1. I’m a fire buff. 
2. I wrote nearly 200 pages of a novel in junior high school.  I have no idea what happened to my handwritten manuscript.
3. On the morning of my wedding, my best man and I waited in line to buy U2 tickets.

Parenthood continues to be the greatest adventure of my life, from the first stressful weekend while my wife was in labor to the time I spent getting the kids out of the house this morning.  I’m excited every day to see what my kids are thinking and learning. 

The night my sister was born.  I was fourteen years old and had been an only child to that point.  My parents had left for the hospital only 45 minutes earlier, and the call waiting rang with my father on the other end.  He told me I had a new baby sister and I ran downstairs to tell my grandmother.
Since it had been so little time and she hadn’t heard the phone, she didn’t believe me.

My mother had had a crash C-section but both of them were all right.  I’ll never forget the tone of my father’s voice, elated that everything turned out OK.

My maternal grandfather.  Knowing what he most valued in life, I think we would have some great conversations today and I’d learn a lot from getting to know him as an adult. 

Held my grandmother’s hand while she died.

I love to cook, and to share what I prepare with others.  Even cooking a simple every day dinner can reduce my stress.  I try to use local and seasonal ingredients, and have the most fun when I stretch myself with new recipes and techniques.  I believe in doing everything from scratch, and have even tried my hand at making my own butter, cheese, and other basic ingredients.

I’ve gotten into a terrible habit of starting several books at once.  I’m currently reading the following:

• Getting Real by 37signals
• Empire Falls by Richard Russo
• Papal Sin by Garry Wills
• The Ruby Programming Language by David Flanagan & Yukihiro Matsumoto
• Pro Drupal Development by John VanDyk and Matt Westgate
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

My favorite book is The Godfather.  It’s not all “made him an offer he couldn’t refuse” there are a lot of lessons about life and relationships behind the mafia imagery.

I haven’t been to Italy, in spite of my heritage.  We have roots in Sicily and Abruzzo, and I’d love to see both with my father and son.  No one in our family has any contact with “old-country” relatives, and very few have made the trip. 

The Make-A-Wish Foundation.  When I was in high school my girlfriend’s little sister was a Wish Kid.  They went to Disney World, and the effect it had on the entire family was amazing.

There’s the “dream” answer and the practical answer.

Practically, I’d be in another sort of IT role, most likely at a University. 

In my dreams, I’d have a small restaurant with twenty-five or fewer seats.  I’d establish relationships with local farmers to serve a small menu of seasonal, regionally-sourced dishes. 

I originally got into PS because I noticed that consultants were working on all of the coolest projects at my employer.  I thought I’d do it for two or three years and then “settle down” into another full-time IT role.  On my first few projects, we implemented Internet capabilities and project methodologies for clients that had neither.  Watching them “get it” made the long hours and client challenges worth it.  That’s why I’m consulting, and I’ve become a manager to get that same feeling everyday with my team.

View every project as a chance to learn new things.  It may be your tenth implementation of the same basic use cases for you company’s product, but there’s always new things to learn if you look for them.  It might be new technical tricks, or techniques for dealing with clients, or, if you’re lucky, lessons about yourself.  If you can come out of every project just a little bit smarter than when you went in, you’ll have great success. 

1. I am part native American Indian - Mohawk.
2. I hold a US Coast Guard Captain’s rating - so I can perform marriages at sea on those deep sea sport fishing charters many people take. I have done this for fun with several couples. Do you think they still think they’re legally married?
3. I used to be a programmer. 

Getting married to my soul mate and raising two great kids.

Winning my 1st sail boat race at the age of thirteen with my cousin in a very small boat!

A great question, Michelangelo Simoni, he was a renaissance painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, he did an exceptional amount in a relatively short period of time, it would be an honor to meet him and spend time with him.

Put my first golden retriever to sleep - she was 14 years old and a good friend for all those years.

Golfing with my college buddies, it’s a Spring time ritual.

I just finished reading The Breakthrough Company by Keith McFarland.

My favorite is The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand.

New Zealand - I’ve never been there but I hear it’s awesome.

American Cancer Society

Running my own small business, but centered around customer services.

I began my career as a programmer and early on spent time in operations, manufacturing and engineering. I spent the later part of my professional career in customer facing roles managing various Services P&L’s. I believe strongly that PS is a key determinant in the success of any company. People make the difference especially the people gluing it together in the field with customers/partners. It is a challenge for all of those in the profession.

PS is an outstanding place to start one’s career it gives you all the necessary experiences from which to build one’s professional toolkit for success.

My two cents:

“Do what’s right for the end customer and you will be successful despite pressures to do something counter intuitive by management”.

1. I have started to learn piano one year ago.
2. I am a fan of mythology.
3. I read a lot, around two books per week.

The birth of my kids.

Week-ends at the beach with my family enjoying sun, fun and a simple and fresh lunch.(I am living in Nice on the Riviera).

I would like to have a conversation with Moses and try to understand why I am here, where am I going ....

Joker

Cooking!!! I take recipes from the most difficult french cooks (my favorite being Alain Ducasse) and I try to recreate them as close to the original version as possible. It usually takes me a day to prepare dinner, but usually the guests thoroughly enjoy it.

I am currently reading the famous book of Stieg Laarson, Millenium, and a Chinese writer Chi Li.

My favorite book, or I would say my favorite writer is so far a french writer call Philippe Claudel. I can’t say that I have any specific favorites in all his catalogue, but the ones I’ve enjoyed the most were:

1. “Les ames grises”
2. “La petite fille de Monsieur Linh”
3. “Eldorado”and
   
4. “La mort du Roi Tsongor”

I’d like to see the pyramids in Egypt and discover Asia, which I plan to do in June.

I would give the money to a foundation that takes care of educating children in countries that don’t have the means to afford it. I believe that this is the key to progress and a brighter future. The effects are not immediate but you can see the consequence, of countries that have neglected this. Little by little they have sunk.

I’d be an Architect or a Doctor.

Chance.
I started at an Engineering school in France and then graduated with an MBA in Finance and risk management. One company in Paris paid my tuition and offered me a job at the end of my schooling. They were developing software for the banking industry and that’s where I got started.

The customer is at the heart of your job. Be curious, think industrial, but stay practical.

1. My mother was a Nun (before she met my father and chose to leave the convent)
2. I sold cleaning products door to door when I was 9 years old.  I didn’t make much money but I got to know the neighborhood pretty well.  (Which paid off later when I started mowing their lawns the following year.)
3. One of my junior high school classmates was the voice of “Lucy” in the Charlie Brown cartoons.

My service in the U.S Air Force was very exciting and afforded me lots of travel to interesting locations.  I’d have to list that right up with meeting my wife and watching my daughter grow up.

That’s a hard one; lots of good ones come to mind.  I guess I’d say the vacation trip our family (all 7 of us) took in 1971 to the mountains.  I was 10 at the time, learned to fish, did a lot of boating, hung out with my siblings and just had a good time.

I would definitely love to have a conversation with Lao Tsu.  (Author of the Tao Te Ching)

Giving the eulogy at my mother’s funeral.

Photography, Food, Wine (not necessarily in that order)

I’m currently reading a pretty varied selection of books including “Meatball Sundae” by Seth Godin, “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama, and the “Speed of Trust” by Stephen MR Covey.  What’s my favorite book?  I’d have to say it’s a toss up between “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson and “Speaker For The Dead” by Orson Scott Card.

I’d like to visit the Louvre, travel to South America (In particular, Costa Rica and Peru) and to drive (during the summer and in a convertible) from Chicago to Los Angeles along Route 66.

I’d give it all to the Colfax Community Network here in Denver, CO.  Many families living in poverty in the Denver area are forced to live in motels as a temporary solution to homelessness. While motels provide immediate shelter, the high cost of motel rent and the inability to secure the necessary funds for permanent housing often hold families in the “motel trap.” This is a crying shame and I certainly plan to do something about it.

1. Writing books and speaking publicly about effective client engagement and customer service.
2. Donating my time to fight poverty and improve education in this country and around the world.
3. Working to promote a unified understanding of our place on this planet and fighting bigotry, bias, and hatred.
4. Taking pictures.

I have worked for the large commercial firms and large government agencies for most of my adult working life and started to realize that (for me) the thrill of defining, launching, managing, and finishing any project endeavor eventually wore off.

I always liked the “type” of work but I needed more variety in terms of industry sector, project subject, and how my work impacted people in general.  I love learning about different industries, technologies, communities, and people and by consulting I get the opportunity to do just that. 

This variety is what keeps me interested and energized.

• Always be prepared, always have a plan, and remember to trust “the data”.  With that said however, you should be ready to adjust your plan to fit your customer’s needs, their particular situation, and your specific strengths.

• Never assume that you know what your customer wants and what they need.  Take the time to really understand what your customer is trying to tell you about not only what drives their business but also what drives “them”.

• Building this trust with your customer “earns” you the opportunity to deliver results for them. 

• Constantly ask yourself:
  
  • “Do my customers feel that I’m really listening to them?”
  • “How do I demonstrate to them (both verbally and in writing) that I “get” what they are trying to tell me?”
• One more thing; never show up to a client meeting without paper and pen....

1. I lead a secret life as a ‘B Tier’ political blogger.
2. I participate in several organizations that promote alternative energy.
3. I can and sometimes do D.J. charity events.

Without a doubt, raising my adopted daughter.

Climbing Mt. Misery in St. Kitts - without a map!

H.G. Wells, mostly to tease him about the numerous books that nobody remembers.

Tried to learn Chinese.

Right now I’m converting an extensive vinyl music library into digital format.

Right now I’m reading “Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why” by Bart D. Ehrman.  My favorite book of all time is “Nausea” by Jean Paul Sartre

There are so many places I want to see that it’s hard to choose!  However if there was only one more trip I could take, I would go see the Sichuan province in Southern China.

I would contribute to the Nature Conservancy, for the exceptional work they do in bringing various interests together to conserve critical pieces of wildlife habitat.

Producing music.

I started out as a software engineer, for which I had little aptitude, was recruited into application engineering, where I prospered, did a brief stint in marketing, then started my own professional services systems integration business.

Stay technical and an individual contributor as long as you possibly can!  Go into management as a last resort

1. I was a boy scout as a kid.
2. I love snowboarding.
3. I am a HUGE Chicago Bears fan (actually, just about anyone who meets me knows the last one, but I figured I’d throw it in for my cyber friends out there who may not know yet...now you know.  Go Bears!)

Having a child.  I’ve learned more about myself and my outlook on life in the past six months than in all my previous years.

The day my family brought home our first dog (a chocolate lab named Janko). I was in 7th grade.

I think I’d like to talk to my future self from about 30 years from now and ask myself about all the many mistakes I’m going to make so that I can attempt to avoid the big ones and gain wisdom from the smaller ones. I wouldn’t mind knowing if I’m going to lose my hair too, that way I can get over the anxiety and save some money on the expensive shampoos.

Admit I was wrong about something pretty big and ask for forgiveness from those who were affected.  I’d also rate it as my greatest accomplishment, however.

Spending time with my family.... not too long ago I might’ve said snowboarding or scuba diving, but children change everything!

I’m currently reading three books:

1. America: The Last Best Hope vol. I by William Bennett (a great presentation of the history of the U.S.)
2. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High, by Kerry Patterson et al (a decent book about influencing others through conversation), and
3. Call to Arms, by W.E.B. Griffin.

I’ve never gone diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.... something I’ll have to do before my time is up.

Catholic Charities USA - it helps to counter many of the ills of the world, not only by donating much-needed financial aid, education and services, but also by instilling faith and values even when it’s not always politically correct to do so.

I’d be a rock star. But given that I hate tight leather pants and have no musical talent, I’ll stick with PS.

I got here in a roundabout way, but the short story is that I had a wonderful mentor who encouraged me to do so based on my strengths and interests.

Be patient and learn everything you can - each engagement, each client, each project-gone-wrong will teach you valuable lessons.  Often, we learn more from our failures than from our successes… embrace the lessons, just don’t repeat the failures.

Scott may be contacted at (scott dot liewehr at onestagroup dot com)

1. My first job in high school was working in a flea market on Long Island selling women’s clothing.
2. I sold timeshares on the beach in Florida during college summer breaks.
3. For 3 years I was a teaching assistant for a psychology course during college.

Learning to surf in Hawaii.

Driving to Florida for winter vacations. It was the best family time and always a sense of adventure. We loved the beach. Going on vacation with our children is the best memories I have over recent years.

It would be to spend another hour with my Dad who died suddenly 10 years ago.  I’d love to be able to tell him about my family. For famous people, it would be Ben Franklin.  He invented so many things while helping shape politics, it would be fascinating to see what he was like.

Being a parent.  It’s the most fun and rewarding thing I’ve ever done, but also the decisions can be much tougher than work.  At work there is more time to learn and handle the situation better the 2nd time around.  I’ve been working 20 years and still learning. With parenting the runway is much shorter and you want to get it right the first time.

I love to exercise, running a few times a week.  I never exercised until my late 30’s.  I figured this was the best way to stay healthy as I get older.  The most valuable thing you have is your health and that of your family, no amount of money can buy it back if you lose it.  Once I started for the health benefits, I got the bug for running and now enjoy it so much that I’m a big grumpy if I don’t get my run in to clear the mind.  It’s probably the only area where I consistently make time for myself.

Favorite book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  I’m currently reading The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman, and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I frequently download audio books to my Ipod and listen while running, it’s a time saver and the only way I get through a full book these days.

I’d love to see the Middle East.  Seeing the Pyramids in Egypt, and archaeology in Israel would be fascinating.

There are a dozen medical charities I’d love to give money to, but they get a lot of attention, I’d probably give it to the local animal shelter where it would have a big impact.  It’s a crime how many unwanted pets are put down every day.  Animals enrich our lives so much.  I saw a plaque that read “My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am”.  I think that fits.

I’d probably be closer to academics and teaching.  I’d also love to volunteer on the local ambulance squad and get more involved in political campaigns.  I think down the road these will all be good early retirement or pre-retirement activities, just not things that fit where I want to focus today.

In high school I signed up for programming classes during the usual morning ‘homeroom’ period to fit them into my schedule.  For college, the typical computer science or electrical engineering degree didn’t seem to fit what I wanted.  I found that Carnegie Mellon University had one of the first Information Systems degrees where previously Computer Science was typically the only option. In the 80’s, Oracle was doing heavy recruiting on campus and I was on a customer site a couple months after graduation.  Oracle was a great place to start in the 80’s as the company was growing so quickly, anyone who went the extra mile got additional responsibility very quickly. 

First: Find a mentor.  Having a project manager or senior staff member who takes an interest in you to show you the ropes can be worth a lot.  Project leaders are grateful for those who go the extra mile to get a project done.  Hard work and dedication on your first projects is a great way to find such a mentor, they will often find you as they seek you out on their future projects. 

Second: Remember that consulting is as much about the people as the technology.  You need to be a good communicator and build relationships with customers and peers in order to turn the technology into something valuable for the client.

1. Audrey Hepburn is my idol.
2. I collect kitsch toys whenever possible and hope no one notices.
3. I was a professional dancer between the ages of 10 and 20 and had a few acting roles in television drama’s where I worked along side Nicole Kidman.

Meeting and marrying my husband Mitch. Without him I would also not have my three beautiful children who provide me with an adventure every day.

Creating cubby houses out of my parent’s outdoor furniture and picnic rugs and family holidays by the beach.

Audrey Hepburn. She lived an incredible life. She was beautiful outside and within. Her work with UNICEF right up to her death was inspiring and she approached everything in her life with class and dignity.

Helping a friend through a terrible tragedy - her baby died shortly after birth. It was a harrowing time.

Going to the cinema to see any latest release. I love the whole cinema experience complete with full Dolby Digital or THX surround sound. Much to the disappointment of Mitch, you cannot truly replicate that experience in your living room no matter how hard you try or how many ‘toys’ you buy. (Not that he’ll ever stop trying!)

A Michael Connelly crime novel - The Poet.

Favorite book, Mmmm..... That is a hard one; I have so many favorite books, but probably Audrey Hepburn - An Elegant Spirit, written by her son Sean H. Ferrer

I would love to visit Egypt and explore inside the Pyramids

The Breast Cancer Institute -There is not a man or woman that hasn’t at some time known or loved a female friend or relative who has battled with or been lost to this terrible illness. 

I am a closet genetic scientist. I thought I was destined for a life in science but changed my mind at 18 to work in Film and Television. 

After leading an organization delivering Educational and Training services, I saw an opportunity to set up my own consultancy firm delivering Professional Services to the broadcast and media industry in Australia and New Zealand.

People skills are your greatest asset. Understand the business of your clients and really listen to their needs. Always go that extra mile in treating your clients’ businesses and money, as if they were your own. You will gain their trust and demonstrate that their business is in safe hands - yours.

1. I love to play squash.
2. I hate a humid climate.
3. I love to do work with wood, just don’t seem to ever find the time.

3 month backpacking with my wife (our honeymoon) trip to South America - Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Going with my parents on a long weekend trip down to Eilat (Israel).

Myself - 20 years ago. I would have explained to me what I learned so far and the mistakes I made - so I could avoid making those mistakes and make others instead. 

Fire people I like.

I love to play squash - it is the best way to get a workout without thinking about how hard you work, have fun, scream at your partner, hit him sometimes, by “mistake” with the bat, and still go home relaxed like being in a spa.

I love Stephen King, and most of the time read his books. Right now I am actually re-reading “Crossing the Chasm” It’s amazing how every time you read his book, you pick up on details you missed the time before.

Japan

To the place my wife works - C.A.R. in Palo Alto, who work with kids 0-3 with a whole range of development issues.

Still in R&D ....

I started as a software developer, and gradually climbed up the R&D management levels until I managed and ran almost every possible groups in R&D (over 3-4 companies). As time went - I found myself attracted more to the customer/partner facing side of the R&D, integration, customizations, product management. Eventually, the opportunity presented to switch to a senior service role ... and from then the rest is history.

Start by first being a strong professional - technical, project manager. Build you experience in the field, working with customers, and only then look to climb up ...

1. I was an avid beer can and baseball card collector in my younger days.  I have the entire Schmidt Beer can collection!!
2. I threw a one-hitter for my high school baseball team.
3. I was the best grill-man at McDonald’s!

My friend and I took a trip to Hong Kong and Bangkok in 1989.  It was the first time I was out of the country.  It was an amazing and eye-opening experience.  I also have the custom made suit I purchased in Hong Kong.  Still fits great!

Playing baseball.  I loved the game and spent every summer day at the park either playing pick up games or in Little League.  I always hated when the street lights went on, that was my signal to head home.

Jesus for obvious reasons.

Being a good parent.  I have 3 wonderful children and each day brings with it many great times and challenges.

I wish I could say I have one.  I guess my hobby is my children.  Between work and traveling, they take up the rest of my day.

From a business perspective it’s Good to Great by James Collins.  From a personal perspective, Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow I’m currently reading a series of children’s books to my kids at bedtime.

I’ve always dreamed about going to Tahiti.  One of these days.....

I’d give it to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. My grandmother passed away from the disease.  I witnessed the impact and it was devastating.

I - Hmm.  Based on my education, I’d probably be working for an IT organization.  If I had my wish, I’d be retiring from the Cubs.

I received an internship with Andersen Consulting when I was in school.  I really enjoyed the work and the partner in charge especially liked me because I was a ND high school grad.  I received a full time position when I graduated and the rest is history.

Listen, take good notes, think before you open your mouth, be customer focused, go to great lengths to know your subject matter, arrive before the client and leave afterwards, always carry a note book and go to great lengths to make a favorable impression.