From the CEO: Backstreet Boys help me ponder inheritance
In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA CEO Peter McDonald turns to the Backstreet Boys to help ponder inheritance and the importance of leaving a better everything for those who come after us.
Last time, I reminded readers that MEA has been the industry peak body for event producers, venues and suppliers for almost 50 years, and whilst being so has ridden the highs and lows of time hand in hand with its members. Its longevity has been underwritten by getting it right much more often than getting it wrong. I also wrote about how now is the time to not only not walk away, but to sign up and unite in solidarity. One for all and all for one, as they say.
Half a century is no mean feat. With the average life duration of an Australian being almost 80 years, that’s more than half a lifetime. In the last fortnight I’ve gotten to thinking about legacy, because as we all know none of us gets to take anything with us when we go.
I quite enjoyed the Ricky Gervais series After Life. It deals with death amongst other storylines in both moving and laugh out loud ways. The series ending left me with questions, so as one does I took to the internet to research my answers. I Googled Ricky Gervais interviews and came across a few, but in one – and of course I can’t find it again – the chat is happening in an old graveyard, and he talks about how anything said by those departed during their lives really makes no difference now in the scheme of the world. What was important enough to motivate or bother them to say something really doesn’t matter anymore.
In an interview he did with Charles Wooley for 60 Minutes Australia (language warning) towards the end Gervais makes the point that the chance of any of us being born is so minute. Then if you put that in the context of the millions of years that the earth has already existed, and potentially will exist beyond our lives, in our 80 years we should make the most of it. So, whilst what any of us says – including me right here and now, I get the irony – in the end doesn’t matter, the things we do and the things we build can last well beyond our time. Human creations such as the Acropolis, Colosseum, pyramids, Stonehenge, cultures of all types all existed before us, and will long after us.
Its up to us to leave a better everything for those who come after us to inherit. We all need to invest and pay back what was paid forward, as will the next generations. Otherwise, what’s the point of doing it in the first place? Our behaviours and actions on each of our 80-year watch need to enrich every aspect of the world we inherited – be those natural or man-made – not devalue it. It is selfish to do anything but.
And I’m not only referring to our personal lives. Yes, many of us want to financially provide for our nearest and dearest, me included. Entirely honourable too.
The concept of building a nest egg is taught to us at an early age. It became such a worthy principle that in 1992 the government made superannuation compulsory for all Australians. But who’s to say the necessity for securing the future is limited to financial circumstances? Certainly not me.
At this point in time and as the current baton holders in the relay of humanity, the onus is on you as a sector constituent to ensure that the MEA and events industry you leave behind is in a better position than it was when you entered. The baton/buck passing doesn’t happen until the end of the sprint. You need to run your leg as best you can the entire time it’s your turn. Failing to do so lets the whole team down.
The sector’s managers and leaders must invest in their people to ensure that it can grow in both size and strength such that it becomes a worthy inheritance. Investment takes many forms. It can be by way of education and training, remuneration, recognition and reward, trust and empowerment, promotion, to name some. Neglect to do so will only achieve stagnation, from which no industry has ever benefited in history.
The same goes for MEA. The sector needs to invest in its peak body to ensure its presence as a support mechanism, educator, mouthpiece, repository, and network is protected and remains viable and available for those starting out now and yet to come.
This week the world lost John Landy who will be remembered for his chivalry and sportsmanship when during the 1956 Australian mile championship race, he stopped to assist a fallen Ron Clarke. He relegated the potential for his personal success to be secondary to the good of another’s well-being. We all know that Landy went on to win the race, but the true winner on the day was the sport. People couldn’t tell you the names of any other competitors in that race, not even those who came second or third – remembering it was a national championship. The display of greater good, spirit and camaraderie outweighed everything else, and left the story to folklore.
Ron Clarke would go on to one day hold every world record from two miles to 20 kilometres.
MEA needs you to be John Landy to its Ron Clarke. Join us and stay with us as we regain our feet. Once we have, we can encourage and celebrate your success as we then run our own race and ultimately become a successful champion in our field. As champion, MEA’s members become the ultimate winners. In being like Landy, you will in turn leave a MEA worthy of inheritance by the people you’ll be investing in to inherit the business and sector you’re building.
Then the circle of life will begin all over again when their turn comes to behave like Landy, where they must pay back what was paid forward to them and in doing so leave an even more worthy of inheritance MEA and sector. Everything must start somewhere. Ensuring there’s a sector and MEA to inherit starts with you and starts now. Its not someone else’s responsibility to ensure MEA’s half-century gets converted to a full ton. It’s everyone’s responsibility.
Its about stepping up to the fight and having people in your corner who have your back. Backstreet Boys’ song ‘Show ‘em what you’re made of’ is a good anthem for this message. They sing lyrics including:
Gloves are off, ready to fight
Like a lion I will survive.
When walls start to close in
Your heart is frozen over
Just show 'em what you're made of
When sun light is fading
The world will be waiting for you
Just show 'em what you're made of
MEA’s got it to show and is stepping up, no doubt about that. But can we count on seeing you standing in our corner, cheering us on to keep off the canvas and ensuring we’re fit to fight the next round?
While I’m here I offer up a shout out to all those being affected by the contrasting weather conditions around the country. I know we have a couple of Diploma students around Lismore and Ballina which are areas copping it badly. Whether you’re dealing with extreme heat or flooding, we’re thinking of you. Please take care and look out for others.
Source:
Song – “Show ‘em what you’re made of”
Album – “In a World Like This”
