If you're the smartest person in your group, then you need a new group"

There's an old saying that I've been hearing since I was a little girl, “if you're the smartest person in your group, then you need a new group". As I continue to age, I understand more and more how true and meaningful that statement is.

Over the last few months I've been especially careful and thoughtful about who is in my group. No one wants to be around people that drag you down. I enjoy being around people that challenge me and keep me sharp. In the words of TD Jakes, "iron sharpens iron, wood can never iron". So, surrounding myself with better event planners, better business owners, and better leaders is having a tremendous impact on my personal growth. It is forcing me to think bigger and be better. My circle is not limited to Richmond, Virginia and Washington DC. My circle has become global.

While spending time in DC for the inauguration weekend, I could only imagine what the event coordinators must have been going through. There were countless balls, parties, and celebrations. In addition, whenever you throw celebrities into the mix, it can be an event planning nightmare only because of the extra precautions and extra attention to detail that is required.

Other than being on stage, I believe that I had the best seat in the house for the inauguration. I was on the rooftop of 101 Constitution NW and had a bird's eye view of all the moving parts. In a very symbolic way, it is how I try to manage our events at All About Presentation. From the rooftop, it was amazing to see how many people gathered for such a historic event. Now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my angel, Susan, who showed up out of nowhere, grabbed my hand and led us out of the abyss of people on First Street in order to get to 101 Constitution.

But, I digress. Standing on the rooftop got me thinking, how amazing is your group that it would help you foster or dream of becoming president?

The environment to success is so critical. In the same way that you cannot plant tomato seeds in the ocean and expect a harvest, you cannot dream and imagine around people that do not create an environment that is conducive to creative thinking, innovation, and being supportive of your efforts.

As I go forward in my business and other pursuits, I am making the conscious effort to decide who I include in my group. In the words of uncle, "everyone that comes with you can't go with you".

Change : Shift Happens

Whether one agrees with the policies of President Elect Barack Obama, there can be no doubt that he has carried the banner and is leading a generation to "change". But before Obama, there were many that led a generation to change. One such man was Abraham Lincoln who said "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew." Another was Gandhi who most notably said "We must become the change we want to see".

And yet, 19 years before the death of Gandhi and 64 years after the death of Lincoln, arguably the greatest, most effective, leader of our time, Martin Luther King Jr. was born, and he said "The soft-minded man always fears change. He feels security in the status quo, and he has an almost morbid fear of the new. For him, the greatest pain is the pain of a new idea." And as we celebrate his birthday today, though nationally recognized on Monday, an interesting conversation unfolded.

Is change increasing at an increasing rate?

It seems as though more things are changing more often. The experience of a 60 year old with regard to race and gender relations, available technology, and entertainment choices is different than someone who is 40 years old. And both those experiences are completely different than that of a 20 year old? Is it possible that today's kindergartners don't see color, pre-judge based on gender, or will ever know what a CD is?

So, the inevitable question was eventually asked - how quickly are things changing?
For the answer, we turn to the one source where the oracle is located -- YouTube.
Although this is not a new video, it certainly shows how technology has expedited change all over the world. It is a great video and it is highly recommended for business professionals, parents, teachers, students, bosses, and coworkers.

The title is: Shift Happens

Try this “Inaugural Cheer” Cocktail from Wild Hibiscus

To celebrate the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, mixologist Danielle Tatarin of 0f Designer Cocktail created “The Inaugural Cheer,” which features Wild Hibiscus’ edible wild flowers and syrup, is a layered cocktail that looks beautiful in a champagne flute

To mix one up for inauguration parties, you will need:

One-half cup crushed ice
One-half ounce Wild Hibiscus Syrup
One-fourth ounce fresh lemon juice
2 ounces Hpnotiq liqueur
2 ounces of dry sparkling wine or champagne

Separate the wild hibiscus flowers from the syrup; place one flower upright at the bottom of a champagne flute. Mix the lemon juice and hibiscus syrup together; pour the mixture over the flower. Add crushed ice to the mixture; pour Hpnotiq liqueur over the ice. Slowly top the drink with the dry sparkling wine or champagne. The result is a red, white and blue cocktail.
For more information, call 800/499-8490 or visit http://www.wildhibiscus.com/

Washington Event Scene Abuzz About Obama Inauguration

The holiday party business may be in the doldrums, but event professionals in one town are going into high gear. Hoteliers, caterers and production pros in Washington are pinning down details of the range of festivities surrounding the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20. The sweeping change that the Obama win brings for the political landscape is also bringing a new wave of clients, events and energy to the D.C. scene.
B. Scott Button, director of catering and convention services at Washington's Fairfax at Embassy Row Hotel, says his guest rooms sold out "in about 20 minutes" on Election Day, Nov. 5. "As far as events go, I've had the ballroom booked since 2004 for [socialite] Buffy Cafritz's inaugural eve gala that she's been hosting since the '80s." He describes his bookings for next month's inaugural events as "much better than 2004. It's about the same as 2001, but we're getting a much higher rate on all fronts."
Due to heavy demand, the Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC will likely be completely booked not only for Inauguration Day events but the two days before as well, notes director of social catering Annie Boutin King. "Due to both an administration change and the historic nature of this event, there are many more events in previous years, and people have started booking earlier," she says.
Halethorpe, Md.-based production company Showcall USA has had the veteran Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball booked "for months," says company cofounder Ajay Patil. Even better, "We continue to receive calls every day for events all across the city." He praises the organization of the Obama team: "The Obama camp really has their act together, in that they put together RFPs and bid business out. They are very organized, which is unusual during the madness and short turnaround time of a presidential campaign."
ONE BIG BASH?
Specifics for official inaugural balls, planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, are not yet final, but the event industry is buzzing about what shape the events might take. Dale Harmon, special events coordinator for Silver Spring, Md.-based event-foliage provider Plants Alive!, notes, "The major topic of conversation is that there will not be six or seven separate inaugural balls but rather one huge tented event on the mall so many more people can attend. We shall see what plays out."
As for private events, the dour economic outlook is--predictably--putting a pall on some parties. Harmon notes that some of his longstanding clients won't be hosting events next month. "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for example, have totally canceled their events," he says. "And I don't plan on much from the auto industry and major insurance companies for the obvious reasons." Even so, "There are other large events, like MTV [Be the Change Inaugural Ball] and Google," he says, "and new entries, like Oprah Winfrey, planning large events."
Susan Lacz, head of veteran Bethesda, Md.-based caterer Ridgewells, is hoping to land just such a new client. She is at work to close a deal for a three-course, sit-down party for 7,000 guests. The host organization "typically would never entertain on this scale," she says, but the fact an African-American will become president has changed the event landscape.
NO LOOKING LAVISH
Because of the sour economy, even hosts with big budgets are taking pains to avoid looking lavish. Main Event Caterers, based in Arlington, Va., is enjoying twice as many inquiries about inaugural events as in years past, notes executive vice president Nancy Goodman. Even so, "The host does not want to have the appearance of spending a ton of money. For example, in lieu of crab cakes, we're proposing less expensive, comfort food such as shrimp fritters or barbecue beef cocktail sandwiches," she says. "Some don't even want it to be known they are the host." Other clients, she says, are turning their traditional client-appreciation party into an event that gives back to the community. For example, some hosts are inviting disadvantaged local high school students to parade-viewing parties.
Andrew Gerstel, vice president of Alexandria, Va.-based Windows Catering Co. , describes the mood of upcoming events as "a bit more subdued" than in years past. "We are seeing less lavish decorations, while still maintaining a patriotic theme, and a continuing trend to comfort foods," he says. "A lot of our clients are staying away from fusion or trendsetting menu items and staying with more recognizable foods. The tone for these events is one of excitement and cautious optimism, which I believe is being expressed in their approach to things like theme and decor elements, souvenirs for attending guests and more casual service." A challenge event pros face: Budgets are somewhat smaller this year than four years ago, while guest counts are higher, Gerstel says.
REAGANS REIGNED
David Fletcher, owner of Washington-based Washington's Best Musicians, notes that his flagship band, Amaretto, is already booked for the People's Inaugural Ball. Even so, the inaugural event business is "not as good as the '80s or '90s," he says. "There was also a big change in lobbying rules in the '90s, so drug companies, HMOs, etc., have to be more careful."
The "good old days" for the Washington event industry, most agree, were the eight years Ronald Reagan was in White House, starting in 1981. The Bill Clinton years, 1993-2001, while less formal, were still "party all the time," say those who worked parties at the White House then, Goodman says. "Then with the Bush administration--nothing."
SECURITY STRICT
The most distinctive feature of inaugural events, many event pros say, is rigid security.
Kathy Valentine, CEO of Arlington, Va.-based caterer Design Cuisine, says her team has been in operations meetings for "months" to plan event logistics. Security requirements established for the last inauguration, in 2005, require that food must be delivered the day before the event. The Design Cuisine team is checking into the ability to book refrigeration in restaurants near event venues. "If not, we'll bring in trucks, and if we can't bring in trucks, then refrigeration units," she says. "We use best-case planning, knowing that things will change."
Another wild card in next month's events is the possibility that the parade route will be lengthened from years past, opening up more venues lining Pennsylvania Avenue as potential party sites. Such a change would also lengthen the duration of parade-route parties, Valentine notes, and shift staff scheduling. She is considering bussing staff in from Philadelphia and Richmond, Va.
CHEESE CUBES, NO COAT CHECK
Another distinctive feature of inaugural events--the official events--is that they are not nearly so glamorous as outsiders might believe.
"Inaugural balls have usually meant an expensive ticket, a crowded room, a cash bar and cheese cubes," Lacz says. "And you can quote me!"
"If anything, the inaugural events often fall well below usual Washington planning standard for a variety of reasons besides security," Fletcher says. "One is that individual states plan some events, and planners from these states have very little experience, and sometimes come to Washington with the notion that they know better than the locals. I suppose there is an analogy to some politicians who run 'against' Washington, and then ignore us once they get here. Last time, at one of the biggest events, no one thought to have a coat check, so at the end, 800 coats were on the floor."
And it's always politics as usual: "Because there is no need for repeat business," Fletcher says, "no one complains and they will forget, or there will be a new set of attendees in four years anyway."
Source: http://specialevents.com/latest_stories/events_obama_inauguration_1220/

What's your vision and how can we help you?

How can we help you achieve your goals this year?

Not only do we buy a lot on behalf of other people, but we also happen to meet a lot of people in a wide variety of industries and groups. Whether you are looking for a personal trainer to lose a few pounds or a small business coach to fulfill your dreams:

Post a comment and let us (and others) know what your goals are and how we can help you. Send this link to your friends. The more goals that are posted, the more we can help each other achieve those goals.

As it stands, there are well over 1,000 people that are readers of our newsletters and blog. That's not a lot of people, but you never know who can help you.

In our line of work, event management, vision is everything. One of our favorite sayings at All About Presentation, especially as it relates to having a vision, comes from the Bible in Habakkuk 2:2 which says "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."

Let us know how we can help you accomplish your goals!

Resolutions - Pick One and Be Done!

It is statistically proven that almost 85% of people who make New Year’s resolutions will not achieve them by year end. What I’ve learned is that most of us bite off way too much at one time. A couple of years ago I ran across the most simple method to achieve resolutions. The principle is called 1 and Done. The theory of this idea is that we should focus on thing, and only one thing, rather than three or four goals.

Think of 1 resolution, the most important resolution, and then try using these tips by Amy Ahlers, an International Certified Life Coach, to help you achieve your goal.

Write It Down. It's a fact: writing down your goal gives you a higher chance of success.

Commit. Move beyond the land of "good ideas" to promise yourself to show up for your goal. Perhaps you can do a ritual or ceremony to symbolize your commitment.

Tell People. Let your biggest fans in on your new commitments and goal for the year.

Get Accountability. Even better than just letting others in on your "secret" dream and goal-get some accountability. Meet for lunch once a month with a group that will ask you, "So, how's it going with your goal?" Hire a Life Coach. Talk to your best friend. Get some support!

Make a Plan. Ensure success with a step-by-step plan. Start with the end vision of where you want to be and working backwards to where you are today. You'll find an easy plan to make your goal a reality.

Do a Goal Check-In. Before you decide on what you'll take on for the year, make certain you can answer, "YES!" to the following questions: "Am I the primary reason for setting this goal (vs. your mom, boyfriend, wife, boss, society)? Do I feel alive and energized by this goal? Is this goal in line with my life purpose or mission?"

Get Real! If you're contemplating putting a goal down that you always put down and never achieve, take a second look. How will this goal end DIFFERENTLY this year? Is this goal something you need to let go of? What purpose is it serving you? What's a good enough reason to finally achieve this goal?

Focus With Reminders. Once you've got your goal and plan in place, figure out ways to remind yourself. Some people post their goals in their bathrooms or cars. Others put reminders in their palm pilots, blackberrys or cell phones. Figure out what works for you.

Believe and Visualize. Do you know the story about the group of basketball players who spent one hour visualizing making baskets, while another group actually practiced? The visualizing players had better seasons! So visualize yourself on New Years Eve 2007 with all your goals achieved. What would that look like? How would it feel? Visualize once a day and see the difference it can make in your life.

Focus on your Strengths

Alas! It's resolution season. Before you get caught in the excitement of all the changes you're going to make, let me offer this bit of advice to you... Focus on your strengths. I recently read a book titled Strengths Finder 2.0. It is a book about enhancing one's individual strengths rather than focusing on our weaknesses. In a culture that is obscenely focused on improving your weaknesses, this book purports that by focusing on one's strengths, we are happier and better aligned to be successful. The book gives the examples of Rudy Ruettiger from Notre Dame (full of hard work, but very little football talent) and Joe Nameth (full of hard work, full of football talent). The difference in career outcomes between Rudy and Joe is a great example of placing your efforts in areas where you are naturally strong. Further, the book directs you to an online strengths test where you will find out your top 5 strengths and how they can best be used for success.

Once you've read the book and have taken the online assessment, please let me know what you think. Do you agree or disagree with your results? How will you use them to make decisions in the future. Please let me know. I'd love to hear.

All the best,

Andrea