I just got back from working on a Global Meeting for one of our top clients.  We spent a considerable amount of time at the hotel — both in advance of the project and of course, during the actual program dates.  We pushed the hotel hard.  As is the trend these days, our lead time was short and many details came together right at the last minute.  We really needed the hotel to deliver for us — and they did.

We like to speak directly to the wait staff at our events — and always request the opportunity to be part of the briefing the banquet manager and captains have with the staff before they go out on the floor and serve our guests.  I believe it is important for the staff to know what makes this particular special event, special. Who are they serving, why are our guests gathered in the first place, what are our particular requirements for service?  And, we want to get the staff excited about the level of service we are asking them to provide for us.  We typically end the talk with “Shine and sparkle!”

Sometimes during the pep talk I wonder what the staff really is thinking, “Why is this guy trying to pump us up, when it’s just another banquet to us?”  ”I don’t care who these people are, I just want to get through this.”  ”I know how to do my job, why are they telling me how to do it?”   I never really know what is going on in their heads, but I still hold on to the idea that bringing people together and giving them information, building excitement (and adding some humor to the talk) will have a positive impact.

After this past gala night, I thanked the captains and sat down and had a bite to eat in a corner of the ballroom as the waiters finished their strike.   I was content that all went well and watched the hotel staff scurrying to head home.   One of the waiters came over to me and asked if I was happy with the way things went.  I told him I was and thanked him for his work.  He smiled broadly and said, “We just wanted to impress you.”   His sincerity really touched me.  And, I was glad that our pre-event gathering had an impression on him.  I loved that he was so invested in the outcome of the event.

Thank you to the Embassy Suites in Cary, NC for being our partners in delivering an impressive experience to our clients. And thanks Doug (our exuberant member of the banquet team) for proving that while life is a series of events, each special event really can be made special.

My friend, Elizabeth Beskin posted a great blog about Valentine’s Day (http://www.albumboutique.com/blog/valentines-day-means/) and it reminded me about enduring relationships. The best marriage I’ve ever seen was definitely my beloved parents. If they were both still alive today they would have been married for 70 years!

I always marveled at the way they always seemed in sync with each other. My Mom doted on my Dad, cooked his favorite foods, kept an immaculate home and always let him know that she loved him very much. They would leave notes for each other, hold hands as they would walk to mail a letter at the corner mailbox, and they would always kiss each other hello and goodbye.

Every so often they would dance in our living room. And that’s when you would see that they really were perfectly in sync with each other. They always made each other smile. And no matter what, they always seemed to put the other person first. In doing so, their time together was filled with gratitude, respect and love. Their life wasn’t always easy. They faced many tragedies and hardships, but they did it together.

When my mom passed away — we watched my father’s heart break into a million pieces. And the last few years of his life without his love — though filled with family and friends — weren’t ever the same.

I hope that you get to dance with the one you love at many events — or maybe even just around the living room.

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day.

He was my first boss.

Fresh out of college he gave me a job in his PR firm.  I showed up for my interview in shorts and a T shirt.  What was I thinking?!  Yet, he gave me a chance.

I learned about deadlines, client changes, customer service.  I learned that while there is no such thing as bad PR, there is such a thing as a great PR person.  He was the consummate professional and the consummate gentleman.  He bought me my first business suit.

Over time, he decided to move to the west coast.  He kept me on a retainer and put me in charge of the New York business.  I ran the office out of my apartment.  I had a copy machine in my closet to crank out the press releases.  Fast forward — I went into Special Events.  Then started my own events company.

He retired.  He got older — quickly.  We stayed in touch — mostly through his incredible letters, whenever possible — with visits.  He let me know when more of his friends died. His physical health declined.   He had no funds left — and no family. No one.  He appointed me his Power of Attorney.  He moved to an assisted living center in DC.  Then his mind started to go.

We moved him to a nursing home twenty minutes away so we could be closer.   My mentor, my friend helped me become an adult.  Now it was my turn to help him through old age.   He was always so busy working that he never really planned for his future. And when he stopped working, he tried to live in the moment and not worry about the next day.

Life is a series of events.  As event producers, we try to plan everything.  But how many of us have planned for our future?  Or are we just busy planning the next event?

Set aside time to really look at what lies ahead.  For you, for your family and for your loved ones.   It’s easier to have the difficult conversations early.  And while plans can change, it’s comforting to know that at least you have a plan.  You would never go on site without a running order for the event — why would you want to go through life that way?

We get to work with many of the top pharma companies and being part of their meetings has exposed me to fascinating scientific information. Much of it I don’t understand. But sitting in those meetings has inspired me to develop my own theory of genetics.

I’m talking about the event gene. Like all genes, you are either born with it or not. You might be able to surround yourself with people who have the gene and then acquire some of the behaviors of those people (nature vs. nurture theory, etc.), but I’m sticking to my premise that you either got it or you ain’t.

I believe the event gene creates the following attributes:

* freakish passion for details

* overwhelming desire to serve people

* uncontrollable urges to wow groups of other humans

* an obsessive devotion to list making

* a joyous willingness to schlep things

* a physical anomaly that allows you to be on your feet for days on end

If you have the gene, consider yourself blessed. You’ll find yourself at the top of your industry. It is your natural progression. You don’t have a choice. You were born for this. Others in your industry will envy you — because while they are working hard to try to have that “thing” that makes you great — you will just be you.

Life is a series of events. And our genes help us fit in where we belong. I hope your genes provide a good “fit” for you.