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Last Saturday, two of my best friends and I got together as we’ve done many times before. Once again, the wheels of innovation turned, creaking and wheezing, as we discussed (and possibly even completely resolved) various critical social topics such as The Plight of the Common Man, World Peace (or was it Whirled Peas? I can never get those two subjects straight), and Why Can Women Wear Mid-Calf-Length Pants Yet Men Cannot Without Looking Ridiculous.

We met some years ago as a result of being in the same place at the same time: job seekers who happened to be in the same room. Now that we’re all gainfully employed, though, we still get together every month or so to catch up on the latest things, and just to let the creative juices flow (which can make quite a mess, lemme tell ya). Originally dubbed the “Bored Meeting” (for obvious reasons), we’ve graduated to calling it the Board Meeting.

It’s really strange to me as to why the three of us hit it off so well, but sometimes that’s how it is, right? We each have very different jobs: Dennis is in marketing, Robert is in graphic design, and as you no doubt remember, I’m an engineer. (Yes, two out of three of us are named Robert. What’s your point?)

Yet despite our differences (or perhaps because of them), we have no problem meshing our thought processes and backgrounds into all kinds of great ideas (some of which, I’m sorry excited to say, may actually amount to something one day; you never know).

But the best part of any Board Meeting, as far as I’m concerned (and you’ll not be surprised at this, I’m sure), are the many stories we tell each other about life in each of our own worlds. It’s literally a gold mine of fascinating events, on just about any subject under the sun.

I never tire of hearing, for instance, about how back in his “geology days”, Dennis once discovered a commune living in the California desert, far away from electricity or running water (or ANY water, from the looks of ‘em). Or when, not long ago, Robert attempted to sign up with a major U.S. Law Enforcement Agency Who Shall Remain Nameless (some of the conversations he had with various members of their HR department were priceless!)

The thing is, we actually learn a lot from each other’s stories. How do Get Things Done. How not to Get Things Done. How to manage people, especially people who don’t want to be managed. And so on, etc. etc. It’s lessons from the University of Life.

It finally crystallized an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while now (sound of clanking machinery; terrified scream).

By now I’m sure you’re sitting there wondering where this is going. Amazingly enough, so am I. Well, my fine feathered friends, I’m glad you asked! Fasten your seatbelts, folks, ’cause here it comes!

Next Tuesday, May 1st, I will kick off the next Middle Zone Musings Group Project! (sound of wild applause; cue the fireworks) That’s right, on Tuesday next week I will reveal how you can participate in the next project here at the Zone! Yay! Woohoo! (sound of huddled masses jumping for joy)

So mark your calendars, folks, it’s coming!

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