Ignite Presentation
My friend and fellow Virginia Council of CEOs member Melissa Ball suggested that I do an Ignite Presentation at our annual retreat in Williamsburg. “Sure,” I replied. “What should I talk about?”
“Talk about buying a boat during the pandemic and your trip down the ICW,” she suggested.
An Ignite Presentation is five minutes of sheer terror, even for someone who enjoys public speaking. You pick a topic, put up 20 slides, and then press go. The slides move every 15 seconds, whether you’re ready or not. Five minutes. Boom. You’re done.
My topic? “I’m On A Boat!”
I gave a blow-by-blow description of what I did in 2020, when the world shut down during the pandemic.
- I rented a cottage in North Carolina for five weeks. (Virginia was closed. NC wasn’t.)
- I flew all over the US (Los Angeles to Bar Harbor, Maine) on empty planes as low as $37 round-trip.
- I bought a boat, but I didn’t know how to drive it. (I took my Captain’s Course online.)
- I convinced my kids to get in the boat and sail to Charleston for Thanksgiving.
- I ran into a dock. I backed into a sailboat and blew out the rear window.
- I then drove it to Florida. 1,127 miles…in 10 days.
- I suffered through small craft advisories and 4-5 waves on the bay because I didn’t want to miss my COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
- I did it all again in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
What are 10 things I learned?
- Even if you have permission to operate a boat, that doesn’t mean you have the ability.
- A No Wake Zone is 5 mph.
- Always keep your radio on Channel 16…not 17.
- Coinjock, NC has the best Prime Rib.
- Thunderbolt, GA has the best shrimp.
- Duct tape can fix anything, except your pride.
- Everyone wants to catch a Tarpon. No one wants to eat one…tastes like oily soap.
- You don’t know what you don’t know. (And it’s OK not to know everything.)
- Florida is a really, really long state.
- The journey is more important than the destination.
MONDAY:
“I FEAR I HAVE GOTTEN MYSELF INTO A SITUATION”
Account Director Allison Nida, Creative Director Carissa Ghaffari, Account Executive Anne Bowers, and Copywriter Robyn Quarles hit the road again on Monday—this time to New Bern, NC (yes, the birthplace of Pepsi Cola) to shoot a commercial. Anne fearlessly took the wheel (figuratively and literally) on this project and drove every detail to success. And, she only got herself into a situation once—parking a minivan is, in fact, harder than it looks.
TUESDAY:
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Our team and our talented friends at Broadscope got up bright and early on Tuesday for the Carolina Home Medical commercial shoot day. A little script prep here, makeup touch-ups there, and just one more take everywhere (you can never have enough). Not only are shoot days perfect for watching creative work come to life, they give us the opportunity to spend time with our clients and deepen our appreciation for everything they do.
WEDNESDAY:
RUN TO SAVE BUNS
Time to run for your butts—literally! Join HCB2 on Saturday, June 7, for their 13th annual Boxer Brief 5K in Richmond. The event brings together colorectal cancer survivors, patients, family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to energize efforts to prevent and defeat our country’s number one cancer killer in men under age 50 and the nation’s second cancer killer in men and women combined. Learn more and sign up here!
THURSDAY:
SHRIMP & SUDS FEAST
Shrimp, beer, and music? Count me in! The 40th Annual Shrimp and Suds Feast sponsored by Hanover Rotary is next Thursday, May 8, from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Held in the Pavilion located outside Kings Dominion, the day is a perfect opportunity for a company outing or to meet up with old friends and make new friends while sampling great shrimp and beer. Tickets are $50—get yours here.
FRIDAY:
ON THE AIR
It’s Friday morning—you know what that means! Another chance to chat with my good friend Rich Herrera on WRVA’s Richmond Morning News. Here’s what’s happening in good ole RVA this weekend, ICYMI.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Date: Friday, May 2
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Brown’s Island | 200 S. Third St
Tickets: $10 in advance | $15 at the door
Friday Cheers, presented by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, returns in May for its 40th season of live music on Brown’s Island along downtown Richmond’s beautiful riverfront. Showcasing some of the nation’s hottest touring bands and all-time regional favorites, Friday Cheers has a stellar line-up you won’t want to miss! And kids 12 and under are free! Visit VentureRichmond.com for details and to purchase Friday Cheers tickets!
“A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” – Unknown