Did anyone spend any money so far at the Atlanta DSC convention?

[Tanks]

Can you send me the details of the leathermaker, I would love something like that.

Post #91

 

[WAB]

I’ve been a CEO for just under 7 years and was a COO for the 3 years prior to that.. and spent about a decade in senior management and executive positions for a decade prior to obtaining a COO seat..

While I don’t consider myself “rich”.. there’s a reason we live in a middle class house that’s probably 2 social ladder steps below our means, drive pretty common vehicles (I drive a lower end tundra), etc… hell.. 90% of the time my work wear these days is a hoodie or a t-shirt depending on the weather… I 10000% refuse to play the game.. and have prepared myself to punch out any time that it becomes a requirement…

Thankfully society sees this as less and less of a requirement each day…

But… it’s definitely a “thing” still with older generations… and was still a really big thing even just 20 years ago…

Good luck being considered for a C-Suite position in some companies if you don’t wear these right shoes, own the right watch, drive the right car, have an “appropriate” wife, etc etc..

It’s not limited to work environments either… you’ll see it in social settings too… want to get your kids into private school or join a local country club… have the means to do that with no problem? Cool… but… you better show up wearing these days right watch to the interview.. or you might find yourself without an invitation to join…

We could have an entire discussion just around your spouse’s impact on that move!

 

[mdwest]

We could have an entire discussion just around your spouse’s impact on that move!

I dont mind admitting, she was probably what sealed the deal for me... they certainly would have selected someone else had she not been part of the bargain... no one wants a heathen like me sitting in the high seat otherwise

All kidding aside, she knows how to play the social side of things with the board and their wives, knows how to play the social side of things with the other executives and their spouses (a very different thing).. and, shes a successful executive level employee in her own right.. on more than one occasion I have "sold" her value to the company in that I have a "secret weapon" in my pocket that most other CEO's dont have.. Ive got a successful, 35+ year career, executive level accountant (former CFO of a mid sized publishing firm, current VP with a large hospitality management firm).. whose specialization is accounting systems that I spend all of my evenings with.. I get quite a bit of accounting and finance advice for free

Ive known her since I was 19 years old... Im honestly still amazed sometimes how she navigates the waters she does.. its nothing for her to don a pair of cargo pants and pick up a chainsaw and help me go clear land out where we deer hunt.. or to pick up her .375 and hunt a buff.. and then turn around, grab her Louis Vutton bag, slap on a pair of heels, and march into an owners meeting or a board meeting and deliver a brief..

Shes definitely a different sort of woman..

 

[Redfishga1]

I stayed for 2 days and certainly gave it a try.
on going discussions for
Uganda-27/28 with lake albert safari, very nice people license are $$
Sneaking some sort of european hunt in under the guise of my daughters 10th birthday
balkan chamois in Croatia or Pyrnese chamois in France.


Contract signed for a Cous Deer hunt in Arizona 28

I really would like to go Australia it seems like an adventure.

The only person that flat ignored me was caprinae. I am really interested in a Bezoar hunt one day.

 

[PCC600]

I can assure you it is very much a thing. It’s not just clothes and accessories, it’s also cars and second/third homes. I worked at the highest levels of the corporate world but refused to participate in the nonsense. As a result, when a company tried to move me into a role and location I didn’t want, I was able to step off the merry go round at 49.

Alternatively, many of my peers, earning seven figures annually, were living paycheck to paycheck. Porches, Jags, Bentleys, second homes in Hawaii or the desert. It’s amazing how much cash you can burn if you put your mind to it.

Interesting side note, I have worked for and with two of the richest men in the world, think top ten or twenty. They can’t be bothered with this crap. It seems that it is the new money, almost there folks that have to have the status symbols.

My experience with the hyper rich is very similar to yours . I have been and continue to be an advisor to some very wealthy people . The wealthiest was a Swiss industrialist years ago . One of the richest men in the world - and owned a very flash watch company . He drove a VW . In OZ my colleague drives a 25 year old Holden ( think Chev sedan in USA ). Not sure he even owns a suit . I don’t have a problem with multiple homes or nice cars. I just don’t judge on that basis . What would impress me is if someone came in to see me with a pair of James Woodward o/u guns or an original George Gibbs 505 rimless magnum .

 

[double rifle newbie]

I stayed for 2 days and certainly gave it a try.
on going discussions for
Uganda-27/28 with lake albert safari, very nice people license are $$
Sneaking some sort of european hunt in under the guise of my daughters 10th birthday
balkan chamois in Croatia or Pyrnese chamois in France.


Contract signed for a Cous Deer hunt in Arizona 28

I really would like to go Australia it seems like an adventure.

The only person that flat ignored me was caprinae. I am really interested in a Bezoar hunt one day.

well done!

 

[LivingTheDream]

Contract signed for a Cous Deer hunt in Arizona 28

Can you PM who you booked with? I have a ton of points.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Led public companies all round the world . I never dealt with flash spivs . I’m 68 so I have been around . No idea why you reference TV shows / movies / dreamworld . No idea about fashion / watches / pens. It must be an Aussie thing .

I'm a little more than half you age, and know have personally been judged because of my dress or watch before.
I've also seen it happen many many times, right, wrong, or indifferent. I do think in todays day and age the presence of digital watches and their features like health tracking have massively swayed this. I'm one of the only people I know my age who still wears a nicer mechanical watch.

I don't know clothing labels, but I can tell when someone has a tailored suit, or shirt.
I do pay attention to shoes. Not so much brand, but the material, how clean they are, and I notice wear patterns on them. This started when I was in high school and an old man once told me "Clean shoes means clean _______" referrencing women. Once I got older, it had other applications, and I still notice it today.

Example: London finance world is huge on this. Show-up to an interview with brown shoes and you regardless of where you went to school you're not getting a job. It's also very common in several other professions. Biggest piece of advice I got, was to dress to the customer/client/situation.

I'm somewhat of a watch nerd so I pay attention to watches. Personally, the off brands or obscure limited runs stand out and are what I really notice. In the few weeks I've noticed Patek, Vacheron, or Mille watches on people's wrist. Do I notice rolexes? Sure, but I also think a sub doesn't mean what it used to. A lot of people wear rolexes but can't scrape two pennies together and do it for the image.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I hadn’t thought about the Army thing… that’s absolutely true.. and I admit I’m 100% guilty of it…

Meet someone new… immediately look at the left shoulder, right shoulder, and left chest, and I think I “know” if they are a good soldier or not, experienced and capable or not, etc…

When the truth is often very different… but… I still did it my entire career in the military.. and everyone else did as well…

I joined with BDU's/DCU's, but the majority of my career was vastly different than you and @SFRanger7GP uniform wise. It was GWOT so lots of deployments and we had hook & loop. Couldn't even sew anything on at first. Above an E3 and slick right sleeves were definitely judged hard. I used to not wear a Combat Patch or CIB/Badges to mess with people, especially on the podium. It'd royally get in students heads.

If you want to see a CSM's head explode, wear a CIB without a combat patch and quote back AR670-1 about FWSSI being "optional" and it not stating the two are mutually exclusive and must be worn together. Even better when you're TDY at a different duty station and get stopped/called out.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I assume you’re speaking of the CIB. That badge is not given out for just being in theatre. I wish all branches had the equivalent of the CIB. Many awards are generic and handed out like participation trophies. Not that one.

Candy CAB's and blanket CIB's were a thing during GWOT. Most branches have a CAR. Even worse were BSM's IYKYK

@mdwest is right about the op tempo and early/mid 2000's you were judged on the right sleeve and what was on your chest. Presently there are a lot of current E6-E8's with slick right sleeves and no CIB/CAB's because 2012/2013 was kind of the cut-off for super high op tempo. After that it was luck/unlucky who caught kinetic deployments. He's also somewhat right about the light infantry/airborne units vs mech guys later in the war. I've got a buddy who joined around the same time as me and went mech. He is presently an E9 without a CIB/CAB.

 

[revturbo9967]

I'm a little more than half you age, and know have personally been judged because of my dress or watch before.
I've also seen it happen many many times, right, wrong, or indifferent. I do think in todays day and age the presence of digital watches and their features like health tracking have massively swayed this. I'm one of the only people I know my age who still wears a nicer mechanical watch.

I don't know clothing labels, but I can tell when someone has a tailored suit, or shirt.
I do pay attention to shoes. Not so much brand, but the material, how clean they are, and I notice wear patterns on them. This started when I was in high school and an old man once told me "Clean shoes means clean _______" referrencing women. Once I got older, it had other applications, and I still notice it today.

Example: London finance world is huge on this. Show-up to an interview with brown shoes and you regardless of where you went to school you're not getting a job. It's also very common in several other professions. Biggest piece of advice I got, was to dress to the customer/client/situation.

I'm somewhat of a watch nerd so I pay attention to watches. Personally, the off brands or obscure limited runs stand out and are what I really notice. In the few weeks I've noticed Patek, Vacheron, or Mille watches on people's wrist. Do I notice rolexes? Sure, but I also think a sub doesn't mean what it used to. A lot of people wear rolexes but can't scrape two pennies together and do it for the image.

I feel im one of the few my age that enjoys mechanical watches and wear them often. Not only because of their beauty, but because of the engineering behind them. However, I’m mostly found wearing my dad sneakers and jeans when not in front of a customer. Too little time to be uncomfortable.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Gracy Travel and ParkWest have great people and are easy to spend time with.

On the ignoring comment, it’s fascinating to watch people at these shows. Some look like they have resources and some don’t…but that’s a big mistake if a vendor relies on that. Buzz Charlton told me a story of one of his first big shows when he was much younger and didn’t understand the market. Some college kids came down the row joking around and grabbing material from vendors. He didn’t take them seriously and didn’t talk to them. Later they came back but this time with dad. He wrote a check for 21 day safaris for his son and friends to one of the vendors near Buzz. Expensive lesson.

I like the story Buzz told you. in 2008 I picked up a brochure from a SA outfitter at SCI and he told me they were not for kids. How badly I wish I remembered who it was now.

 

[D-Orcutt]

I assume you’re speaking of the CIB. That badge is not given out for just being in theatre. I wish all branches had the equivalent of the CIB. Many awards are generic and handed out like participation trophies. Not that one.

Marines have the CAR

 

[skydiver386]

Air Force guys have the Drivers Badge.

I just KNOW that's gonna cause some smack!

 

[Altitude sickness]

The friendly jabs between branches has always been a thing. As long as nobody from outside tries it. then we become like brothers defending each other.

Inter service barbs.

That’s a whole other thread, we always used to wonder why the army guys came out of Boot Camp looking like Audie Murphy. And how now we all had to switch and wear our flags backwards because the army got confused in the difference in a patch or sticker versus a real flag flying running into battle.

 

[TheGrayRider]

Speaking of veterans and the military, there is still time to sign up for the free SCI Veterans Breakfast a week from this Saturday at the Omni Hotel during the SCI Convention. I think family members can also attend for a very nominal fee. Open to all veterans/active/reserves of any service at any time of any country.

Presentation of the flag/colors by Tennessee Game and Fish officers, prayer, good food, excellent speakers, auctions for a few guns, raffle tickets, etc. I try to attend every year.

Plus, the different branches are called out for recognition and asked to stand. The Marines always make the most noise, followed a close second by the Army and then probably the Navy. Enjoy!

Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

@skydiver386 I will add something to your comments as I know you would appreciate meeting Dave in person. Not only is the humility there but there is an honorable man in the middle of it. He doesn't talk a lot about himself but he is accomplished in numerous fields and yet really down to earth. Plus, he draws people like that. Perfect example is his relationship with @Bos en Dal SAFARIS...if you ever get a chance to meet Gerrit or his wife, you will see in person that phrase of eagles hanging out with eagles. Fine people that I'm pleased to know. This forum has some great humans in it that I have been able to meet.

Couldn't agree more..that is about what you said about Dave, he welcomed us into his house the first year based only on a few email conversations. But man am i happy he did, we became dear friends over the last 8 years. And the man has a heart of gold.

Thank you for the nice words @Green Chile but it must be my misses that brings the avg way up. Looking forward in making some memories together in the near future.

 

[skydiver386]

Speaking of veterans and the military, there is still time to sign up for the free SCI Veterans Breakfast a week from this Saturday at the Omni Hotel during the SCI Convention. I think family members can also attend for a very nominal fee. Open to all veterans/active/reserves of any service at any time of any country.

Presentation of the flag/colors by Tennessee Game and Fish officers, prayer, good food, excellent speakers, auctions for a few guns, raffle tickets, etc. I try to attend every year.

Plus, the different branches are called out for recognition and asked to stand. The Marines always make the most noise, followed a close second by the Army and then probably the Navy. Enjoy!

Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.

This will be my third year in a row attending SCI in Nashville, and I've missed it the last 2. I may attempt to go, but Tina also wants to go to the Melissa Bachman ladies event at 10:00. Our time on the convention floor might get squeezed a bit, and there are tons of vendors I hope to chat with.

 

[ftothfadd]

I reference movies/tv/etc because it’s so much a thing (or was) in US business culture that it routinely was integrated into the very programming watched in the US for more than 3 decades.. anyone involved in US business at any notable level that’s older than about 40 has seen this, and has seen a LOT of it..

while more prominent in US business culture than other places, the behavior is far from exclusively American.. I’ve absolutely seen it out of Europeans, Aussies, and pretty much every “Western” culture on earth to one degree or another.. in fact, one of the absolute worst people I knew at this (he was actually a great guy and a good friend.. but he’d size up every single person he met based on what tie they were wearing, the quality of their shoes, their watch, etc) was an Aussie that at the time was the chief of the Workd Bank office in Singapore.. he was so extreme that he would go out of his way to buy a particular designer tie (for the life of me I can’t remember the designers name now) and gift them to his “underdressed” friends because he wanted them to look the part of world bank leadership and didn’t want to otherwise associate with rif-raf…

Needless to say, he bought me several ties lol.. he thought my brooks brothers as Jos A Bank ties were too “American” and didn’t look the part for the role I played at the bank at the time..

Just to add to this story, while also admitting I despise the superficial approach of judging someone based on their wealth perceived from their accoutrements, it is a thing. I was born and raised in Hungary. I completed my initial training in the Veterinary College in Budapest not much after Hungary started adopting capitalist approaches after 40 years of socialism. I remember going to the ophthalmology clinic in the late 90's where a forty-some professor explained to us students, how we should set our asking price based on the, wait for it, shoes and watch the client wears...
So, I guess it is an international thing however much I bristles me... (I still wear a garmin and sneakers 99 out of 100 times, but I also cannot afford a Rigby or safari to Tanzania, so I guess it fits ;-)

 

[Altitude sickness]

Speaking of veterans and the military, there is still time to sign up for the free SCI Veterans Breakfast a week from this Saturday at the Omni Hotel during the SCI Convention. I think family members can also attend for a very nominal fee. Open to all veterans/active/reserves of any service at any time of any country.

Presentation of the flag/colors by Tennessee Game and Fish officers, prayer, good food, excellent speakers, auctions for a few guns, raffle tickets, etc. I try to attend every year.

Plus, the different branches are called out for recognition and asked to stand. The Marines always make the most noise, followed a close second by the Army and then probably the Navy. Enjoy!

Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.

Get in line early to sit up front near the podium. Your table will have some interesting people to talk to. I sat next to Ryan Zinke and had a great conversation on his work history and his daughters position in the U.S. Navy and the school she was attending at the time.

Jim Shockey and his wife Louise was there also. I enjoyed talking to his wife. Since Jim was busy with others. Unfortunately Louise has since passed away.