Silk Purse, sow's ear!

Does anyone out there care, I mean really care about what I think? Do you care what I think about the joys and agony of putting on events for all the world to see and, well, criticize?Case in point. Just a few weeks ago I put on an event, a large business conference. You may, or may not have heard about this event and, at this point, the event is not the point! However, since it was widely publicized in the press and one of my speakers was a little controversial, I had a few people tell me exactly what they thought of me and my event. One lady even accused me of being unpatriotic by bringing in this particular speaker (no, I am not Lee Bollinger!) a charge which I most adamently refute! Or is it refuse? Another person dialed my office phone ON THE WEEKEND, and proceeded to declare via voice mail, "how dare I bring in so and so, and I should be ashamed" of doing so! Interesting. No, the speaker was not Kim Jong Il, or anyone like him, just a man with different views than the ones by my new found Frienemies. What's Up with that? Can't we listen to and appreciate someone whose opinion differs from our own? Do we, by trying to shout out, or shut out, dissenting voices simply declare our own fear and prejudice? Silk purse. I have a passion for risk, but I am not a gambler. Change is the name of the game here. When you do something new, offbeat, unexpected, change happens. I hope the change I elicit is positive, alllowing me to grow first and foremost and then hoping that others will grow as a result of my inner decision to risk. Does it matter if they do? No. It only matters if I do. If you do. Not all change is good, or desirable, but no change at all is deadly. And so it is with ALL of my event producing friends. We wouldn't do this if we didn't love the thought that, somehow, some way, this thing I have created will catch fire and produce ... something great! So to anyone who has ever put on an event, or anyone who is contemplating doing so, a BIG EEEEE, EEEEE, EEEEE, to you (Monkey talk for KEEP KICKIN' BUTT!) And the next time someone calls you to complain or criticize you, or your event, ask them if they know where you can find a sows ear.