3 Things

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

 
Just got back from 1 night business trip. I had two really annoying interactions with people. So let me list everything that went right with the trip, because right now I'm just harping (mentally) on everything that went wrong.

1. My return flight was on time despite really bad rain in Chicago

2. Had no trouble getting decent vegan food (the hotel and the airport each had a veggie burger)

3. I don't have cable at home so normally I never get to watch my shows when they air. But I was able to watch Legends from my hotel room when it aired 'live'.

4. No one was in the middle seat on the flight home

5. Got to the airport early enough to get a 20 minute chair massage, and the person was really good!

6. And about the presentation itself - I met this guy Jeff who works for one of our PR agencies, and he was great. And I met one of our franchise owners who also was great. The audience was very small, but one member was very enthusiastic.

7. I slept just fine in my hotel room. 

Okay, since it's bothering me, here is what didn't go so well.

1. Before the presentation, someone who worked at the hotel said she wanted to ask me a question. I said that's fine. She then asked "How committed are you to ___ [the name of my employer]?" I was like wut. Why is she asking me how committed I am to my employer? I asked her to repeat herself, and she said it again the same way. She spoke with no accent; English clearly was her first language. Finally she caught my look of bewilderment and she corrected herself. She meant to ask how committed is my employer to education. But like wtf. If you're going to bother the speaker when she's setting up, try to string a coherent sentence together. (Again, I'd have made an exception if English wasn't her first language, but it clearly was)

2. Then a guy approached me, also before the presentation. He was awful. First he twisted my words around ("Are you suggesting I quit my job to work at your company?" Me: "No....you asked what benefits we offer so I'm only trying to describe them") Then he went on and on about what a great husband and father he is. He then asked if I had kids, and I said no. He then said "You don't have kids???!" and looked at me like I was crazy. I would've bitch-slapped the bastard at this point but I was representing my company, so I just said, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom before I present." That kept me from swearing at him etc. :) 

And on top of that, the audience for my presentation was miniscule. The speaker after me filled the room. So really the whole trip was a waste.

Oh well. Small potatoes. The good stuff outnumbered the bad. I'm gonna drink a big glass of wine and rewatch Legends or watch Arrow now....

Comments

[nytshd3]

I'm glad there were some good things on your trip. But what the heck was up with those people?? Especially the dude, what a jerk! I get the "What do you mean you don't have kids?!" sometimes too, and it's like, hey, in my case I didn't want them, but what if I desperately wanted them and couldn't have them? Why do people think it's fine to harass someone about that? Good job getting away gracefully. What kind of conference was it? I would bet that the lower attendance wasn't that your presentation wasn't good, but there's always some presentation that people are more excited about, and some presentations that people decide they can miss to take a break or get something to eat. I'm sure you kicked butt!

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

Thanks. It was the Minneapolis High School Counselors' association. I said I'd try anything once, and we thought this would be a good chance to tell them about our college benefits. Oh well. Maybe they thought it'd be corporate propaganda or something.

[nytshd3]

Interesting... I can imagine they thought it was just corporate propaganda, when I go to these virtual conferences, they have brief sessions that are sponsored by different vendors, and their whole session is basically an ad for whatever it is that they sell. Though what would it have been, at the end you try to go buy stuff from your company? Sheesh.