Go for the Gold!

With the Summer Olympics well underway,  I am always amazed by the strength, graciousness, determination, passion and respect that these athletes show day in and day out.   Composed and poised under the spotlight of pressure to bring home the medal, not only for yourself, but for your team and country.   There is nothing like a spirited race that gets your adrenaline flowing and energy high.   Enthusiasm is quite contagious.   Competition is good, whether you are competing for a gold medal in London or whether you're competing for one in your career.    Gold medals represent the epitome of standard --- the highest pinnacle to achieve  --- one that will separate us from our peers and colleagues, while establishing our achievement in a job well done.   Right?   So...we can't all be stellar athletes, shouldn't we strive to be stellar in our careers so that we own the gold there?

I've thought a lot about this over the last six days.     I have been in New Orleans for the 10th Anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail, one of the emerging industry events, that truly embodies the best of the best.   The event has grown since it's humble beginnings and it's not only a testament to the industry itself, but to the vision of the founder, Ann Tunnerman.   So... how does an industry event have any correlation to the Olympics and going for the gold?  

I was amazed and in awe of the passion and respect that, over a course of 5 days, is not only shared but embraced.    Truly, in the spirit of competition, we all want to be the best in our own right.   We work with our colleagues to create and develop to achieve the highest pinnacle possible --- the gold medal when it comes to customers, repeat business, credibility and most of all, success for ourselves and our companies.   One thing as an industry that we should all remember is that competition is good.  It makes us better.  It makes us feel challenged.  It makes us all go for the gold on a daily basis so that as we grow professionally, our industry grows as well.  

The hospitality industry is "our" country, so to speak.  Every day, we are blessed to be a part of it and enjoy the fruits of it's labor.  We should go out and promote it with pride and passion.  We should share our love of our own individual craft and companies while embracing the spirit of competition.  We should show respect and tip our hats to anyone who achieves "gold".   For me... it's motivation to see someone excel and reach the highest pinnacle.  It truly makes me want to put forth more effort and be recognized for being one of the best.  Whether, we agree or not, there is room for all of us in this big ole' world and not only does competition help to keep us all on our toes, it keeps our industry moving forward instead of backwards.  We all learn from each other.   

Even in the Olympics, as in everyday life, it's easy to lose focus, become disappointed or disengaged or want your competition to fail.   Isn't that a natural instinct at times?   I think what separates the stellar and elite are those that overcome those feelings and bring themselves back up to their gold standard.   Be the very best that you can be, day in and day out.   Show respect for yourself, your company and your industry.   Take care of your customers and provide them with your best effort every time you step out on the platform.   When you compete, do it fairly and with respect.   The best champions are those who can achieve greatness but remain humble and know that on any given day, the result could have been different.   

There are many days of Olympic events ahead, but, for each of us, our days to compete and contribute are far beyond a two week period.   As a collective group, we are all striving to be standing on that podium, whether as an individual or as a company but at the end of the day, no matter who ends up there... we still represent our industry.   

We are the ambassadors of our crafts, our companies and our industry and we should all be mindful that our words, our actions and our efforts are just as impactful as our achievements.  

Congratulations to Ann and the Tales team for a job well done.  You deserve a gold and I'm already looking forward to 2013.    For the rest of the industry, on any given day, we all deserve to be at the center of the podium and feel pride for what we do.   Each day provides us another opportunity to wake up, smile, be grateful and appreciate the opportunity to share our passions.  

Enjoy the Olympics and Go for the Gold!

With Heart and Soul...

Every now and then, a project or opportunity comes our way and we feel very passionate about it.  We feel connected to it and give it everything and then some.  We give it ... HEART AND SOUL.    I'm not saying that we don't do every task  or job to the best of our ability.  I think that most of us definitely want success in every way, but I do believe that there are certain projects for whatever reasons, we are compelled to give it 100% plus another 50%.

I think I've written many times, the power of words is tremendous.  The power of two simple ones can make or break someone's attitude and work ethic - thank you.   Many times, when you are given a task... if you are shown no appreciation or gratitude for your efforts, well... you get a little skittish in the "over zealous" department of trying to put forth added effort.  If the people you're working with constantly criticize any efforts that you make... then, you're apt to back-off.  But... then there are those projects when your efforts are praised from start to finish and you give it all you've got.  You give it HEART AND SOUL... and at the end of it, not only are you thrilled, but whoever you are working with is thrilled as well.  

What is the difference in your work?   Is there a difference and is it noticeable?  Absolutely, there is a difference.  You know it and ultimately those you are working with or for, knows it. 


Someone once told me that if you can't believe in what you're doing and grab a hold of it... you'll never be successful at it.   I may not have understood that many years ago, but today, that would be one piece of advice that I would offer to anyone.  Another would be... that  I think you also have to enjoy it.   There is nothing more miserable than doing a job or task that you dread.   (for me... it's like housework...and that is something I definitely dread!)

I also believe that staying positive, especially in an economy and society, when things aren't always looking rosy, we would all be compelled to find our passion and go about all our tasks with heart and soul.   It's not always that easy.. and most of us are just very grateful to even have jobs at the moment, but sometimes... in life, we all have to take a look at the quality and ask ourselves the hard questions - are we truly happy?  

Every day, I TRY to wake up with that attitude and try to implement it in whatever I am doing.  Some days, I accomplish that and then there are those days, when even after all my futile attempts, I know that I just need to get through it as best I can. Trust me, like you, I have been through some very stressful and trying times over the course of my career, and most recently, life has a way of throwing curve balls when you least expect it.   There are days when I really want to pull those covers over my head... and HIDE!  

Through my own stress and difficulties, I have realized that we can't always be everything to everybody, just like we can't always have our "signature passion" on every single project that we do, but for those that we are able to connect to and really feel part of... we should take those and put them up like badges.   They may be few and far between, but there is no greater joy than doing a job you enjoy and love to do... and being successful at it. 

I've often wondered if the founder of facebook, twitter, or even foursquare... if they pursued their projects with heart and soul... and the outcome was multiplied in thousands?  What about Bill Gates?   Warren Buffet?   Steve Jobs?   Did they put their heart and soul into their respective projects to gain their successes?

I guess my own theory is that it only takes one project with all your heart and soul to take hold and steer our lives down a path that we never dreamed.

It takes one idea... one heart... and one soul.  (Now, that's something to ponder over, isn't it? )

What a Great Gift .... Passion!

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position."  

This is one of my favorite all time quotes and when I am feeling like I am spinning circles or going through unnecessary challenges in life... this is the quote that reminds me that having a passion for something is a great gift.   Passion allows us to excel on both a personal and professional level.   Passion is contagious and others see it and they want it.

Passion is giving more of yourself and letting your love for something shine through whether in work, personal or everyday occurrences.   Passion is being yourself and doing what you do best and allowing your energy to show in your effort and ultimately in the results.  Often, I think that many of us go through our daily lives without ever knowing such a passion.  For me, I am one of the lucky ones and I know how fortunate I am to truly enjoy being in the industry I am in, doing something that I REALLY love to do and...  to add icing on the cake... love the people that I get to work with on a daily basis.   Honestly, most of them have become life-long friends that I enjoy sharing my life with every single day.     

For me... I have a passion for people and relationships.  I love the challenge of creating unique opportunities that allows people to engage and work together to get business done.  I love being able to take a single idea and put forth all my effort, passion and dedication in it to develop, create and implement it into something viable and successful.  I hope that through-out my career if there's one legacy that I am known for is that my passion has shown in every single opportunity that I have been a part.   Passion is what comes from inside and if you have that then you have something very special to share with the world.

I've been to many conferences over the years and sat in on many keynotes speeches and panels.  There have been a few that really made me sit on the edge of my seat and take notice.   These individuals truly had a passion for who they were, what they were doing and why I should even want to listen to their story.  Honestly, they made me want whatever it was that they had... it was magnetic.   At most conferences, they provide you with a networking hour in between sessions, so I took advantage and approached these individuals... and what surprised me the most was that their answer was the same.  They love what they do... they are passionate about it and believe in it with all their heart.  I realized in that particular moment... that I would no longer just "settle" for working everyday.  I wanted to love it to the point that even on the worst of days... I knew why I was there and what I was working toward.

Have you ever been to a sporting event and watched a player with great skill, but he simply had no passion?  He knew he was good... but, it felt like his heart wasn't in it.   At the same time, have you seen a player who may not have been the best on the team... but he had the heart of a champion?    He had fire and passion.  He loved the sport, the game and it shone so bright, it blinded you by his love of it.  His effort and attitude and passion were contagious.  You wanted this player to win and excel. 

In today's economic situation, many people are just grateful to have a job to go to every day.   If you're one of the lucky ones like me and have the gift of being passionate about your job, school, life.....share it with a smile and share it often.   Motivating another person might just change their life.

Passion... is a gift from within and when you find it for something in your life... enjoy it.  It's the best feeling in the world.