It’s Time For…Tulsa?

With a tough year comes tough decisions, and for a Road Warrior like me, tough destinations. Today I'm heading to Tulsa. There are no non-stops, so I'm connecting through Chicago. It's Sunday, but I'm leaving my family. The presentation is going to be in an Italian Restaurant, but I like Italian food. It's work, and right now with our economy crumbling around us, I'll take any seminar thrown my way… including one in an Italian restaurant in Tulsa.

Wait! Before you fly off the handle at my apparent slight towards poor Tulsa, I have no problem with this Oklahoma city. It's just a name. If it really bothers you, just put in another name, however make sure that whatever name you fill in represents a destination or task that isn't as glamorous or easy as you are used to.

I've been a professional speaker and Road Warrior for over 25 years. I paid my dues with many a Tulsa, or Topeka, or Toledo. It's just that as my business has grown, the glamour of where I go has kept pace. I typically speak in Chicago, or New Orleans, or Los Angeles, or Boston. And for a Washingtonian, these are locations that are easy to get to, fun to stay at, and easy to get home from. That's because I typically speak at the larger hotels and convention centers… not Italian restaurants. I never thought I would be going back to Tulsa, but then again, I never thought we would be involved in the worst economic crisis I would ever witness so far in my lifetime.

But I do not write this blog to smash Tulsa, but to praise it. You see Tulsa paid Rob Jolles to come out and speak. That's what I do for a living. Maybe I'm losing you so I'll give you some perspective on this particular trip I was working with a really nice person named Kelly. She was coordinating the speaking engagement. Last Thursday she and 100 other employees were laid off from the financial company that was sponsoring this event. Wait, a minute ago wasn't it me who was whining about what? Oh yeah, I would need to take a connecting flight to get to Tulsa.

I'm not fond about traveling on Sundays. Right now I'll leave on a Sunday if I have to. I'm not fond about traveling to locations without non-stops. Right now I'll tough it out.

I finished that seminar in Tulsa, and may I add I was blown away by the kindness of the folks from Oklahoma who seemed to want to hear what I had to say. The travel Gods were looking out for me because all four flights including connections in Chicago and Atlanta, (if you are a Road Warrior you just winced), were all on time.

Lesson: As we head into 2009, and away from "Shock-tober" I think we all need to remember that the Tulsa's of the world should be eagerly anticipated by all. Next week I'm heading to Little Rock!