March 2009

An Executive and His Leatherman (plural)

I'm a Chief-level executive for a highly profitable and fast-growing corporation. I believe I'm the only executive I know of, who owns and uses eight Leatherman tools (yes, eight). Even in "business dress" attire, you can bet I've got at least one of my Leatherman tools on my person.

It all started in 1986 when my parents gave me a PST for Christmas. I still own that very PST to this very day. Fast-forward 23 years and my gift evolved into a daily part of my life and, admittedly, an addiction (I've actually downsized my tool collection to a more manageable eight). It is very rare that I am found without one of my Leatherman tools.

"What would an executive possibly use a Leatherman for?" A question certainly folks ask themselves. You see, I'm a lot like my dad. He's a successful attorney and entrepreneur, yet he's incredibly good with his hands in so many ways; from master carpentry and woodworking, to mechanics, and everything in between. Much like my dad, I have to do productive things with my hands when I'm not jockeying pens and paper at my office desk. My hobbies include carpentry, woodworking, mechanics, electronics, angling...just like my dad!

At my corporate office, I'm not only one of the Chief company Officers, I'm the (only) "resident handyman" within the sea of white collar, uhm, yuppies. There are so many stories of me using my Leatherman tools, both in and out of the office I don't even know where to start. What I can tell you is that I'm found utilizing my Leatherman tools multiple times throughout the work week in that office.

I would imagine one of my more comical "hero stories" was an afternoon at the office when we were celebrating something and drinking beers, having a good time. One of the beer brands wasn't a twist-off cap, so the entire office staff panicked because there was no bottle opener in the kitchen. One of the other executives remembered that I always carry or have a Leatherman on me, and sent the troops toward me, lining up for bottle opening. The line of folks was quite humorous. As they reached me for their bottle opening, I heard multiple times, "I should have known..."

Chip C.
Byron, MN