posted July 18, 2007 08:54 PM
The last few days I was in Alberta delivering and installing a new sign for a new roller coaster ride there in the Mall. The installation went great and the customer was happy. As part of the deal I of course got to ride the new coaster too. I didn't have to wait in the horribly long line either!
The coaster was rated as a family coaster... not very extreme or wild. But there was a twist... literally, for it not only rolled down the winding track but spun freely as it did so making it very exciting and fun, while being totally unpredictable and a different experience each time.
It reminded me of my life of late in many ways.
Part of my trip to Alberta also involved a public hearing for another large project under consideration there. Its one I've been deeply involved in for the last 18 months. The design was done, all the plans drawn... it was perfect for the needs of the owner and the town. We had dotted every 'i', crossed every 't'... done all of our due diligence. Our presentation was spetacular, the owner had spared no expense and wanted to do the project right. Every necessary report was favorable... public opinion was on our side, the official recommendation going into the meeting was positive. The property was aquired, appropriate zoning in place, the financing done, all the contractors were selected and ready... we were only days away from starting. The development hearing (which should have been a mere formality) was the very last step in a long and complex process.
But inexplicably the project was denied. The meeting was over in minutes... things went horribly wrong without reason or logic. The 'hearing' was a farce for the sitting committee wasn't interested in discussing the project nor hearing from the public nor us. The project was instantly stopped dead, pending a long appeal process. In twenty years of such meetings and design processes I've never had such an experience. A long and sustained high was suddenly an all time low in a matter of minutes.
We had two other similar experiences with our business in the last couple of weeks, both just as major, and both blindsiding us in ways we least expected. But sometimes life is like that for reasons we simply do not understand.
Life of late has been a rollercoaster which spins, making it hard to predict or see just what is coming next. Like the coaster I rode yesterday we have had some incredible highs and then sudden drops which left us on the low side while spinning wildly the whole way through.
The good news is that it has been a very exciting ride. We are also confident that when the wild ride is over we will be roughly back where we started... high on adrenalin and ready for the next adventure.
Riding the twisty rails in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
[ July 18, 2007, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8740 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted July 18, 2007 10:00 PM
My life is like a tilt-a-whirl, or a bad circus haunted house, or maybe like that ride that sucks you to the sides as it spins seamingly out of control until the guy across from you loses his lunch and physics and gravity splat it right in your face. but I have good days too, thanks for the story Dan.
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Someday you should write a book..you have lots of interesting topics..now get on a plane and come to the Maritimes..we have a big lobster waiting for-ya to eat, and a great Letterhead event...need more??
-------------------- Brian Hansen Heritage Signs & Graphic Designs 6003 Route 495 St.Marie New Brunswick (506)955.8885 Posts: 315 | From: St. Marie , New Brunswick | Registered: May 2002
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posted July 19, 2007 12:25 PM
The Roller Coaster is a great analogy. But the last couple of weeks around here has been more like the gopher game.. Problems keep poking their head up all over the place and my head feels like the Strong man game where they keep hitting me with the hammer.
posted July 20, 2007 07:53 AM
Too bad about your project.
I read a marketing book a few years ago where one of the case studies was a developer who wanted to put in the worlds biggest mall. They were very honest, had thought of everything and were funding it themselves. They had all kinds of data about the benefits to the city. To the city planners. Everything seemed too good to be true... so they said no way!
The book claimed that the developer should have "played hard to get" and should have required the cities to invest and compete for the mall, making the project more desirable because only one city would have this big mall.
The politicos have a need to show they are doing something and competing for a unique city attraction gets them excited and more involved.
ernie
Posts: 405 | From: Malta, NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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