The Magic is in the Acceptance

Ticked another trip off the bucket list this week.? Back in August – me and my 2 colleagues, Sandra Krautz and Mareike Müller , absolutely smashed Sales Week at Cloud.? A smashing that had me walking home, slightly smashed, in order to secure maximum potential points!

Our reward?? A trip to Warner Brother Harry Potter Studios.

It’s safe to say, as three grown women, we were probably a little too excited, but as a diehard Gryffindor, courage is basically my middle name.

Working in the industry we do, incentives are par for the course—I’ve had free food, vinyl, and trips/holidays dangled in front of me many a time. Food and Vinyl are always a winner but trips/vacations rarely have the necessary impact. ?Maybe I'm just too cheap a date? ?But this time, things were different.

For once, we were asked what we wanted as a reward. Instead of some generic prize picked by someone else, we got to shape our own experience. Thankfully, I had already done some subtle reconnaissance, and Harry Potter Studios was the clear winner. This small gesture—asking what we wanted—was a novelty. So often in work settings, incentives are given based on what management assumes we’ll enjoy. It’s like being handed a gift someone obviously bought for themselves. Sure, you appreciate it, but you can’t help mentally calculating how long it'll take before you can re-gift it.

This time, though, it was different. We got exactly what we asked for. The experience was nothing short of magical - wandering through the intricately designed sets, marveling at the immense skill that transformed much-loved books into an epic movie series. But what made it even more special was feeling truly seen. No one laughed or questioned our choice. If anything, there was a mix of relief (because organizing a studio tour is easy) and maybe a little jealousy. Yeah, I saw that, Craig Lancaster .

I won’t give any spoilers, but it was a great trip! I will, however, spoil one thing: Butterbeer. It’s disgusting, NEVER AGAIN! Otherwise, the day was amazing - full of magic, but also marked by the simple joy of being recognized and accepted. I genuinely believe Mareike smiled more in those few hours than I had seen in my entire six months at Cloud (okay, okay, it might be me - I’m the problem, it’s me).

As we returned to London, tired but thoroughly satisfied, I was left with a sense of fulfilment that went beyond the magical sets.

There’s real magic in being accepted, both by others and by yourself. And honestly, if I can accept you, and I’m pretty cool, that means you’re not so bad either.

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