Besides airport delays, one of the biggest things I hate is dealing with ground transportation. I make it a point to find a driver I like in each city and build a relationship with that person. He or she begins to know what I like and is able to make me feel immediately comfortable with a bottle of my favorite local wine and that day’s business paper waiting for me in the car.

On my most recent flight to speak at Wake Forest, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to the wonderful Maya Angelou. We started talking about her time teaching American Studies there and how much technology students had today compared to when we went to school. As the plane descended, we were having a delightful conversation that we both wanted to continue over dinner.

As we picked up our bags, my driver friend Gerard greeted me with a big smile and a ‘Good Day Mr. Archer.’ Maya chuckled that this was the first time that she felt as if she was upstaged. Gerard took both of us to dinner at a great little spot outside of town. Thanks to Gerard, they had our table ready and waiting. Maya and I went to the bar for a drink before dinner.

While we were at the bar, we ended up talking with some executives from a local company who were celebrating a new product launch. They had just launched a new gas pump that integrates Google maps into a screen on the pump. You can view maps, find businesses and print directions while you fill up. They showed us some pictures, which looked quite impressive.

After dinner and dropping Maya off at her hotel, Gerard drove me back to my hotel. I was chatting with him about the new Google gas pump. He loved the whole concept and immediately realized one advantage which I had overlooked: You can get directions without anyone in the car knowing that you were lost. I asked him if that ever happened to him. He replied “Mr. Archer, if you haven’t noticed, then I’ve never been lost.”

We both chuckled the rest of the way.