MPI Toronto Chapter Blog

One List To Hang On the Wall

I don't know about you, but I make lists - things to do, books to read, movies to see, quotes I like, places I want to go. I try to review these lists periodically to see how my progress is coming along. That is not too say that everything I do is on a list to begin with - but the long term stuff makes it on. You know, thinks like you've always meant to read Thoreau's Walden but have never found the time... or watching The Godfather Part I and II back to back.

Making lists helps you see progress, it also helps you see change. Sometimes when I review a list I wonder what was I thinking... and so things come off the list and other things get added.

In part of my list review, I came across another list that I had stored in my list file, a list of 10 great words. The article that these words are from is by Jim Carroll, his article talks about adopting ten simple words to get you into the right frame of mind to take positive steps to manage change. The ten great words for innovation are:

1. Observe
2. Think
3. Change
4. Dare
5. Banish
6. Try
7. Empower
8. Question
9. Grow
10. Do

Regardless of the situation, these words have powerful meanings. This past weekend the MPI Toronto Chapter Board held their annual mid-year retreat. The MPI Toronto Chapter Board put these words in to action in dissecting the Chapter's progress, challenging our assumptions and realigning goals and activities for the rest of the year. As 2009 kicks off it is a great time for each of us to look at our businesses, our lives, our careers, whatever it is we need to examine. 

To read the whole article by Jim Carroll, visit http://www.jimcarroll.com/10s/10words.htm

Nikki

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favourite times of year. I have fond memories of trick or treating and how my costume choices changed with the times. From gypsy to pioneer to vampire to the bride of Frankenstein, the best costume memories were definitely the home made variety.

This year, with Halloween falling on a Friday, I expect the kids will be out in droves, not to mention the adults with a bevy of Halloween parties and festivities. I am always excited to see which costumes are a la mode.

What also fascinates me about Halloween, is of course its traditions and folk lore. Did you know that in England the tradition was to carve turnips or beets? And in Mexico, it's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Some countries consider black cats lucky, and some consider them unlucky. Did you know if you see a spider on Halloween it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you?

If you are interested in learning more about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), there is an exhibit on at The Gardiner Museum running until January 18.

http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/exbonnow.aspx?ImageID=1&TopNavImage=1#daysofthedead

If you are interested in learning more about Halloween traditions and lore, there are many websites that have information. Here are a few that I've found.

• http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=715&display_order=1&sub_display_order=2&mini_id=1076
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

And if you happen to have an event that falls around this time of year - how much fun can be had with décor, food and beverage, team building and even the venue selection.  In Toronto there are several venues that are reported to be haunted. For more information on haunted Toronto and around the world check out these sites:

• http://www.toronto.com/attractions/article/529748
• http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=9c0b9ab2-e432-4b28-90c7-60b9b64c5373
• http://www.hauntedhotelguide.com/
• http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/31/cx_cv_1031feat.html

If you have incorporated this holiday into any of your events, add a comment and let us know what you did. And if you've had any haunting experiences, we'd like to hear about that too!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Nikki

What Clique Do you Click With?

Recently the Chapter conducted a member survey and on the feedback, one of the items commented on is that the Chapter is cliquey. I think we can all relate to this comment. Do you remember the first MPI Toronto Chapter meeting you attended only to find yourself faced with a room of 150-200 people already formed into small groups chatting, laughing and networking while you stood and watched? This is reminiscent of those first days of high school or summer camp when we were teenagers feeling vulnerable. Nobody likes to feel like an outsider and we have all at one time or another experienced that.

By definition a clique is a close group of friends or coworkers with similar interests and goals, whom outsiders regard as excluding them.  (http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861597874)

I would argue that while cliques have a negative connotation, they are in fact impossible to prevent. As humans we are social beings, and we will naturally gravitate towards those with similar interests, who share our ideas and who we simply click with. I can tell you from experience that the cliques within our Chapter are not secret groups plotting about how they are going to keep you on the outside. They are in fact simply meetings industry members who have gotten to know one another through committee work, being on the Board, participating in an international conference or just over time through networking.

At the Chapter Management Form (CMF) on Saturday August 9 in Las Vegas at the WEC I heard an interesting idea. One of the other MPI Chapter’s is putting a positive spin on cliques – recognizing that this social phenomenon is impossible to stop so why not embrace it. Their philosophy is if you feel like an outsider, than you need to become part of the organization and become part of the clique – join MPI, join a committee, join the Board, get involved, there are many ways to do this. I would encourage you to get involved and soon you will find the clique that you click with.

(If you want to join one of our cliques visit www.mpitoronto.org for information on membership and volunteering.)

Summer Travel Stories

I love this time of year - when you hear about all the great places MPI members have gone on vacation, or where they are planning on going - whether it be a cottage up North, rediscovering Toronto, a shopping trip across the border or an adventure further afield.  Hearing everyones travel and vacation stories is so refreshing, especially in this industry, where sometimes a visit to a city is either so short you barely see anything but the airport, or so busy with work you don't see outside of the hotel or convention centre.

My travel plans this summer include travelling to go to different music festivals or concerts - last weekend I was in Columbus for the Tom Waits concert (well worth the price of gas). This weekend I'm heading up to Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia - always a great way to spend the weekend and in August it's Lollapalooza in Chicago. Before you know it, IncentiveWorks is upon us and that for me always signals the end of the summer. After that it's just a few short weeks and we are back into MPI Toronto's Monthly Meeting series. (Be sure to plan to attend the September 4 meeting - it's our 30th Anniversary Celebration - the buzz has already started and we are planning a great kick-off to the year.)

So in these few short months, take time to enjoy - wherever that may be. And write us a comment to share what you are doing this summer - we want to hear about it!

Nikki