Alexander's

06:10 — after a final look at my watch I decide it is time to call the limo driver — who was supposed to pick me up.

Good morning Mr. Paulsen
Good morning
5:55 right?
Yes and I’ve been waiting for the last 15 minutes
Please let me check with the driver. I’ll call you back right away

6:20

Mr. Paulsen, I’m terribly sorry, but could you please take a normal taxi to the airport — there was a slight problem

Sure my plane starts boarding at 6:40, but I guess if I beg the normal taxi driver to go faster it might still work.

6:25

Lucky me I get a taxi driver that was doing limo service for consultants before. Incidentally he became a normal taxi driver because limo service was too stressful for him.

I’m sorry to ask you, but could you please write the bill on your own? It’s hard to drive through the city at break-neck-speeds and still fill out that form.

Sure whatever you say. Just get me to the airport fast and alive.

I hit the road running — all the way to the security checkpoint.^[1]

I’m nervous, sweaty and the line at the security check is quite long.

Sir is this your bag?
Yes
Please step out of the line

Really? Today?

Turns out that my deodorant is not above the maximum size for liquids. Also my shoes are clean, so apparently I didn’t step in any bombs on my way to the airport.

Finally they let me go.

I grab my laptop bag, which of course is still open from the security check. About a hundred pages of documentation rain over the security counter.

Smile - just smile.

At the gate my coworkers greet me with smiles.

Now you have a new benchmark and can sleep at least 20 minutes longer.