Lessons from a Trip back from Florida!

Crazy story.. As you might have heard there was a storm brewing on the east coast and there was major flood watch alerts.. I was in clearwater Florida speaking at the Office Moving Alliance Sales training session, teaming over 100 sales professionals how to use LinkedIn and AI.?

People flew in from all over the country and they had to leave early because they were going to close the bridge to leave clearwater.?

I had no idea, I was busy doing a Sales Navigator Seminar for people that want to learn about our training next month.?

Meanwhile my flight to Newark is CANCELED.?

As soon as I found out, I called up the airline and the woman said, sorry most flights are canceled today but we put you on a flight to LGA.?

What the heck?

Maybe I should drive 4 hours and visit my mom in FLL.. Can you book me a flight home from FLL tomorrow?

No sir, Tampa is not in the same zone with FLL, we cannot book you on a flight from there.?

OK! Can you pay for my hotel tonight??

No sir we do not pay for hotels for weather related delays and cancellations.

OK! Can you put me on another airline that is going to NEWARK now.. I see a few that are flying..?

No sir, we can only book you on the NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT with our airline….?

I'm just a few minutes from NEWARK, why do I have to fly to LGA?

UGH! Ok, it's the only flight that is ON TIME, go figure.. Fine!?

I'll take it.?

Turns out they didn't close the bridge to leave Clearwater FL but the waters were really high and the SUV that took me to the airport was splashing through massive amounts of water.?

It took double the amount of time to get to the Tampa airport.

But I got there SAFE and the uber driver from Cuba was really nice. I learned a few things from him.?

Like how to use the FLIGHT AWARE app to know if an airport is open or closed etc.?

When I got to the airport, they told me my flight was ON TIME and we would be going to LGA as soon as the inbound flight landed.

I CHECKED flight aware and I saw that they had to divert my flight to WEST PALM BEACH!

HUH! The airline staff didn't know this?

I was supposed to be home to take my kids out to dinner and instead I'm at the airport in Tampa.?

Now I have no idea when ill be going home.. No inbound flight..?

Many of the sales professionals were there with me too and I got to take a few more selfies and connect with the great people from the Moving and Commercial Relocation industry.?

I check the monitors and it shows that the flight is now DELAYED 4 hours! They need to get the plan from west palm to tampa.. That might not happen!?

I close my eyes and I say, I am grateful and somehow this is for the good!?

As I'm chatting with the wonderful Tom Murphy I realize that it's not so bad. He said if the flight gets to Washington DC, I should come stay by him!?

SO NICE.?

Suddenly I hear them call my name in the LOUDSPEAKER.. Joe Apfelbaum, please come to GATE A 12…

Wait, that is not my gate! Why are they calling me.. Is there another JOE?

In the meantime the President of a JK moving, hears my name and comes running to find me to take another selfie with me! LOL, I love David Cox , we are going to get along!?

He posted that selfie on LinkedIn!?

When I get to the gate, they tell me that because I have special status with the airline, they are putting me on a flight to WESTCHESTER.. I said, WHERE is that?!?

I looked it up and it was not that far.. Only 50 miles from my house, ILL TAKE IT.. because they were leaving that minute!?

I gave her CHOCOLATES for being so kind! I'm grateful that I will be flying out.

In just 5 minutes I'm on a flight to HPN!?

I'm excited about finally taking off and being in the air, I am more than 5 hours delayed but grateful.?

I got to sit next to an Insurance SalesPerson.. There is a funny joke about that, see the comments.?

I told him all about evyAI and his CMO was on the plane too, he said that maybe I should train their team… OPPORTUNITY!?

I love networking in first class.

Finally we get to NYC! Time to land.. I'm looking up how much a ride costs from HPN to my house.. Wow, surge pricing!?

Now they want to land at HPN but the conditions do not ALLOW us to land! OMG..?

Where are they going now? Back to Florida?!?

How can this be happening!?

Nope, They are going to JFK… WONDERFUL.. Even better than LGA..?

I like JFK because it's a big airport and they can always land there right?

THINK AGAIN!

They try to go to JFK, but JFK is not accepting incoming flights right now..?

OK we are circling for god knows how long..?

LADIES AND GENTS, we are running out of FUEL.. We will be going to NEWARK..?

We are running out of WHAT? Who cares! NEWARK!

I'm like YESSSSSSSSSSSS I wanted to go there ALL ALONG! YAY!?

In just 10 minutes we landed in Newark, it was bumpy but we were safe… SO HAPPY, I gave them a round of applause.?

The door of the plane opens and we are all standing trying to get out.. The flight attendant says, sorry, please sit down, we need to go back to HPN!?

WHAT!?!?!??

I can't believe this is happening, I could be home in 10 minutes and the DOOR OF THE PLANE IS OPEN.?

Please can you let me out?! I'm right in front, I can step out and be in the terminal in 10 seconds. I NEED TO GET OFF.?

Nope, sorry sir, please sit down.?

The captain does not allow anyone to get off his aircraft. Please follow the rules!?

I said please speak to the pilot and tell him the CEO said that it's Illegal to keep us here if we want to get off, the NTSB has rules about this and he will agree with me.?

She whispered to the captain on her telephone and he came out and said Sir you are correct, we cannot keep you here.. But at Newark they are not allowing us to unload our bags so we will refuel and leave.?

If you want to get off it's your choice, but we will bring your bags to HPN.?

With all due respect sir, you can keep my checked bags, I want off!?

Thank you so much for bringing us safely to Newark airport, I choose to make this my final destination!?

30 people said the same thing and we all walked off the plane with permission and grace.

I had no idea if I would ever be able to get home.

Plus I had to go to the bathroom so bad!?

As I'm writing, I'm grateful that I made up the NTSB rules on the spot and that I didn't check any bags into the flight.?

That flight may make it to HPN or may not make it, who knows where they will land, there is a crazy storm going on… But I know one thing for sure, when you demand something with all your heart often people will listen.?

It's a big lesson in sales! ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT with ENTHUSIASM and RESPECT.

Would you have just sat down to be taken for a ride or would you have spoken up like I did?

I felt bad but I had to say something, the AIRPLANE DOOR WAS OPEN! I wanted to leave already… It's been a LONG TRIP.. So many canceled flights and airports are not taking in flights.?

IT'S NOT SAFE, I want out!?

My adrenaline is pumping.. I feel good to be home.?

Tell me if anything like this ever happened to you?

Joe Apfelbaum

CEO Ajax Union

PS: if you want to join the Influencer Summit 2024 go to www.influencersummit2024.com