When I visited our new Warsaw office I was able to meet several brand new TeamSPS members as well as many of our Kyiv-based team that I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic. I also was able to bring the SPS Growth Cup there as part of the office opening celebration!

Here is the Growth Cup safely laying in its very rugged case ready as I received instructions on handling and the mechanics of the case.

Auto-generated description: A large silver trophy is securely placed inside an open black case in an office setting.

We loaded any empty space in the trunk up with a bunch of t-shirts and challenge coins from Cyberweek 2024!

Auto-generated description: A large, black, wheeled equipment case is placed on a carpeted office floor near an office chair and desk.

Growth Cup is bag checked and being dropped off at the oversized luggage drop in MSP. Delta says the Growth Cup is oversized luggage and decides it needs its own $400 ticket to fly to Warsaw. My suitcase is next to the growth cup for comparison — the Growth Cup case is very big!

Auto-generated description: A suitcase and a large black equipment case are positioned on the polished floor of a spacious, modern airport terminal.

Growth Cup comes out of normal baggage claim in Warsaw rotating around the carousel. We’ve arrived!

Auto-generated description: A large, sturdy flight case is positioned near a luggage carousel in an airport.

Yuri wheeling the Growth Cup to his vehicle.

Auto-generated description: A man is pushing a large, black flight case on wheels across a crosswalk in an urban setting.

Luckily Yuri drives a relatively large Land Rover but even then we have to lower the rear seats and are just able to slide it in. Eugene sitting next to it!

Auto-generated description: A person smiling while adjusting equipment cases in the back of a vehicle.

Growth Cup has arrived safely into Warsaw co-working space and ready for special event!

Auto-generated description: A large black flight case with metal reinforcements is positioned near a concrete pillar by a window overlooking urban buildings.

And it is all worth it — TeamSPS Eastern European team in our Warsaw office! 💙

Auto-generated description: A group of people are gathered around a trophy in a modern, well-lit room.

The only picture of me with the Growth Cup — moving it from the office to my hotel room for the 4am departure to the airport to return home. Note the small Poland sticker — that fell off almost immediately.

Auto-generated description: A person gives a thumbs up while standing with a large wheeled case in a modern office setting.

When returning the KLM gate agent needed a weight for the package. I let her know I didn’t think it would fit on the conveyer. She said it has to be weighed. So I hoist it on the belt and have to hold it but I’m told I cannot be touching it. I finally tip it slightly toward the side and we get a weight. Interestingly KLM doesn’t feel a need to charge the Growth Cup extra and sends me to oversize luggage check.

Auto-generated description: A large, black, rectangular flight case is resting on a baggage conveyor with signs indicating a maximum baggage height of 750 mm.

When checking the Growth Cup in Warsaw they scan it and the security guard gives me an odd look and asks what this is. “It is a trophy” I say. He replies “Yeah, but for what?”. I tell him “It is a tradition at our company to celebrate growth.” He looks at me with a very dismissive look and moves on. There are no photos allowed in this room. And I realize after the fact that I’ve been locked in here with the Growth Cup until the security guy decides I’m safe to move along. He buzzes me out.

No pictures were allowed in secure area — AI generated version of scene.

Auto-generated description: A security officer stands next to a large equipment case in a control room, while another person works at a computer in the background.

KLM didn’t charge for the cup but they also decided to hurl it around with abandon it seems. The Growth Cup is received with a damaged wheel. I suspect it has been dropped on the wheel and smartly I think the wheel is intended to break before the case. It expands the wheel enclosure and can no longer spin. As I drag the Growth Cup with one wheel working and one wheel completely stuck it is signficantly less fun to travel with this. Plus, the carpet is sanding the wheel down creating a flat spot. Getting Growth Cup from MSP International Arrivals to the Lyft picking me up is trying.

Auto-generated description: A close-up view of a metal structure with a wheel, rivets, and a partially visible label.

I’ve been sharing some photos on the family text of the Growth Cup journey and my daughter responds:

I love that you’re traveling with the growth cup
It’s so cute
You’re it’s protector and guardian abroad 🥰😝

She’s right — I feel like the Guardian of the Growth Cup. Physically and metaphorically.

Growth cup in baggage claim at MSP, taking a little break from dragging it along.

Auto-generated description: Two pieces of luggage, one resembling a standard suitcase and the other a large, rugged equipment case, are positioned on a shiny airport floor.

Growth Cup loaded into the back of the Lyft on the way home.

Auto-generated description: A large case and a suitcase are placed in the back of a vehicle.

Growth Cup chilling out in the garage waiting to head back into the office.

Auto-generated description: A car is parked in a garage next to a large, black equipment case on a textured floor.

I decided that it should become a tradition that the Growth Cup gets a sticker when it goes places. It had previously been to Australia when our CEO took it with him on a trip, so I took care of that one and also applied a Poland one. The case doesn’t hold a sticker well, but so far well-made vinyl stickers seem okay.

Auto-generated description: A large black storage case with metal reinforcements is adorned with stickers depicting the flags of Australia and Poland.

I wonder where the Growth Cup will go next…