Tag: Life Story

  • 55 Creative Entertainment Ideas For Your Next Event Or Meeting

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    1. Hire a comedian who can poke some fun at your CEO, do an impersonation of him, or even make light of your industry as a whole.

    2. Hire a magician that can incorporate your sales message into his magic, or cut your CEO or receptionist in half. He might even be able to vanish the CEO, much to the delight of the employees.

    3. Book a vocal improvisation group to take requests and spin them into a funny performance.

    4. Have a musician write a song about your company and play it at the event.

    5. Hire a celebrity impersonator to come to the event and sign autographs and take pictures with guests.

    6. Book a caricature artist to draw personalized sketches of each employee at the company. These are fun souvenirs as well.

    7. Book a digital caricature artist who composes his or her photos digitally on a computer right in front of your eyes. They can even personalize the backdrop to reflect the company

    or event. This is a great souvenir for the guests to take home.

    8. Book a balloon artist that makes the life size figures such as Disney characters, scenery like palm trees, huge company logos, and more. The balloon artist can do these figures with everyone watching making it an experience to watch the balloons being put together.

    9. How about a strolling juggler who can mingle through the cocktail hour.

    10. Book a stilt walker to make a big announcement for your company at an annual conference or meeting. It is a fun and guaranteed way to get everyone’s attention.

    11. A clown is a great option for events with children or families. There are also evil clowns for events with no kids or around Halloween.

    12. Book a palm reader to make psychic predictions about the future of the company or to tell people’s fortunes.

    13. Hire a reality TV star to interact with guests. They are far less money than big time Hollywood celebrities.

    14. Book a tribute band to play the songs of an artist that is popular among the guests.

    15. An a cappella group can perform on stage or stroll through the event during a cocktail hour or dinner.

    16. Hire a symphony orchestra to play at the event. You will need to consider space requirements for this type of an act.

    17. You could have a mime act out a corporate message to employees or event customers.

    18. Book a DJ to play only requested songs or songs from a certain era such as the 80’s

    19. Break dancers can be lots of fun. They are generally young, hip, and add a sense of youth to an event.

    20. How about a mariachi band for some festive music.

    21. A steel drum band can be a nice addition to a high end gala event.

    22. Booking a fire eater can be a great way to kick off the launch of a hot new product or service.

    23. Carolers can be nice addition to any holiday event.

    24. A living statue can be a great idea for almost any event. Make sure you ask for a living statue that matches closely to the theme of your event or meeting.

    25. Booking a cirque act is a great idea when the event needs something remarkable or to get a buzz going. Make sure you can accommodate for the space some of the cirque acts require.

    26. A snake charmer is a unique way break up a meeting or attract a crowd at an event.

    27. Hire a mentalist to read the minds of the guests. This is creative way that the performer can interact with the audience.

    28. How about an ice sculptor who can sculpt the company logo or a corporate message live while people watch it being carved.

    29. Acrobats provide a lively addition to an event.

    30. Singing waiters are an a cappella group dressed as formal waiters. This catches guests off guard and is an offbeat way to infuse entertainment into the dining experience.

    31. Ballroom dancers can be popular with all the dance themed TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and others.

    32. A barbershop quartet is an a cappella group where all the members wear red and white costumes, similar to that of a barbershop pole. This has a nostalgic feel to it.

    33. Dueling pianos are a fantastic way to get the audience involved with nonstop entertainment

    34. You could have your employees put on the entertainment by having a talent show and getting everyone in the company involved including the CEO. You will want to record this so everyone can watch it later on, or you may even want to send them all home with a copy, or mail it to them afterwards. You could also post them on YouTube for all to comment on.

    35. A marching band can be an official way to introduce somebody special at the event. It can also be a way of showing that the company does not take themselves too seriously if they book a fun themed marching band.

    36. Book the 60 second novelist. He comes with his own table and a manual typewriter and asks guests a few questions to get a sense of who they are, and he types out a short life story in one minute. He even binds it so guests can take it home. The story is funny, imaginative and true. This is a fun way to get people to open up and share their stories and get to know each other.

    37. Face painters are a neat way to entertain the younger kids.

    38. A choir can be a nice way to make a grandiose statement.

    39. How about an opera singer for a classy event or gala.

    40. A graffiti artist that can create a painting of someone or something with a large crowd watching. Some artists do this type of thing super fast, making it intriguing to watch.

    41. Book hula dancers to mingle on the dance floor with guests.

    42. How about Polynesian dancers to inject a unique culture into the event.

    43. A ventriloquist can be a great entertainment choice that can play well for kids or adults depending on the performer.

    44. Hire a dynamic storyteller who can weave a message about the goal of the event or meeting.

    45. An escape artist is a dramatic way to convey messages such as, escaping or breaking free of limiting beliefs and constraints. This can be a nice way to motivate employees to achieve a goal.

    46. Booking a hypnotist can provide a serious element or a comedic one.

    47. A rapper could perform a comedic rap specifically written about the company. Some rappers can even improvise this on the spot.

    48. A puppeteer is another option for younger children to keep them entertained.

    49. Hire a sword swallower to attract the crowd or if it fits into the theme.

    50. You can always hire a real Hollywood celebrity to attract the attention and buzz you need or try booking a couple of smaller celebrities to make better use of your funds and get more celebrity drawing power.

    51. You might want to book a political impersonator that is popular such as Sarah Palin or Barack Obama.

    52. A harpist can add a light musical touch without loud music. This would be nice for a laid back, high end atmosphere.

    53. How about having multiple celebrity tribute artists on stage performing a bunch of hits songs from the various artists they impersonate.

    54. Have a stage where different executives from the company do karaoke for a variety of songs.

    55. Finally, the best way to guarantee a creative entertainment experience is to have the performer or performers customize their acts to your event or meeting. This creates a memorable experience guests are sure to remember for a long time.

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    Source by Joshua Gair

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  • Nelson Mandela’s Life Story

    Nelson Mandela’s Life Story

    The 13-minute video documentary of Mandela’s life has been provided by the Nelson MandelaFoundation, which has given the UN

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  • How Can I Make Money With Dean Graziosi’s Real Estate & Foreclosure Profits?

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    What is Dean Graziosi’s Real Estate & Foreclosure Profits?

    Dean Graziosi’s Real Estate & Foreclosure Profits is a book that focuses on turning over profits from foreclosed properties by capitalizing on the market cycle. Graziosi’s life story is that of a rags to riches theme and this is reflected in the book as well as in his previous books. His books are unique in that he presents ways for individuals to make money regardless of their current situation.

    The information is organized in a way that it really does consider people with current debt problems. The type of opportunity Graziosi teaches may or may not be a good investment for someone who is in debt or has no experience in the area because real estate can be very risky, especially for beginners. Unfortunately, many individuals leap into money making opportunities as a desperate attempt to help them out of their stressful situation. This is totally understandable but every potential business should be researched thoroughly. There are plenty of other less risky, and frankly more interesting ways to make money.

    Can you really make money with Dean Graziosi’s Real Estate & Foreclosure Profits?

    Dean Graziosi is a legitimate real estate expert and his knowledge is definitely valuable. This book actually contains enough information to help one to begin buying and selling real estate. However, as with any other area of business not everyone will be successful. Sometimes things just do not work out, no matter how promising they may look. There is nothing wrong with trying and failing because just by trying requires stepping up and at least attempting to create success, and that is admirable. Real estate ranges greatly in prices, so if an individual wants to join in the opportunity but is hesitant to invest a vast amount of money there are always cheap properties that can be bought as a jumping off point for a new entrepreneur.

    The book does discuss ways to obtain surprisingly low cost properties. This is probably one of the best times in history to purchase property, but the selling part can be tricky. It is best to work with or have access to someone that is experienced in real estate. This person or real estate agent can act as a sort of guide to help one to sell their properties and they can aid in the transaction process to make sure it is done correctly in the beginning.

    So what exactly is it like participating in the business of buying and selling properties?

    Well the answer to that depends on many factors including how much money the individual has available to invest, where the individual lives, where they expect to buy and sell the properties, and what resources they choose to use. As far as resources, there are a multitude of books and systems sold that can help one to gain knowledge, as well as a vast amount of websites and online guides. However the most important resource one can have is a mentor in the business that is experienced enough were their guidance and ability to troubleshoot and answer vital questions is beneficial to the beginner.

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    Source by Christopher Castillo

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  • Customer Trust and Loyalty

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    Customer trust is a precondition for prosperity. Yet, most businesses…

    o Act as if customer trust develops because the business believes it is honest.

    o Build only a shallow type of trust that does not lead to profitable relationships and loyalty.

    o Have no strategy to build the type of trust where customers increasingly value the relationship.

    Now is an excellent time to aggressively and systematically work at building customer trust. Virtually all businesses have been tainted by the general rise in societal distrust of companies.

    o A recent Datamonitor study of consumers in the USA and Europe found that 86% are less trusting of companies than they were five years ago.

    o 80% of people stop buying products or services from companies when their trustworthiness comes into question (Edelman 2005 Trust Barometer)

    o People spread distrust to friends and associates, the people we trust most.

    o Over 33% who lose trust in a company, openly campaign against that company on the Internet.

    The Datamonitor and Edelman research demonstrates that it goes beyond a few isolated cases. Furthermore, according to a Yankelovich study, more than two-thirds of people don’t believe advertisers and marketing. They see it as self-serving distortions.

    Customers want to do business with companies they trust but, don’t know who to trust. Therefore, companies that proactively demonstrate trustworthiness stand to gain a tremendous source of competitive differentiation.

    What is trust and why is it important to customer relationships? Webster gives two definitions of trust that help separate the wheat from the chaff.

    1. firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice of another person or thing.

    2. confident expectation, anticipation, or hope; as in trust in the future.

    Most companies believe they are trustworthy but only measure up to the first definition. They want to be known as a company that is honest, reliable and fair. They expect their products live up to expectations and when they don’t they think they treat customers equitably.

    Do you think your company measures up? If you say yes, ask yourself what you proactively do to build this trust. Many companies have no deliberate strategy.

    If you have a deliberate strategy, now might be a good time to question how well it is working. As mentioned above, Yankelovich’s research shows that most customers don’t believe your marketing and advertising. And, the Edelman Trust Barometer concluded that when looking for a credible source of information on a company or product, CEO’s, employees, public relations people and celebrities rank in the bottom half.

    Measuring up to the first definition of trust is essential to sustainable and profitable customer relationships. However, even if customers believe your company is honest, reliable and fair, this is no guarantee they will be loyal and profitable. To garner commitment, profitability and high lifetime value, a company must measure up to Webster’s second definition as well.

    Businesses that meet the first definition but not the second, run into the Satisficing Trust Barrier. Satisficing trust is the trust that allows a customer to feel comfortable in buying products or services from a company. It is a sense of confidence that the company will stand behind the product. It is sufficient trust to purchase a well-defined product, a commodity. In a world of abundance and overwhelming choice, satisficing trust does not insure repeat business. Customers buy commodities that offer the best trade-off between satisficing trust, price and convenience. Some companies become complacent because they feel they offer the best combination of the three. Unfortunately for them, all it takes to lose customers is for a competitor to create the perception of a better deal. No real relationship value has been accrued by the company who wins business this way.

    The operative words in the second definition of trust are “hope” and “trust in the future.” Many purchases these days are not commodities; they are not well defined and may not have a track record. To make these types of purchases the customer must take a “leap-of-faith,” and this requires trust. In this type of trust the customer must believe that the vendor company is truly interested in a win-win relationship. That is, they are interested a long-term relationship where both parties benefit. This type of trust grows out of experience with a company demonstrating a real commitment to win-win. Since virtually all customers have been “burned,” companies often have to subjugate their short-term interests to stimulate the development of faithful trust.

    Customer want to build relationships that help them more confidently make “leap-of-faith” decisions. Being able to rely on this trust helps them simplify things in an increasingly complex world. When this happens, trust in the relationship becomes more important to customers than price and convenience. It starts with “hopeful trust.” Customers want the best for themselves. They want to adapt and to embrace change, and they will place extremely high value in relationships that help. Customers are on the lookout for signs from companies that their “hopeful trust” will be well placed. But this “hopeful trust” is just a test. If experience demonstrates that trust in the relationships is justified, faithful trust will emerge.

    When trust morphs from “hopeful” to “faithful,” a very significant twist occurs. The main concern of customers shifts from price and utility to the seeking of advice and guidance. When price is an issue, customers withhold information. When they seek guidance, they openly share. “Faithful trust” enables this openness. It also enables both parties to prosper and builds a basis for co-adaptation, now and in the future.

    The trustworthy company gets the immediate sale, but they get much more. Snafus or mistakes that might have once terminated a relationship are now overlooked for the sake of the relationship. Customers become turbocharged advocates. They don’t merely tell others what you sell; they vouch for you and the relationship value you deliver. They come to depend on your business and, as a consequence, they want you to thrive.

    The real-life story of Billy Blue, a men’s clothier in San Francisco illustrates the power of fully trusting relationships. Billy Blue’s thriving business took a nose dive during the dot.com crash. The downturn was so severe its owner, Billy Bragman, considered closing his doors. Instead, he wrote his customers a letter explaining the situation and asked them to buy more clothes. Even though many of his customers had their own business “trial and tribulations,” they increased their clothes purchases. One guy sent a check for $2,500 with a note saying, “You know what I like; just send me some new clothes.” Billy Blue customers could easily have turned to other men’s stores but they chose to support Billy Blue. They valued their relationship with Billy Blue and didn’t want it to go out of business.

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    Source by John Todor

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  • Just What Is An "Odd" Emotion?

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    While performing social media consulting work for a child psychologist, my eyes were drawn to a Psychology Today magazine sitting in the office lobby. The headline for the cover story read “Odd Emotions: Master The Feelings You Can’t Name.” The title alone was intriguing enough to stoke my interest because, well, I’m a “highly sensitive person” and I often experience emotions that I can’t quite name or explain.

    There Are Just No Adequate Words, Or Are There?

    So-o-o… not too long ago, I struggled with understanding some emotions that I can best describe as a ball of intertwined feelings occurring simultaneously. It felt like an explosive double roundhouse kick to the gut from Ronda Rousey that left me dazed, confused, hurt, angry, scared, humiliated, and traumatized.

    And those are just a few of the emotions that converged upon my spirit in one fell swoop. But the worst part was not being able to explain or comprehend the emotions, nor that no one else seemed to understand it, either.

    Fast forward to the other side of my multifarious emotions, I discover that these “odd” feelings really don’t have one name. When artist and writer John Koenig was not able to label his emotions of pending death, he just invented one, “moriturism,” and says “it [his emotions] felt somehow okay.”

    He then created a website that serves as a dictionary describing emotions that have no name using a combination of creativity, linguistic research, and etymology to assign a name and meaning. For instance, “exulansis,” he has determined is a noun which means “the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it-whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness-which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land.”

    The word is a present verb from its Latin root exul, which means “to exile, banish.”

    Fluff or For Real?

    You may be wondering, if people really remember or use these words. Highly likely not, but psychologists suggest in the article that naming or labeling an emotion “might make it more manageable,” “allow us the opportunity to choose our response,” and “help to put a frame around more complex emotions.” I would agree with them, because I believe being able to name what I was previously feeling would have helped to redirect my energy because I spent a lot of time just processing my emotions and the experience.

    Others may see it as a pointless exercise that probably won’t be useful, but Koenig believes it helps individuals to understand that the same indescribable emotions they are feeling have been felt by others. The experience may also encourage the practice of honoring one’s sensitivity and personal emotions in a constructive manner. That’s a lot less exhausting than the alternative, which is running from or suppressing emotions in hopes of an exulansis.

    What do you think about “odd” emotions? Are there inventive words you’ve heard or used to describe an emotion or even an experience, whether good or bad?

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    Source by N. Ann Hall

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