By John Lamar
-
April 27, 2012 | 05:46 PM
Road Warrior Takes to the Skies (Again)
It’s almost May and I’ve racked up 65,000 miles so far this year on United alone. Yes, I'm that tired looking man by the shoe shine place (by the way, I am now officially the Mayor of the
MORE >
Houston airport shoeshine kiosk on Foursquare). Many people ask me: “What do you think of the merger of United and Continental?” Well, pull up a chair, sit back, relax (without fastening your seat ... -
February 13, 2012 | 02:54 PM
Seduced by a Counter Offer? Be Prepared for the Morning After
Finding a new position isn't easy. It takes time, more time than any respected profession warrants. In fact, after you reach a certain level of acumen in your chosen field, it's downright insulting to be part of this slow-moving process, waiting tirelessly to land that next, rightful position. But once the deal is done, you are ready. You are pleased with the compensation package and determined to make a move. And then what ...
MORE > -
November 08, 2011 | 08:59 AM
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover: Not All CFOs Are the Same
Over the past decade, I’ve conducted close to one hundred searches for financial executives nationally. What is interesting, though not surprising, is that the superstar financial executive comes in all sizes with talents that cover a wide spectrum.
For example, the Chief Financial Officer who will lead an IPO needs to be comfortable interacting with analysts and being part of a “road show” as the company and its management team are introduced to the ...
MORE > -
August 16, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Travel Warrior: It's My Birthday and I Will Wish If I Want To!
MORE >Last week was my birthday. And is typical on birthdays, one friend said "make a wish, after all, it is your birthday." Another said "may all your wishes come true." As I received these birthday wishes, I was at-you guessed it-an airport. And if you can't have your wishes come true on your birthday, when can they come true? With that in mind, I jotted down the following wishes that would make my life ...
-
June 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Help! My Son is a Teenager
MORE >I'm sure as a parent I'm not alone when I feel surprised and not a little dismayed when I realize I am the Dad of a
teenager. It seems like yesterday that Thomas the Train was his most treasured possession. Now it is cell phones, laptops, and Xbox 360s. And it was only a year ago that I could grab him (playfully) by the scruff of his neck. Yesterday I noticed I was ... -
April 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Business Faux Pas: Belgian Waffles for Breakfast?
MORE >I typically travel solo-but observing a lawyer with a client at the airport last week made me realize there should be an etiquette guide for business travel with your manager or a client. Though I've written Road Warrior blogs, I'm certainly no Ms. Manners of the road, but the following seem obvious.
The primary rule is to adapt your behavior to that of your manager or client. Do not be high maintenance. This ...
-
February 01, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Road Warrior: And The Winner Is...
MORE >It is the season of awards---the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, and even the Super Bowl. As someone who travels over 100,000 miles a year (last year included 75 different hotels, 25 cities, and an untold number of restaurants), I am always asked "What is the best hotel, airline, car rental, etc.?" So with that in mind, I'm announcing the Lamar List---my 2011 best choices for the savvy business traveler.
1. Best Airline: Sadly ...
-
September 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Brunello, Bikes & Butt Cream: The Road Warrior Tackles Tuscany
MORE >Those of you following my road warrior journeys have read of the many highs and lows of my work travel grind. Leisure travel is an entirely different experience. Even if you board a plane weekly like me, going to the airport to embark on an international vacation to Tuscany takes on a completely different energy. The drudgery ordinarily associated with going through security seems less onerous and making your way to the gate takes on ...
-
July 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Road Warrior Goes on Vacation: Sangiovese, Sight-seeing, and Spandex
MORE >Those close to me follow my business travel with a mix of awe and sincere empathy. "Six cities in four days? How awful..." is a typical reaction from most friends and family. So when summer arrives, the last thing a road warrior wants to do is board another hot, crowded plane only to spend a week in some nameless hotel, drinking expensive drinks with umbrellas shooting off the top. My idea of summer nirvana is ...
-
May 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Road Warrior: Seatmates from Hell
MORE >This past spring break, as the TSA queue lengthened with inexperienced travelers clogging the expert line with their strollers and diaper bags, I had time to contemplate a subject any seasoned traveler can relate to: Seatmates from Hell. Considering I travel over 100,000 miles annually, I have witnessed my share of people exhibiting inappropriate airplane behavior. These behaviors range on the continuum from the simply rude to the downright bizarre. Perhaps, you too, have ...
-
March 02, 2010 | 12:00 AM
My Viewpoint: Life as a Road Warrior
MORE >I travel 150,000 miles a year-three days a week to at least two cities. I plan my trips only one week in advance (if I'm lucky), which means I don't always get what I want in terms of hotel rooms, flights, etc. It's an interesting life.
I have a love-hate relationship with travel. I get to do what I love. I make a difference in my clients' businesses. I like the ...
-
January 12, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Road Warrior: Avoid Hotels with Police Tape in the Lobby
MORE >
Executive search professionals don't always have the luxury of a long time-line when planning business trips - often schedules change and re-change, resulting in last-minute flight and hotel arrangements...a recent trip to Detroit provides a good example...It started to hit me right after I exited to the street and closed the cab door. Tires screeching, the driver bolted down the road, away from the desolate area and into the night like a stock ...
-
October 26, 2009 | 12:00 AM
"Hello, I'm the Internal Candidate, Remember Me?"
MORE >Last week, we received the following email:
"John, you and I met over a year ago during the course of my firm's Chief Financial Officer search, where I was the internal candidate. While I was not chosen for the position, you communicated often during the course of the search and told me that, regardless of whether I was selected, I was a valuable asset. When I was not selected, you also told me that ... -
October 12, 2009 | 12:00 AM
A Creative Muse Hits the West Coast
MORE >
Perhaps you've read about my distinct belief that the executive search industry has been neglected, unrightfully so, in the world of television programming. No? You can read about that here. I stand firm by this belief. The TAG Chronicles would be a surefire hit. John Lamar's travel sagas alone, shot well with right action special effects, would make for a fine 9pm spot on CBS. I'm thinking explosions and high speed chases ... -
September 18, 2009 | 12:00 AM
Road Warrior II
MORE >As many of you remember, Charles Kerault was the king of telling America's stories from the road. John Lamar, Managing Director of The Alexander Group, is not Charles Kerault, yet his missives as a Road Warrior are an entertaining peek at the drudgery of business travel.
My last stint on the road was a page from the Murphy's Law travel playbook. What could have gone wrong did, and then was compounded by a ...
-
August 26, 2009 | 12:00 AM
Planes, Trains and Wild Taxi Rides
MORE >There is no such thing as a typical business trip for a road warrior. Last month The Alexander Group Managing Director, John Lamar traveled from Houston to Nashville to Newark. How difficult could it be? Here is his account:
The morning
starts out with a flight from Houston to Nashville. I notice that the pilot of my Express Jet is reading "Us Weekly", which keeps him busy for more than 15 minutes. This shot ...
Site by Mouth Watering Media