I am out of the
cold, and home. Day 9 is over. The weather was a little funny
today---it seemed warm and cold at the same time, and though the sun
was up for most part of the day, there was a cold feeling in the
midst of it.
So like I said
yesterday, I confirmed my interview with Mr. Lee Rector. And it came
off. I have not uploaded it yet to sound cloud, but it went well.
I was out of the
apartment by 8:05 am, having learned from Google maps that If I left
at 8:12 am, I'd get there at 9:15am. I wanted to get there early, and
before leaving I had to get a new buss pass for the month. So leaving
at 8:05 will make that possible, giving me a few minutes to run by
the supermarket to buy the pass.
Via the 240 bus and
3 buses, I was there in time. Upon arrival, I had to wait a little
for Mr. Rector to finish up a few things in the back. When he was
freed up, we went over the structure of the interview quickly, tested
the voice recorder, and got started.
In about 34 minutes,
it was over. Mr. Rector shared a lot on his story---how he got
started in the automotive industry, and his recollection of most of
it was vivid, I noticed. I learnt about how the job description of
auto mechanic has changed over the years, the entry of test
administrators to standardize the base knowledge of mechanics, the
change in the engine make-up of almost all vehicles, and the burden
of tax on a business owner.
Here, I will edit,
and upload it later for you guys to take a listen. Just check the
podcast page.
That done, I took
some time to gather myself for the rest of the day. I got a bite to
eat, and started prospecting.
My first stop was
Antique Marketplace, and the absent owner story picked up again. This
led me to my next, Sap's Fine Thai Cuisine, where I met Mike, the
owners right hand man, it seemed. Mike was very open to seeing how I
could help their restaurant, and willing to have me meet Sap, the
owner. Mike filled out the survey and suggested ways and times to
meet Sap. I will decide how best to set up an appointment.
Next was Kids &
Cats, Unique Gifts, whose owner didn't have time to sit with me. She
was booked for the rest of the year, as was the owner of Peached
Tortilla, where I stopped a few shops later.
But I did talk with
Jim of Amy's Icecream. I found myself in front of their doors after
leaving Victoria's Cleaners, whose owner was absent. Amy's has been
in business for 30 years, and has over 13 locations---with one in San
Antonio and Houston. The business though was started here in Austin.
Jim gave me the location and phone number to reach Amy, the owner.
Good information, all this, and I'm learning a lot that I didn't know
previously.
I also learned a bit
a Karavel shoes, my next stop. A young man I met on Friday had
recommended I talk to Karavel after hearing my criteria for the kind
of companies I was looking to help. Karavel has been in business in
Austin for about 77 years, and still going strong. They have some of
the best footwear, and seemed well patronized. There, the attendant
showed me some of their collection from their earlier days, 77 years
ago.
But again, the owner
was not in, having left the store earlier in the day. Karavel is
family owned and by locals. I took a card, and went on.
I spoke to the owner
of Northwest Sewing Center, Mary. Mary heard me out, and asked that
I give her a call sometime this week to see if we could block out at
least 30 minutes to hear her story.
After that I wanted
to catch the next bus home, but I wanted to do a few more shops
before, thinking of the possibility of doing an interview with my
barber, Roffler School Of Hair Design.
So I passed up the
opportunity when the bus showed up. Unknown to me, since I almost
always get my hair cut on Saturdays, they are close on Mondays.
This led me to
Antique collectibles, which is owned By Linda Branson. After we
talked for a while, Linda would like to do an interview but only if
she was free tomorrow at 10:15am. I set a tentative one for tomorrow,
and to secure the time, I will call before I head out tomorrow
morning.
I made my final stop
at Monkey's Nest, a coffee shop that gets a lot of patrons, I have
noticed. I once went by Monkey's Nest one Sunday, after getting to
church way too early, and decided to take a walk in the pleasant
morning sun before the service starts, and on that day, it seemed
packed.
Miranda, an
attendant, went to the back to get the owner, after I had asked to
speak to the owner. I spoke to Koros, the owner who asked that I
leave a copy of my survey with him. He wants to think it over, and
get back to me.
That wrapped up my
day, and taking sometime to check my text messages, I caught the
number 3 bus uptown, and was home in about an hour and 15 minutes. I
know, a long ride; but that's what happens with buses, you know. It's
all good.
On to Day 10.
