I’m at the Pizza Show this week and what a fun experience. I’m hoping to come away with only three or four extra pounds and a whole lot of new friends! Well, I would actually love to lose the pounds and only gain the friends but it’s VERY difficult to walk to the restroom and bypass the wonderful tastes and smells that permeate the show floor!
Here’s what I’ve learned this week, and I’ll be brief: Even when you are running from here to there something is to be learned. I have a friend who says when you are open to it the “gifts” will come. I think that is a great way to think. We are multi-blessed at TrainerTainment to be VERY busy. I know that in the FEC world we would refer to the kind of activity my company is involved in right now as “being slammed,” “in the weeds,” “busier than a one-legged man in a butt kickin’ contest” … you get my drift. All of those sayings sound kind of negative to me. On Sunday I was pretty wiped and was definitely feeling all of those sayings. I got up at 4 a.m. on Monday morning to catch the 6:35 a.m. flight to Vegas to the Pizza Expo. I was really wondering how I would find the energy to do everything that needs to be done this week.
And then, the gifts came. I took my seat-in first class (gift # 1). When my seatmate got ready to sit down he slid in. I always prefer the aisle and I had my aisle seat on Monday morning (gift #2). I ask my seatmate if he would like me to put his bag up in the overhead; he thought that was nice but kept his bag. This flight had wi-fi and he, like me, wanted to be able to get to his computer. I was really glad there was wi-fi on the plane; my original plan was to work while I was in the air. I’ll count that as (gift # 3) but I didn’t even use the wi-fi. You’ll see why in a minute.
And then it happened … the best gift of all. I know you will find this hard to believe but I rarely visit with the person sitting next me on the plane. This day was different. Believe it or not, I did not start the conversation. This guy was in a chatty mood. I didn’t mind. I ask him if he was headed to Vegas for business or pleasure. He said business. I ask what he did and he said he was an entertainer. Oh this was getting exciting. I guess I’m just goofy about celebrities. I ask him where he was performing and he asked me if I knew where the Wynn was. I’m sure I blushed then because I realized he must be someone famous. As a matter of fact I said, “Oh, I should know who you are, you must be famous.” He said, “Apparently not.” We laughed and spent much of the rest of the flight laughing.
This neat man (gift #4) was David Ahearn, http://www.fourdayweekend.com, a comedian and improve genius of some stature. I had such a great time. We talked about our children, books, training, and entertaining. I did not get the computer out. I stayed present and in the moment. I gained so much needed energy and it was a fantastic start to my Monday!
Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Even in those “slammed” moments there are great gifts that are available to those who are watching.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and as spring break approaches encourage your team and create the kind of energy and excitement that will help your staff and guests know that your place is the place to be!
