I survived Mattoon, IL
When my alarm went off at 4am this morning to wake me up, it took my brain a few minutes to place where I was. After all, the last 45 hours had been an experience. What started as a typical business trip, turned into more of an adventure and test of will. (Dramatic, I know.)
Tuesday morning I left Charlotte headed towards St.Louis to meet our sales rep for that area. From there we were to drive to Mattoon, IL and meet with a customer on Wednesday for some product trials. It was an important customer and call. We needed to fix a relationship that was ruined years ago and have success with a brand new item. It's a huge account and only two locations were allowing a trials. These trials would determine how the other locations would proceed. No pressure.
So, as I am about to board the plane to St.Louis after a 3 hour layover in Atlanta, I get a call from the rep that was to pick me up, explaining that he threw out his back and was in the hospital. I got on the plane, not knowing what was going to happen, just that I was to be there.
When I arrived in St.Louis around 5:00 I had a voicemail explaining that our Atlanta based rep would be meeting me and going. Welcomed company! However, he wasn't going to arrive until 10:30 and we had a 2.5 hour drive ahead. So, I waited and waited. I made phone calls, caught up on work, had dinner, read. I kept getting funny looks because I was sitting in vacant gate areas, hanging out. No flights seemed to be going out in the evening, just arriving. 10 hours combined in an airport does crazy things to people. I kind of felt like I was in the movie Terminal. Even though I despise St.Louis Airport (even before I went on this trip) they do have redbox $1 DVD rentals. Good thinking people.
Anyway, the pinch hitter arrives and we have to catch a shuttle to Hertz. It is below freezing outside (it was 70 when I landed) and WINDY. Like chaps your exposed skin kind of windy. Of course, Hertz was the one shuttle that didn't seem to be making the rounds. 40 minutes later we are in the car and on the way.
We arrive in Mattoon around 2am. I joke when we check into our hotel that I am going to take a nap and shower and then be back. It wasn't really a joke though. We had to be at the customer call at 6am. The hotel didn't serve breakfast until 6, so we left at 5 to go to Steak and Shake and then be on our way. I was up at 4. While a manufacturing plant in the flattest land during the winter time might seem to be easy to find, it's not that easy when it's dark. We made it though.
The call went well. 9.5 hours on our feet in steal toed shoes, fingers crossed that we could rock it. And rock it we did. They were very impressed and totally convinced that we had just what they needed to help their process. It was totally worth it. I'd go into more fun details, but it's about the customer so I don't know if it would be of much interest. All of it is interesting to me, but I'm a nerd that likes tape.
2.5 hours back to St.Louis, dinner, bed, and then up again at 4am to catch our flight.
I am exhausted and mentally fried, but it was fun. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...and if you are lucky, some money too.
Tuesday morning I left Charlotte headed towards St.Louis to meet our sales rep for that area. From there we were to drive to Mattoon, IL and meet with a customer on Wednesday for some product trials. It was an important customer and call. We needed to fix a relationship that was ruined years ago and have success with a brand new item. It's a huge account and only two locations were allowing a trials. These trials would determine how the other locations would proceed. No pressure.
So, as I am about to board the plane to St.Louis after a 3 hour layover in Atlanta, I get a call from the rep that was to pick me up, explaining that he threw out his back and was in the hospital. I got on the plane, not knowing what was going to happen, just that I was to be there.
When I arrived in St.Louis around 5:00 I had a voicemail explaining that our Atlanta based rep would be meeting me and going. Welcomed company! However, he wasn't going to arrive until 10:30 and we had a 2.5 hour drive ahead. So, I waited and waited. I made phone calls, caught up on work, had dinner, read. I kept getting funny looks because I was sitting in vacant gate areas, hanging out. No flights seemed to be going out in the evening, just arriving. 10 hours combined in an airport does crazy things to people. I kind of felt like I was in the movie Terminal. Even though I despise St.Louis Airport (even before I went on this trip) they do have redbox $1 DVD rentals. Good thinking people.
Anyway, the pinch hitter arrives and we have to catch a shuttle to Hertz. It is below freezing outside (it was 70 when I landed) and WINDY. Like chaps your exposed skin kind of windy. Of course, Hertz was the one shuttle that didn't seem to be making the rounds. 40 minutes later we are in the car and on the way.
We arrive in Mattoon around 2am. I joke when we check into our hotel that I am going to take a nap and shower and then be back. It wasn't really a joke though. We had to be at the customer call at 6am. The hotel didn't serve breakfast until 6, so we left at 5 to go to Steak and Shake and then be on our way. I was up at 4. While a manufacturing plant in the flattest land during the winter time might seem to be easy to find, it's not that easy when it's dark. We made it though.
The call went well. 9.5 hours on our feet in steal toed shoes, fingers crossed that we could rock it. And rock it we did. They were very impressed and totally convinced that we had just what they needed to help their process. It was totally worth it. I'd go into more fun details, but it's about the customer so I don't know if it would be of much interest. All of it is interesting to me, but I'm a nerd that likes tape.
2.5 hours back to St.Louis, dinner, bed, and then up again at 4am to catch our flight.
I am exhausted and mentally fried, but it was fun. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...and if you are lucky, some money too.