I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day!

Mine wasn’t exactly enjoyable, but fairly productive. Most of it entailed moving into a new apartment, which, I’m happy to say, I absolutely love. While traveling up and down on the elevator countless times (I moved within my apartment building), I had a chance to think about the summer and some of the people I’ve met (not to mention, how quickly the summer went)!

I’m fortunate in my line of work to meet fascinating people from around the globe, but this summer it was the people that I’ve met through a network of personal friends that really opened my eyes. They helped to remind me that it’s the little things in life that can help make the biggest impact on you and those around you.

A friend whom I met recently has been going through, to put it mildly, an extreme rough patch the past few years. I hate to say it, but sometimes it takes another person’s tale of woe to remind me that when I’ve hit a slump, it could easily be much worse. That’s not to say what I may be going through at the time deserves any less attention, but having the chance to talk with these friends, and hearing how they survived difficult endeavors, reminded me to remember the little things - the things that make me smile when I’m having a rough time, rather than become overwhelmed with the larger picture, which I often don’t have any control over.

Now, I know this blog may be vague when it comes to the details, but I’m sure you can all think of some situation where you just didn’t know how you were going to get through it. Take the advice from my friends - if you ever have to face a difficult time, just take each day step by step and look at the little things in life that make you smile. Maybe it’s a memory or the sun shining, or perhaps a stranger held the door open for you with a smile. Today, for me, it makes me smile to think of the wonderful people I’ve been fortunate to spend time with this summer.

-Alex Young, associate publisher and vice president

If you read Fran’s blog yesterday, you could gather my trips to world headquarters (WHQ) over the past years have never been dull. It’s always great to hang out with the team. I’m just glad that Courtney, on her new adventures to TRE, does not have to encounter the “Candyman”! During the strategy portion of this past trip to WHQ, Fran and I planned a last-minute business trip to South Florida to visit some clients Monday. I planned to arrive Sunday evening to get a fresh start for Monday, but my trip was not so smooth.

I was on a 7:20 pm Delta flight out of JFK. I think the Delta terminal at JFK almost makes LAX look good! Regardless, the flight was delayed, so we did not board until 9:30. I believe the initial delay was weather, but once on board, we pulled back from the gate and waited for another 2 hours until we took off. This delay was due purely to congestion on the tarmac as JFK is, I believe, the busiest hub to Europe in the evening. I watched all the international aircraft take off - Lufthansa, Virgin, AerLingus, Eurofly, etc. - normally an enjoyable experience for me, but not so knowing I wouldn’t be landing in Miami until 1:30 am.

Anyway, as much as the delay was frustrating, what I found disappointing was the talk I heard from other passengers. I overheard the group in front of me, after the pilot announced another delay due to all the congestion at the airport, announce that this was another reason why they wouldn’t fly Delta again. Delta apologized profusely and the crew was accommodating and provided a comfortable flight once airborne. I just feel it is very unfortunate when the airlines, in enough trouble already, get an even worse rep for problems out of their control. I’m sure the solution is much more complicated than I want to even imagine, but next time you’re on board and the flight is delayed, remember the pilot probably wants to get where you’re going even more than you do! Delta did a good job at handling a difficult situation and, bottom line, I made it to Miami safe and sound and in time for business!

-Alexandra Young, vice president and associate publisher

As I continue to be glued to the TV watching the Olympics, I figured they are worth writing about 2 weeks in a row! Growing up I always dreamed of being in the Olympics. As I mentioned last week, it’s great to see ‘older’ athletes medaling, but I think I may be just short of the conditioning I would need to win a medal - in the next summer, or next winter, Olympics!

However, in my dream world, I would be an Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. Having played Division 1 indoor volleyball at the University of Vermont, I had enough trouble getting a decent vertical jump off the hardwood floor, let alone on a sandy beach! To be able to jump like Kerri Walsh or have the agility of Misty May would make me feel like Superwoman - not to mention, I would have a gold medal around my neck.

For the Winter Olympics, I’ve always wanted to do the ski jump and feel what it is like to truly fly - without the wings of an aircraft - and land safely! I climbed the steps of a real Olympic ski jump in Oslo and saw how incredibly steep the jump really is. It’s like standing vertically at the starting point, but that didn’t faze me - I would love to learn how to fly!

In which sport have you dreamed of being an Olympian?

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Every 4 years the world’s best athletes come together for 17 days for the summer Olympics and the whole world watches. I look forward to these 17 days and enjoy them immensely. As a natural competitor, I admire the work ethic, intensity, dedication and passion that goes into these athletes day in and day out, sometimes just to compete for the most important 10 seconds of their career.

In addition to the athletes, I love to see how people from nations far and wide come together. Unfortunately, this Olympic year there continues to be violence around the world, and, in very simplified words, how in 2008 does this continue to occur? In equally simplified words, I know money and power are at the root of all political battles, and I’ll let you interpret that as you may.

Now, not to get caught up in politics because I want to focus on the impeccable shape these athletes are in. I am always shocked at some of the ages of the athletes and wonder how they take on the mental pressure of performing and not disappointing. Some athletes are targeted to compete before they enter kindergarten. The British team has a diver, Tom Daley, who is 14, has a perfect 6-pack of abs (is that really healthy?) and is expected to medal. At 14, I didn’t want to disappoint, but I didn’t have a whole nation looking on!

Watching the young athletes, and trying to get back in shape myself, I’ve been wondering, what if society’s mentality changed and we allowed our bodies to develop more before we compete? Would the competition improve? Would there be more, or less, injuries? I heard a commentator say that Michael Phelps (if you don’t who he is - look him up!) didn’t start lifting weights until after the Athens games when he was 19. Obviously, something is working with his strategy as he’s breaking world records like it’s as easy as doing the doggy paddle. The German women’s gymnastics team has a 33-year-old competing who is in peak condition and has incredible life experience behind her, which can only enhance her game face. And lastly, how can Dara Torres be ignored, the 41-year-old American swimmer who has already medaled in the Olympics? These people are truly remarkable and inspirational!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

The more I spend time on the West Coast, the more I understand why my West Coast friends put labels on us from the East - there are definite differences. However, what I’m talking about this time is not personality differences, but physical coastal differences!

At the NBTA conference in LA last week, I experienced my second earthquake and I will admit - I was scared! It registered as a 5.4 and was followed by over 50 aftershocks. At the time of the earthquake I was with fellow GTers Kim Krol and Courtney Centeno at the OpenSkies press conference on the third floor of the convention center. Managing Director of OpenSkies, Dale Moss, was announcing their new route to Amsterdam as it felt like someone began to kick my chair. This feeling quickly led to the whole building shaking from side to side. I thought the roof was coming in.

I would say half the room was filled with New Yorkers who looked at each other like deer in headlights! Finally, someone shouted to get under a doorway and the rumbling finally subsided. The experience was a great icebreaker for networking conversations at the trade show, but when I talked to friends who are from California, I found it did not faze them one bit. Everyone attending the conference from NY was certainly more shaken up from the quake. One West Coast person even remarked, “Come on, an earthquake in LA is like rain in Seattle!” To that, I made a retort about hurricanes and I saw the fear in their eyes! I guess, like everything else, it comes down to what you’re used to. And as for which coast is better, I believe the best way to say it is that neither is better, or worse, just different (but you won’t find me living in LA)!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher