A Magical Detour.
Our California Road Trip kicked off in the summer of 2007 with two days in San Francisco, where we picked up the RV that would carry us on this magical adventure.
The plan was to spend a couple of days in the city at the start and end of our trip, bookending our journey with some fun exploration.
After nearly 30 workshops, we were ready to switch to “fun mode,” but we had one last “work” appointment to keep.
Yoni was receiving coaching from none other than Chet Holmes, one of the top marketing mentors at the time.
Originally, Yoni was being coached by one of Chet’s coaches, but when that wasn’t a great fit, Chet took over personally, and they hit it off instantly.
When Yoni mentioned we’d be in California that summer, Chet didn’t hesitate. “We have to meet!” he said.
And how could we say no to that?
So there we were, in San Francisco, without a car, needing to get outside the city for a lunch meeting with Chet.
We ordered a taxi—at a cost that was more than our hotel room!
Before we left, we briefed Thom on her best behavior (after all, this was a “work” meeting), packed her favorite books and toys, and off we went.
When we arrived at the restaurant, it seemed deserted.
For a second, we thought we might be in the wrong place, but then in walked Chet Holmes.
I’d seen him before, back at one of those massive training sessions, but then he was on stage, distant.
Now, here he was, up close, and he was… huge! Standing next to him, I felt petite—something I always dreamed of!
We expected a quick lunch, filled with business talk. Maybe he’d give us 30 minutes, max.
But that’s where Chet showed what made him truly great—the human touch.
For the first 20 minutes, he was completely focused on Thom.
He asked her about her favorite books, her toys, and what she wanted to be when she grew up.
He was fully present with her. It was a masterclass in how to be present, and Yoni and I were both taking notes.
Once Thom was happily engaged, Chet turned his attention to Yoni, and the conversation flowed effortlessly.
There was no hard “work talk,” just two people getting to know each other better.
Two hours later, Chet invited us to his home to meet his family.
We were hesitant—how could we admit we had no car and had taken an expensive taxi just to get here?
When Yoni sheepishly explained, Chet didn’t miss a beat. “No problem,” he said. “Hop in my car. I’ll call a taxi for you later.”
We spent several more hours at Chet’s home, meeting his wife, daughter, and son.
He was so proud of them. As we were saying goodbye, Chet asked about our travel plans.
When I told him the route we’d be taking the next day, he suggested a detour to a nearby lake where he kept his boat.
He invited us to spend the day with him, and seeing the excitement on Thom’s face, there was no way we could say no.
The next day, we picked up our RV. While I knew it was big, seeing it in person and driving it was a whole other experience! But Yoni mastered it quickly, and soon we were on our way to the lake.
That day was pure magic.
Thom and Yoni had the time of their lives playing on the water—riding the waves on a banana boat, and Thom’s favorite, a purple lifesaving ring.
Chet even let her drive the speedboat, and she was in heaven, her inner adrenaline junkie fully awakened.
It was a day filled with joy, fun, and laughter—a perfect start to a new friendship.
What began as a professional connection with Chet turned into something much deeper, showing us that in business, as in life, it’s the friendships we build that truly matter.
