at some point, you just have jump off the cliff...

    Post by TMM guest blogger

    Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales
    

 

I can’t take credit for this saying… I was recently reminded of it by one of our well-respected colleagues in the industry. For me, it is equally applicable in the office as it is at home.

Human nature tends to be quite resistant to change… I tend to be more resistant than many. To say I’m a creature of habit would be an understatement… I eat the same thing from the same restaurants all the time, I have taken my coffee the same way for 10 years, I always pick out my outfit for work the night before, and I only use my email inbox at work for tasks that have not been completed. Everything else is systematically filed.

I realize that big change can bring big rewards… but at the same time, it is almost always uncomfortable. Case and point – we are implementing new software at the office and our partner understands our reticence to implement until every last formula is completed and every little button is perfectly branded and beautiful. It was during software orientation that she said something I found particularly valuable from a sales perspective “at some point you just have to jump off the cliff….”

Being a perfectionist by nature, I don’t like to do tasks unless they are as perfect as I think they can be. This is good and bad --- the product is usually very thorough, but it can take longer when you hesitate to just make something happen. There is most certainly a fine line between doing something right, and doing it at the right time – in a perfect world those lines will cross and you will invest exactly as much as you need to, no more, no less, to create the ideal product for your customer.

So, without further adieu, I’m going to continue to “jump off the cliff,” provided I have enough information to know that although it could be a bumpy ride down, there will be a stable enough landing at the bottom that I won’t be annihilated.

new year...new priorities

I love using the new year as a springboard for new priorities.  Just as I have to start diets on Mondays, I need to create new priorities at the beginning of each year.  What I find that I have to do to make this happen is to clear out and de-clutter my life.  This year more than ever, I am in a “less-is-more” mindset that is creating space for me to have new goals.

In December, I held my first “Tradition Sharing” brunch for my kids, nieces and nephews.  I wanted to clean out years of collections and yet wanted these special items to be enjoyed by the people I love most.  Two weeks before Christmas, our breakfast room was filled with multi-seasonal decorations, artwork, furniture and home accessories.  To minimize the competition – a lottery system was used.  By the end of the day, everyone had the things they wanted and I had  great pleasure in seeing them enjoy so many things that I had loved.

Next, I resigned my positions on the Board of the Mission Valley YMCA where I had served for the past 20 years and on the Board of the DMC Network  where I had served as President, Membership Chair and Board Member for more than 10 years.  I believe that Boards should be vibrant, evolving organizations and that there is great value to a balance of experience and new talent. I wanted to make room for new people – and I wanted to make room in my life for new priorities. The Network won’t have to make many adjustments as Trevor (my son and owner of TMM OC/LA) joined the Board.

So – what now? I want to learn a thousand new things – starting with my iPad. I want to take workshops at the Apple store and get comfortable with all that it can do. I want to go to Machu Picchu this year – I want to be the best wife, Mom and Yiayia I can be. It all takes time. And I want to be healthy and able to continue contributing to our company, our industry and my friends.

New Year – new priorities – new learning opportunities. I am excited. Hope you are too!

yule blog

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales

I have been teased relentlessly at the office for the name of this blog, but in traditional quirky Lauren spirit, I think it’s hilarious and I’m posting it anyway. (For those of you who don’t get it, it’s a play on Yule Log.) Moving on…

It would be appropriate to write a holiday themed blog this month, and I was thinking of topics while I was hand decorating dozens of miniature Christmas trees to give to our valued industry partners this time of year. Then, with hands full of glitter, pine tree fragments and twine, it occurred to me – TRADITION.

Tradition is perhaps one of the most valuable parts of my life personally, and now,  (referring to the miniature trees above), professionally as well. I was raised in a household that valued tradition almost above anything else – we joke that my dad is “Mr. Christmas,” and to this day, I still consider him the patron saint of all holidays. As I have grown older and now have my own household to run, I have carried many of those traditions forward. Some are silly and small: “always eat Junior Mints in threes”, and some are more meaningful: give your child a new ornament every year for the Christmas tree that represents the past year. 

The tradition bug has carried over to work as well…. For the past several years, we have given our annual holiday gift of a miniature live Christmas tree. As each year passes, we revisit our friends – some have collected half a dozen trees over the years and don’t throw them out… some take it home and plant it. And some, go to the trouble of decorating it with mini ornaments. What they choose to do with the gift is less important than the fact that they anticipate it every year, and we are greeted with smiles when we walk in the door of their office carrying a mini tree farm.

It is well worth the glittery pine tree mess to be greeted with the anticipation of our valued partners and to participate in yet another holiday tradition every year.

the question is...Y give?

As I get older, I am reminded on a daily basis of how blessed our family and business has been.  Our good fortune has been dimensional – starting with strong, long-lasting personal and professional relationships and loving support.  When you have always had something – it is easy to take it for granted.

What does it feel like to not have your most basic needs – physical or emotional met?

What does it feel like to be alone?

Most of us take for granted the blessings and good fortune we have.  I have been involved with the Mission Valley Y for 22 years.  My first introduction to the Y was in 1988 when we were asked to partner with GE Plastics on “SHARE TO GAIN” - one of the most ambitious corporate/community service projects ever.   It was decided that between January and April of 1989, GE Plastics employees would renovate five nonprofit facilities--one by each of the four main divisions that would meet in San Diego, and one by another sales group that would be attending. Building renovations would be a particularly apt team-building project because participants could use many of the company's own products.

After considering twenty different possibilities, the planning committee chose five: the Copley Family YMCA near downtown San Diego; the Armed Forces YMCA, an antiquated facility catering to young enlisted personnel; the YMCA Surf Camp, an overnight beach site for YMCA's youth groups; the St. Vincent de Paul/Joan Kroc Homeless Shelter, a facility providing shelter for over 400 homeless people; and, finally, the William J. Oakes Boys' & Girls' Club, a safe haven for children of a dangerous San Diego neighborhood.

During the course of their five meetings in San Diego – with counts ranging from 100 to 700 people, our job was to identify and help coordinate local projects that would remain long after GE left.  Ultimately, this incredible company sponsored more than $1 million in supplies and the combined efforts of a work force of 1500 +.  It was the first example of “Extreme Makeover” – what a difference a day made.

Their teamwork – their common focus provided them an inarguable platform for shared goals.  It was good for the community – it was good for the company and its employees.

Since that project, I have always enjoyed finding ways to tie destination management to giving.  First, we designed our Bike Building event that has become an industry standard.  Then, over the years, we worked with the military to identify projects that we could promote and support.  This included MOM (Military Outreach Ministry), Wounded Warriors and other initiatives (With San Diego housing the largest Marine base in the country – there was always great need and appreciation.  Our many private corporate  events hosted at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar)  benefitted MCCS (Marine Corps Community Services) who help the families of the military personnel.


On a worldwide level, I have had the honor of working with Project Concern International – an amazing organization based here in San Diego .  This year, we supported the celebration of their 50th Anniversary.  Using our company American Express points, we sponsored the airfare for a young man named Tobias Tembo to travel to San Diego from Zambia.  He is one of the lucky ones – an orphan child who was saved and who is now working to save others. He was asked to present the Humanitarian Award to Dr. James Turpin – the man who founded this heroic organization 50 years ago when he first opened an orphanage in Tijuana.

And, just last week, while the Board of Managers for the DMC Network was in San Diego  for our annual Strategic Planning Retreat, we prepared meals at our local Dream Dinners and delivered meals to Ronald McDonald House families to enjoy.

This is what I know to be true – we can make a difference. As an individual, a family, a company – there are things we can do to make a difference.  Look around and consider the possibilities – what is it that you can do?

i need it yesterday…

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales

One of the most prominent changes in the hospitality industry is the reduction in pre-planning time for a program.  Historically, DMC involvement in program planning would be requested 3-6 months in advance, or longer. Now, it is not uncommon for us to get requests for program site, planning and operation only 30-90 days out.  The shortened planning window may sound stressful, but it has given us the opportunity to adapt our systems.  Here are a few things that are allowing us to remain continually flexible:

• Proactive receipt of information: we don’t wait for vendors to advise us of their changing rates – our sales team is aggressive in requesting all pricing from vendors, venues and suppliers to have it on hand for a quick turn-around. 
• Modern Software: Adaptation of new modern software helps us prepare our proposals more quickly and efficiently to meet deadlines… time is a luxury these days!
• High Impact Electronic Media: The advances in our software development have expanded our proposal capabilities immensely. We are able to produce proposals that are sensory and include not only still shots, but video and sound clips embedded in them. This paints the picture for any event that is right around the corner, and perhaps there will not be time in the planning cycle to produce a table set. 
• Early Operational Involvement: When the planning window is so close to the operational window, we are required to involve operations immediately from the beginning of the sales process. This allows for the most thorough transfer of knowledge and comfort level between our clients and our operations team.
• Educating our Partners: We have an obligation to advise our partners in the hospitality industry of the shortened planning cycles that we are experiencing, and also let them know what type of information is most beneficial to us and what formats are most accessible for a quick turn-around.

rentals, anyone…

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales

TMM’s parent company is the majority owner in a local event rental company. The rental company has a diverse clientele and services weddings, local golf courses and social events within Southern California.  The added seamlessness of our in-house rental division is perhaps one of our greatest assets and what sets us apart in a highly competitive business environment (and.. selfishly…. It makes my job easier!)  Our offices are adjacent to 16,000 square feet of warehouse space, housing linens, centerpieces, lighting, tenting, chairs, heaters and a myriad of other special event rentals.  We are lucky enough to physically have seamstresses onsite that can create custom linens when the request comes in –or fill a last minute order.

The business advantages of the rental company are easy to see – flexibility, quality control and superb value:

• Supreme flexibility – Rarely does an event NOT have a last minute change or addition… when another dining round is added 2 hours before a dinner, we can provide a coordinating linen, chairs and napkins for it.
• Quality control – by managing event rentals we are aware of all products that leave the warehouse, and know their quality and accuracy of the order. If a client needs 300 fruitwood chivari chairs, they will all be fruitwood… not mahogany, red, and espresso (unless of course that’s what they ordered).
• Value Add– We are able to remain more flexible with the cost of rentals for our clients and industry partners. This is perhaps the top concern on everyone’s mind in a sensitive environment. It also allows us to make the most of the budgets we are given and ensure a quality, cohesive event within a wide variety of  financial parameters

While it is extremely valuable from a professional standpoint, the personal advantage is not to be overlooked. It is a luxury to have décor at my fingertips for creative inspiration. When I’m tasked with designing a new event, I walk 50 feet behind me to the warehouse and am presented with a veritable maze of linens, fabrics and chairs. It is an event planners version of heaven…

the power of personal hospitality

Our San Diego TMM Team recently produced an exclusive corporate event at the private, fifty acre ranch of Duane Pillsbury and Joan Embery. Nationally known for her television appearances with animals, Joan has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Good Morning America, PM Magazine, The Home Show, Donahue, Hour Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, and many others. She has hosted two series, Animal Express and Animals of Africa, which have aired both in the United States and abroad, and the Baby Panda and Challenge to Wildlife specials for Public Broadcasting.



At the ranch, Joan raises Quarter horses, Miniature horses, Lippizans, Warmbloods, Clydesdales and Percherons, and her California State Grand Champion Brahman Bull, Bruiser. She also maintains an assortment of animals which travel with her on appearances.

Guests arrived at her home – recognizing the unique opportunity . . .but having no idea of the extraordinary hospitality awaiting them.  As they walked up to the front gates, Joan rode out on one of her prize horses  to greet them personally.  She then worked with her team of handlers to provide a very personal and up-close introduction to her menagerie. 

With pride and affection, Joan continued to educate and delight guests with a showcase of her animals – helping everyone appreciate the amazing traits of varied species.  From the tiniest armadillo to the elegant cheetah... Joan ensured an evening of magic.
As the sunset waned and the stars came out, Joan then accompanied guests to one of the barns where an elegant and sumptuous dinner was served. 

What impressed me most this evening was the genuine hospitality of our hosts, the effort they made to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of their guests and the beauty of their ranch.  This evening reminded me of the “power of personal hospitality” – welcoming guests with genuine warmth and pride. It was an evening to remember!

“mama always said”

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales

One of our most recent “water cooler chats” at the office was a bit deeper than the normal “post-weekend-recap-what-celebrity-is-dating-who-did-you-see-my-cute-new-purse” chat. We began reminiscing about the things that our parents or spouses and family have repeated to us (sometimes like a broken record,) throughout our lives. For some of us, these are proverbs to live by; for others, they are just now becoming pertinent during the complex state we are all living in.

Here is the “Hall of Fame” of one-liners from our staff that you have our permission to use for your own personal gain, motivation or simple laughter.





If you don’t find at least one that resonates with you, then you may be dead inside…

• Measure twice, cut once
• Your attitude determines your altitude
• God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason
• Do unto others as you would have them to unto you
• Tough times don’t last, but tough people do
• Always try to learn from your mistakes otherwise life will throw the same lesson at you until you do
• Never present a problem until you have figured out at least one possible solution
• The truth will set you free.
• The worst never happens

Is it the case that when life is more challenging you are more open to advice from other people? It is interesting to me that we tend to only have these conversations when feel the need for guidance and direction ---- we tend to forget the wisdom of others when we are on cruise control. How would our actions be different if we solicited wisdom of others even when we were the most sure of ourselves?

a colorful challenge

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales


I recently had a very specific request for a client: to create an elegant awards dinner --- seems standard enough, right? However, the most important specification of the evening was that there had to be five different linen colors – all in very close proximity to each other. The five colors sounded like a lot, but the purpose of having five colors was to identify different teams for an interactive exercise that would take place later in the evening. 

Initially, I was determining how TMM could create the appropriate atmosphere in accordance with the inherent venue design. It was also important not to lose the focus of our pattern by bringing in so many colors that they competed with each other.

As we conducted a walk-through onsite, we discussed several different themes. My first inclination was that the color selection should be monochromatic to avoid visual cacophony; the downside of a monochromatic look was that it wasn’t bold enough.

Our design team decided on a color selection that encompassed the principal hues in the elaborate carpeting at the venue– a natural fit. In the end, we discovered that the most essential element in keeping a cohesive atmosphere was the simplicity and uniformity of the centerpieces.  Each dining table was centered with a trio of beautiful curved glass vases featuring an oversized ivory pillar candle. The glow from the candle light and the pin spotting caused an ethereal glow on the taffeta table linen and our colorful “challenge” had successfully been surmounted.

start the day with B.A.G.E.L.S

Post by TMM guest blogger
Lauren Stout, DMCP, CTA, Director of Sales


Perhaps my favorite part of my work day is when get settled with a cup of coffee and BAGELS – not what you might think. I’m referring to B.A.G.E.L.S. the acronym – my daily journal. TMM recently attended a sales training seminar and this was perhaps the most unique lesson I took away.  I find it personally and professionally enriching and I recommend it to anyone in any industry to give focus and poise to their day. Everyone knows that our work life and our personal life blend together, especially in an unpredictable, chaotic industry such as hospitality, and this is an ideal way to manage your growth in both arenas.

Keep a journal – may even be your office “ to-do” list or notebook – and as you begin your work day, take five minutes to fill out the following items:

Behavior: Your daily behaviors (number of calls, to do list)
Attitude: Something good about yourself that makes you successful
Grateful / Goals: What you are grateful for/ restate your long & short term goals
Evaluation: Evaluate yesterday, what went well and what did not
Lesson: 1 lesson you learned from yesterday
Success: 1 successful thing you did yesterday

This daily practice gives me a compass for my work and my personal enrichment, and it helps me continually improve my role at TMM. I can’t recommend it enough….

let's break the ice!

Post by TMM guest blogger
Darin Roper, Account Executive



TMM recently came up with unique teambuilding event that was really "cool".  The attendees just loved it, and as a teambuilding, it really "chipped away" at any inhibitions. 

We started the event with a master ice carver doing a demonstration on how these works of art are actually made.  Then our guests were required to create their own masterpieces in ice.  We supplied them with all the necessary tools and precut ice pieces.  Their task was to form a sculpture with the supplied geometric forms, and to use the chiseling tools to embellish it.  Creativity was a must, and no two sculptures turned out the same. 

Illuminated by the light boxes, the sculptures were truly amazing!  The guests were so enthusiastic about the competition, and our client was so pleased.  She wants us to replicate this event for her in....Budapest!!  Now that is one great teambuilder.

The master ice carver begins the demonstration

The team works together to build their sculpture

A finished ice sculpture

sitting on the other side of the table

Fabienne and Patty

I recently had the opportunity to work as a Trip Director for a high level corporate program in Barcelona, Spain.  I only go on the road in this capacity once every year or so.  Part of my motivation was the caliber of this program; the chance to see Spain (which I had not yet visited) and to work with my dear friend, Patty Blank who was responsible for much of the planning.

I was responsible for the evening events which included private dinners for various business units at some of the city’s most famous and popular restaurants; a dine around for 350 guests and two venues (including the famous Casa Battlo and Can Travi Nou) for offsite dinners.  The DMC services were being provided by Anne Karine Vogt and her company, “another konzept”.  I was looking forward to this assignment as I felt well prepared based on my 32 years in the DMC business.

Casa Battlo

Can Travi Nou

What became so interesting to me over the course of the program was to recognize the “markers” – the indicators – that our partner was really, really good.  As each day and event passed, I became less concerned and more appreciative of their skills and commitment to this program.  It caused me to evaluate our own company from the outside in.

The primary markers for my appreciation were:

• Key staff were aligned with key functions – i.e. transportation; daytime activities and evening events. . . we were set up to mirror that structure
• another-konzept was on-site at the hotel with us – working side by side to confirm, change and add services as needed
• The DMC staff was knowledgeable, well-known to their vendor partners and highly respected
• They were as flexible as they could be
• We worked as PARTNERS – addressing needs and challenges together
• Their paperwork was simple – allowing us to match up services and charges line-by-line
• I knew within days that I could trust them and believe what they told me
• We had FUN working together

So – what can I say about this experience, sitting on the other side of the table?  It reminds me to mirror our structure to match our clients’ needs; to stay close and available during demanding and ever-changing programs; to work as Partners; to keep our paperwork simple; to be trustworthy and yes, to remember to have FUN TOGETHER!

what do you learn when you are hanging on for dear life?

Last year – “Survivor SoCal” was our theme for the year. We trimmed our business and our expenses in every possible way. Projects were put on hold and our “In To Lunch” campaign was our marketing initiative for the year. 2010 has brought with it a cautious recovery, but we continue to take one step at a time as we rebuild our business platform.

Gathering in Idyllwild in May, our Leadership Team arrived to again review our progress against our Plan, make any adjustments necessary for the remainder of the year, assess the market as it is and to re-focus our team’s effort to deliver a successful year. I have always believed that experiencing personal and business lessons is far more effective than reading about them. So – into the trees we went.


Working closely with Paul Blanchard, owner of A New Team Adventure one of our favorite partners in Southern California, we identified our goals and what we could accomplish with the time we had. Though rock-climbing was #1 on our list – three people on our team had conditions that prevented them from participating at that level of activity( pregnancy + wrist surgery + bad hip) do not add up to rock climbing! So – we opted for another option - a dynamic, challenging and thought-provoking ropes course.



How to have fun – try something new – and learn about ourselves and our work habits. No matter our individual fitness levels – everyone participated in the wide range of activities. Whether on the ropes as part of a two-person team – on their own –coaching and cheering from the ground - or traversing trees blindfolded and directed by their peers – each person had the opportunity to explore the scope of their individual strength, fear , coaching skills and focus.


One of the most interesting lessons of the day. . . with each subsequent effort, we considered or recognized a better way to do it on the next turn. Each team’s efforts provided insights and tools to be more effective the next time – resulting in continually improving success. Now, how does that apply to our daily work? How do we learn from each other’s efforts?

Something else we learned . . . we make assumptions all the time. When given instruction – we add our own interpretation to the meaning of the task. We often make the assignment more complicated than it is.

Our work style. . . we take action before we plan. How familiar does that sound? For some reason, we feel compelled to move before we identify a strategy; gain consensus and fully communicate the role each of us is to play. How does that habit show up each day?

We learned a lot that day – we recognized our own self-imposed limitations and viewpoints – and we recognized that we influenced each other greatly. We had fun! Time to come down from the trees and get back to work – we’re keeping our balance.

how do you measure success . . .when the numbers aren't there?

Does anyone out there want to shout about the successes of 2009 – if so, please shout loud enough so I can hear you? It was a brutal year from a business perspective and one that forced us to make so many changes. But it was also a humbling year that required of us to do our best and learn some business and life long lessons.

The FIRST LESSON is – there are always new lessons to be learned.

The SECOND LESSON is that in the absence of “financial success, you have to dig deep to find your own measures of success - personally and professionally.

Let me start by saying that I know I am one of the luckiest women in the world. I enjoy abundance in my family, my marriage, my friends and my career. But darn it, 2009 WAS HARD. Terry and I thought the “tough years” were behind us - THIRD LESSON

In July, we talked about our Survivor SoCal Leadership Retreat, in which we didn’t even fully realize what we were going to have to face. Now, looking back, it is evident that we wanted to believe it would get better…sooner...and it didn’t. We have reached deep into the heart of TMM to re-design ourselves and to make every adjustment necessary to carry us through.

So as I whine about what isn’t . . . I think about what is. Here are a few of the measures of success we all share:

• Family and friends are long term, money is short term
• One good opportunity will change the entire direction of your circumstances
• Focus on what you are becoming – not on what you are or on what you were
• Treat each others well – your associates, your clients and most importantly, the people you love
• Pause to be grateful – to say THANK YOU – and mean it

As many of you know, travel is one of my greatest pleasures – and in 2009 I took advantage of the time I had (no business coming to SoCal) and checked off a few more of the places and people on my “bucket list”.

In May, it was a road trip for Patty Blank, Jennifer Brown and I to open up Patty’s Montana home to enjoy for the summer.



In July, again with Patty, my sister and nieces, and the women who were with me in India last year, we joined Project Concern on a Vision Trip to Zambia. There, we met so many wonderful people and women who are changing their world and their children’s lives, through self-empowerment groups.




Just a few months later, we were on the road again to San Miguel de Allende, where history, culture, art, cuisine and friendship blend in perfect balance.



So the final lesson we learned in 2009 - we did indeed survive! We remained healthy; we remained committed to our business and its future . . . and enjoyed a few special trips too.

It was a year filled with great memories of travel, friendship and fortitude. Our staff was wonderful, supportive and focused at a time we needed them the most.

I hope your year also was filled with successes – ones that may not be so clear at first glance, but equally rewarding and measurable when thoughtfully considered and acknowledged.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all – may this year be full of promise and performance!

SURVIVOR SOCAL. . .

Where is my “heavenly bed”?

Twice a year we bring our Leadership Team together with our business consultant Steve Wilders. At our summer retreat, we review our progress against our plan, make any adjustments necessary for the remainder of the year, assess the market, and re-focus our team effort to deliver a successful year.

As we started to make plans for this year’s summer outing – the theme SURVIVOR kept playing in my head. This year – our goal is to survive, to get through this economic meltdown and to keep our service and reputation in tact. The worst part of the year has been the down-sizing of offices and the corresponding personnel adjustments. These are good people, and we want to do the best we can for our staff.

So - what to do mid-year…how to motivate and inspire staff in a dismal business environment. . . how to have fun . . .how to get the work done that needs to get accomplished. . . and how to do it on a dime? Hmm - sounds just like the challenges facing our clients and the daily solutions we our selves are being asked to provide.

Early one morning while hiking Mt. Helix, I decided that our Leadership Retreat would be an adventure. Focusing on the message OUTWIT – OUTPLAY – OUTLAST, Steve and I planned our program. No hotel rooms, no restaurant or catered meals, no comforts. Our job was to challenge our team - to do everything for themselves and to do it with limited funds and time. Their only instructions r eceived in advance - they could bring a sleeping bag and backpack.

On day one, the team met at a designated location and was given their instructions, which included specified stops, photo documentation, buying all the food for the group and finding our ultimate destination in 3 hours, GET GOING. Once we re-convened mid-day in a campsite outside of San Diego, they had to make lunch, set their tents, compete in challenges and prepare dinner on an open fire.

Last event of the day – we watched the movie, Apollo 13 under the stars with a fire to warm u s and the lessons of survival, teamwork and determination to be re-learned.

Day two started with an early morning hike, a review of the lessons from the movie, more challenges, breaking camp and reflection. What have we done well this year? What are our greatest accomplishments? What can each of us do to be part of the solution?

The feedback on our retreat. . . – “one of the best ever”, “inspiring”, “fun”, “money well spent”, “the right message for these times” – GREAT TEAMBUILDING!

So, I always ask the question – what did we learn?

• We learned that $$ doesn’t equal fun
• That lessons in teamwork are some of the best lessons in life
• That we can get by with a lot less than we are used to
• We learned (again) to focus on our future – not our past
• We were reminded to focus our energy on what we can control
• Limit exposure to negativity – the world is full of beauty and opportunity
• Do the work – no matter how challenging, keep moving forward

That heavenly bed – oh yeah, that was another lesson. There is no place like home – and that night when we returned to our homes, we appreciated our family and our comforts more than ever. We are surviving and more than that, we are doing it as a team!

THE LEMONADE STAND IS OPEN

We had a visit today from one of our favorite business partners, Ray Gosselin, from Epic Entertainment. We have worked together for more than 20 years and truly value our partnership. As we sat and discussed “the state of the industry”, he shared with us a most inspiring story. He told us of a cancelled program that was to take place last weekend with name entertainer Terry Fator -the ventriloquist/impersonator from “America’s Got Talent”- who now headlines his own show in Las Vegas. As in so many cases, the corporate host paid for the entertainer, including the cancellation expenses. The predictable course of action would have been to cancel the performance. However, Ray talked with Terry’s agent and then with the commander of MCRD (Marine Corp Recruit Depot) here in San Diego, and together, they brought Terry Fater to town to entertain 1,400 military personnel, wounded warriors, and their families.

Now why isn’t that in the news? Cancellations are happening all around us at alarming rates. In many cases, there are resources that have been paid for and abandoned. If we can’t stop the cancellations, can’t we look for ways to “turn lemons into lemonade”? Can hoteliers make cancelled rooms available at significantly discounted rates to military families, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and other organizations that could use the assistance more than ever as donations and philanthropies have been impacted by reduced giving?

Consider the possibilities if you are in a position to make a difference. Focus your energy on the things you can control. Take the time to identify what you can do, how you can help, and be the kind of partner you would like to have. We have always valued Ray as a partner – and his efforts to turn this business disappointment into something really good and really special is proof once again of why he is such a respected and important partner to TMM.

Spending with Purpose

I keep thinking about this topic – and have finally decided to put my thoughts out there to share. Like all of us in the event and meetings industry, I am so tired of having people “shoot us between the eyes” when information about a corporate meeting or incentive program makes its way to the news. Is there one of us who has not experienced significant cancellation of business in 2009 as a response to “perception?" We are seeing dangerous shifts in public opinion and regulatory requirements that are driving change in the ways company conduct business.

An article published by the U.S. Travel Association clearly outlines the risks before us:
• Incentive travel perceived as a symbol of excess
• New regulatory restrictions
• Temporary changes in travel policy that may become permanent

What Can be Done?
What is our realm of influence?
What is prudent cost management and how can we best support appropriate disciplines?
How do we safeguard the reputation of our industry and products?

We must work together to define the issue and distinguish responsible meetings and events from perceived boondoggles. We have to define and educate the absolute importance of our industry’s survival because of the economic impact we have in communities and not to mention,the millions of jobs and families we support. We are an economic and professional force, and we have to work together to make sure our voice is heard...

We have to think smart; think responsibly; think with purpose. How do we maximize the positive benefits of our meetings and events? How do we make sure that every dollar spent has a purpose – and a re-purpose? Let me invite writers from our local paper to see what it is we are doing to ensure the shared benefit of dollars spent in our area of service. It isn’t business as usual – but it is business with intention and purpose. Educate; train; inspire; reward – and do it with conscientious and purposeful planning.

Make Small Changes Everyday

Post by TMM guest blogger
Trevor Hanks, CMP, DMCP, Vice President of Sales

Boulder, Colorado 1994 - I remember it like yesterday… sitting with a beer in my right hand and the Rocky Mountains over my left shoulder, on a sunny Fall Friday. I had a conversation with a young man (maybe 20 years old) and he explained that if we, as the next generation, don’t change our environmental practices that we will have to live with catastrophic change around us and our environment within the next 20 years.

As I looked at this dread-locked, slender built, interesting smelling and less than perfectly manicured young man telling me tall tales about far fetched issues that “will” arise, I said to myself, “this guy is one crunchy dude with a crazy imagination.”

Fast forward 14 years and he might have been the smartest “crunchy dude” I have ever met in my life!

Nowadays with terms like global warming, green house effects and conservation efforts, we have entered a new phase of life. All over the world people are changing and being challenged to live their lives with a new way of thinking – “Think Green”. From our day to day living and into corporate America, it is all about doing things better today for the health of ourselves, the earth and most importantly our children.

TMM, in conjunction with our vendors, suppliers and clients have made tremendous strides and efforts over the past 2 years to spearhead new industry standards and responsibilities in response to the growing concerns for our environment. Through new business principles, policies and practices we are together trying to improve the quality of life for customers, employees and global community.

Some steps TMM currently has adopted are:

All new collateral material is printed on FSC (www.fsc.org) regulated paper and soy based inks
Company recycling programs for paper, cans and bottles
Use recycled copy paper in printers
Offer an array of TMM Event “Green” options to include organic food options, “green” décor, transportation, entertainment and more.

One goes green by educating oneself and making small changes every day. Sounds simple, but in actuality it is an enormous task to perform for the rest of our lives. I am ready to take the challenge.

What I Know for Sure

On October 25^th, I returned from a 16 day trip to India and Bali, organized by Project Concern International as a Vision Trip. The purpose was to showcase the culture, challenges and successes of PCI’s efforts in these Southeast Asian countries. I was told by many friends that my time in India would be emotional, exhausting and exhilarating – all at the same time. And looking back, that is the first thing I knew for sure!

After flying 26 hours, my sister and I arrived in New Delhi at 5:30 AM and were greeted by Peter, one of the managers of the local PCI office. With flowers in hand, we stepped out into the pollution-laden landscape of Delhi at sunrise and began our Indian odyssey. Just 3 hours later, after a shower and breakfast, we set off on a 3-hour ride to Agra to see the Taj Mahal – one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. The wonder of the day was not the Taj – though it was magnificent and inspiring – the wonder was the journey there. For three hours, my face pressed to the window, we navigated roads overflowing with trucks, wagons drawn by water buffalo, auto rickshaws, bikes, and carts – anything with wheels and always loaded beyond imaginable capacity. The luxury of our transportation was stunning in contrast to what surrounded us. What looked like it should carry four people – carried twenty. This was my second lesson of the day – the ingenuity of these people to work with what they had was unbelievable.

Over the course of the next several days, we visited remote villages where humanitarian projects included polio vaccination, micro-financing for women developed by Nobel Peace Prize 2006 recipient Muhammad Yunus, and shelters for abandoned and orphaned children. One of the most moving days of my life was the day I presented a check for a loan to one of the women in the village. This assistance had the power to change her life – and I was humbled by the privilege of representing this possibility. We met with Muslim religious leaders who were the first to be educated in the benefits of vaccination so that children in the villages could be protected from childhood disease.

Traveling on to Bali, we were the guests of John and Cynthia Hardy – famous throughout the world for their signature silver jewelry. Since selling their jewelry empire, they have re-directed their talent, passion and resources to the building of the Green School, a global academy with students and faculty from more than 20 countries – their purpose to develop renewable resources and education that will leave a gentler footprint on the world and future generations. Imagine studying in bamboo treehouses in the jungles of Bali . . . it was a stunning and inspiring day.

So – what do I know for sure after the privilege of this trip? I know – that no matter how depressed our economy is, no matter how worried we are about our personal fortunes, we have blessings beyond measure in this country. Ours is a world filled with billions of people who struggle to simply survive. The beauty of this trip was not the Taj; not the landscape, but the irrepressible beauty of the people we met and their unwavering faith in wanting to improve their lives. Though I live half a world away – I can and will make choices that will touch these lives and help save these children. I am just one woman – but I have been in their villages, their homes. I have touched their children, they have touched my heart and I will not forget that I can and must make a difference.