| Hosting your very own signature event allows you to | | | | Be Creative |
| affirm your brand. What do you value? What do you | | | | Don't look around to see what everyone else is doing! |
| stand for? For example, companies that are family | | | | Who cares? This is your opportunity to really start |
| centered tend to host events that are open to | | | | making your mark. Your event could be for the general |
| everyone. They want to see your children running | | | | public, your loyal customers (giving them something to |
| around playing tag, tugging on the bottom of your skirt | | | | look forward to) or your employees. Just decide on |
| while you pour more lemonade. Companies that are | | | | something that really represents who you are. |
| not as "family centered," may encourage you to leave | | | | Align the Event With Your Values and Purpose |
| everyone at home and come "stag." Companies that | | | | If you center your event around the things that matter |
| are more altruistic tend to pull together events around | | | | most to you and your company, then it will be much |
| giving back to the community. One of my former | | | | easier for you to "justify doing it." The problem is, many |
| companies hosted a "Clean up the Bay" day. Those | | | | people throw a holiday party or annual family picnic |
| that promote leadership and team building are looking | | | | because they think it is something they "should do." |
| for opportunities for employees to be able to get out | | | | They believe their employees "expect" them to do it. |
| and work through opportunities that allow them to build | | | | But guess what is the first thing to get cut when times |
| those "leadership muscles." | | | | are leaner-you got it? When you design an event that |
| So, by now many of you are asking how in the world | | | | is in alignment with who you are as a company, then it |
| you are to be expected to host an annual event when | | | | becomes part of your fabric. |
| you are a company of one! I'm so glad you asked. The | | | | Size Doesn't Matter |
| sky is truly the limit on what type of event you can | | | | It doesn't matter if you invite 5 or 500 the number of |
| host. For example: a wine tasting party, a themed | | | | attendees is not a reflection of the quality of the |
| brunch or luncheon, dinner and theater, salsa classes, | | | | event. For example, a small company, a graphic |
| gourmet cooking classes, picnic, sports lessons or rock | | | | design firm that hosted a "pottery painting party" for 15 |
| climbing, etc... | | | | of its most loyal clients would reap just as many |
| If you are looking for a little direction when it comes to | | | | benefits as the larger company that has over 1,000 |
| putting together your events, consider these three | | | | attendees. |
| things: | | | | |
