: Meeting Larry Dierker :

I was in the airport yesterday and I had one of those moments when my old life and my new life get crossed up. I was standing in the security check in area when TV/radio baseball commentator and ex-Astros manager Larry Dierker comes up behind me. For those out-of-towners who don't follow the Astros, Larry was the manager who had a grand mal seizure in the dugout during a game a few years back that made national news. He is also the author of the book, "This Ain't Brain Surgery: How to Win the Pennant Without Losing Your Mind".

But what only a couple people reading this already know is that I was an instrumental part of booking Larry for a speaking engagement on behalf of one of my former clients earlier this year. Larry is giving a leadership speech at an event later this month, and I handled the initial negotiations to book him for the event with his agent.

So when he came up behind me, I extended my hand and said, "You're Larry Dierker - pleased to meet you," and he responded in kind. Then what I wanted to say was, "I worked with your agent to have you speak at [client name]'s event on [date], so I hope it goes well." But given that I'm not that person anymore, I thought better of it and just let it go. I would have loved to see the look on his face though.