WINTER 2011
Published by Hennen Publishing Randy Hennen
Editor Serenity J. Banks
Serenity@MidwestMeetings.com
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A special “thank you” to all those who contributed to this issue’s articles: Shadia Cook Heidi Fendos Justin Locke
Lara McCulloch-Carter Patrick Payne Kirsty Pitkin
Cindy Shanholtz Thom Singer
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• 250-room connecting, full-service Courtyard by Marriott
• 250-room attached, full-service, Hilton Ft. Wayne Hotel • 18 meeting rooms
• 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space • 50,000 sq. ft. largest meeting room • Reception capacity: 7,000 • Onsite and nearby restaurants • Golf courses nearby
n my inbox each day, I find a number of links to a variety of leadership-oriented blogs and online columns. Recently, I clicked my way to a guest post on the blog of a highly re- garded publishing executive. The post was written by an entry-level professional who shared her “Thoughts on Leadership From Someone Who Is Led,” and it stopped me in my tracks. What should have struck me were the author’s unique insights into the valuable characteris- tics of past leaders who have taught her, inspired her, and aided in her personal and professional development. Instead, what struck me were the first words of her post: “I’m only twenty-seven.” What a hold-back qualifier, that “only” word. And how often do the rest of us use that word to limit ourselves? To minimize our accomplishments, our capabilities, or our potential? When offered an opportunity, how reflexively do we respond, “but I’m only…”? Just a few weeks ago, I was on the phone with a company’s communications intern, chitchat- ting about social media marketing for events. She mentioned a few aspects she wished her com- pany would implement, and I offered to send her a link to a relevant case study. Her response: “Well, I’m only here until January, so I’m not really the one to change things here.” Looking back, I wish she’d said, “Well, I am here until January, so I can change things while I’m here.” In a struggling economy and a challenged industry, how often do we as individuals diminish our capacity to learn or to do or to make a difference? In our own individual imperatives to keep America meeting, how often do we hold ourselves back from doing what we know we can do just because we haven’t done it yet? What if, going into 2012, we make a New Year’s resolution to replace the words “but I’m only” with the words “I am”? I’m willing to bet there’ll be an “and I can” soon to follow. Questions, comments or suggestions? Email
Serenity@MidwestMeetings.com.
I
Grand Wayne Convention Center Michael Coffeen
120 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 260-426-4100 • Fax: 260-420-9080
www.grandwayne.com •
michaelc@grandwayne.com With 225,000 sq. ft. of flexible space, Grand Wayne Convention
Center offers a 50,000 sq. ft. carpeted, multi-purpose exhibit hall, two elegant ballrooms, 18 meeting rooms, 30,000 sq. ft. of public areas, a 12,000 sq. ft. kitchen with the capacity to serve 3,000 guests in a single banquet setting and the power and expertise to connect, coordinate and create any event.
Other features include individually climate-controlled meeting rooms; automated, remote, dimmable lighting; theater-quality sound system; drop screens with remote operation; data and telecommunications in every room; and wireless and wired options throughout.
WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM - ALL NEW LOOK, ALL NEW PURPOSE, ALL FOR YOU 1
The Inbox: by Serenity J. Banks I am, therefore I can.
Letter From the Editor
Fort Wayne, IN
Meet in the Midwest
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