Last May, I was flying home from Seattle on a late afternoon flight - my boy Lofa dropped me off with a heartfelt goodbye. Think he almost cried, he asked me if I really needed to leave. We hugged, I slapped his hand and closed the door to his truck. I was coming back in a month, but it's always nice to get love from a former NFL linebacker.
I had been in Seattle the past 2+ weeks helping launch ZoneIn CBD into the universe. He and my good friend Amit, with some NFL and MLB athletes, started a new CBD brand. It’s been fun to work with a new team and contribute my creative strategy and marketing knowledge. It is always a distinct pleasure to share your talents to help a friend, especially in business. Sure, I could pinch hit in the league softball game, but helping create and define a brand from scratch is so much more gratifying.
ZoneIn is crushing it and growing, very proud of the team.
Back at the airport I just got off the phone with my friend Chris, who I am bringing on to help me with various design projects for ZoneIn. I remember giving him the 5 minute brief when I heard the flight attendant on the loudspeaker announce we are boarding.
In no particular rush, I casually walk to the gate. Looking at my ticket, it says Group 3, they are boarding handicap and I pick up stride and get in the Group 1 line. The thing about me is, I am always Group 1 no matter what my ticket says. I refuse to let a number get in between my comfort and convenience.
The flight attendant had a pleasant and quirky exchange with the older gentleman with a floppy hat in front of me. I threw some funny words of my own into the conversation mostly to distract that I was in Group 1 with a Group 3 ticket. Picking up on the energy, the gentleman with the floppy hat engaged me in an entertaining conversation. It was one of those random occurrences when traveling - a profoundly interesting conversation with a complete stranger for a set time in a random place. We were on the jet bridge while we spoke about music and politics.
Even in May 2019, he mentioned that the country is craving normalcy, and Biden may be the guy to bring us out of what many have seen as tumultuous times. It was an insightful point of view as many people I was speaking to had the same sentiment. The word normalcy seemed so foreign to everyone.
We spoke about current events and what is going on with our society and culture. It was a slow walk to our seats, and the conversation flowed in an unusual, seamless way with someone I just met, who is likely 30+ older than I. It was one of those moments I knew I’d remember, just because of the heightened intellectual vibe to which the conversation stayed. This man knew shit. There weren't just opinions, there were deep insights and poignant thoughts about our state of affairs. We shared our thoughts and we laughed at the unspoken commonality of our opinions.
Now boarding the vessel, conversation still flowing, we arrive at the last aisle seat in first class. My new friend began sitting in seat 5A, while I waited patiently in the slow line to my seat, a few rows behind. It was one of those conversations so riveting, and meetings so random, I thought it only appropriate to introduce myself and get this intelligent and kind gentlemen’s name:
“Great talking to you,” I said. Shook his hand. “My name is John Rota, and you?”
“Art Garfunkel,” he said.
“Fantastic talking to you!” I replied.
I walked back to 8A and sat down; Googled Simon & Garfunkel album covers, because, you know, he’s a little older….
I just had an authentic, head-to-head exchange with Art Garfunkel. A legend. In a floppy hat. On a plane to Newark. He was a total pleasure. Aren’t smart conversations with smart people the best? Conversations with legends, even better.
After we landed, I asked him how his flight was, he smiled and said, “uneventful, how we like it.” I laughed and kept walking to baggage claim.
The lesson in all of this:
Life is full of fun surprises when you act authentically and break some rules.
JR
