I’ve been an entrepreneur for over fifteen years, and in that time, I’ve worn many different hats. There have been moments where my job necessitated being out in the field and turning a wrench, and others that located me at a table with a computer in front of me for hours. It’s the way things work when you run your own business.
And yet, those were “normal” roles. As an oil operator, things seemingly change day to day. I’m often putting on those various hats multiple times a day and sometimes even in the middle of a conversation. So while my day won’t look like most others, it is interesting to sit down and examine it from a different perspective.
Join me as I question my sanity.
Locations and Times
To lay out my day based on the time doesn’t make a lot of sense. It varies based on where I am and what’s going on, so instead, let’s look at it from a different perspective.
Most of my work is done in one of two locations. First, the home office is located in Denver, Colorado, and the second is in Kansas. While I could be more specific on the latter, when I’m in Kansas, it’s to look at our sites firsthand. There’s always a handful of them that are static for a few months, and another that are moving around in the process of being either closed or opened. Basically, I’m always on the move when I’m in Kansas.
The point is, there isn’t a specific calendar for me in Kansas and another in Denver, and if there were, it would look like one of those corkboards with red string darting all over the place. That’s not a good look for a CEO.
Meetings
That said, meetings are a big part of my day, and they break down into a few different categories.
I regularly meet with people who have scientific backgrounds. We have a geologist on staff whom I meet with frequently as part of our strategic exploration process. The idea is to find areas that meet a few criteria:
- They’ve had previous oil discoveries.
- They haven’t undergone 3D seismic imaging, but they are located near active oil fields.
This forms our sweet spot, and therefore, we do our best to try to find these locations and then work with a landman to get them leased. Then we conduct our own 3D seismic imaging. I meet with geophysicists who have processed that data, and if we have the right signs in place, we develop some plans.
Talking to Investors
I’m also regularly meeting with investors, whether it’s in person or online. This can take many different forms. We could be out at a rig where I’m showing them how the sausage is made, or in our office discussing the specifics of their involvement. They have questions, and I have answers.
This is understandable. If you want to buy stock in a company, the process is fairly straightforward. However, investing in an oil operation may be a new experience, even for seasoned investors. They may need to put their hands on things to truly understand what their money can earn them, and I get it. There was a time when I didn’t know the power of this industry, and I want to share the knowledge I’ve gained with everyone I can.
And even if they don’t end up investing in a site, that’s OK. I want to make sure we’ve created a connection, and maybe down the line, something will change. If it doesn’t, no big deal. It’s always good to network.
Keeping Relationships Strong
That concept—networking—is also important to my day-to-day operations. There’s a certain amount of interpersonal politicking that happens. I want to ensure we’re all on the same page. This involves meeting with farmers to either lease their land or ensure the existing lease we have is going well. Or talking to my crew at a drilling site, so they know the boss is relatable and understands the importance of their jobs.
This may not seem critical, but it is. I can’t do this job alone, and more importantly, I don’t want to. The best things happen when people work together as a team, and I want to keep that unit happy. Meeting them face-to-face is the ideal way to do that.
Basically, It’s a Lot of Meetings
Whether it’s my securities attorney, a mud logger on site, or a new investor, my day is usually made up of meetings. It’s busy for sure, and it doesn’t tend to stop at 5 p.m. as it does for others. But this is a special job, and I enjoy what I do enough to put in the extra hours.
