Kann Advisory Group : PERSONAL: Joys of Travel.... Well, Sort Of

Friday, August 17, 2012

PERSONAL: Joys of Travel.... Well, Sort Of

At this point, there isn’t anything I could see that would make me change my job. A year ago, I did that and all is well. And here I sit… in 4B Delta to Jacksonville.

Love the people, love the challenge, and love the chance to be part of momentum – always. Earlier this week outside Toronto at an outing with LPGA partner Manulife Financial, I spoke about that very fact.

Stress... Directly Affected By Travel

Tonight, I’ll be on another plane to Portland, Oregon for the weekend of work at our Safeway Classic. Looking forward to that too! What’s happened since Monday is the one thing about my job that I might trade….. or at least modify…. the travel.

Try to follow along..... So I started out with a flight to Toronto – direct on Monday night. Of course that non-stop flight was delayed out of Orlando. Pushed back a few minutes because of weather. Arrival in Toronto at midnight… customs and a monorail to the hotel. Picked up the next morning at 6:45 to head to Glen Cairn – a terrific course that holds water very well. :)

Playing in a group with Manulife execs and their business partners… the 4^th hole brought rain… and for the next 3 hours, lots of it! Hearty souls all of us… we "mudded" through….made a few birdies and created a few relationships that will no doubt carry on. Quick shower, toss on the blazer and a speaking opportunity in front of everyone to speak on the state of the LPGA and do a Q & A with Manulife Financial LPGA Classic winner Brittany Lang and professional Lindsey Smith…. and then back in the car jetting for the airport.

Toronto Home... LATE Night

Of course I missed the early direct flight to Orlando… which only stung because I was being picked up the next morning at 5am to go back to the airport for a trip to Columbia, MO where I’d spend a few personal days helping my alma mater on a consulting project.

Sat in the Toronto airport for 5 hours and of course... the next direct flight was delayed. Fought my way thought a "glass-half-empty" woman at the desk in the Star Alliance lounge who didn’t trust my “Gold” frequent flyer status… and waited out the delay.

Home at 12:45am… home to home and in bed at 2am with an alarm set for 4:30.

Flights to Columbia went off without a hitch…. probably the Mizzou karma I’ve been living since 1984.

Personal Time At Mizzou

After two days of seeing friends, seeing students arrive back for fall classes, watching Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tiger football practice from the field at Faurot, and speaking to a group of University administrators and business influentials as part of a long-standing commitment through @HTKmedia Consulting, I was back in the car with my good friend Kent Skornia who runs Krilogy Financial, headed for St. Louis where I’d catch flights to Jacksonville, FL for a Friday speaking engagement to the Golf Course Builders Association of America.

Reluctantly, I checked my most important bag… and then watched my world unravel. Flight delayed, missed connection in Atlanta… stayed in Atlanta hotel without my clothes, re-booked on first flight this morning to Jacksonville and scheduled now to arrive (late of course) at 9:30am and make the drive to World Golf Village in St. Augustine for am 11am keynote. IF my flight and my treasured bag make it… I’ll change clothes quickly and speed down the highway to arrive right about 11am.

Sound familiar?

After that talk… it’s straight to Orlando where I’ll pick up my wife at home and head to ….. gulp …. the Orlando airport for flights to Portland, OR thru Salt Lake City, UT.

This weekend I’ll be working … my wife will be relaxing…. and Sunday night we’ll take the LPGA charter to Vancouver for a few days at the CN Canadian Women's Open.

So why do I tell you all this? Not for sympathy…. but just to get it on paper so 15 years from now I can look back and say… “WOW, that really happened?” Also to tell you that a “jam-packed” schedule comes with heavy risk and a decent chance you’ll be separated from your suitcase along the way.

Yes, I scheduled it…. and I’m glad I did. It’s kind of how I roll. Speaking engagements are good opportunities to grow and spread the word about the LPGA, the game and future of golf, and also to share a few personal stories along the way.

Have YOU been there?

Needless to say, this week provides a good one… or two… or three. Orlando, to Toronto, to Orlando, to Memphis, to Columbia, MO., to St. Louis, to Atlanta, to Jacksonville, to St. Augustine, to Orlando, to Salt Lake City to Portland and Sunday night to Vancouver. 4 delayed flights, one missed connection and one night without my luggage.

Gotta go… my plane in to Jacksonville is about to land….I hope my bag makes it with me… I need a change of clothes before my talk :)

* Update: Bought a new shirt in the Jacksonville airport, was on my way quickly thanks to National Car Rental... quick stop at a rest area to "tweak" the wardrobe.. and arrived for 11am talk at 10:54. Plenty of time to spare... and one of the best groups I've been in front of. More followers for the LPGA I hope... and now on the plane to Portland for the weekend at the Safeway Classic. All's well that ends well :)

Share YOUR travel stories here… and Follow me on Twitter @KraigKann

1 comment:

Jon LawsAugust 18, 2012 at 2:52 AM
Kraig, what can I possibly add to that priceless comment? After 2.5 Million Miles in the air as a Tour Rep, like you, on the road, we have all had our share of experiences. But take it from me, a guy married to a Flight Attendant,(insider info) it's all about where you fly in and out of. DFW and ATL suck, no doubt known by many. Sometimes, an extra leg in the Itinerary is not all that bad, as you avoid Hellville, and actually get extra mileage to boot. If you are not in a rush, (but it reads like you are), go comfy, offline cities and relax. If in doubt, send your bags via UPS. At the Hotel waiting for you. Nice. Makes your life and wardrobe predictable.
Cheers old pal
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Finding Success in Business - My Tip of the Week

In starting HTK MEDIA, joining LPGA as its Chief Communications Officer, and now leading Kann Advisory Group, I've learned more about daily organization and the importance of networking and business relationships than I had in all my years of working in television. Most people just go to work, do their job and head for home with little structure to their day. The good people come to work, create ideas and spend the day trying to make a difference - bringing others up in the process.

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Sitting in the Golf Channel television studio back in 2010 during a lengthy rain delay, I decided that idle time needs a purpose. What could I do to put my experiences in front of an audience and help others become better? And thus ... a blog was born in between hosting a pre-game and post-game show.

First of all, these thoughts are my own.

I've spent twenty-five years in front of the camera as an anchor and network host at Golf Channel/NBC.

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I was blessed to spend an equally rewarding five-plus as Chief Communications Officer at the LPGA. I've seen plenty in the world of professional and collegiate sports, media, broadcast television and corporate communications. I've elevated the brands of blue chip corporations and senior executives through strategic messaging and delivering for them on stages in front of big audiences that matter to them.

In November 2016, I officially formed Kann Advisory Group with designs on using my experience to elevate people, brands and events through strategic media and marketing communications. For years, I've built and delivered creative messages and worked to lift the brand images of others. So... this is the place where I'll share my thoughts on what I've experienced traveling around the world building brands and delivering messages over the years.

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I post about Media Messaging, Media Coaching, Individual Branding, Public Speaking, and other professional tips and personal stories that have helped me along my career path.

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