Last week, alongside some of the Sandpiper Hospitality leadership team, I traveled to Florida for the Grand Re-Opening of our two Residence Inn by Marriott properties. For Residence Inn Lakeland, we celebrated their renovation with "A Wee Bit O' Fun"- including a delicious grazing table, live music by Jon River, and some great giveaways. The very next day, we celebrated Residence Inn Gainesville with an all-out Florida Gators theme, featuring catering by Gator's Dockside, a performance by Fat Tractor, and a giveaway of a 50-inch TV!
We were thrilled that the community could come together to help us celebrate! Thank you to everyone who made last week so great!
“What is the story of St. Patrick’s Day?”
It’s a question I probably ask myself every year. Every holiday has some kind of origin story, but some seem to stick more than others.
St. Patrick’s Day seems to be an excuse for adolescents to pinch each other, people who love green to celebrate their favorite color, the Irish to proclaim their heritage, and those who like to drink to do so in excess. And even those who aren’t Irish get in on the celebration (see the video of my three-year-old grandson delivering the line his father taught him on St. Pat's Day).
According to history.com, “St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.”
It appears the music, drinking, dancing, and a whole lot of green were not in the original story of St. Patrick but were the evolution to the holiday in present times.
Think about the stories of your business and your corporate culture. Are they clear enough that the purpose will last? Or will they evolve over time into something that drifts from the original meaning?
I teach people that when they use stories to teach, lead, sell, and inspire, they need to start with the purpose of the story. What lesson are you teaching? What action do you want to inspire? What do you want people to remember and do after hearing your story?
If we aren’t intentional about our stories, they may become something other than what we originally intended. So, be sure to imbue your stories with purpose so people remember their meaning and they have the impact you intend.
Otherwise, you may end up with corporate legends that are different than you want.
#storytellingforbusiness#teachleadsellinspire#storiesmatter
National Champion | Executive Coach | Author & Speaker | Leadership Development & Team Building Expert
What are some of my favorite things about living in Charlotte? There are honestly too many to count, but here are a few of the things that have made me love living in the Queen City.
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1. Number one will always be that I met my wife, Kelly, at an Alive After Five concert on the convention center rooftop in 1989.
2. Lake Norman is a naturally beautiful place, and I feel blessed to live near such a gorgeous lake.
3. Novanta restaurant in Langtree is one of my go-to date spots for me and my wife to get dinner. We eat there a lot. It’s a nice little community with shops and restaurants. They have live music.
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➡️ Check out the “My Favorite Things” article in the November issue of SouthPark Magazine for more details on the people, places, and things that I like best about Charlotte. Here’s the link to the entire article: https://lnkd.in/gKGGrYPs
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#southparkmagazine#myfavoritethings#clt#ilovecharlotte#charlotteliving#inthenews#cltbusiness#cltsports
Do you know what a "third place" is? And no, we're not talking about sports or competitions. As a continuation of our post about malls becoming living spaces, we wanted to talk more about "third places" and what they are.
If your “first place” is your home and your “second place” is your work, “third places" reference those spaces meant to foster a sense of belonging and community. Coined by Ray Oldenburg in the eighties, the sociologist feared that modern society was failing to cultivate third places noting a growing emphasis on work and private life.
Examples of third places include churches, cafes, bars, clubs, community centers, public libraries, gyms, bookstores, makerspaces, stoops, parks, theaters, and opera houses, among others.
Who knows what third places could be transformed into living spaces next!
#themoreyouknow#thirdplace#thirdplaces#apartmentliving#modernlivingspaces
St. Patrick's Day- things to do and see!
🍀 St. Patrick's Day festivities can infuse the day with both cultural richness and a sense of community. Here's a strategy to maximize the celebration:
🌟 Begin with a local event. Many towns host parades and community gatherings. Begin your day with the local flair, experiencing the vibrant floats, music, and performances often dedicated to Irish culture.
🌈 Broaden your cultural knowledge while having fun. Dive into the history of St. Patrick's Day, perhaps through a book or documentary. Sharing this newfound knowledge can spark engaging conversations.
🎶 Embrace Irish music. Whether it means attending a live concert, listening to traditional Irish tunes, or even learning a jig or two, music is a powerful way to connect with the essence of the celebration.
🥘 Explore Irish cuisine. Try your hand at cooking traditional dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, or soda bread. Share your culinary adventure or the final results in your post!
🤝 Connect with your Irish roots or create new traditions. If you have Irish ancestry, consider delving into your heritage, or if not, create new traditions with friends and family.
🏡 End the day reflecting on the connections made, the joy shared, and the memories created. Wrap up your post by emphasizing the spirit of unity that St. Patrick's Day can foster.
#StPatricksDay#IrishCulture#CommunityCelebration
In sharing your St. Patrick's Day activities, you offer a blend of personal involvement and cultural appreciation that resonates universally. It's about more than just a day on the calendar; it's an opportunity to celebrate heritage and community everywhere.
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