One critical element of a successful event is beer. All along we’ve been billing this event as “beer, beef and a band.” Let’s explore each of these elements as they relate to The Big D BBQ Battle.” OK, enough of the professorial posturing, this is about finding a good brew, a great brand that matches […]
Inventing an Event: Beer Read More »
When I signed on to the North Dallas Chamber a year ago, one of my assignments from my new boss was a “BHAG.” BHAG, you say? Well what he really meant was a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” I think the term has it’s origin’s in Jim Collins’ book, “Good to Great.” So, over the next
Inventing an Event: The Big D BBQ Saga Read More »
We’ve all had to do it: the person we are looking for on the other end of the phone is note there and we end up “talking” with voicemail. That’s where you can either shine or fail. Please try for “shine.” Recently I had to recruit a group of people for a large event assignment.
Leaving a Credible Voicemail Read More »
Ok, that sounds like something you’d read on a dating site. Well, this is anything but a dating site. But if you did….oh, let’s get to the topic at hand. Recently I was charged with producing a large barbeque event. My life is BBQ 24/7 and, consequently, that initialism is in the front (and side
How to Meat People Read More »
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in performing a task or completing a project we forget a basic rule of thumb: who the customer is. One time in my career I worked inside a large corporation in a communications department. My boss was a quite demanding and exacting person. In a side discussion with a
Remembering the Customer Read More »
Every once and a while we find ourselves listing, to use a nautical term, to one side or the other of our networking life. We’ve taken a turn to another type of business, we spend the bulk of our time with one group or our business has just flat fallen off. So, what do we
“Never burn a bridge.” “Be careful the bridge you burn you may be standing on.” “Bridges are for crossing not burning.” We’ve all heard these networking proverbs. And either lived by them or been the victim of them. But tell the truth, is there ever a time when it’s okay to burn a bridge? Let’s
I don’t know about you, but if I were one of those high-wire act guys, I wouldn’t be working without a net. While it’s cool and ballsy to be up there tempting fate, I’d rather know I could bounce back up to the wire should I fall and get to try the walk all over
Working With(out) a Net Read More »
When asked about his favorite role as an actor Bruce Dern said: “I don’t look back well.” So it is with our networking life. As Mr. Dern went on to say, “An actor is only as good as his most recent role.” In that respect, networkers and actors are similar. We can’t really rest on
Looking Backward and Forward…Always Forward Read More »
At a recent event, I encountered a young networker on a mission. While working the room is a given for many, to some, like this young lady, it was a natural activity. Add “working a room” to brushing one’s teeth, coming your hair or waking up in the morning. Some things some people just do
Working the Room–Another View Read More »
