my seattle business trip in early 2013

on the cusp of the new year, my reflective thought traces back to early 2013.  remember getting off a southwest airlines flight in seattle after talking with a congenial but chatty middle-aged woman.  our plane had "mechanical problems," which fortunately did not cause a flaming end down to the earth but catalyzed a couple of hours of engaged conversation.

during our mechanical down time in reno, she advised me on my pending divorce, talked about her own divorce, waxed ecstatic about her privileged childhood among the pines, wept over her father's mental health decline and eventual financial ruin, and harped on west texas oil plutocrats.  she thought that my appearance, demeanor, and mind would work well for microsoft.  she cooed, "you look like a microsoft guy."  did not really care to follow up with a clarification question, but nonetheless, she probably sized me up correctly.

my travel arrangements included staying with a friend who also recently got divorced and lives in north seattle with her son.  she could not pick me up from the airport since her little dood crashed out before my arduous and lengthy plane flight ended so tardily.  do not remember the time getting into her condo but found the key under the door, slipping it in as she instructed me.  walked around her flat for a few minutes and imagined her life here.  found my assigned bed and bathroom, washed up, and closed down my mind and eyes.

...the mountains, the local food markets, the ski slopes, and the waterways excited me.  it made me appreciate sampling a sumptuously socially-motivated, conscientious lifestyle while learning about the seattle business culture.  walked around pioneer square, had a drink in the merchant's cafe and saloon, and called on denali financial consulting to learn more about their financial gig.  you know, join forces!  glad my friend invited me up and instigated a business trip out of her suggestion.

created an amazing interview with brendan kennedy, a cannabis venture capitalist.  we met over at zoka coffee in the greenlake neighborhood.  he shared with me his background and his reasoning behind backing and funding medicinal marijuana businesses.  his privateer holdings company has invested in leaf fly, an algorithm that quantifies your optimal medically recommended strain combination as well as providing you with the most competitive local prices as well as coupons.  he apparently invested in groupon rather early and has mastered the sales channel.

enjoyed a pleasurable drive around the lake while driving slowly back to my friend's condo.  you can see the direct logic behind creating a new market in the already established marijuana industry.  the authorities can share in the growing revenue streams by stepping aside and stopping the "war on drugs [poor people]."  a tolerant, northwestern libertarian attitude fits our collective future.  we must build and capitalize on our available, renewable resources today and create a self-sustaining future by investing in our ourselves.

coming home from the seattle business trip, it appeared that my own human capital can improve by building on my professional core competencies:

• hands-on corporate and solopreneur business management
• scrappy and creative entrepreneur
• personable and likable
• focused on greater good

imagine a future living on a sloop houseboat with a fat cat, who loves canned seafood, and sailing through seattle up to bellingham back home in vancouver.  sleeping in a solid but comfortable sloop with boaters kicked off, a button down with a sweater, and khakis.  keeping a dedicated business space onshore in seattle while constantly living and working on my sloop.

...want to live the pacific coast...