Last Thursday, the MindComet team set out on an adventure. Although the destination had already been leaked, there were plenty of surprises in store for us - in classic MindComet fashion.
We packed our bags, loaded up our caravan and left for the Carnival Sensation en route to Nassau, pumped to connect with our team members and celebrate the completion of MindComet's tenth year. We're so proud to have reached this point thanks to our leadership team, as well as our clients.
On the ship, we took over our own wing. We were lucky to have rather understanding and fun-loving neighbors, as we found it hard to contain our excitement from the very beginning. Our VIPs (veteran MindCometeers who have helped bring us where we are today) shared a connected balcony above which would serve as our after-party headquarters.
Eventually, we settled down, ate some chow, explored the ship and got some sun. Being a little rockier than usual, it slowed down a few of our team members, but not for long.
The first of many surprises surfaced as we were called on deck wearing outfits that were cryptically required on our packing checklists. We donned khaki shorts and white shirts that would soon be decked out with full-on adventure gear assembled by our retreat squad - Jeremy, Marcelle and James.
Jeremy, playing an eccentric billionaire, had a mission for us. We drew golden eggs that were marked to determine what team we would join, as well as our role. The teams comprised of Hunters, Pirates and Archaeologists - each with their own set of special tools and skills to bring their team closer to victory.
Maps lead each team across the ship to various locations to take pictures and complete tasks. Teams were rewarded with redemption cards that would serve to be quite valuable in the end. We won them by frantically searching for treasure in a kiddie pool, playing a larger-than-life game of KerPlunk and making the tastiest, most creative and life-sustaining drink on a budget.
Each team was given a mascot that accompanied them on their journey. Among them were Octopus Prime, Biff the Shark and a little dolphin named Micah.
This experience was the beginning of a blossoming bromance between Micah and Stuart. Micah was a frisky little dolphin that caught the attention of a lot of ladies on the ship. It must have been the sexy mustache.
Upon completion of our treasure map, we gathered in the lounge with our teams for a few final challenges. For the last redemption cards, we had to put together a MindComet puzzle and show our craziest, most creative photo from the experience. I'm not exactly sure which photo won that battle. Then, we opened our treasure chests, counted our coins and pirate medallions that were collected along the way and cashed them in for a final tally.
And our eccentric billionaire decided to share a little bit of his wealth. We cashed in our cards to pull hidden dollar amounts from a board to share with our team. However, it wasn't all fun and games, as we had to watch out for the dreaded Tox DeMooch, a terrible creature that preys on adventurers and steals their coins. Jamie was a big winner, drawing $100 in one pull for her team. Micah and Stuart did very well too.
After receiving a clue for hidden treasure on the island, we gave our best shot at burning a hole in the Kaleidoscope disco floor, but we just weren't feeling it and had our own separate adventures, many returning to their bunks to rest for the upcoming, eventful day two.
As we pulled into port on Friday morning, we collected into our departmental teams and discussed strategy and growth for the new year. It can be refreshing to have an opportunity for open discussion outside of the daily rigors of Interactive Agency life. Relaxed and refreshed, the ideas flowed and flowed.
Before departing the ship, the entire company gathered to hear Marcelle and the executive team share their vision for 2010. We're stoked to start another great ten years of MindComet. And on that note, this is when a few of our team members finally realized the significance of the Xpedition (X being the Roman Numeral for 10). I was guilty, I admit it! Then we were off.
With some free time in a foreign land, some of us grabbed taxis to check out the local delicacies, gathering at a fish fry across the island. Others checked out the straw market and haggled for knock-off purses and local crafts. At 3, we met at Rawson square and followed our clue.
Heading west, we found Senor Frog's and an X on the chest of this crazy guy.
Wait... what?! This guy wasn't on the cruise! Ted Murphy, our founder, flew down to Nassau to party with us. We were glad to have him, because without his vision and direction, none of us would be where we are today. And wherever we would be... we definitely wouldn't be having as much fun!
After settling in, someone pointed out that it was time for #handstandfriday! Yes, #handstandfriday has officially gone international! David put up a good fight but... well, just watch the video.
Returning to the ship, it was nearing time to dress up for dinner. We put on our Sunday best, realizing that... we sure are one beautiful group of people!
...and that we really know how to cut a rug!
After filling our bellies and sharing some bubbly, it was time to recognize some of our outstanding team members for the jobs that they've done, the help that they've given and the accomplishments that they've made for their teams and MindComet over the last year.
Some of our very first MindCometeers, Doug and Ted took stage to recap our last ten years. The show was filled with MindComet trivia, fond memories and inside jokes. Having possibly the strongest team we've ever had, competition was fierce, but here are our winners. Note that we switched things up a little bit, with all new categories. Each award could now be won by a team member, no matter of their discipline.
David was named the 2009 Big Thinker. His innovative designs and vision, including that for our new Web site, and RE:BRAND landed him the award. He consistently pushes the limits and never fails to impress. It takes a lot of courage to accomplish what he does.
This Art guy was named the 2009 SUPAFREAK. The trophy says that I bleed MindComet blue, but I actually bleed MindComet pink now that we've completed our RE:BRAND. My braces match too, but that's an entire other blog post.
Chris, affectionately known as Mitches by our crew, brought home the Hercules award for just plain being awesome. This guy can do anything. He's like Chuck Norris only stronger and better looking.
Andrew was named the 2009 Role Model for being such an awesome, hard working, brilliant guy that's always willing to help. He does a great job of helping out whether your on his team or not. No matter what, you can always count on him. He's amazing.
James took what many believed to be a highly contested award (with all of the brilliant talent that's joined our team over the last year). He was named the ULTIMATE NEWBIE, and that he is. He jumped in head first and really hit the ground running, producing amazing work from day one. I am still in love with his design for our new executive blogs, including Pink Lenses and Jen X, Y and Me.
Bryan had done such an awesome job over the last year, that the executive team created the Comet award to acknowledge everything he's accomplished. A thought leader and one-stop-shop for everything email, as well as skilled account manager, he's really gone above and beyond to create amazing work and build relationships with our clients.
Finally, we have the final award, the 2009 Powerflux. This is the ultimate honor, the Best in Show, the person who has served as a great leader showing dedication beyond belief and put out amazing work consistently, impressing our clients and making MindComet look awesome in the process. If you've had the pleasure of working with him, then you probably already know from this description that I'm talking about Dean Proctor. This guy is a powerhouse. He's a freakin' genius and a great person to work with. Thanks for everything, Dean!
After a few more quick snapshots, were were off to celebrate our teammate's victories.
Actually, I almost forgot: Each of us got a box of new MindComet swag! Among the cool stuff was a new MindComet Tee and some super sweet sandals to show off our new RE:BRAND design. Check it out. I sure do love a good box of swag!
Our final full day was mostly day free, some of us hit the pool. Others took the plunge down the ship's new water slide, and Jamie even played her first game of Settlers of Catan.
In the evening, we enjoyed a nice meal, then rushed off to karaoke. We made it in a little late because we were double booked with dinner. I guess Carnival wanted to save a few bucks on repairs... because we were ready to bring down the roof! Here was one of our favorite performances. We'll add more soon on the MindComet YouTube Channel.
We finished out the Retreat dancing the night away in Kaleidoscope before hitting the hay, packing up and disembarking.
We were happy to be on dry land (that ship sure could rock), but sad to see the retreat over. I'm really looking forward to what is in store for us next year.
A tremendous thanks to Jeremy for spearheading the planning of the retreat, Marcelle for helping bring it all together, James for the sweet designs and anyone else who was behind the scenes working to make this a really wonderful experience!
We'll have plenty of more pictures up soon, so make sure to check our MindComet Flickr page later this week!
I know what you're thinking. We're the guys who like to hang out after work and walk around the office on our hands. It must be some kind of crazy, silly office paradise, right?
Well... it's not as easy as you think. A lot goes into walking around upside down. I've been working the shoulders for a while now at the gym and can barely manage to hold myself up against the wall.
Then there are the competitions. We just show you the fun stuff. What happens when they run out of steam? Although it's good for a few chuckles... it's not always pretty!
Check out these outtakes. I recommend turning up the sound or getting some headphones - it really adds to the experience!
I found myself the lucky winner of two VIP passes to Howl-O-Scream for my first ever Bleedup. @HOSInsider dropped a few clues on Twitter on how to win the passes and I followed suit, sneaking in right at the end.
The Busch Gardens crew were more than hospitable, even providing transportation for us Orlando-area folks from their sister park, Sea World. My girlfriend and I opted to drive over so that we had a little extra time to make sure we didn't miss a thing. It was well worth the drive and then some.
Upon arrival, they greeted us and treated us with a hefty goody bag (and I'm a fool for swag, so they had me right there) as well as front of the line passes and free photo tickets. After we were all rounded up, they walked us to their exclusive Club Envy. With a few drink tickets in hand and a table full of food, I was more than happy.
We mingled a bit and some of their performers stopped in for exclusive VIP action. The clowns were more than a little creepy, sneaking up and honking when you least expected it, but their vampire troupe (EDIT: I've learned that they're actually the Sliderz) was quite awesome. They were fitted with these crazy shin pads and boots that allowed them to slide across the ground as if it were ice. They started with the opening dance from Thriller and moved into a wild show with these guys sliding every which way. Here's a pic of one guy sliding beneath the legs of almost a dozen others.
EDIT: I found that we have some video of their Thriller Dance!
We settled down and had a little more mingling time before the main event was to come to life (or maybe rather death - they are vampires after all). The original Ms Vayne and her entourage gave us a taste of their fall fashion. Up close, their outfits were actually pretty rad. Check it out in the video below.
Following, we were given an exclusive photo opp with Ms Vayne and her cohorts. They were quite enchanting. Then we were on our way to enjoy the rest of the park!
I can't say I didn't get lost two or three times, but it was great fun. There were some pretty sweet and frightening concepts in the houses. They definitely had me and my girlfriend clutching each other tightly! We had to hit all seven before we made our way home. Our favorite was probably Nightshade Toys, because what's more scary than a toy turning on you? It really takes you back to your childhood fears. And at the end they had some crazy spinning room that made me feel like the world was turning upside down. Heather had to pull me out of there. I'll leave the rest for you to visit and find out for yourself - nothing like giving away the ending. Check out more at their site: House of Vayne.
Check out the pictures that we took when we weren't too scared of dropping our camera:
Thanks again to the Busch Gardens and SeaWorld team for having me. It was a great time and I can't wait to check it out again next year! What a blast! Big hugs!
What can I say about IZEAFest? If I had to sum it up in 140 characters or less, it would be something like this:
I was lucky enough to be invited for my second year to the event, along with a handful of MindCometeers. Since the last event, we've launched our executive blogs, and most of our authors were in attendance and all ears.
There's a ton to learn at IZEAFest about blogging, personal branding, monetization and social media as a whole. Many renowned social media thought leaders were in attendance, including Brian Clark, Aaron Brazell, Sarah Evans, Chris Heuer, and even Chris Brogan, as well as a number of other top minds. Check them all out on the official IZEAFest site.
If you've never been to an IZEAFest, then it's hard to comprehend all of the data that is coming at you as an attendee. Outside of all of the great insights given on the keynotes, panels and educational sessions, the conference is truly powered by social media. A live Twitter stream is broadcast next to the stage that can also be followed on your laptop. People give opinions, criticism or just random thoughts. It really adds an extra layer to the event.
It's a HUGE body of tweets, but if you have time, I'd recommend checking it out. You'll surely find tons of recaps and summaries at the end with key points, but I'll do my best to share a few as well. And while we're recapping the event, I might as well mention all of the drama. If you dig deep enough, you're sure to come across it, but grab the popcorn and maybe some caffeine, it'll take a while. AdRants does a good job of summing up all of the craziness in their article "IZEAfest Delivers Drama, Scares, Learning, Ice, Pizza" if you want to save some time.
But back to the serious side. Convention News Television covered the event and included an interview with Chris Brogan, which will give a small taste of what you may have missed.
Even if you were in attendance, with all of the ADD-feeding media, it is probably a good idea to review some of the sessions that were most relevant to you. If you weren't there, then hey, you can watch the videos below and relish in the hundreds of dollars in travel and lodging that you saved, but know that you still missed out on quite a lot. They say you meet the nicest people in a Honda (one of my favorite old ad slogans), but the same goes for IZEAFest. My biggest regret is not planning ahead to be able to partake in the complimentary Howl-O-Scream and SeaWorld events on the days prior and following the main event. Once the event is announced next year, my planning will commence. I don't want to miss a minute, and be sure that I'll be well-rested and sharp to absorb all of the knowledge floating around.
A big thanks to Trevor and Andrew for doing such a great job with the media of the event. Months of planning really paid off. It had a great look and really went off without a hitch. Plus, Trevor is a heck of a singer and really brought down the house the first evening singing "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. Trevor, I'm your biggest fan!
And while I'm at it, a super-huge thank you to Ted Murphy for having me, Ashley for painstakingly arranging the event, the SeaWorld team for providing a really wonderful venue and fantastic extra activities and the rest of the IZEA team for all of the hard work that they put into making the event such a resounding success!
Below you will videos of some of the sessions that I found most beneficial, and in some cases, entertaining. You can find even more on the IZEAFest USTREAM channel, where it was streamed live for those who couldn't make the trip.
I think everyone would agree that Chris Brogan gets a 10 for his session (or should I say performance) at IZEAFest. Not only was he hugely insightful, but hilarious. It's no wonder why over 100,000 people listen to what he has to say on Twitter every day.
And then there was this little guy who made a big splash: Tommy Fishback. After his presentation, they were calling him the next Ted Murphy. This brilliant kid just blew us away, and I can't wait to see what awesome things he accomplishes in the next few years.
There were a ton of other great sessions, including Personal Branding with Ted Murphy, where he unleashed his own new branding, and Marks of an Influencer with Aaron Brazell. I'm going to let you dig through USTREAM to find them, but it'll be worth your while.
If it's not obvious by now, I had a great time, and I can't wait to do it all over again next year! I'll leave you with a few random pics from the event. You can see many, many more on Flickr from all of the attendees. See you in 2010!
But wait... I almost forgot the finale! Ted finished off the event with a full-body-triple-cake-plow! It was nothing short of amazing.
Unfortunately you've navigated to CakePlow.com, the creative ventricle (a.k.a. outlet) for us "unique" MindCometeers. What's a "cakeplow," you ask? Well... that's a touchy subject that we only bring up at bar mitzvahs and pet weddings. But, if you absolutely MUST know... click here for the full story of the cakeplow.
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