SPARK 2007
Ok so i had better write about it, before the memories fade out. It was the conference that we had been waiting for since day 1, yet a conference that should not have been possible, that almost didn't happen.
60 Thai delegates, 10 internationals, 5 incredible facilitators, 1 tireless OCP, 1 irreplaceable Chair.
... and 1 littleblond Conference Manager. Riding the waves of chaos, sticking 2 fingers up to the doubters, unshakeable in a belief that this show WOULD go on - and that it would be a success.
It was almost so very different.
3rd January, Zurich Airport, the littleblond conference manager is returning from 4 weeks semi-holiday in Europe. He takes the impulse decision to check his email over wireless at Starbuck's (not cheap in Switzerland!!!) A mail from the OCP - there are only 20 delegates, 1 LC has no-one registered, she has no support, why are we going ahead with this conference anyway? A mail from the Chair - the delegate fee is too high, we have not promoted the conference enough, OCP is right, why are we going ahead with this conference?
Welcome back to work! As you can imagine, Littleblond conference manager is thrilled to be flying back to this! 10 minutes left until the wireless expires. 10 minutes to put into words the emotions racing through his mind, body & soul. The reply starts with anpre-emptive apology - there is a time constraint, this means the words that follow will be extremely blunt and may contain spelling mistakes :) The reply continues understanding but unwavering. The conference must go ahead. It is the reason we have been working for the past 5 months, and the foundation of our hopes for the future.
Back in Bangkok, the REAL adventure begins. Progress check:
60 Thai delegates, 10 internationals, 5 incredible facilitators, 1 tireless OCP, 1 irreplaceable Chair.
... and 1 littleblond Conference Manager. Riding the waves of chaos, sticking 2 fingers up to the doubters, unshakeable in a belief that this show WOULD go on - and that it would be a success.
It was almost so very different.
3rd January, Zurich Airport, the littleblond conference manager is returning from 4 weeks semi-holiday in Europe. He takes the impulse decision to check his email over wireless at Starbuck's (not cheap in Switzerland!!!) A mail from the OCP - there are only 20 delegates, 1 LC has no-one registered, she has no support, why are we going ahead with this conference anyway? A mail from the Chair - the delegate fee is too high, we have not promoted the conference enough, OCP is right, why are we going ahead with this conference?
Welcome back to work! As you can imagine, Littleblond conference manager is thrilled to be flying back to this! 10 minutes left until the wireless expires. 10 minutes to put into words the emotions racing through his mind, body & soul. The reply starts with anpre-emptive apology - there is a time constraint, this means the words that follow will be extremely blunt and may contain spelling mistakes :) The reply continues understanding but unwavering. The conference must go ahead. It is the reason we have been working for the past 5 months, and the foundation of our hopes for the future.
Back in Bangkok, the REAL adventure begins. Progress check:
- Sessions designed - nil
- External supporters secured - nil
- Delegate communication - nil
- Facilities booked - nil
- Days until conference begins - 15!
- Team members available to help - 1
- Stress rating - off the scale
So what happened in the next 15 days? Budget re-planned, LCPs ass-kicked, 24hrs of sessions created, speakers found for opening & closing, in-kind sponsors found for pens, paper, t-shirts & breakfast, Alumni Awards Ceremony created with 5 Awardees, faci roll-call perfected ;)
And the outcome of all of this? 60 excited & motivated Thai delegates. The 1st ever conference for members of AIESEC in Vietnam. 5 proud & inspired facilitators. 1 happy chair. 2 new corporate partnerships to build on. Energy, motivation, practical learning for everyone involved.
... and 1 satisfied littleblond Conference Manager :)
posted by Rob at
7:58 AM
7 Comments:
Rob, I'm so happy for this. It means so much to me, that what I have had the chance to witness the beginning of, is now alive and burning. You are doing it. It is working. I'm happy for all of you, and me. :-)
Congratulations robbie! yet more adventures that I can't wait to hear in person :) virtual hugs til I get to give you the real ones
awesome bro! respect and congratulations for your work!! i know exactely how things like that can be...
enjoy the feeling of satisfecion now - you deserve it!
hugs
WELL DONE ROB!!!
I am so grateful to have been there as 'THE conference' unrolled from everyone's minds into the transformative event it was.
Thankyou for your incredible refusal to back down and bow to caution!
Thankyou for showing me what can be done with vision and gumption.
You encouraged me to long-jump out of my comfort zone and to forget the blind spot of 'practicality'; Thankyou for introducing me to the real meaning of 'potential'.
Love your ever appreciative OCP
P.S. The world needs YOU, 'Lob'! ;)
Hey Rob!
Congratulations for the conference and best of luck for IPM.
hugs
Marie Claire
Amazing man!
amazing story, amazing experience :)
a good lesson for everyone there never to give up, and good lesson for you that you can manage even tougher situations:)
next time when a situation like this happens, will be said, hey - piece of cake, and not to stress too much about it ;) hehehe
take care dude
Darko
Rob
Read again what Lucy commented here... and take it all in!!! You so deserve this great success and I am sure there are loads of people very proud of you, inspired by you and your actions.
Hope you are feeling great right now and lots of luck for your current QUEST!! You'll be great again, we all see it coming! :)
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