I have a friend in Nashville who, on an irregular basis, poses the following question: “What cranks your motor?” His goal in asking is to create a thought process that makes me question whether I’m truly doing what I’m supposed to be doing. We’ve all been stuck in a job that was just that—a job! We’ve all worked in some field that was less than desirable. But then, hopefully, we occasionally find ourselves in that perfect fit, where our skill set, attainable goals, an ideal work environment, time to dream, develop and move forward—emotionally, professionally, relationally, and spiritually—all work in harmony and unity.
What deters you from achieving that dream job or dream event? Perhaps the pressures of deadlines, stress, details, and unreasonable goals. During last month’s Rejuvenate Marketplace, Regina McGee (Rejuvenate’s editor) asked if I was stressed by the details of the event. I’m sure I cracked a smile, shrugged my shoulders, and replied something like, “I don’t believe in stress!” Now, don’t write me off just yet. I’m not trying to diminish those who struggle with the pressures of stress. I personally define stress as a four-letter word—LIFE! Life happens and with it come deadlines, details, and unreasonable goals. How we respond to LIFE determines how we can cope with those pressures.
When the stresses of an event kick in, my prescription is to go to work. I deal with those pressures by cranking up the laptop, returning those phone calls, proofing the event schedule, and editing BEOs. I’m not trying to sound trivial, but rather to say that the very thing that causes stress is also the very thing that can relieve it!
Another friend once asked me what my professional, career goal was. My response: “To produce quality, life-changing events.” I believe that is every meeting planner’s goal, but sometimes the event gets in the way, rather than the event being the way.
For those of you who just attended the Marketplace in Houston, no doubt you walked away from the event with new ideas, new connections, and new beginnings. Perhaps you came seeking a way to make your job easier or your event more successful. Perhaps you needed time away from your job and to be encouraged by other planners. Whatever your motivation, you were looking for something. My goal was to help you find it and to help alter your life with the new ideas or knowledge or networking. Your attendance helped me to meet my goal and relieve my stress.
As the new year looms around the corner, I challenge you to examine your motives, personally define “quality, life-changing events,” and decide how you’ll deal with the stresses of your job (LIFE). Perhaps, most importantly, I challenge you to answer this question: “What cranks your motor?”
Be careful out there.