From the CEO: My thoughts this week are in tune with another Australian Idol alumni

In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA CEO Peter McDonald reflected on the lyrics of another Australian Idol alumni and how the event industry is on its way to recovery. 


We’re on our way out of lockdown around the country and things are beginning to open up – well aside from some domestic borders – but the word from around the traps remains that it’s still going to be into 2022 before there’s traction for the events sector.

Some might agree with Shannon Noll that it seems like forever that they’ve been falling, that their whole body’s aching, that what’s left of their heart won’t stop breaking. But my message this week aligns with what else he says in the same song:

You gotta let go, you took a hit
Time to pick up now, move on from this
This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again

This is not to dismiss the seriousness or reality of the pandemic. But to keep it in perspective, the world has endured two world wars and managed to leave those substantial happenings to the history annuls and move on. The human race has form here. We can do it again.

A time like we’ve had can be mood and mind altering. The stress, the uncertainty, the loneliness and many other aspects of the pandemic provided a nest to nurture negativity. Periods of depression that can emanate from such times can prove life changing and impact the perspective with which we view and consider circumstances we later face.

My encouragement to MEA members is to find a way to say yes, when no can be the easy or obvious answer. Positivity and active engagement in opportunity will be not only what drives the recovery of the industry, but also the speed with which it recovers.

It’s said widely throughout literature that physical activity has huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. It increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood. Participation in regular physical activity can increase self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.

Bottom line: getting busy is good for us physically and mentally. The only way to get busy is to accept opportunity when it knocks, no matter what it looks like. Energy breeds energy.

If the industry gets things happening quickly, it creates FOMO. The way people counteract FOMO is either by engaging or ‘doing’ themselves. Getting events happening will get more events happening. This same logic can be applied in client conversations. If clients get wind that their competitors are back in the events game, they’ll not want to be left behind. Make them aware of where they’re missing out. They say there’s no greater human motivator than fear. It stems from our survival instinct. Not even money will keep us alive. Acknowledging our fear and behaving accordingly reduces the risk of obsolescence.

But the thing is if anyone wants something, they’ve got to own making it happen. Those who read industry media articles that introduced me when I started with MEA back in June might recall that I’m a Star Wars fan. In the franchise’s 5th episode The Empire Strikes Back a line by the character Yoda is pertinent to what I’m saying here. He says “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try”. Yes, it’s a movie and movies aren’t real, but that’s not to say that the message of a principle isn’t real.

I see potential for the sector to take charge of its own destiny to a degree. It’s a state of mind thing. We need to make things happen, not just be comfortable with having tried to.

If I circle back to Shannon: You gotta lift

If everyone does, they’ll bring the sector with them. Who wins if that happens? You

 


Source:

Song – “Lift”
Album – “Lift”