills.

After getting some tea I took him back to his hotel room. We might grab dinner tonight. It's nice making a new friend.