Martinis and a Millionaire

  

  I leaned back into the uncomfortable leather seat situated in the hallway to the gate that my flight would leave from. The book I had brought to occupy myself laid open in my lap, but my mind couldn't focus past the rush of people that frantically rushed by. My left foot was looped through the arm strap of my backpack, the only bag I had brought with me. Sitting alone in an unfamiliar airport, I was as efficient a bundle as possible. I would have to be stuck there for the next eight hours until my flight back home arrived. My long layover had just started. 

    I grabbed my phone from my pocket and googled "nap space houston airport" I had been up for 7 hours already, and I wanted some peace and quiet for either sleeping or reading a little bit. I clicked the first link and read through the page. One option on the page was to go to a club lounge, but I wasn't a club member. I read further on and found an option for a club day pass. I looked up the United Club lounge, gathered my bag, and made my way to the lounge. Another motivating factor was that the lounge also had free food and drinks. The choice was clear, pay a little money and have some peace and quiet, a comfortable chair, and free food and drinks. I happily shelled out the money for that. I purchased the pass at the front desk and made my way to a corner of the lounge and I quickly found myself a comfortable chair and settled in. 

    While sipping on a G&T from the bar, I opened my book and soon lost myself within its pages. An hour went by and a man came over by where I was. "Is this seat taken?" asked the man, breaking my concentration on the book. He stood near a chair across a small coffee table from me. He was a bit older, I'd expect mid 60's, wearing a polo and khakis. His voice carried the slightest hint of an accent, which turned out to be British Canadian. 

"Only by you," I replied, glancing up from my book as the man placed his bag next to the chair.

"Mind watching this for a minute?" the man asked. I obliged and he walked towards the food and drinks. A few minutes later he returned and sat down across the table from me. We sat in silence a bit more as I read on. After the man had finished his food, he pulled out his phone and wallet. He produced a SIM card from the wallet and attempted to swap the current card in his phone. "You have better eyes than I do," the man said, "which way does this card go in?" I helped him correctly orient the card. 

    He finished off the rest of his drink and noticed that I had finished mine as well. "Care for a drink?" he asked, "I'll grab it for you. What would you like?" I told him that I didn't mind and told him to surprise me. He returned with two martinis and handed me one. Truthfully, I had never had a martini before, so it intrigued me. I sipped on it and we began chatting. Rob, as I will call him, was an accomplished lawyer and lived in Panama City, Panama. Rob had been raised in Vancouver Canada, and after attending a prestigious university, he represented many impressive companies such as Rolex. He has also been known to consult for the United Nations. 

    Rob's work has allowed him to live a life that many people dream of. Rob owns a penthouse in Panama City, a house in California, and houses in Canada and Europe. He also showed me his large watch, car, and art collection, and we talked about how his love of art and high-quality work. Rob poured lots of money into art and was very proud of the pieces that decorated his houses around the world. Rob and I then talked for a long time about watches, as I love watches and I can talk about them all day. He wore a Rolex GMT II in Gold and Silver. As we talked, I noticed that it was hours behind. I mentioned it and Rob said "Since the day I purchased this watch, many years ago, I have never set the time on this, it's my sport watch haha." I offered to set it for him and he handed it to me. I set the time to be correct and handed it back. That was probably the most expensive watch that I have ever had in my hands. 

    As we chatted, I decided to seize the opportunity to learn from Rob and see what his experience could give me. While we chatted, Rob gave some advice on career, on family, and even on some etiquette. 

    The first piece of advice that Rob gave me was to think into the future. Think five years ahead, always, when making decisions. Playing the long game is always more beneficial than the short game, looking forward allows you to make educated decisions. It also takes away the fear of immediate failure, because when you're looking into the future, you don't need to worry about the present.

    The second piece of advice that Rob gave me was to find a school that is the best in the field. To Rob, the best schools make the best students. If I wanted to be the best in my field, I had to learn from the best. He said it may be difficult but it will be worth it in the long run.

    The third piece of advice that Rob gave me was to either start a family early or late, not in the middle. Rob's daughter was about my age, meaning that he chose the late route. Rob explained that there isn't enough time in the middle to raise a family. He said it is important to spend time with your family, and if you can't find that time, your family won't be as strong. 

    The fourth piece of advice Rob gave me was back related to a career. He said that whatever is associated with the top three things of a subject, to do it. This could be something in your career, or personal life, or even your hobbies, the top three things related to that subject will be the most beneficial to do or learn. 

    The fifth piece of advice that Rob told me was to find the doors that your specific "key" opens. Rob said that each person has a key which is their skills, knowledge, network, and really who they are. He challenged me to find the doors that my "key" opens. There will be many many doors along the way that I can try to unlock, but there are also many doors that I will be able to unlock. It is important to find the doors that my key opens to have a happy life. 

    The final piece of advice circles back to one of our longer conversations, Rob mentioned his watch collection and that when he is doing business, he never wears any of his Rolexes. "Rolexes when doing business," Rob started, "either make you look fake, or conceited. Neither of those are good for first impressions in business." Rob said that he opted, instead for Audemars Pigeut or Richard Mille watches when he was doing business.

    After we had talked for a while and exchanged contact information, Rob gathered his things to catch his flight. After he left, I still had a couple of hours until my flight. I grabbed some more food, and as I sat down, Rob returned to the lounge. His flight had been delayed, so he came back, set his things down, and before I knew it he brought two more martinis and we picked back up where we had been chatting. After another 45 minutes or so, Rob did leave again to catch his flight and I was back alone with my book. I read some more, packed up, and made my way back to the hallway and then proceeded to the flight and headed home.