100 Followers

My first tweet:  "Chirp"

A few days ago I passed the 100 follower mark.  Whenever someone new follows me, I thank them and warn them not to expect any earth shattering ideas or comments.  Keep expectations low. Maybe please someone once in a while...

I recall meeting an important guy...

It must have been four...maybe five years ago.  We met at a diner in the Valley...maybe Sherman Oaks...I had met previously with the marketing team at Seymour Duncan about their display for NAMM, and this was my first opportunity to show the VP of Marketing our initial concepts.  He was to my left; my primary contact to my right.  Sandwiched into a wrap around diner booth...gulp.  Phil flipped through the booklet in about 8 or 10 seconds.  Closed it and looked up at me with a serious verging on harsh expression. "There is nothing here that is at all compelling or actionable"...  Gulp.  First instinct: slide out and hit the road, but both my exits were cut off unless I was willing to endure the indignity of sliding down under the table!  Second instinct: do what I do...forge a path forward.  Turn the page.  Use that initial tough general criticism to extract new information.  So we did.  The three of us spent the next hour or so outlining an entirely new set of criteria, objectives and direction for the display.  In the end, we stood back as the NAMM show opened, and were able to take pride in an exceptional and innovative display.

I'd be remiss not mentioning that the other key parties in this endeavor were Alison Dean and Cassandra Goodrum.  Beautiful work!