Badge of Honor

This is my badge of honor:


On average, I get to spend one week a month wearing this proudly. This week is one of those weeks. One of the major parts of my job is teaching the new hires to our company. It is a combination of interesting, challenging, tiring, exciting, motivating, and also (a lot of the time) just plain fun. The new hire training I conduct takes place at a very cool, and unique, place called the Q Center. It's located in St. Charles, IL...so yes...many times (but not all) when I say I'm off to Chicago for work, I'm not technically. It's easier that way though...no one has ever heard of St. Charles. Trust me...I'm saving all of us time that way.

I like to think of the Q Center as "consulting camp" - it's a giant compound that has conference rooms, hotel rooms, dining areas, fitness center, volleyball courts, tennis courts, bars, shops, a spa (yup), and even it's own nurses. Consultants from all different companies come here to attend trainings, and then don't technically have to leave at all - everything is right here on the grounds! Pretty amazing. And when you're a trainer, like me...you get top notch treatment. AND it's just like "Cheers"...I spend enough time here, that everyone (Q staff) really does know my name.

The only tricky part of being here as the trainer is that I often times feel like I'm the "grown up" here, with all the young'ins...the majority of the people I teach are straight out of college...makes me feel old. So I love it when I have other trainers from my company come visit me out here, a la this evening. The fabulous NC came to visit tonight, and it was wonderful. She's a "grown up" like me...and she's super cool...so it makes for a fun night when you have a partner in crime like that. (And adding a bit 'o wine to the mix never hurts)