Wow, I just got off the phone with my good friend, Ed Oakley, CEO of Enlightened Leadership Solutions. Ed has authored a new book, Leadership Made Simple, which I’ll talk about more in a future entry.

He had a travel horror story to share with an important lesson for all us road warriors.

Ed flew into LAX a few days ago and rode the bus over to Hertz to pick up a rental car. He put his suitcase and briefcase in the trunk of his car and drove to the exit gate. At the gate Ed asked directions to a restaurant where he had a meeting scheduled.

After his meeting Ed came out of the restaurant to find his car window smashed, the trunk open, and his briefcase (with his laptop computer) stolen. Witnesses told police a car pulled into the restuarant parking lot, drove straight to Ed’s rental car where a passenger jumped out, smashed his window, popped open the trunk, grabbed his briefcase, and drove away.

Draw your own conclusions.