Getting back on the road quite early this morning for the drive home. We are on Pat Crotty time – so that means ON THE ROAD at 4am – then drive all day with breaks for gas/bathrooms. (we have food packed in the cooler for drivetime dining). So… Although we have 1521 miles to drive – we’ll be home by tomorrow night. Today, we’ll drive 842 miles to Butte, Montana. Tomorrow we’ll push it the rest of the way home to Bellingham. Our kids are the smallest of the bunch – so this travel style is pretty rough on them, despite the drugs (portable DVD players we bought for the trip) we’re giving them. Augustus is 3yo and Dorothy is 9 months. Dorothy has always been a great car traveler, but the drive to North Dakota kind of ruined that wonderful trait. She’s sleeping now of course, but I fear that when she wakes up that we’ll be hearing about it…
Monthly Archive
for: ‘June, 2008’
Early to Rise (Early to Bed didn’t happen, sadly)
Eggl Family Reunion = Masterful Organization
I was noticing how some of the hallmarks of good family reunions are the same as the hallmarks of good business on this trip. The Eggl sisters had all the meals and chores organized down to the “t". We all had chores assigned via email before we arrived – and we had a schedule of events. The food was a little Midwest bland for me, but there was plenty of it and it was hot and on time for Dinner and Supper on each of the three days of the reunion. When you consider that 150 folks were being served at once, it was an impressive achievement to keep the trains running on time – several times a day. (plus afternoon coffee with more food/desserts). I’m afraid I gained about 10 pounds. 
Submit a video for WPC
Here’s a great opportunity for Microsoft Partners!
Submit a video at: http://www.wpcvideos.com
It may be featured at the Worldwide Partner Conference…
Deadline is July 2nd, 2008 – so get cracking. Below is a sample of a type of video (interview style) that could be submitted.
Video submission requirements:
- Showcase a technology your company has developed or delivered.
- Provide a brief introduction to your company or an individual from your company.
- Include interviews and screen captures (You can use screen-capture software available at no charge from Microsoft Office Labs).
- Ensure video is less than 100 megabytes, less than five minutes, and in .wmv format.
- Limit post-production editing, similar to what you would see on MSN Video Soapbox user videos. The unpolished videos can be serious, informative, or fun, based on the personality and culture of your organization. But all videos submitted should demonstrate innovation in a transparent environment.
- Submit by July 2, 2008.
Video: Extended Results Sample Video for Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
On the Slab!
Greetings from I90 in Idaho. Kelly is driving and I have my Sprint AirCard so I’m blogging at 74mph. Kind of nice to catch up on a few emails while zooming along. It’s been a very busy few weeks – working on a video for the Windows Home Server team with Al Bias from TCC Tech – losing most of a week to that project.
Then just starting to hit the email a week ago on Monday, and then my mom got really sick. Have you ever heard of Meniere’s disease? It has caused temporary deafness and horrible vertigo for my mother. (The doctors actually call it labyrinthitis instead of vertigo – because it feels like the world is spinning around you.) A nasty business. Mom ended up getting really sick and lost so much fluid she had to be admitted to the hospital for some IV’s for a few days. Mom is 71 but acts like she’s in her 50’s – and looks it. So it’s been tough. Mom is doing much better now – and my brother Noah is keeping an eye on her, so we’re off for Cando, ND for almost a week.
Kelly’s mom’s mom is turning 95, and the family is having a family reunion (150 confirmed attendees). So 17 of us are caravanning from the Puget Sound to Cando. Kelly is commenting that it’s probably the largest economic event to hit Cando in 25 years – the Eggl Family reunion! I’m really looking forward to arriving – it’s a lot of road time. Tonight we’ll be staying in Great Falls, MT. Some new country for me…
Speaking at SMB Summit in Dallas
I was honored to speak at SMB Summit this year. Microsoft asked me to speak on messaging in Small Business Server 2008 (Microsoft asked us to do pre-release testing of SBS 2008 with our client, The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce – we’re one of only 11 Microsoft Partners in the World to be so honored). I also spoke on how Windows Home Server can help back up important client PC’s in a Workgroup OR a Domain environment. Below is a video of me speaking with Aanal Bhatt from the Windows Essential Business Server team – about 1:30 in.
Hello World!
Welcome to my Blog – generally focused on business video for the Value Added Reseller (VAR), but it’ll also include my thoughts about my business and my life. My business is a big part of my life – so they are all intertwined here. Below – my son is doing some running last spring (2007). Seemed like a good illustration of life – running in circles at times, but having fun and learning new things along the way.
