The secret to consulting success

I've realized a few things in life:

- If you show up on time, pay attention most of the time and are organized you are ahead of about 50% of the people in any office.

- Don't over promise anything technology can do because it doesn't solve every problem,

- Don't be an overly optimistic or pessimistic, be a realist and your clients will appreciate it.

- Over communicate

This past weekend I ran the Seattle Rock 'N' Roll Marathon.  A few random thoughts:
- Beautiful city to run in, the first 15 miles of this course were some of the best I have seen.  Unfortunately the last 11 was through tunnels, alongside highways and had very slanted roads.  Still a good race to run and we had nice weather.
- After 19 marathons I've started to become a running snob.  I don't understand why somebody is running with their phone and stopping to take pictures?  I saw this happening over and over and have no idea why.
- The bigger the marathon the more clueless runners there are: 3 or more people running side by side on a narrow path and refusing to move to allow faster people to pass is poor etiquette.
- What appeared to be a homeless guy ran across the race route and I had to come to an almost complete stop or run him over.
- Whomever decided chocolate milk after a marathon is a great idea hasn't run a marathon and then drank chocolate milk.  I am not a milk drinker and don't like chocolate so this is my own fault.  I felt nauseous after I took a couple drinks so I won't be doing that again.
- The Seattle Brewery tour is a great event to go on if you have the time or interest.
- Frontier Airlines used to be one of my favorite airlines.  I would try to fly with them whenever I could and had status in their frequent flyer program.  In that last year that has changed, they are cutting back since going independent and it really shows.  We had a 4 hour delay (which is longer than the actual flight) but not notifying us before hand (when they knew hours before) is inexcuseable.

The routine in our house has both my wife Jenny and I up before 4 AM just about every day.  This might seem strange to some people but it is just what we have grown accustomed to doing.  I am kind of curious about the routines of other families do but I honestly have no clue.

Going for a 10 or so mile run this morning, this will be the last longer one before the marathon I am running next Saturday.

Where do I begin writing a blog?  How about things I know: Information technology, fitness, running, travel (for business and pleasure), home repair. I have a variety of interests and some days I can answer most of the questions on Jeopardy (except when it is musicals or classic literature). 

How about things that annoy me?  Inattentive driving, lack of common sense, people who think the world revolves around them, most pop, country or rap music, why anyone would follow an idiot on Twitter, boring people who have only one interest.

I do drink beer and wine, I don't drink alot
I don't talk or write about religion
I will write about fitness
I will write about running, specifically races I have run

I will write about my pets

I won't pretend to be an expert in something I am not (like raising children or being a parent)