Yesterday, while standing in line at the bookstore where I bought a bunch of magazines and a cafe macchiato, a gentlemen approached me and asked if I was enjoying retirement, he said, “how was the first relaxing week of the rest of your life?”
Yesterday, while standing in line at the bookstore where I bought a bunch of magazines and a cafe macchiato, a gentlemen approached me and asked if I was enjoying retirement, he said, "how was the first relaxing week of the rest of your life?"
I responded "Well, I really am staying on as president of our Audience business until the end of the year and then I really will stay on as vice chairman of AOL."
Then I recounted my past week to him:
Sunday, the 17th, I got up and worked out, then caught a flight to LA. During the flight I mapped out a big deliverables manifesto for 2007 to share with my team as to plan for execution for AOL’s continued growth. Arrived in LA at noon and went directly to our mini studio to work on edits with the folks on my film for the entire day. When I went back to hotel, I caught up on email and watched the Redskins game.
Monday, early start at 5:00 am with AOL conference calls from the hotel, did a quick check of email and then returned to the studio for an all day session of edits and revisions to my film to get it ready for submission to Sundance at the end of the week. Driving to the airport, I did some more email; caught a flight back to Dulles arrived at 1:00 am, home by 2:00 am and in bed by 2:30.
Tuesday, up at 6:00 AM. Checked my email. At 8:00 gave speech for AOL to the Leadership Fairfax Group at the Tyson’s Corner Ritz Carlton. After the speech, went to AOL for a full day of meetings. Rushed home to freshen up and don a tuxedo to attend the DC Sports Alliance Hall of Champions Gala. Gave another speech at the gala and then mingled until 11:00 PM with AOL, Caps, Mystics, and Wizards employees, sponsors and friends.
Wednesday, up at 6:00 AM. Worked out. Checked email. Rushed into DC to attend morning session of Georgetown Board of Directors meeting. Rushed out to AOL to attend major strategy session for new organizational structure for our company. Left AOL at 6:15 PM to go to Verizon Center for the first Washington Capitals exhibition game of season. Home at 10:30 PM. Did some more email – and then to bed.
Thursday, up at 6:00 AM. Checked email. Drove into DC for second part of Georgetown Board of Directors meeting, then to AOL to attend AOL meetings until 6:30 PM. Got a haircut on the way home. Spent the rest of the evening with my family and then to bed.
Friday, up at 6:00 AM. Worked out. Checked email. Spent most of the day at AOL in meetings. After work, hosted an event for 150 people at my home as part of a celebration of 100 years of Hoya basketball. Gave a speech along with the president of the university, John Thompson and John Thompson III. Mingled with alumni, sponsors, friends, family, and the media.
Saturday, Checked email. Received a FedEx delivery of the last pass of my film. Jumped on the treadmill to workout while watching the film. Checked email again and send my final comments on the rough-cut of the film to the team in LA. Had a a quick call with an AOL exec on a new product launch issue. Hung out with my family, then prepared to greet 200 people who were coming to my home for a Welcome to the new season party for the Washington Capitals. Gave a speech and mingled with players, sponsors, partners, friends and family.
Sunday, worked out. Checked email, and went to the bookstore where I ran into the gentleman who asked about my "retirement."
How does that sound for a nice relaxing week?
