California III


The routine followed in California was:gone 2 weeks, home 1, so much of my time was flying to a strange city, stay in a motel a couple of nights, smooze the rep and hope they sold something! I met some nice people on the road a couple  with whom I have stayed in contact. Good friend, John, in Houston, Texas. He enjoyed golf so we were able to play a couple of really good courses.

Our daughter Julie came out swinging. She was cute as a button  but could literally destroy anything! She destroyed her crib as soon as left alone. By the time she was 2 she could climb to the top of the monkey bars and had no fear of jumping (which she did). She has since grown into a very nice (if not calm) women and is a good mother.

Leroy talked me in to traveling to Japan to meet with our licensee in Tokyo. Let me tell you, that is a long airplane trip and the time change is brutal. We made a stop in Hawaii where I was able to use the duty free store. I was informed that the Japanese are fond of Scotch Whiskey, especially Johnny Walker. I picked up 2 bottles to bring as gifts for our rep  there. Let me tell you, I was a hero. For the next 2 weeks I was wined and dined like royalty. I was introduced to a culture which was totally unfamiliar to me. Lots of bowing and back-stepping. Funny thing is that the people are not as gracious amongst themselves, especially as drivers or subway riders. There were actually pushers at the subway to crowd more bodies on the subway. I also observed bad temper breakouts on the highway where drivers left cars and boxed each other. I enjoyed my time but am not anxious to go back, Tokyo is more than crowded, it's like Times Square on New year's Eve.

Our finish in California is not without drama. I had pretty much decided I should start looking around as it seemed likely the business model could not survive. One of the crowning things that happened was after one my trips. Ellen had booked a villa for just the 2 of us on Big Sur. No more had we arrived than Leroy called and said we need you and Ellen back. We are meeting a high roller (who owned a rival) and he wants sell his company. There were only 3 companies actively involved in modular devices. Anyway we met and Leroy bought the company so now we (me) have to sort through reps to see if  theirs or ours is better. Of course the company we purchased had a sales manager who stayed on as my assistant and helped me in my travels. It turns out he was terrified to fly and would immediately order two cocktails.

Ellen's mom and dad had purchased a small, old motel in Steamboat Springs when Ellen's dad retired (kind of). In one of my epiphany moments I called Ellen's mom and asked her if they would sell to us, that I was turning 40 and wanted to change our lifestyle (kind of out in left field for an electronics sale s manager). After some time we agreed it would work and set 1976 as the time to close.

In the meantime Bill and Leroy were having separate issues. Bill always had a problem with drinking but the board and Leroy had had enough so Bill was terminated. He at first thought I was involved and wanted his job. I assured him that was not the case, that I had decided to leave as well. Next, the board decided they didn't need Leroy either and voted to remove him(which was stupid as her owned 60% of the stock). He fired all board members and all who challenged him. He came to me and said I want you to be my VP and I told him I was moving to Colorado. He said something like, "oh you won't stay there 90 days. It will be too boring for you". I said, "watch me Leroy!". So we put our home on the market and wouldn't you know the market was bad. Ellen and the children went to Colorado (except Chris who was a senior in high school), Chris and I moved out into an apartment to try to help the sale. I worked at Intech until March of 1976. We finally sold our California home and made a down payment on a hotel whose gross sales were $25,000 in 1975. My salary was almost 3x that. So, it probably wasn't the best financial decision but I never regretted moving. So starts a new chapter in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I will update with photos later

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