John Paul Strong

New Places – New Spaces

I’m writing this note from seat 4D on a United Airlines flight from Birmingham to Boise, Idaho. I’m so giddy with excitement as I travel to a new part of the country to try and earn a little more new business. You see, I’ve been to Boise, Idaho many times to ski with a longtime friend who has a house in the Idaho mountains, but I’ve never been out here for work. It’s a new space and part of the country that I’m very excited about, with endless opportunities. The best part is that I feel really good about the plan I’m taking out to present. Our team has really built a masterpiece for a big dealer group that’s so common-sense-based, it’s going to be a fun presentation.

Everything feels like it came out as it should. I’ve put the right people in the right seats and now have time to go and expand into new areas. Yes, that means a lot more on the West Coast and Mountain States, which I’ve never really tried to dominate simply because of a lack of time in my schedule. But now I have a mission and a purpose, plus I love snowboarding and wine country, so having a work reason to come out here doesn’t suck either.

It will mean more time away from home, which I don’t always love, but hopefully my absence will teach my children that what you want in life, you have to work like hell to get. The sacrifice isn’t easy, but then again, getting to do what I do best is very fulfilling.