What I’ve learned about Rick Schwartz and Howard Neu

Sometimes you don’t really get to know someone until you’ve done battle with them. In the case of Rick and Howard, my perception of them has changed forever.

For instance, Rick Schwartz talks often on his blog and on message boards about how he doesn’t want to work. He goes on and on about it so much that the naive could think he is lazy. Lazy he is not. Once a hard worker, always a hard worker. I can best summarize what I have learned by sharing with you all a little story.

While in his South Florida home negotiating our deal the question of roles and responsibilities came up. Rick said, “hold on a second. I want to show you something”. We then walked out to his living room where he showed me jar after jar after jar filled with old hotel room keys.

I was floored because I collect room keys as well. Besides the obvious connection that we both collect the keys I noticed one very big difference. The keys that I collect are credit card size and throughout my travels I have yet to fill a shoe box with them. Great news! I’m still young in the grand scheme of things! Granted they also don’t take up as much space in the box as real keys but still.

Rick’s keys were real keys with the little rubber key chains on them typical of 60s, 70s and 80s hotel rooms. They were a testament to a man that clearly spent many decades as a real road warrior. As they say, this is not his first rodeo. I don’t want to think about how many hours he spent in those rooms with wall unit air conditioners. I’m sure he drove to the hotels too. My road warrior life is a piece of cake considering. Respect.

I’ll never forget those keys and I’ll certainly stick to building my own collection.

Howard Neu also turned out to be someone completely different than I expected. I had known for some time that he’s been a judge, a mayor, a broadway singer and lawyer. His accomplishments were never in doubt but I was also a little bit guilty to think that he may be a man in his twilight who was ready to slow down.

On the contrary. You’d think he was in his 20s when you are dealing with him over real business issues. He has the fire and tenacity of anyone in their prime if not more.

He’s eager to continue to build on the TRAFFIC brand and it clearly shows.

Never underestimate your opponents dear readers. Never.

I’m proud to be associated with them.

P.S. I just heard that there are only around 20 tickets left for New York at the really low early bird pricing. It’s going to be the best TRAFFIC show in years so don’t miss out.

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