WEEKLY WAITE-O-GRAM (Rel. 52.0)

NOW... WHERE WERE WE?

 It has been several weeks since the last Gram. A trip to Hawai'i created the gap, specifically to the Big Island for some needed family R & R. The trip was eventful from the start -- news of the great Japanese earthquake and tsunami reached us our second evening, when a civil defense signal interrupted radio programming as we were driving from a local restaurant to our inn. Soon afterwards the tsunami sirens began to howl...and evacuation of the coast began. Fortunately, at this point in our trip we were up at 2,500 feet, in the Hawai'ian cowboy town of Waimea. So no need to evacuate (later in the trip we camped at beach-level, which would have been a very different story). In fact, much of the island evacuated to Waimea, which created an almost festive atmosphere as the town of 4,000 temporarily quadrupled in size. Even the long line-ups the next morning at local breakfast spots were cheerfully tolerated.  

 A LITTLE LUCK... AND A LOT OF PREPARATION

Although little reported on the North American mainland... the Hawai'ian islands were significantly affected by the tsunami. A seven-foot surge hit the Big Island at approximately 3:59 AM local time and did measurable damage, especially in Kona and adjacent coastlines north and south. Several hotels, including The Four Seasons, had to close for an extensive period due to the inundation and Kona's main pier (used for cruise ship docking) was rendered so unstable as to eventually be condemned. The damage was in the hundreds of millions of dollars... but of course compared to Japan... it was nothing. Most importantly, there was no local loss of life. Hawai'ians, unlike those living in Japan, had several hours warning (people in the Sendai area of Japan had 10 - 20 minutes) and they made good use of it. Memories of deadly tsunamis in 1946 and 1964 meant that virtually every last individual moved themselves up above the island's well-marked "Tsunami Evacuation Zone".  In this case, practice made perfect -- the island had run a full-scale simulation within the past six months. As visitors, we were impressed with the efficiency of the entire exercise... and found ourselves agreeing with Hawai'ian Governor Neil Abercrombie, who said afterwards, "Folks, we dodged a bullet!"  

 LESSON FOR US ALL

Japan is a good reminder to any C-Suite executive of the importance of keeping their firms business recovery plans fresh... and investing the time and effort needed to make sure everyone understands what to do... and where to go... in the event of an emergency.  I happened to be at CIBC in 2001 at the time of 9/11. CIBC had more than 2,000 employees at One World Financial Center, just kitty-corner from the World Trade Center.  When the first tower went down... it blew out virtually every window in the CIBC building... completely gutting the central lobby and the trading floor above. But, thanks to good preparation and training (and the heroics of floor marshalls and monitors), not one CIBC employee was killed... and only eight were injured (by flying debris as they fled down the street.)  So whenever I hear someone suggest cancelling simulations or training exercises... or delaying an update to the business recovery plan.... due to recession or "lack of time"...  I say, think twice. Emergencies and disasters... probably won`t wait for a strong economy.

 A SMILE IN THE MAIL 

 Flipping through three weeks of accumulated mail when I returned to Ottawa, I came to one item, a six-page brochure, that brought an instant smile to my face. It was from Otter Bar Lodge in California, a place run by a former high school classmate of mine named Peter Sturges. The front page announced  ``Thirty Big Ones!```-- the 30th anniversary of North America`s (and probably the world`s) premier kayaking school.  The reason I smiled is that I knew the full arc of Peter`s life...and that his story provides living proof that re-invention-- even redemption-- is indeed possible. I first met Peter at a boarding school in Maine. His most notable attribute (for which he was teased incessantly) was that he did not have a stitch of clothing that did not come from Brooks Brothers. Perhaps this should have been expected from a guy who talked about his ``Uncle Doug`-- C. Douglas Dillon, the Secretary of the Treasury under John F. Kennedy. The school we attended...was ruled by a Headmaster, Claude Allen, who was determined to take boys of high promise...but dubious achievement... and forge them into ``successful`` young men. In retrospect, he was something of a cross between General George Patton... and Nurse Rached. Which apparently worked for some... but not so much for Peter. He was a great skier... and a great guy... but he did not burn up the academic track. Upon graduation, he ended up at the University of Denver, the great repository of independent school ``anchor men`.  In my day, people went to DU to play hockey, ski, or indulge their senses. I am pretty sure Peter never laced up skates... but I am pretty confident he covered off the other two possibilities in fine style.

RISKY BUSINESS

 Somewhere between boarding school and the end of his time at Denver... whatever family resources had been paying for Peter`s trips to Brooks Brothers... completely dried up. To his credit, Peter was never afraid of hard physical work... which was good, because of course he needed to work. And so he did... for fishing fleets off the coast of Alaska. For the uninitiated... working on the salmon or king crab fleets off the Alaska coast... make the fishermen in ``A Perfect Storm``... look like Opie in ``Andy of Maybèrry``. They are either courageous... or crazy... but very well paid.  The downside is that they also often pay for this with their lives... or their livers. Peter made very good money... but he also lived the life of too many of his fellow fishermen... which included waking up during time on shore... not quite knowing what day it was... or how he got to where he was. It was after a particularly disconcerting experience of this kind...involving a close encounter with the previous evenings` imbibements... that he decided it was time to make a major change in his life.

 TRULY BUILDING A BUSINESS FROM THE GROUND UP

 Armed with a whack of cash from his fishing endeavors... and determined to create a living on his own terms... he bought 40 acres along the picturesque, wild and scenic Salmon River in  northern California`s far north. (The land had previously been owned by a religious cult that had expected to be transported from that very spot to some sort of utopia by aliens... at a date certain in the late 1970`s. When nothing happened... the leader`s credibility... and his followers... quickly melted away.)  Peter, who loved the out-of-doors, and recognized that kayaking was an emerging activity, set about digging a suitable training pond... and building a rustic (but very comfortable) seven-bedroom, seven bathroom lodge.  That was in 1981. In the years since, thanks to unstinting attention to the quality of the product, some good marketing (much of it positive word of mouth), and in no small part to the efforts of his partner and spouse, Kristy, the Lodge and School became wildly successful. More importantly, when you visit Peter, you cannot escape the felling that he is hugely happy in what he does.

DEFINING SUCCESS 

When I think about it, Peter  may be the most ``successful`` of all of my high school classmates. This is not to take away from those who became doctors, lawyers, ad executives or actors .. or whatever... but instead reflects my appreciation for the efforts he initiated... following a life both of fleeting privilege... and youthful dissipation... to reinvent himself as a self-made man. Peter, happy 30th anniversary!  If any of you want to learn more about his place, just go to www.otterbar.com  And if you visit, don`t believe anything Peter has to say about my Odyssey!

O, OTTAWA!

 As I sit here, we still have snow on the ground in Canada`s capital (at least in piles in front our our home), even as everything was blooming in Augusta, Georgia at the Masters. I used to think that the Masters was a golf tournament... but I have come to realise, broadcast as it is in early April, the event is actually meant to be a huge taunt to all of us who live north of the Mason-Dixon line (and especially above the Canadian border).  Still, I like the Masters. It creates an irresistible illusion at a time of year -- April, the cruelest month -- when it is most needed.

 AND FINALLY...

 I have not given up on the Red Sox. But I am in great danger of losing $20 to my sister-in-law.

(The opinions expressed in this communication are solely those of the writer, who is responsible for any errors, omissions or out-of-bounds comments. For any Australians, please note that I did not dwell on the fact that a Canadian has won the Masters but no Australian has yet to do so. I thought about it... but then you`d probably bring up Wimbledon... and every other tennis tournament. But not to worry...you`ll get there.)