Every Imprint Matters

If you know me personally, you know I love a good hug. While a handshake is the standard professional greeting, it’s the last thing I’ll offer. From me, you’ll get a high-five, a hug, or some variation of a handshake that ends with a fist bump or a snap. We all have our own ways of doing business—this is mine.

When I produce an event or experience, my favorite part is standing at the exit, saying goodbye to each guest. I look them in the eye, thank them for coming, offer a high-five, encourage them to be safe, and—if it's a recurring event—let them know I look forward to seeing them next time.

Some might assume I stand at the exit because I like watching people leave—that the event is over, my job is done. Sure, there's a bit of relief in that moment, but that's not why I do it.

When I was a little girl, every Sunday, I would join my father in the vestibule after his sermon. A Southern Baptist preacher, he would move from the pulpit to the doorway while a deacon led the final prayer. That benediction was my cue to quietly leave my seat in the pew next to my mother to go stand by my father's side as he greeted each person leaving the sanctuary, sending them off to go about the rest of their weekend. My father knew every congregant personally—their worries, their prayers, their celebrations, and sometimes, their deepest family secrets. As a child, I didn’t grasp the depth of these interactions, but looking back, I see now: I was learning how to meet people where they are—with an open hand, an open heart, and a capacity to send them off with love.

When someone attends my events, my greatest priority is ensuring they leave transformed. Whether through good food and music or an inspiring conversation—on stage or in a quiet corner—it's essential that each person experiences something that leaves an imprint. And that's what this newsletter is about: leaving something behind. An impression. A mark.

As I say goodbye to guests, I look into their eyes and witness, in real time, the impact of the event they've just given their time to experience. I know immediately whether the experience resonated—if my efforts bore fruit or if there's room for refinement. I see if they feel joy, if they’ve uncovered a new realization about their life, relationships, or place in the world.

You might be thinking, Wow—she really gives herself a lot of credit for her work. And you’d be absolutely right. I take great pride in what I do. Creating experiences where stories are told, relationships are forged, and memories are made is no small thing. It’s meaningful. It’s valuable. And I absolutely love serving my clients and community through this work.

While I work with clients for months—sometimes years—to craft experiences, events unfold in our daily lives, minute by minute. A trip to the grocery store can be an event. You plan it, make a list, navigate the parking lot, pick things up off the shelves, fumble through self-checkout, load the groceries into your car, and go about your day.

I don’t have a perfect metaphor for this, but I’m trying to say: even the most mundane tasks can be fulfilling experiences.

So next time you go to the grocery store, gather your family for dinner, head to a client meeting, run into a friend at the gym, plan your next vacation, or curl up with a dear friend for an overdue catch-up—consider the impression being made. Consider how your presence, your energy, your kindness can leave a mark on those around you in ways both meaningful and memorable.

I hope this week brings you plenty of opportunities to experience the sweetness of life. I hope you leave imprints that matter. I hope you pass out lots and lots of hugs and high-fives. Cheers to ALL of it!