Is it just me, or right now does every day seem like the movie Groundhog Day?
If you’ve never seen it or it’s been a while, check it out. The 1993 American fantasy comedy featuring Bill Murray (re)traces his journey (at least 30 times) to break free of his daily routine and make a better version of himself and his community. It’s humorous and profound.
Now, if you recount your last 90 days, it isn’t too far a stretch to pretend you’re Phil Connors, the cynical weatherman played by Murray. Daily, we plow through our tireless routines to maintain “normalcy” of diet, discussion and delivery in every aspect of our lives with the SAME backdrop of our homes, offices and Zoom virtual backgrounds. The self-imposed—or mandated—restrictions add a discipline element to ensure even more repetitiveness. By the way, don’t ask me what day it is either—“blursday” seems to be the most common response!
We’re all yearning for a new routine, some new normalcy or simply an end to this tragic milestone in our lives. I recalled Groundhog Day because I want this present routine to end and I want all of us to be better as a result of it. All of us, together—across society and especially in this industry we love.
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The importance of our return to business and “opening up” is profound—personally, and professionally.
With every step to relaunch ourselves and our businesses, we can experience missteps. It isn’t because of poor intentions. Often, it’s because we’re not aligned with new standards or understanding a broader impact of well-intentioned actions. It reinforces the importance of communication, dialogue, collaboration and alignment across our industry to achieve the most effective and expeditious reopening.
So, in the spirit of Groundhog Day, I recommend we start tomorrow with a few fresh revisions:
· Do MORE than it takes to comply with whatever medical mandate is recommended to diminish and defeat this pandemic. Tell your neighbor, your co-workers and your family: Let’s all do our part!
· Wear a mask! There are tens of millions of personal and professional lives that are waiting for our reopening. Don’t contribute to any potential delay!
· Please stop the incessant negative chatter in the guise of contributing to a social media conversation. Flippant observations lack real understanding of the dynamics in play and a recognition of the great work being done by so many. Across the globe, in associations and member organizations like MPI, volunteers and staff are working tirelessly to provide the best alternatives and resources to support their communities and carry out their missions. We are all learning on the fly, but too often we’re our own worst critics. Instead of reaching for a laugh with a sarcastic snipe, let’s offer a positive comment or a word of encouragement to those working on our behalf.
· And finally, as an industry, we must be on the same page and speak with a strong, clear, consistent and unified voice. This can only help in promoting the support needed from our governments to fast-track our reopening. We should turn to, and support, leading collaboration groups that are advocating on our behalf like the Events Industry Council (APEX), BVEP, JMIC, U.S. Travel, GBTA, Meetings Mean Business (U.S., Canada, India) and Go Live Together for the curation of standards and messaging.
Collectively, we’re stronger when we’re focused and aligned behind the most important strategies to reinvent our industry and our lifestyles. I am always keen to share “When we meet, we change the world” because it’s so obvious. We learn. We grow. We contribute to the economic and professional stature of every attendee of every congress, convention, conference and meeting.
Towards the conclusion of Groundhog Day, Andie McDowell’s character offers Phil a timely insight: “Sometimes I wish I had a thousand lifetimes. Maybe it’s not a curse. Just depends on how you look at it.”
Take care of yourself. And let’s make the best of this—together!
Stay well!
Paul Van Deventer
MPI President and CEO
pvandeventer@mpi.org
Follow me on Twitter @MPICEOPaul
