Category Work
Superpowers, and so can you
It was 5:00am when the parties reconvened to resume negotiations. None of us had slept for at least 24 hours; the mood was grim. As the other side filed into the conference room, the first thing out of their mouth was: “Man, you guys look terrible! Well, except for you,” pointing at me, “you look […]
Picture this
Late stages of negotiations for a major deal with a professional sports team: 3:30am. Law firm conference room. Seven people waiting around a table made to seat 25 people. Papers and cups and laptops everywhere. One guy is dozing with his feet on the table. Two are staring blankly at their computer screens. One woman is […]
Nuit blanche
The message at 10:00am this morning: “It’s Friday before a holiday weekend, and we’ve got people who need to leave for family and vacation. Let’s get as much done as we can before 6:00pm, and then we’ll break and wrap things up when people are back in town.” The message at 10:00pm tonight: “We’re not stopping, and […]
Here we go again
I didn’t have to go to New York today after all. You’d think that would feel like a reprieve — but it didn’t. Because the client didn’t communicate its expectations regarding travel until the last minute, I stayed up until 1:00am last night packing my bags, and then was ready to go early this morning. […]
Prove me wrong
Boy have I enjoyed the last three days! Since getting back from New York on Friday night, I have: Eaten barbecue and Japanese with friends (at different restaurants, on different nights) Gone to ballet, Crossfit, spin and yoga classes, plus one weight-training session with my trainer Attended church, taught Primary kids how to sing in […]
There’s no place like home!
I’m back! At long last, I’m home! After last night’s walk-out, we were all in suspense as to what would happen next. We got an email around 3:45am from our lead negotiators saying that they had just left off discussions with the other side and that they would be in touch with further word. Later […]
Because who doesn’t pack thirteen ties for a two-day trip?
Dad sent a text this afternoon asking if I was trying to break a world record for the longest time living on two days’ worth of clothing. The answer is yes — if not a world record, then at least a personal record. But let’s be clear about one thing: I may have spent the […]
Pack up your toys and go home
Oh man, I love the theatrics of negotiations. After two weeks of pitched battle, we’re down to the wire on this deal — the documents are getting hammered out, there’s only a handful of outstanding, big-ticket items left to be resolved, the negotiations are ferocious. I had just finished turning another draft of the main […]
Early release
In any right state of the world I should not get home from work at 2:00am and think, “Wow, it’s so early! What am I going to do with the rest of the day?” But each of us must live the life we have, and that’s where I am — so I’ll take it. After a week and […]
Snorting milk at 4:00am
Okay, so the great thing about working from 8:30am-4:00am is that, by the time you get back to your hotel, you are STARVING (like, Donner Party starving) and completely slap-happy — so you feel zero qualms about settling down with a $25 box (well, boxes) of cold cereal from room service to read a few funny blog posts before […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 