Working With My Little Ego-Self!!

I am not really sure I am up for writing this blog. However, I know writing is often very helpful for me in finding a path through things I don’t really like feeling.

To set the context without giving details, I am having a tough time because I put myself out for something I thought I’d be good at, and someone else was selected. Now really, this sounds like a childhood story of not being picked as the captain at recess. The truth is, it feels a lot like that, and I sure wish it didn’t.

Right now I wish I had never thrown my name into the hat. It would have been much easier. I realize I have probably done that a few times in my life, not admitting I wanted something, watching someone else get picked without letting on that I was ever interested.

The problem for me with that approach is that I work with leaders and a leader’s job is to be willing to step up and be vulnerable. There’s a lot of vulnerability in saying you want the job, thinking you can do it. It is easy to see the ego in that effort, and sure, there has to be some self-confidence and desire to even say, “pick me”.

In my case, vulnerability may be a bit harder to see. I wanted the job but I wasn’t the one picked, and now I have to find a way to still be willing to play. That’s the tough part. I want to pull back and not get involved.

I want to say they didn’t pick the right person. I wish I wasn’t like that. The worst part is the humbling aspects of my very unattractive need to make the winner wrong.

Somehow that keeps the pain away. On some level I know this heartache isn’t all from this one event. That’s part of the problem. My rational brain could easily help me out of this mess. The person picked is actually pretty good. The truth is, I think the person selected is pretty regularly picked to be captain and I guess I wanted my shot.

Now I am trying to find some graceful path through this. I am working to embrace the ego aspect of myself that hurts and does some unattractive ego things; I am doing my best to avoid doing these ego-related activities out loud or at least not outside the circle of friends who know I am venting.

The next step is to reach out to the winner. As I mentioned before, it’s not like this person is the problem. I actually have enjoyed some of the work we have done together in the past. Maybe I will get to a place where I can find the best role for me to play.

I really wish could transcend my little ego self. But I have never been any good at transcending anything. The best I can do is dive right into my overly active storytelling self and do my best to ride through all the feelings that come up. I’d like to think I don’t spill them everywhere as I find my way through wild range of emotions that surface when I am hurting. I think I am better than I use to be. But there are still some occasional splashes and I need to do my best in cleaning things up as needed.

This is no hero’s journey, it’s more like a fool’s jump. I think I feel more alive as a fool rather than a hero. It doesn’t feel as comfortable, but life isn’t about being comfortable or looking good. It is about being real. This pain feels real and I imagine this too shall pass!!

Recovering From My Blogging Blunder

It’s tough when my latest blog is old news before it gets sent to readers. I feel responsible for getting another post up quickly.

Technical difficulties resulted in yesterday’s blog arriving after last night’s game. So now I am quickly working to recover. I wish I could say my cold was gone and my head was clear. This blog might be easier if that was the case. Unfortunately, I am still a bit clogged and tired from a cold that is very, very slowly moving through my system!

As a result of this cold, I missed some fun events. Last night I had some great plans both for the big game and for supporting a local fundraising event for the school of which I am a board member. I didn’t think it was right to show up at the event coughing and contaminating everyone while asking for money to support our programs. Still, I would have liked to participate. I had also intended to watch the big game on my friend’s big HD TV. We had plans for sushi and basketball. Instead, I watched the game on my very small iPhone screen and ate Rice Dream. Not the same.

So I am not loving this opportunity my body is presenting me. I generally don’t do well with any type of health issues that demand I rest. I have trouble slowing down. Don’t get me wrong, it is not like I am driven or a workaholic, I am not that kind of fast or productive person. I like my walks, jogs, yoga, and connecting activities like lunch at The Green Tea House, or a movie with friends. So when I can not do those things, I find it hard.

I wish there was an easy way to get through a cold. The fact that I am even getting this post completed is a sign of improvement. At some point I will likely take Bailey out for a short walk in the woods. I may even make it to The Green Tea House. Life will return to normal.

But for now, this is the best blog I have in me for a quick recovery from my blogging blunder.

Butler Again!!!

There are so many possible blog topics:  Butler University in the men’s NCAA National Basketball Championship game again, my saga with a cold that wouldn’t quit, more lessons through Bailey—and those are just the simple choices.  There are always the heavy hitter topics, like radiation leaks, earthquakes, the Middle East and stuff like that.

Let’s start with Butler.  Of course, I am rooting for Butler tonight.  There are so many reasons why.  Once again, this small school with way less money and resources is taking on a giant.  I even like UConn.  Well, I like some of the players.  Kemba Walker has a great story, and I have no doubt all of Harlem will be rooting for him to shine.  However, I still have to go for the little school with the geeky looking coach.  Tonight, Butler I hope takes home the championship.  I am rooting for the coach who is a math and science guy and who left the great corporate ladder to take the assistant coaching job because he loves basketball.  I am rooting for the team that has the higher graduation percentage and who isn’t under an NCAA investigation.  This isn’t a mistake this time around.  This Butler team came right back to the Final Four and back to the championship game.  They are not some wild card.  Tonight, I want to see them take home the prize!

I could go on and attempt to talk about other noteworthy topics. However, the cold I mentioned is demanding I quit trying to write long interesting pieces and wrap this blog up quickly. I think taking another nap may be more important than sharing deep insights.

Plus, if I don’t post this soon, the big game will be over and I will have missed adding my two cents along with all of the other bloggers out there about Butler and basketball.

Here’s To Staying Present On The Fast Track!

Since the start of the year, I believe I have slept more nights in hotels than in my own home. I have also visited more airports then I ever imagined. Though not quite like George Clooney in the movie Up in the Air, I find myself having conversations about air miles, bragging about the advantages of elite status. I am, however, not anywhere near the level of the million mile folks, but have simply spent a lot of time taking short hops to places like Gabriola Island, BC; Cedar Rapids, IA; Essex, MT; Redmond and Lacey, WA; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I get to live with Glacier National Park in my backyard, and when I travel I am always with my best friend and partner. Still, this year seems to be ‘flying’ by. It’s already March!

I have heard that the planet is moving faster. Some report that the evolutionary process of humankind will advance in one year (2011-2012), as much as we advanced in the thirteen years prior (1998-2010). I am not really sure what that means, but maybe it has something to do with the iPad2 arriving in less than a year from the release of the original. Personally, I do find things happening at a faster velocity. I can worry myself sick with being unable to keep up; however, the time spent doing that will only result in more time lost.

I recently read that blogs are on the way out.  I have only just begun to fully enjoy the process of connecting online. I have yet to have anything go viral or see vast increases in my readership, yet I am very committed to the twenty-some folks who signed on to have my blogs arrive in their inbox. I hope blogging is not soon to be a lost art like letter writing. However, if the predicted velocity timeline holds, it’s possible that blogging will only last a fraction of the time that snail-mail and newspapers had in the way of connecting.

The Dalai Lama gave the best advice recently when asked what surprised him most about life. His answer was: Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

Maybe he was suggesting that I would be better off not worrying about how fast life is moving—but instead enjoy the moment, whatever version of the iPad I have, wherever I may sleep, and however many readers get to enjoy my post.

Couples Alive

I just got back from the first Couples Alive program offered at The Haven.  CrisMarie and I had been engaged in the design process as part of a team that included Cathy and Ernie McNally, David Raithby and Sandy McCarthy.  The process of designing the Couples Alive Series (four five day programs) has been very exciting and rewarding.  So the idea of fully participating in the first of the series seemed like a great idea.  Later in the year we’ll be leading the same program, and I always like to live what I teach.

I believed that the simple yet profound nature of the models and concepts would easily be effective for all stages of relationships. I have close to thirty years of living, leading and teaching programs based on the same foundational models, models that continue to offer me ways of going deeper. The idea of that same exploration happening within my most important relationship made complete sense. Though we regularly work to apply and live what we have each learned though The Haven, I know I can be habitual and lazy at times.  So participating with other couples and checking in on the health of our relationship was an exciting opportunity.

Of course, as we stepped into fully engaging, we had our rough spots.  There were a few times when I wondered why I had signed up for this. However, as I listened and stayed open, I was reminded of the amazing possibilities that a relationship offers when we are not trying to control or change each other.  I revisited the romance that brought me into wanting to live, work and be with CrisMarie. I also revisited the power struggles that arise simply because we each have different hopes, dreams and imaginations. Of course, we bump, and of course, I can make her wrong.  But looking at the choices, to relate or to isolate, I stepped towards the aliveness that comes from being vulnerable and curious.

By participating in the program, I found some pockets of apathy and openly brought forward my concerns with anxiety and excitement.  As always, I was surprised to learn that getting my way wasn’t nearly as important as speaking up and simply being heard by a loving witness.  We didn’t have to fix anything.  Yes, we agreed to a few new ways of keeping ourselves honest and open.  In a month we’ll check in to see if our new tools are working.  I’m hoping we’ll be able to make the next part of the series, The Edge.

The best part of our relationship is that we both value growing and learning.  That is so special and it was delightful to be with other couples who hold that same value.

In general, I think I know when I am creating distance in my relationship; however, a couples workshop is a bit like an annual health visit. I highly recommend anyone in a relationship to consider going to The Haven.  I have provided a link to their website.  Take a look.  I want to be sure we are healthy, I and we are worth the investment.

Couples Alive at The Haven from Chris Finlayson on Vimeo.

Relationship Math: 1 x 1=1

I live in a community where there is lots of talk about oneness and unity.  Often, I feel at odds listening to the discussions because there has been a quality to the conversation that I interpret as a transcending of the human experience to a higher order, which I don’t agree with.  However, when some Haven friends presented me with the Relationship Equation: 1 x 1=1, I had an “ah ha” moment!

Let’s just review some basic math: 1 x 1=1, and 0.5 x 1=0.5, and 0.5 x 0.5=0.25.  By applying this equation to any relationship, you can see that if I show up in a relationship as only half of myself, then the outcome, even if the other person fully shows up, is still only 0.5.  Not oneness!  Worse still, if we both show up only half way then the return is a mere 0.25.  This means that if I want to get to oneness, I must bring all of me to the equation: the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful! There is no transcending, cutting out parts, bypassing the ugly ego, or really any part of myself.  This totally changed my view on oneness.  I am all for it now.

From a relationship context, this makes complete sense.  Sure, I wish only the best of me showed up day-to-day in my interactions with CrisMarie.  However, when you live and breath, travel and work side-by-side all of the time, that is just not real.  We have amazing moments of closeness, and we have horrible clashes.  We also have lots of boring day-to-day experiences.  This is life. It’s easy to disengage or try to hide parts of myself that show up at the wrong moment.  However, if I go back to the math, I understand that when I take a part of me out of the equation, I miss the opportunity to experience oneness.

I listen to people trying to shed parts of themselves.  I am sure we have all tried to stop crying or wish we could rid ourselves of rage, pain, sorrow, or hate.  It doesn’t work.  Somehow, if we want to be one or whole, we have to feel everything deeply, and then and only then, do we get to know fully who we are and maybe get better at choosing how we show up.

This same equation applies to teams, groups, families, even countries.  1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1=1.  There is no other way to get to oneness.  My imagining that I could do more, say like 1.5, does not help anyone else I am in a relationship with get to oneness.  1.5 x 0.5=0.75.   Wow!  The math makes it clear. Each of us can only work on showing up fully ourselves.  That is the only way to ONE!

If oneness is our destiny, as some have said, then it means our path on this planet is to embrace everything, the good the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. Then, and only then, do we have a chance to experience wholeness, unity or oneness together.

So what do we do about the pain, the suffering, the meanness and the cruelty that exists in the world, and within ourselves?  First, we don’t deny it;  We embrace it;  We own it; We show up fully and invite all of the those standing there with us to show up fully as well.  In that moment of intimacy, we may indeed kill each other, however, we may also see God. Does that possibility scare me?  Sure.  I know I have yet to show up fully moment to moment for very long.  But if I do the math – it is the best option.

Moving Beyond Blame

Recently I watched a wonderful TED talk by Brene Brown entitled The Power of Vulnerability. I encourage everyone to watch the short twenty minute talk.  I won’t cover the major points, but one segment is worthy of more coverage.  Brene provides a definition of blame as a way of discharging pain and hurt.  In her video she was suggesting that we might bypass blaming if we understand that blaming is simply a way to avoid feeling pain.  Personally, I took this another way.  As I understand it, there is often an energetic need to discharge pain and hurt, and if this is true, then I can search for effective ways of creating the space for that to occur.

As an example, I have had to deal with some experiences in my past that were quite painful.  As someone who experienced physical and sexual violence, I found myself angry and unable to move beyond those memories.  It wasn’t until I arrived at The Haven that I discovered a path for fully embracing and expressing my blame and discharging that fixated energy within a circle of people who held the space, a place where I discovered that discharging was important because, energetically, I was carrying that story in my cells.

Once I had the opportunity to release the charge, I no longer needed to keep holding that story.  The circle of people provided an easy path of moving out of being a victim.  As others witnessed my pain and hurt, and then invited me to connect by making eye contact and listening to the impact my sharing may have had on others, I was able to be fully in my feelings of pain and hurt, discharging the fixated energy.  I did not need anyone to fix it, change or remove the experience.  All that I wanted was a space to allow the feelings to be expressed and move through the blame.  Being fully in my blame felt made me feel vulnerable and raw.  Yet when I looked around the room, I knew I was not alone—in my pain or my blame.

We are human. We try so hard to avoid many deep feelings.  We even try hard not to blame or be seen as a victim.  Part of being vulnerable is revealing our desire to blame, even if that is not the best solution.  It is very special when others makes a space for that to be okay, giving us permission to go further, allowing deeper feelings to be expressed.  That space opens us up and allows all the other feelings to surface.

I am always moved when people ask for a space to scream, wail, fight and discharge the pain of being human. I am quite open to making that space and being a witness to the human experience.  I greatly value those in my life who have done the same for me.  I have learned it is not about fixing our human experience—that is the work of heroes and gods.  The greatest gift is simply being fully present, accepting the human experience, knowing we are not alone. That is the path I have found moves me beyond blame.

My Top Ten Best Of 2010

The new year is already flying by.  I thought I’d write another blog by wrapping up 2010 with my version of a Top Ten.  It seems like every blogger has some type of Top Ten list and I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite things from 2010, before 2011 is too far along.

1. Best Gadget: The iPad. I know everyone is talking about iPad2 now, and of course I understand that the iPad2 will be better then the original.  However, I have no regrets.  I have loved having the iPad!  I carry it everywhere and find new uses for it all the time.

2. Best Song: Kingdom Come by DynoJamz. Take a listen. I may never have heard of this song were it not for my nephew, Clarke Reid, who composed the music.  The band is an interesting blend of rap, brass, and piano. This is the preview track from their new album.

3. Best Movie: The Social Network. I haven’t really been a Facebook person, however,  I love the director Aaron Sorkin and quite enjoyed the movie.  Plus, I came home and got myself back online and have been enjoying a bit more Facebook.

4. Best Novel: Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls.  I loved this book, couldn’t put it down.  It’s the story of a resilient woman with and a very strong character.  I highly recommend it.

5. Best Nonfiction: Cooking Up Good Vibrations.  Check it out! This is the best gluten-free cookbook! Even I can follow the recipes. Plus, I know the folks who put it together and think everyone should have a copy.

6. Best Place to Eat: The Green Tea House in Whitefish, MT.  I eat there almost everyday for lunch.  I love the food and enjoy just hanging out.  If you’re ever in Whitefish, try it.

7. Best iPad App: Pulse. I like this application because I can get tons of information, everything from news feeds to Facebook updates, on one page.  I like being able to put in a topic and quickly pull lots of information from the web to review.

8. Best TV Show:  Modern Family. I have enjoyed every episode and laughed out loud at least a few times during each show.  The characters are great and the script smart – love that!

9. Best Play:  Colin Quinn: Long Story Short. Normally this would be a local selection but this year I was in New York for a series of great shows, so CrisMarie’s appearance in Dividing The Estate, though seen the most, did not make the top of the chart.  Colin Quinn: Long Story Short was a surprise hit for me.  It’s the performance of one guy for 75 minutes. I just didn’t think it could beat out musicals.  But we talked about it for days and we’re still bring up some of the best lines.  It was an awesome show.

10. Best Gift: Celebrating Life Bike Shirts. Renee and Jim totally surprised me with awesome bike shirts for all four of us (CrisMarie, Jim, Renee and I) to wear while on our bike tour in Croatia!  Renee is a master of surprise. At the beginning of the trip, and she and Jim pulled out the shirts wrapped with a ribbon and a colorful bike bell—it was perfect!

Best Gift!!

Okay, so this is my take on a random list of things that delighted my year.  2011 is already offering some new delights but you will have to wait for those.  I plan to get back to more regular postings now that the year is launched.

All This Joy, All This Sorrow

The weather outside is delightful—snowy, cold and windy!  Perfect for sitting by a fire and reflecting on 2010!  I have been writing this blog in my mind for days.  Yet have found it very hard to sit down long enough to put fingers to keyboard and get something on the screen.

As I look back over the year there are so many moments of wonder and joy! Though in many ways 2010 started with sorrow. Last year the holiday was heavy, having just returned from being together with the Campbells and saying goodbye to Tom Campbell, CrisMarie’s brother.  As a result, Christmas was sort thrown together.  We went through the motions but without the inspiration that often comes with the season.

Still, life did move on.  We added boxer Bailey to our family and of course that bought a surge of new life and energy to the mix!  Bailey has definitely been a highlight.  However, there have been those moments when we have both wondered what we were thinking after our third run or walk of the day or when he is not quite ready to settle down and heads across the room with some precious object of ours, knowing we will be after him.  It has taken Sooke a bit longer to discover the joy of having another dog around the house but they have finally become friends.

I turned 50 this year.  For some this might be considered a sorrow; however, I am loving this transition.  It helped that I had an amazing ‘celebrating life’ biking experience in Croatia to mark the date.  We went with our friends Renee and Jim and a great group of folks through Vermont Bike Tours and the trip was awesome.  As I settled into my fifties, I realized it was time to discover what color my hair really was. I have been coloring my hair for so long and with such variety, that I wasn’t quite sure what it would be like.  Of course gray was expected; however, the surprise was how much I liked the short silver results.  (I personally think of it as silver, but I’m not kidding myself—anyone else would say gray!)

I lost a few friends during the year.  By far the hardest was getting the news that Dianne Anderson had left us.  In many ways I knew it was coming and this was moment of great sorrow (I will miss her laugh and our visits whenever I am at The Haven) and great joy. Dianne’s life in her body had been very hard for a while and I do believe I felt her joy as she let go of that heavy weight! Kumi was another shining star for me who died later in the year.  She was not as close a friend, but an amazing soul who had graced my life with some special moments.

The year has had many milestones: my Dad turned 90, we moved our business to Montana and marked it with the purchase of land and a new Subaru, and we had some great work experiences and became even more engaged with the Table Group.  Of course there were some great Haven highlights of joy and sorrow in sharing people’s journey through The Phase and Come Alive programs.   Here in Montana,  I discovered how great it is to hike in Glacier National Park, and I covered many miles on my bike before and after the Croatia trip.

I became Chairman of the Board for the school I am a part of here in Whitefish.  As a result, I discovered the challenges and responsibilities as we produced our first cookbook, took on the financial oversight of The Green Tea House, and worked with the staff and faculty as they wrestled through a year of transition with changes in leadership and direction.

This holiday season was kicked off in style as we headed to New York again with Jim and Renee.  Jim’s bucket list included being in New York for the holidays and taking in lots of shows, good company and great food.  It was a blast!

Indeed this has been an amazing year!  Maybe the best part has been seeing CrisMarie move through her grief and enjoy engaging in this holiday season.  She seemed to really thrive in finding the perfect gifts for giving family and friends.  That is what this time of year is all about.  The spirit of Christmas isn’t so much about religion as it is about magic and giving; being open to feel and experience all the joy, all the sorrow and all the promise of possibility that being human offers each of us.

May each of you have fun reflecting on your year and stepping into the new possibilities that 2011 brings your way.

Team Subaru – A Different Kind of Sales Experience

In 2004 we purchased a new car, a cypress green convertible VW Beetle. We have loved that car. Over the years we have enjoyed many happy moments cruising between Seattle and somewhere generally north of the border with the top down, small children waving to us at every corner. Indeed Gracie, as we fondly named her, was a great investment.

However, we are now in Montana and Gracie spends most of the year in our garage because of winter conditions. Sure, we still enjoy summer sunny days with the top down, but with winter arriving early with predictions of snow, we knew it was time for a change.

We did try to replace our VW Bug with another VW. We had our eye on a Jetta wagon. We approached the local dealer with cash and a desire to purchase. But the service was horrible. We really tried to buy a car from them, going to the showroom twice—once finding no one to help us, and the other learning the Jetta was not in stock. It was sad. The truth was, another VW was probably not the best solution anyway. Still, we really were decided on that Jetta wagon, but without a salesman willing to assist us, we headed on down the road to Subaru.

I have heard nothing but good things from folks who have owned Subarus. However, they have never really been cars that ignite my inner playful side. I enjoy the Subaru ads and imagine myself to me an off-roads sort of gal. But CrisMarie was a much harder sell. To her, the cars lacked color and sportiness. Still, I though we should at least give it test drive.

Right away we noticed the difference on our first visit to the dealership. The place was busy. A salesman checked in with us quickly, taking a copy of our licenses’ and sending us off on a test drive – ALONE! We drove an Outback and an Impreza and said we’d be back. No pushiness or pressure, and though CrisMarie was far from sold, she loved the service.

We did our research and tried a couple more times at getting the Jetta. But the VW dealership must not have seen us as serious customers. Even online efforts failed to get responses. So we headed back to Subaru. This time we tried the entire line. Instead of our original salesman, we had a new guy, Dirk, who wanted to ride along with us. Even though I was as bit uncomfortable with the idea, in the end he was a great resource (and a fellow Honda Element lover). Dirk explained that the Subaru Team was quite different then most sales departments. Three of the four guys had all worked together up the road at the Honda dealer (thus the depth of knowledge of Honda) and each of them wanted something different. Because of their lifestyles and values they decided to go against the norm in car selling and operate as a team instead of individual salesmen.

Of course I had my doubts. But over the next few visits, we worked with each of the sales teams at one time or another. They were all consistent about the team approach, the belief in the product, and that the customer experience was the real seller of Subaru. They were open, authentic, and never once did I feel pushed or committed to one salesperson.

One of the guys, Rod, shared what he believed were their shared values. First, they respected each other and the strengths they each bought to the team. They also valued the customer’s experience and believed customers would come back. (Apparently the car sales training approach is NEVER let them leave the lot—once gone they won’t be back— and this does ring true with most of my car buying experiences.) Finally, they all had different lifestyles but realized that quality of life was more important than individual sales numbers. We did find they each had different styles. John, who was our original guy, won me over when he let us drive away so quickly, alone. Dirk was more the charmer. He got in the car with us and sold the Subaru. Rod was with us through the bulk of the selling process. He wasn’t pushing extras, no haggling about price, offering a high resell value on our bug. It was Rod who explained Team Subaru and their unique team approach. And it was obvious how they all played an important part.

In the end, we found the car for us. It helped that there was lots of snow and some ice to prove the value of AWD in Montana. But what really sold us was the experience. We love our Honda element. However, the Outback had some nice perks and when it came to getting up our driveway (the real test of all wheel driving,) the Subaru was awesome. So in the end, Team Subaru won our business.

There was a moment after we purchased our car when Team Subaru became human. We had left with the expectation of picking up our car in two days with dog gate installed and clear something complete (yes they did sell us a few additional items). We found out the morning we were coming to drive the new car away, there had been a mistake. The car wouldn’t be ready for at least another couple days. Now really this would not have been a big deal, but because we had high expectations and did not get the word until quite late, we were quite disappointed. Of course, I found myself annoyed because I could not understand why they didn’t tell us the clear something took extra time. In the end, Team Subaru came through. We had our crucial conversation, and they explained that with a busy service department and not really knowing the final items, they had over-promised. Dirk let us have a new Legacy to drive until the car was ready! Really, all I needed was some sort of acknowledgment and I would have been satisfied, but the car was a nice bonus!

Since the new car was a business purchase, it totally fits that we went with Team Subaru. We hope the guys will let us use them as a case study of a smart and healthy sales team. I sure wish there were more car dealerships operating using their sales approach. It might take a while for other sales departments to catch on. So if you are looking to enjoy buying a car, visit the guys at Team Subaru (Don K Subaru) in Whitefish, MT.  Tell them we sent you and we’ll get a free dinner.

Thanks guys!  You are proof that teams work—even in sales!