Francie frequently accuses me of not listening and, after years of denial, I must finally admit that she may have a point. How else could you explain my acquiescence to chaperone a group of 6th graders on a spring break trip to Washington, D.C.? I don’t remember when, how or why I agreed to do such a thing, but it was clearly too late to back out when I was reminded in February of the fast-approaching excursion to our nation’s capital. “Hey Trent, wouldn’t it be fun to rise before the sun each day, ensure that eight twelve-year-old boys are up and at ‘em, tour D.C. by bus with said twelve-year-olds, return to the hotel well after dusk, serve as a hall monitor until everyone finally falls asleep around 1 AM and then repeat the same thing the next day?” “Um…sure. Whatever you say, dear.” A federal prison camp sounded more appealing.
O.K., in all honesty I must admit that it was an enjoyable trip despite the early mornings, packed schedule and late nights. D.C. is where Francie and I met over twenty years ago and it was a great opportunity to show our boys where we worked, lived and played. We saw some familiar haunts and marveled at some of the changes the last twenty years has wrought – from new monuments and attractions to heightened security and surveillance. In a little over three days, we managed to see most of the major attractions – Mount Vernon, the White House, the U.S. Capitol, several of the Smithsonian museums, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, the Washington Monument, Ford’s Theater and even a visit to the House floor. In all honesty, I don’t think I did that much sightseeing in the entire time I lived there in the late 1980s.
The itinerary for our final day included an early morning tour of the Capitol followed by a visit to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office for a photo op. All was going as planned until our tour neared the Capitol Rotunda. “Dad,” Sam reluctantly bellowed. “I think I left my bag somewhere.” My initial reaction was standard parental frustration. “What do you mean you think you left your bag somewhere? The bus? The Capitol? When was the last time you saw it?” “Here,” Sam said apologetically. “It’s somewhere in the Capitol.”
My next thought went beyond frustration to near panic. O.K., my son just left an unmarked, unattended black bag somewhere in the Capitol. I’m sure that won’t draw any attention. I impatiently asked Sam what he had in the bag. “Just my camera, my phone, some brochures…oh, and the comb that looks like a switchblade I bought at the Spy Museum.” Nice. An unattended black bag with a concealed weapon. I was beginning to re-think the prison camp comment.
Sam and I immediately left the tour group and retraced our path to the visitors’ center. Our initial stop was a theater where we had watched a short feature on the history of the Capitol. “My son lost a black knapsack,” I said to the red-vested guide. “Do you mind if we take a look?” “If there was an unattended bag, Capitol Police would have been called immediately – that’s grounds for evacuation,” the guide nervously suggested. “I know,” I said. “That’s what I’m hoping to avoid.”
After a quick and unsuccessful search of the theater, we contacted Capitol Police. “My son lost a black bag and…” I was stopped mid-sentence by the officer. “Oh yeah. We’re aware of the black bag. We almost evacuated the Capitol Complex because of it,” he sternly barked. Now, I don’t know if he was being overly dramatic or if Sam and I were really that close to being the subject of breaking news on CNN. Whatever the case, we got the message and sheepishly retrieved the bag and checked the contents. Camera – check. Phone – check. Switchbl…er, I mean comb. Remarkably, check.
By this time, the Capitol tour was over. I rushed Sam to the Rotunda for a quick peek and then out a lesser-used exit on the west side of the building in an attempt to catch our group. As we approached Constitution Avenue on the way to the Russell Senate Office Building, I noticed a flurry of activity that could mean only one thing. “Let’s wait here for a minute,” I told Sam. “Why? I thought we were in a hurry,” he asked. “Just wait. I think it will be worth it,” I said.
We positioned ourselves on the northeast corner of Delaware and Constitution. Within minutes, police cruisers and motorcycles had stopped traffic in all directions and in the distance – way down Constitution – you could see it approaching. “Here it comes,” I excitedly exclaimed to Sam. “What,” he shouted. “The President is coming,” I confidently declared. First came the motorcycles, then the SUVs and finally the Beast – the aptly named Cadillac limousine carrying the President. Despite the tinted glass, we were able to make out a silhouette in the right rear seat with a hand waving to the small crowd. We had seen the President. As the motorcade turned and vanished under the Capitol’s east portico, Sam turned to me and smiled. “Just think, this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t lost my bag.”
By nature, MBAs are planners – sometimes painfully so. We have our daily to-do lists. We talk about five-year plans and long-term goals. We take planning well beyond our “work-life” and into other aspects of our day-to-day being. Just last week, I had a TEMBA alum send me a very informative spreadsheet detailing his daily plans for SXSW that even included contingency plans in case certain shows didn’t live up to expectations. An Excel spreadsheet for a music festival – is that an MBA or what?
As a result of this planning obsession, we often get frustrated when things don’t necessarily go as expected. The current economic malaise is a prime example. Layoffs, hiring freezes, early retirements, belt tightening, rescinded offers, halted projects, overhauled strategies and, in some cases, complete business closures have forced us to change our plans and adjust our goals. A once clear and achievable career path may no longer be navigable. A once promising transition to a new field may no longer seem advisable. What is one to do?
My suggestion? Think like Sam. Look for the opportunities that exist as a result of the change in plans. Adapt. Be creative. Differentiate yourself. Be flexible. Perhaps it’s exploring a completely new industry or sector. Maybe it’s additional training and education. It could be creating a niche that will set you apart at some point in the future.
Just last week, Christa Semko from the 2010 class sent me a Wall Street Journal article that described an increased interest in government jobs by MBA students. I shared the article with Bill Fleming and he recalled a similar phenomenon during the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s. In many cases, according to Bill, the students who took advantage of these opportunities were able to leverage these government positions and actually “go with the same assets they had managed once they were sold.” The current economy and likely regulations on certain business practices will present similar opportunities. Earlier today, I went to www.usajobs.gov and typed in the word “finance” and over 4,100 government job opportunities appeared. Everything from corporate finance associate to fixed income analyst to securities market advisor – titles that typically pique the interest of soon-to-be MBA graduates.
Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone go out and apply for a job with the federal government. What I am suggesting is that this is a great time to think differently and take advantage of opportunities that could set you apart, even if not a part of the original “plan.” Just as Sam and I would not have seen the President if he had not lost his bag, some of these current opportunities for differentiation would not exist if the general state of the economy was better. So, don’t get too attached to a particular plan. Be flexible, stay open to new ideas and remain optimistic. Oh, and if you happen to land a gig with the U.S. Secret Service, remember one thing: it was just a comb.
