A lot of people tell me I have the perfect job.
This could be offensive to me if I felt the person saying that had a clue as to what my job really entails. Truth is, a lot of the time what I do for work is what everyone else does for work too—the basics of running a business. Opening and sorting bills (a lot of them), being creative on demand (exhausting), dealing with HR issues (luckily I have a fairly low-maintenance staff), and planning what is coming down the road to make sure we’re on target to get stuff done.
I write orders for stuff we’re out of. I clean off my desk and answer voicemails. I tell 5-8 people a week I’m not interested in “sponsoring” their “expedition” to raise “awareness” for “[insert a specific disease here].” N.B.: If you want to receive sponsorship, write a proposal and show you’ve done your homework. 99% of people do not do this. Otherwise, expect to pay for your own vacation.
What I love about my industry is that the people, irrespective of whether or not I carry their product, are really good, smart, interesting people. Example: Marty Cronin of Jackson Kayak. We are not a Jackson Kayak dealer (yet), but Marty spent a good day and a half with me, and we did some product testing. The product testing is the thing I like most, besides the people.
We took a few boats, the new Allwater series, designed for both flat and moving water. They performed quite admirably, and Marty was able to get a few pictures, the first of this boat in conditions for which it was designed.
So Marty got some good pictures (I think he did). I got a little sun. I paddled a good boat, and I strengthened a friendship. I’d call that a good day. Not a perfect day, but I like to save a degree of freedom just in case a perfect day does come along.
Respectfully submitted,
Canoelover
P.S. No, I don’t know why it’s called that. Maybe the redhorse that are so prevalent are not considered goodfish. Maybe someone got skunked on a day they played hooky from work. Whatever the reason behind the name, the Badfish is a sweet little creek. If you know how to make your boat go where you want it to go in pushy water, I highly recommend it.
Jealous that you got to test drive the new AllWater already. We were hoping to get one last week but there apparently wasn’t one to spare. Did get 5 of the Jackson Mini-Trippers tho for the livery!