Overseas Wrap-Up
Well, I have successfully made it back from France for the study abroad trip. The only way I can describe the visit is by saying it was mind boggling and humbling. As a whole, the trip consisted of me going from good ‘ol Valparaiso, to Chicago. Chicago to London, then London to France by train. Once I got to France, we took a plane back to Chicago, then a good ‘ol ‘Murican Jeep ride back home to Valparaiso.
I’m a massive homebody so going over there without family was brutal. It’s incredibly great to be back. I missed the family hardcore. Interestingly though, I’m also going to miss the group I went with quite a bit either. Recently I had to write a user manual on myself for the workplace. Basically, this document was meant to outline how I manage and interact with others, and communicate how I work and what makes me tick to people that get the misfortune of working with me. In doing this, I decided it’d be a good time to double check my Myers-Briggs personality type as well. The last time I had done this was about 10 years ago, and I fell into an INTJ personality type. Now I pretty much did a 180 flip and am sitting ta an ESFJ personality type. It is weird to make the connection on how I flipped from an introvert to an extrovert, and seeing that I am actually going to miss being around people is kind of a shock factor for me.
I planned to do a day by day post of what happened while I was overseas, but honestly, I was so wrapped up in everything going on, I just flat couldn’t. For a bit of word vomit here, the itinerary consisted of school stuff that I will leave out, but started with landing in London, figuring out the trains, walking randomly through the streets, eating food, sight seeing, blah blah usual tourist stuff. I got to see a Chelsea FC game, so now apparently I am a football fan, and by football I mean soccer. There’s a lot of stuff to do and see in London, but for those of you that know me, what just instantly broke my brain was the architecture. Every flipping building is INSANDE. How did they build these huge beautiful buildings by hand, when the most advanced bit of technology was a hammer. I mean, it’s crazy! The buildings are huge, and everywhere! I sit there looking in awe of these monster buildings, wondering how they are so intricately detailed and carved, and how they are so huge, and how there are so many. I walk through Chicago and look at the big buildings and think “Give me a day and I can 3D model that in CAD.” I look at Westminster Abbey and think “Give me a month and maybe I can make something that kinda looks like that in CAD…. maybe?” How these homies made these monsters WITHOUT modern tech just is unfathomable.
Then comes Paris. Paris is nuts too. Except we were in a questionable area, which was…. adventurous. Stuff, things, trains, more stuff, shopping. That was the start of Paris. I wasn’t too impressed at first, then you start hitting up the stuff you see on TV, and in movies, and your mind melts again. Sitting on a coffee shop outside on the street makes you feel like a secret agent talking to an informant or something. Or maybe romantic? I don’t know, but it feels cool. There was a dude playing a tuba blowing fire out of it across the street so that was prettttty cool. Weirdly, there were a lot of butts in Paris too. I guess they really like sculpting butts over there. Then the Eiffel tower. I had zero intention of seeing it, but walking through the city in the middle of the night, munching some ‘noms at a tiny café, and then seeing the Eiffel tower up close late at night had to be arguably one of the coolest experiences in my life. I did not see that coming. Then more Paris stuff blah blah blah.
Following that, came Versailles. I had no idea what to expect but a giant castle with gold all over and a monster garden was not it. Holy cow, not only was the palace amazing, but the whole area is. That whole commune is crazy, the stores are adorable, the architecture is flattering, and the people were just so sweet and patient. It was completely different than anything else. I think If I could go back and just be a gardener at the palace, I totally would.
Then we fly back. I got to Chicago, walked out of the airport, saw a Chevy Tahoe and instantly went “Oh thank goodness, real cars!” Got home, got a burger, and am now trying to settle down.
All in all, a good trip. I know this blog is supposed to be about the business, work stuff, what’s going on at Pullins Enterprises LLC. But I am also going to abuse this space for personal use at time to time. I guess it can kind of tie together because I had to dump my orders on my amazing wife, but she had her hands full, so I apologize in advanced for any longer than usual deliveries! I also thank everyone for the patience with us as we had to do this.
None-the-less… thanks for the continued support!
"The Journey Starts Today"
It seems like a fitting title of this blog post would happen to be my kids favorite Pokemon theme song, despite the fact that the only thing that has been ringing through my head has been that scene from Armageddon where Michael Clark Duncan sings “Leaving on a jet plane.”
I'm writing this over Canada right now which is kinda cool, eh? Long story short, in July I have to go over to London for work. Until today I haven't been on a plane since college. I also have only really been on 3 flights. Once when I was an infant or toddler or something, once in high school, and once in college. So it’s been a while. I also happen to freak out and panic when I am traveling so this is truly and adventure. Now, travel despising Kristopher got an opportunity to take a week overseas for his MBA program in London and Paris with classmates. So I jumped on the opportunity to take it and learn how to travel with friends before I go myself. Seemed like a solid idea… right? I think so.
I'm still trying to figure out why they put me on a plane from Chicago to Detroit, then Detroit to London. I could have just drove to Detroit and this have been less painful. Either way. Luckily, I got a seat next to a cool dude who works for a software company. Turns out, WiFi on a plane is garrrrbageeee. I can't even log into my page to really post new listings and blog posts for everyone. I could have brought my little man purse id I would have known that’d be the case. At least I have trail mix and gummy worms.
Either way, 5 hours and 56 minutes to go till I land. The kid to my right is eating chili. On a plane. Chili. 8 hour flight, and you eat chili? Bro you’ll barely fit on the toilet. Why you risking chili?
So, I'm rambling. Not really sure what else to talk about. Either way, keep an eye out for more posts! It’s getting crazy up in here.
Audiobooks on this trips flight:
“He Who Fights With Monsters” by Shirtaloon
“The Subtle Art of not giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson
“That's not how we do it here!” by John Kotter
A Cheesy First Blog
Around this time last year, I started taking classes to get my MBA. I jumped in fully and totally ready to get my concentration for my MBA in Finance, because I’m a numbers geek and wanted to learn more about…. well finance I guess! I met a ton of awesome people and professors on the way! And no, I am not saying professors aren’t people, but still. One professor inspired me to start this website instead of dealing with a middle man distributor. Another, suggested I start a blog. Both these professors helped me come a long way over the past year, and the one that suggested I start a blog is also the one that helped inspire me to switch my concentration to leadership over finance as well.
So. Here I am, working on my first blog post, EVER. I have no idea how this is going to go, nor what I’m doing, but here we go! While the whole obsession with making stuff could really go back to a kid being addicted to Legos growing up, or it could be the fact that for 9 years my job was literally making things that made things, it really didn’t hit me until I built my first 3D printer. Having a previous hobby of 3D design and CAD work, ideas became reality at the push of a button, after some tinkering of course. This was the start of a problem. The next thing I knew, I’m buying, building, and selling 3D printers trying to optimize the best way to melt the massive amount of spools of plastic I’ve bought, all going into things like little mini tugboats and wall hangers I made for my garage. Holy cow the possibilities of these printers! Then, you look at the design of the printer and think “wow, this whole design could be used in tons of applications!” and you realize that this is how many CNC routers and Laser Cutters are made, and they are all relatively similar to operate! What a horrible (for the wallet) realization! Next thing you know you’re sitting around making desk lights for your friends and selling them on the internet. Weird right?