Making It Happen: A Non-Technical Guide to Project Management

21.2. The Launch

"Would the owner of the lime green BMW, license plate SAIL4U, please return to your vehicle. Your car is blocking access to the hotdog stand!" The PA system was blaring right in my ear so I led the kids away to a quieter spot.

It was the second day of our WindSailor extravaganza and I was getting tired of public outings in general and this one in particular. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that today marked the end of my project responsibilities. My work on the first assignment had ended the previous Thursday when we finished up our new retail facility next to Hyler Lake, and pulled out the temporary access to the employee parking lot. Technically, my responsibilities for the product launch were finished too, but I had to be around until the end to make sure that everything went off okay.

Suddenly a large bald man wearing too much cologne was pumping my arm. "Will Campbell!" he said effusively. "Damned glad to meet you! My name is Biff Flagstaff. I own the Sports Trends chain of stores. I think this WindSailor thing is the best damn idea you folks have ever had, and this is the best damn way to tell people about it I've ever seen. I just had to congratulate the man in charge. Stu Barnes over there said you were the man responsible."

I looked over to where Stu was standing with his wife, and he gave me an elfish grin. "Thank you, Mr. Flagstaff," I said modestly. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." I thought I'd put in a mild sales pitch. "I ...