I traveled to Kansas City, USA earlier this month. This was my first visit to the C2FO Kansas City (KC) office after moving to Toronto. It was a week-long trip with a focus on meeting the new team members and kickstarting my main project. Meeting my new boss, my teammates, the C2FO leadership, and the KC team (again) was super fun. The cherry on top was the aerial views of the frozen lakes. Photos do not do justice to the beautiful views I saw with my eyes.
Key learnings/reflections from the trip:
- The core values of human beings are the same. I was very excited but at the same time very tense about meeting my new team members. I was afraid of my lack of knowledge of pop culture, jokes, being a vegetarian, etc. As it turned out, I was wrong, people were curious to understand my transition from India to North America and the difference in cultures. There were discussions on food, family, sports, lifestyle, and loads of fun stuff. It has given me a new perspective on looking at different cultures and appreciating the world we live in.
- Getting a good boss is tough(only the lucky ones get a good boss). I have always heard from my friends and social media that finding a good boss is pure luck. I have been fortunate to be able to get good bosses and mentors in my career. I met my new boss(Kristyn Baker) for the first time during this trip. It has only been two months that I have been working with her but she has been one of the best mentors I could have asked for. Thanks, C2FO, and thanks, Kristyn !!
- It takes time to build a new business/product. New projects take time and it is important to spend time thinking and planning at the early stage of the projects. Rushed execution is a perfect recipe for failure. As I start to get onboard on my new projects, this is one learning I want to keep on top of my mind. (to clarify,I am not justifying slow execution but proposing a speedy and thoughtful execution).
- Virtual meetings are a good way to connect with each other but in-person meetings add a different dimension to the relationship(s) and should happen once in a while (with proper masking and social distancing).
- Storytelling is important. I would say, I have been okay at verbal and written communication, and the book “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” served as an important reminder. The ability to simplify complex ideas and present them in a way that captures the imagination of the recipients differentiates the better from the best.
Statistics:
| From location | Toronto, Canada |
| To location | Kansas City, United States of America |
| Purpose | Work |
| Trip duration | 6 days |
| Travel time | ~6 hours each side |
| What did I do on the plane? | I used the time to read “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” and draft replies to some important emails. |
| Interesting moments | I got to know about the CBP’s preclearance facility at the Toronto Pearson airport. With Preclearance, travelers bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. Very cool !! I didn’t carry my overcoat to KC, I am not sure what I was thinking (yes, Toronto is colder than KC, but KC weather is still cold in February) !!! |
Photos:
Disclaimer:https://vinaysachdeva.com/disclaimer/. The opinions expressed in the blog post are my own and do not reflect the view(s) of my employer.