Tweed Texas

Putting the Wraps On Another Year

   I was at the bank today taking care of some business when I realized that today is the 15 of December ALREADY!  How the hell did we get here so fast? It is incredible. Fact is, it's here. It has been a year of change for me and my speaking business. I have spoken more this year than in the past and it will only get busier. I'm looking forward to it. I have three speaking engagements lined up for January and two more in February.
  I'm sure there are speakers out there who are concerned the the current economic climate is going drive the speaking business down. I'm not so quick to buy into that logic and here's why. I saw this same phenomenon take place a few times while I was in radio.  Here's how it works every time.
  Whenever the naysayers start talking about how bad the economy is going to get, the media is all over it and gets everyone else talking about how bad the economy is or is going to be...people start talking gloom & doom and recession and after awhile the consumers start cutting back and the next thing you know, the economy starts to slow down. Why? It's a mindset. If I learned anything in my college Economics classes is that the economy is nothing more than a state of mind. Yes, there are real things happening to real people BUT so much of all this financial stuff is brought on by people--people who are wanting to line their own pockets or perhaps they don't have a clue about what they are doing. Everything is cyclical.  But these tough economic cycles don't have to be as bad as they are if people would just keep their heads.
   What would happen in radio was that advertisers upon hearing of the oncoming recession or slowdown, they would pull back and  after they quit advertising, sure enough their sales dropped and dropped to the point that they felt the pinch and cut back on everything like everyone else. Finally it gets to the point that they don't know what to do next. Finally, they decide, "Maybe I need to do some advertising to draw in some business." So what do they do?  The begin to advertise again. And what do you suppose happens?  They get more business!  Well, duh!  If they had continued to advertise when everyone else was pulling back, how do you suppose they would have done? Probably better than everyone else who had cut back.
  I see the speaking business the same way. When times get tough, good speakers and presenters have an obligation to inspire people to do their best. It is in tough times that people need support, inspiration and to remain focused on the job or goal ahead.  People need some inspiration and their motivation reinforced from time to time. As speakers we can make a difference in people lives.  We may not completely connect with every single person in the room, although that is a worthwhile target to shoot for but we do connect with enough to bring about change. The past presidential platform was run on the goal of change.
   As event planners look ahead to 2009, I'd submit, this is NOT the time to be scaling back on speakers but to push forward and book even more. You want and need your people to be motivated when times are perceived as difficult. We are doing  a disservice to the country and ourselves if we buy into a down trodden defeatist attitude. We cannot afford to harbor those attitudes. Regardless we all live in the greatest country on earth.
  As speakers we need to walk the talk and get out there and do what we do best...making a difference in people's lives.

There's Snow Place Like Home

  Well here is it is. The season is upon us once again. I figured when I moved to Houston that I'd never see snow again. Was I wrong or what?  Now granted it was nothing like snow you'd see in the panhandle or around Lubbock BUT it WAS snow. It started here about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and lasted for about an hour. A friend and I decided to go out and look at some of the Christmas lights and it started snowing again around  8 pm. It only left a dusting but it was fun to see again. I'm sure it was the lead story in the news. It wasn't anything like the snow I grew up with in Norman Rockwell's America but for a few hours it was fun to see it again.
  That reminds me. I wrote a piece last year and sent it out to friends at Christmas time. It is a Christmas story that relates a real life incident that happened in my life. It is a funny and poignant story about my family at Christmas time. It's called The Christmas Tree.  It is about a pivotal moment in my life and the ugliest Christmas tree ever displayed in a home. If you would like a copy of it, it's free. Just email me at Tweed@TweedScott.com and ask me a bout it and I will send to you. It's the kind of story where you can pour yourself a glass of wine or eggnog and enjoy it by the fire. It is my gift to you this holiday season. Just drop me an email and it's yours. My way of saying thank you for dropping by my blog.
   I tend to look back at this time of year and reminisce about the Christmases past. Those thoughts always center around people...most of which aren't here anymore. My parents are gone now...have been for several years but I always seem to miss them most this time of year. I have so many pleasant memories centered around them.
   I just recently caught up with an old friend from my radio days in Austin through this blog. She's now firmly ensconced in Iowa with an eye toward Minnesota. We shared some great memories of radio when it was really fun to be in the business. Susan, thanks for finding me.

   Finally, I just want to close wishing you and yours the warmest and best wishes for Christmas. I have no love for political correctness. If you don't believe in God or Christianity, or believe in a different way, that's your right and you are entitled to it. I happen to believe in GOD and Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be who I am or where I am with out them. So please don't take it personal if I wish you a Merry Christmas. If wishing you a Merry Christmas offends you...well get over yourself. It's about the sentiment and the spirit of the salutation...not the small print.   Reminds me of that old saw that I learned from a lawyer...The large print giveth...and the small print taketh away. 

   Anyway...Merry Christmas and let's all have a spectacular 2009.  In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.