Day 23

Hey Folks,

So, tonight I get off the train at my stop and it is just downpouring, and it is at that time of night where it is kind of twilight. I am talking a straight downpour, but it is kind of bright, and I am walking home across a busy London street, perhaps the equivalent of a Broad and Walnut. It is one of the best walks that I have ever had in my life...it is the way a walk home after a long day of work in London is meant to be. A teaming rain, lots of cabs, black, oldschool cabs(the kind of car that Sonny was driving when he was shot up in the Godfather) with their windshield wipers spraying the windshield everywhere, rain bouncing high off of the red phone booth, buses kicking a huge spray up onto the sidewalk. I have been hearing about this, and waiting for this, and tonight I got it. I was absolutely drenched. And, I really didn't care. Partly because my hair stayed pretty much intact, but mostly because it was a visual and an experience that I will never forget. I should take a moment to note here that traditional American umbrellas just will not cut it here. Umbrellas in London, much like cars and homes in the Unites States, are a status symbol(you should see some of these things…goldplated, handcarved, etc). I guess that is because it rains so often, but suffice to say that if umbrellas were the sole indicator of status, I would be at the bottom of the food chain.

I am not much of a tourist, so it has been the moments like this that have really moved me. I will miss this, when I go. I will miss walking to the tube on the wet pavement past the street cleaner that is there the same time every morning, crossing the street so that he doesn't get me with the powerspray, walking into the tube, barely squeezing onto the first train for one stop, and then getting onto the second train, grabbing a Metro and reading about Beckham, Tom-Katie-and-Suri, and the unrest in the Middle East every day, marvelling at Wembley Statium as I pass it every single day, getting off at "Harrow on the Hill" while the engineer warns us to "Mind the Gap". In the evenings, it is a stop at the pub for a pint and a sandwich while watching the Rugby, Football, or Crickett game of the week, and a great view of the city as I respond to emails. I will miss breakfast, streetside on Saturday mornings, and a glass of wine, streetside on a Sunday night. It is living as a Londoner that I will value so much more than any tour could ever provide.

On to business…we had our big kickoff meeting on Friday. It was heated, and it was direct, and it was a real war room...we walked in as individuals, and we walked out as a team. So, Monday was really the first day of the rest of their careers with Kenexa. And, I couldn't have asked for a better response, as this team immediately began working on their area of accountability, some pounding the H.R. market, others assigned to the agency market hammering for conversions and appointments with new prospects, and the relationship management team immediately going to work on strategies for conversions and upsells. This team has showed great pride and great heart, and most importantly, ownership for their role in this journey...and whether they realize it or not, it is now their office. I am so proud of every one of them, every one of them.

As a testament, I would like to include an excerpt from one of the team members that I received on Monday evening, after this particular teammate had a short, but gruelling, outpatient procedure…

“Back from hospital and raring to go. Don't underestimate this team's resolve to be successful: I refused a sedative so I wouldn't be sleepy tomorrow and it hurt!! I have made lists for the rest of this week so should catch up by Friday. "See you tomorrow.”

Moments like this formed the platform for growth and success in Philadelphia...and this statement really embodies our character. I love it.

I am going to sign off until next time. And, I am going to leave you with my newly earned sign off, the sign off that Londoners use, which I think I have earned the right to use. I used it for the first time this morning, as someone held the door for me. It is a simple “Cheers”. Today, for some reason, just today, I felt right using it. Kind of because I now realize when to use, it and kind of because I think I know how to say it properly. The key is that you can’t pronounce it as it is spelled…because you just can’t pronounce the “r” too sharply. If I had to spell it as I hear it, it would be more of a CHEers... a little bit louder at the outset, and a little bit less pronounced toward the end.

I miss you all, and sell hard today,

CHEers

JV