The Power of Working Together

We just finished a lovely program for The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) which drew more than 4,400 people to San Diego. This program was a reminder of why I love this business. From my first meeting with Stacey Budd, the Director of Meetings and Ed Simeone, CMP, CMM, Executive Producer with Fusion Productions, I knew I wanted to work with these people.

The true rewards in a service industry are the smiles of guests and the camaraderie of a team that worked together for months to achieve the goals of the organization. Inherently, everyone wants to do a good job. But every once in a while, a group of people come together who “CLICK” . . . whose styles are complimentary and supportive; and then, you have to have a little bit of luck. Since the theme of this conference was “Pillars of Perfection”, a reflection of the heritage of the Academy’s President, Nick Davis – I think we had the benevolence of the Greek gods watching over us. And added to this talented team was a fantastic hotel partner, the San Diego Marriott, and my favorite CSM in the world, Tim Cloonan. It was truly a “dream team.”

Despite the chill of “May Gray Days,” the warmth and success of the conference was evident in every session and every activity. By Saturday evening, when the Leadership Gala celebrated the week’s events, everyone involved knew it had been a memory-making experience.

My point in writing this is simple. If everyone approached their programs with this spirit of shared professionalism and respect, the success ratio would increase significantly. So often, people are looking to blame one another instead of support one another. Stacey and Ed worked closely with us to develop the events and the logistics for this program – then they trusted us to implement the details successfully.

This forum also allows me to recognize our team who were integral to the development and fulfillment of this fabulous program – Debbie Osaki, CMP, DMCP, Senior Account Manager; Ann Johnston, Director of Operations; and Dawn Gilday, Operations Manager. This TMM Team worked with so many great vendor partners to produce a fantastic program. The program would not have been such a success without the talented and creative support of Dani Evangelista, Carissa Buettner and Jim Lennox at Pacific Event Productions who worked tirelessly to support us from concept to conclusion.

This program moves to Atlanta next year, and our Network partner, Atlanta Arrangements, is well poised to carry this program forward. We will share with them everything we learned and they too will enjoy the opportunities this program represents.

It is a reminder – what a standard of excellence we are able to achieve when we all work together.

First Impressions Last a Very Long Time

You always remember your firsts…
And that’s why first impressions are so important!

It isn’t so much about the looks, what I am speaking to is how a person carries themselves, how they interact in new situations or how they handle meeting strangers. Whether for personal, business or social settings, your first interaction with a person could not only make a lasting impression, but it could also be your only impression.

I have been interviewing a number of people recently and it never ceases to amaze me how job seekers approach the actual face time with a potential employer. I know the business workplace has changed over time as different - and younger generations -converge together, but there are some rules or expectations I believe, as a business owner, remain timeless. The most telling first impression is the first interview. I know special tips and reminders for interviews can be found at the touch of a button, but from my recent experiences, there are some key points to remember that are worth reiterating:

• Be on time. It is best to arrive earlier than your interview time. Plan ahead, make sure you know where you are going and have correct directions. There are so many e-resources now (Mapquest is just one example) there is no excuse for not finding your location. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination. If you get lost or are running late, call ahead of your scheduled interview time to let them know you are lost, not after.
• Dress to impress. I know the idea of business suits and professional attire has changed over time as the workplace changes, but there are appropriate outfits to wear to a business meeting. Consider the age and perspective of the interviewer.
• Cell phones. Make sure your phone is turned off or on silent mode – do not place more importance on an incoming call than on the time you have with a prospective employer.
• Do your research. Almost every company has a website, which makes researching a company that much easier. Know who you are speaking to and learn some facts about the company and it’s history.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared. As an employer, the preparedness and priority a prospective employee places on this first meeting translates to me how well they will perform in the job.

Right or wrong – my first impression has often been my last impression. What message do you convey when you walk in the door?

A Balancing Act . . .

We just finished a few wildly busy weeks that required everyone to work long and hard. It didn’t matter the job description – it was a time when everyone covered each other’s back and put in a great team effort, company-wide. We have a few more weeks at this pace before our schedules settle down. I have often been asked how I balance my personal and professional life and how I sustain my energy during times like this. Admittedly, it was much more of a challenge when I was younger and our sons were growing up. There were times I felt I wasn’t doing a good job, but I was blessed with a large family who filled in where I couldn’t. As a business owner – I worked long hours but had the luxury of flexibility to help.

The lesson I have learned is that the key to creating a balanced life is knowing what YOU need. We all set our needs and priorities aside to tend to the demands of our jobs and clients. When given the chance to take care of ourselves, we are often at a loss to make the best use of the opportunity. Do you know how to make the most of a few hours, a day, or a weekend and use it to replenish and recharge your physical and emotional well-being?

No matter how hectic things are, I have always been able to do this. Though my choices have changed as I have gotten older (more time for maintenance), the benefits of my self-care have remained positive. I am able to regain my balance, take care of my health and sustain my commitment to my career.

Take a few minutes to see if you can list five things to do for yourself – that make you feel renewed and revitalized. I’ll share with you the things that work for me – and hope that you will take this time to create a “recovery plan” for yourself.

The things that work for me:

1. Digging in the dirt; planting flowers; spending time in the yard and enjoying nature. Flowers in every form provide me a source of pleasure.
2. Art shows – not sophisticated ones in galleries but outdoor ones like Art Walk in Little Italy; Art Alive; La Jolla Art Show. The scope of talent and variety of art is always renewing and inspiring. I love sharing this with good friends.
3. Spa treatments – any kind!
4. Trolley rides; carousel rides; puppet shows and “fancy shoe” shopping with my granddaughters.
5. TIME – unscheduled – unhurried – relaxed.

We all have the opportunity to be our own best cure. Do you know how to star in your own balancing act?