"Business Trip" to Hawaii
(and related thoughts ... followed by pictures)
What a time ...
The heady days of 2000 ! Lots of bustle in the information and communication technology space. The markets were nuts.
CNBC was the ONLY show you needed to watch. Teenagers were making millions (illegally) 'hyping' bulleting board stocks on the internet. Pets.com [now defunct] was, according to the 'analysts', destined for megabusiness success. (In hind sight, of course, that was a major oversight and the analysts were completely wrong ...)
But, aside from the mixed up stocks markets -- brought to you by all of the Worldcom et al. market scams/disasters -- and aside from the 'here today, gone tomorrow' business ideas that were being 'funded' left, right and centre, IF we overlook all that for the moment, the reality was that the internet would indeed change the speed of business. New businesses, armed with 'real'
innovative business models would ultimately come onto the scene, gather momentum and revolutionize the competitive landscape.
Case in point ...
Enter
Ebay,
Yahoo,
Amazon and new customer centric processes like online instant banking and instant person-to-person payment from any individual with a credit card to any other individual with a credit card, around the world, 24/7/365 [courtesy of companies like
paypal.com, for example, all fascilitated over the internet, specifically].
Then ...
Google hadn't even been conceived yet. Email was the killer app. The terrestrial broadband "build out" was officially under way throughout the Americas with transpacific and transatlantic links connecting the globes' continents.
Broadband Wireless ...
Broadband wireless wasn't here. WiFi was still grass roots. EVDO cellular (3G wireless broadband) had yet to even land on the Verizon executive board room table. But, in traditional telecom fashion, Japan's
NTT DoCoMo had successfully already rolled out 3G cellular to its customers with great fanfare. Sadly, even today, if you look at their website, it appears the Japanese are still way ahead. Too bad telecommunications wasn't an Olympic event. Anyway, in traditional telecom fashion, it would be 4 more years before America jumped on the cellular wireless broadband bandwagon -- 3G cellular wireless now being delivered by
Verizon.
Telco Legal Quagmire ...
On the one hand there were telecommunications laws that were (and according to some, still are) outdated and that, as a result, prevented the telcos from successfully being able to justify making the capital expenditures needed for broadband wireless in America.
On the other hand, the hungry and inventive American consumer was aggressively innovating and pursuing his own options and standards. If America's telcos weren't prepared or were unable to deliver broadband wireless, America's pioneering spirit would fill the void.
Now, of course, there's the battle between (free and commercial) WiFi hotspots and unimited, $59/month cellular broadband wireless access courtesy of companies like Verizon. And to their credit, you can do a lot of really 'cool' (work related) things with 400-700 kpbs of throughput. So, good for Verizon. And according to business2.com, the SMB (small to medium business) market is starting to adopt wireless technologies now for their competitive advantage. What a great time to be alive.
At least now there's a choice in America and it's possible that America might now be able to start catching up to Asia.
Of course, here in Canada, broadband cellular wireless is still a 'pipe dream' even though the commercials from Telus and Rogers are touting TV on your phone - is that ever BS. [Any wonder why noone believes marketers !]
Back to 2000 ...
Nonetheless, back in 2000 there was lots to do. People to meet. Ideas to explore. It was a pioneering time. There were places to go ... and so we went.
This posting shows you a glimpse into the two-week trip Jennifer and I took to spend some 'quality time' in Hawaii. It wasn't all play, there were 4 days of an IBM eBusiness conference. I had to host an executive from Manitoba Telecom Services
MTS (a customer of IBM's and an account that I managed on behalf of IBM). I had to really 'twist his arm' to join us in Hawaii to hear more about infrastructure and ecommerce innovation from the big IBM brains at the
Watson Research Labs.
IBM reminisce ...
I had three and half WONDERFUL years with the
IBM Software Division. In 1997, IBM needed a Database Sales Specialist for Manitoba and Saskatchewan (up here in Canada). They figured I was the right guy for the job. It was fun. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to cover the Business Intelligence Services Consultant role in addition. Finally, they were kind enough to offer another promotion this time to a Software Account Manager (SAM) role.
It was in this last SAM role that I experienced my largest single software transaction of my entire information and communication technology (ICT) sales history (>$2M). It was with another wonderful and memorable customer:
Ceridian. [Thanks Tony ! It was a pleasure working with you. Unfortunately we both moved onto new careers before we were able to enjoy some of the 'finer IBM things'. Anyway, IBM was a wonderful company to work for and I still have very fond memories and still keep in touch with many of my old colleagues.]
Anway, as I stated, Hawaii wasn't all play (staged photo for proof) ...
To be sure though, IBM showed me (and some of my customers) some amazing things. For example, do these guys know how to roll out the red carpet or what ? Talk about making it easy (maybe 'exciting' is a more appropriate word here) for customers to do business with them.
As an example of rolling out the red carpet, to get back to the point of this blog entry, in February of 2000, the IBM software division hosted an Asia/Pacific ebusiness conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. [Honolulu ! - choke, sputter] Now, how tough do you think that was to get customer decision makers to join me for an information session for 4 days here ?! Ans: not very !
To boot, as part of the registration, IBM arranged to put up all the customers and their software account managers at the
Royal Hawaiian Sheraton (right on Wakiki Beach) and offered entertainment and extended 'package-deals' to those who wanted to stay for awhile. Like I said, experts in the red carpet treatment. Beautiful.
The meals were 5 star ... and the Entertainment was, well, 'interesting' as well [My wife, Jen some how ended up on stage at the Sheraton Luau. That's her below in the background dancing with some (scantilly clad -- can you use that term for men?) Hawaiian. She's wearing a white sea shell necklace and that guy isn't wearing much more. She always ends up on stage. What's with that ?
My customer's "significant other" Cheryl joined in on the event as well. That's Mike and Cheryl up top at our table behind Jen. Jen and I stayed for an additional week - again, as did our guests. We all had a blast. Together, Jen and I were able to make some real close professional acquaintances and IBM made a life long customer and fan.
Above is the 'view' from the Sheraton's beach front patio - immediately over the rail is the beautiful white sand of Waikiki Beach and, on the horizon, is the famed Diamond Head. Jen took this picture. She and Cheryl spent the days 'basking in the sun' while Mike and I took in all the amazing technology speakers and their presentations. I wonder who won out on that deal.
Below is the view from the top of Diamond Head looking back down on Waikiki Beach. You can actually see the Royal Hawaiian hotel in the distance - look for the tiny pink building, where the beach line snakes up and across to the left. It's visible right in the centre of the photo - a little to the top.
That's Jen with her hand covering her brow, reading the tourist board. I'm of course, the other tourist with the camera stuck in his eye socket.
Pearl Harbor is about 10 miles over the horizon.
Here are the shots of the FANTASTIC
Polynesian Cultural Centre ...
I've only been to Hawaii twice, but on both occassions took in the Polynesian Cultural Centre. No trip to Hawaii would be complete without taking in this beautifully created 'historic' tour of Hawaii and all of the Polynesian Islands.
It is just an unbelievable 'hands on', interactive and entertaining look at Polynesian history and life. Jen and I are looking forward to the day when our kids are old enough and we can once again return as a family.
Here is some of what you can expect to see there ...
By the way, if running is your thing, and you are looking to escape the snow and/or take your special someone to the land of love,
The Annual Great Aloha Run is shortly after valentine's day on the third Monday in February [President's Day]. Hmmm. A whole bunch of browny points for delivering on that idea.
AND, as a final thought, in case you believed it couldn't be done, this is Hawaii's public skating rink ! So, for all you hockey-loving-canucks out there, here is all the proof you should need to convince yourself that you can indeed raise a family Hawaii.
[Personal ebusiness anecdote: Jennifer and I used the internet to find this $60/night, extremely clean and comfortable condo in a very nicely maintained high rise, one block away from Waikiki. This was a great find. If you're going to Hawaii and want a beautiful place for cheap ... comment me. I'll see if I can put in touch.]
