Some years have been easier to get out to the racetrack than others. As I prepare for the 2009 season with the SCCA, I began to realize this year might be a bit challenging. When I moved to AOL back in January of 2007, I had the best intentions of moving from Novice to Regional member in the SCCA. Somewhere between January and the end of the year my job took over… AOL asked me to add the Technologies division to my then current responsibilities and it was December before I knew it. So there were no trips to the racetrack for me in 2007.
While I did make it out to the racetrack at Summit Point twice, an AMG driving event in the Poconos, and the dragstrip once in 2008, I can see 2009 may begin to parallel 2007. This year started out with a bit of a bang as the head of the Products business unit moved on to be the digital head of Univision. Much of his responsibilities moved over to me. This week the head of our International division decided to leave the company and I was tapped to add the EU and Asia Search business to my US Search responsibilities. Additionally the EU publishing tech groups and 1,500 person Indian development center in Bangalore will now report to me. I started 2007 with a great trip to Bangalore and it now makes sense that I plan a trip there again in 2009 to spend some more time with the staff.
So it is time to break out the race schedules and coordinate the 19 hour flights to and from Bangalore along with some quality time with the folks there. Hopefully I can stop by and see the Search staff in Ireland as well on the way there. 38 hours of flights in one week – before you get any work done on the ground… That requires “work / race” balance.
