Herding Cats

   I've finished my first 2 days as a volunteer at the US Open... because I'm big and not afraid to be assertive, my job assignment so far has been "line control".   Yesterday my voice was almost completely gone by the end of my shift—I was at the head of the line for a bank of 40 cash registers and tried to direct the traffic, pointing each person as they came to the front of the line to an open register.
   Some people do not like being told where to go.

   It was almost entirely men, and men in the 40-60 age range.  Considering the kind of people who come to a US Open, where corporate tents and guests have come to dominate, I wondered about these guys.  Are they the reason many companies seem to make short-term decisions that are ultimately in their own worst interest?  After all, I was trying to get them to the place they would be served and make it out as quickly and efficiently as possible.  But being of that same age range and gender, maybe I was seen as an opponent, to be ignored or defeated.  And by doing so they frequently obstructed the flow of other customers and slowed it down.

   The other volunteers were great to work with, and I had a chance to talk and laugh with those closest to my post during the slower times at the very end of the day.  I'm hoping that the 'traffic cop dance' was good exercise as well (if you don't know what I mean, leave a comment and I'll elaborate).  Here I am in uniform, with logos: