There are times when throwing on a suit and a tie and meeting in a conference room are appropriate, but often I find offices are a terrible place to do business. As it turns out business is just another part of life, and life is about relationships not projects.
On the day I decided to meet with Ruby guru Ara Howard, it was 75 degrees and sunny in Boulder for the first time in a long time. Ara and I agreed to go on a hike up Mt. Sanitas in in Boulder. Not only is a hike a great way to meet a person, it's also a great way to take the "suck" out of working on a beautiful day.
Here's the video I took at the top of Mt. Sanitas. The video shows that sometimes getting to know somebody means talking about baby carriers, hiking, and dogs. I learned a lot about Ara the person during the hike, and that's what relationships are all about.
Next time you schedule a "business" meeting, think about what you intend to accomplish and then use your open-minded judgment to make a decision regarding the best way to get it done. There are times when tradition rules in business, and there are times when it's 75 degrees and sunny outside and an amazing Boulder hike is calling.
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Bill Carroll
