Ah, MICE season—when the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions world descends upon us like a well-dressed flutter of butterflies, armed with business cards and ready for a week of schmoozing. With Meetings Africa taking the spotlight this week, hot on the heels of last week’s AGEIS 2024 and the Travel and Technology Conference, it’s been a whirlwind of professional speed dating.
Glenton de Kock, CEO of SAACI, and someone who knows a lot about events, says the secret sauce to a successful meeting is finding your kindred spirit amidst the sea of suits—a business soulmate, if you will. Now, as someone who’d rather present to a stadium than make small talk with a stranger, this sounds akin to being told to find Nemo in the Atlantic.
As an introvert, my idea of a good time involves a good book, good wine, and a quiet room – far away from the madding crowd. But here’s the kicker: we introverts are like undercover superheroes at these things. Our superpower? We’re phenomenal listeners. While everyone else is busy broadcasting their own signal, we’re quietly tuning into the frequencies that matter.
So, why am I rambling about the beauty of MICE and the introverted soul navigating its choppy waters? Because, dear reader, beneath the surface-level exchanges and the frenzied exchange of LinkedIn QR codes lies the real treasure of these events: genuine connection.
Let’s face it; the tourism and events world isn’t just about seeing new places or collecting fancy name badges. It’s about the people you meet along the way—the ones who share your passion for 19th-century stamps or that secret spot in Lisbon that serves the best pasteis de nata. It’s about finding your tribe in the most unexpected places.
This trade show season (buckle up, it’s begun), as we dodge the obligatory air kisses and the glazed-over looks of people scanning the room for someone more influential, dive deeper. Skip the small talk about the weather and ask someone about something that matters; something that has changed their life. You might just find a kindred spirit, or at the very least, you’ll make someone’s day by showing genuine interest.
And if all else fails, there’s always the comfort of knowing that your bed, your wine, and your quiet corner of the world will be waiting for you after the storm passes.
Mindful Musings
What the world was musing over this past week
A sly smuggle gone serpentine
A NYC man’s bold attempt to smuggle Burmese pythons in his pants across the U.S.-Canadian border ends with probation and a $5,000 fine. A serpentine scheme that proves crime doesn’t slither away unnoticed.
Tree or tiger – what this optical illusion says about you
A captivating optical illusion doubles as a personality test, claiming to reveal your social skills and inner nature. See a majestic tree or a fierce tiger first? Discover if you’re a solitary goal-seeker or a warm-hearted communicator.
Meet the Hogwarts hound
Toronto’s Audriana Li transforms dog training into a magical affair, teaching her Labradoodle, Dobby, to obey commands cast as ‘Harry Potter’ spells. From ‘Accio’ to ‘Azkaban’, this canine wizard is enchanting dog lovers everywhere.
Surprise pregnancy for solo stingray
Charlotte, a stingray living far from her ocean home in a North Carolina aquarium, stuns scientists by getting pregnant without a male, showcasing nature’s marvel through parthenogenesis.
