It's Like Saturday, But on a Smaller Scale

Like clockwork...here it is, about 4:30 on Saturday morning, and I'm up up and ready to face the day. I wish I had this energy and enthusiasm during the work week.

One of my brothers alerted me to a very interesting article about the Chilean social and political landscape in the December 9 edition of the New York Times. The article discusses the probability that Michelle Bachelet, a socialist and atheist, will be Chile's next president; yes, Chile, a very conservative Catholic country. The article was written by Rafael Gumucio, who's a columnist for El Diario in New York and for newspapers in Chile. It's really a fascinating article and I highly recommend it.

Today, rather than enjoy the day, my wife and I both have to spend the day in a strategic planning session for one of our clients, a local association. One of the first things the session will involve is a 'team-building' exercise. All of the participants were asked to complete a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator questionnaire in advance of the meeting. This will allow all of us to know how best to deal with others on the team. According to the MBTI, I am a "INTP." People with this personality type are described as:

Quiet and reserved. Especially enjoy theoretical or scientific pursuits. Like solving problems with logic and analysis. Usually interested mainly in ideas, with little liking for parties or small talk. Tend to have sharply defined interests. Need careers where some strong interest can be used and be useful.

Frankly, I don't care what MBTI says about my personality style. I'd rather spend the day doing something I enjoy, rather than sit cooped up in a room with people I barely know, talking about strategy for an organization that, deep down, I don't care about. And this is a client; their future matters to me and my company. I do believe I'm burned out. Well, I'd best not cry over spilled milk...it's a requirement for us to attend, and attend we shall.

Tonight, my wife and I go to see David Sedaris' 'Santaland Diaries.' Today's tight timing may not allow us to have Ethiopian food as we'd planned, which would be a shame because I'm ready for kitfo or gored-gored, but there's time for that tomorrow or in the days to come.

Enough of this...there's still time for me to have another cup of coffee and to scan a few online newspapers before we have to leave for our meeting...but not unless I sign off for now.