Last week, I was sitting at Comix in New York City surrounded by Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. People who made the list ran the gamut: a physician from the Cleveland Clinic, the head of Bono’s organization Red, a futurist, Jesse Dylan, early adopters of virtual reality, and a Hollywood studio development director, to name a few.

Today, I am sitting aboard a Jetblue flight leaving Las Vegas so it only seems fitting the creative honoree I would write about is Mark Fuller, CEO of WET and the genius behind the famous Bellagio Fountain. Fuller’s ideas were brilliant and resonated strongly with me. Here is a summary of his 15-minute presentation:

First, creativity requires three things:

1. Cool work

2. Bright minds

3. Terrific environments, where people have the tools they need and are allowed to chase their dreams

Once these fundamentals are fulfilled, leaders must challenge people with great work. And, they must give everyone in the organization the opportunity to exercise creativity and thrive.

“We’re not blue collar or white collar,” said Fuller. “We’re black collar. Everyone does it together.” Further shedding light on his workforce, Fuller shared that he is completely against outsourcing. After all, we hire people for a reason so let’s give them the opportunity and environment to succeed. In Fuller’s case, this takes shape as an “idea playground,” which offers variety, encourages interaction and engagement, and fuels creativity.

At WET this “idea playground” translates to a state-of-the-art facility featuring white walls for brainstorming, a piano, classrooms, art, labs, models, design space, etc. Now this sounds like the kind of place where creativity is valued – the kind of work place in which I would love to play. Anyone want to get WET?

“We make people look at water with the eyes of a child, like the first time you see the ocean.” – Mark Fuller, WET

The big day has arrived. I’m New York City bound. But, before I head out, I have some other important business. It’s my middle son’s last day of school, and it’s my pleasure to escort him to kick off his day. I throw this in because no matter how passionate I am about my career, it doesn’t hold a candle to my family. In many ways, my boys are the inspiration behind my work.

You get the picture.

Okay, Lincoln delivered. Now, it’s time to catch a plane. Little did I know when I boarded my flight how powerfully the next two days would impact me. Namely, I would experience the city through the eyes of locals for the first time, and I would discover a strong sense of community that I had never experienced as a tourist.

Laura and I had a full agenda, which included meeting and sharing in conversation with Fast Company’s Noah Robischon and Ellen McGirt, JetBlue’s Dean Melonas, social media strategist Zeb Dropkin, and freelancer/improv performer Amanda Hirsch. Oh, yes, and attending FC’s 100 Most Creative People in Business.

I don’t think we could have met with a more welcoming, bright, inspiring, and kind group of people. I offer a heartfelt thanks to each of them. I am a better person for knowing them, and I look forward to lasting friendships.

Let me share my Fast Company experience:

The days leading up to our arrival, Ellen and I emailed back and forth. This is when I discovered Ellen’s a beer drinker. Score. I liked this. I have always found women who drink beer tend to be real, fun, and down-to-earth.

We were off to a good start, and it only got better.

Upon meeting Ellen, a person I hold in extremely high regard, she hugs me. In that moment, a friendship is born. All of a sudden, the fact that Ellen writes for Fast Company fades. We are just people being people, enjoying each other’s company. Amidst a television commercial being shot on location, we take a quick, quiet tour of the headquarters.

We are on the 29th floor of 7 World Trade Center, and I see Ground Zero firsthand for the first time. It affects me more than I let on because I want to hold steadfastly to the positive vibes we’ve generated. Moments later, I am grateful to catch a view of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River where Captain Sullenberger landed his aircraft safely sparing the lives of every member on board. The good vibes are back, and we head out for drinks.

Ellen, Laura, and I swap stories. We cover topics ranging from Montana and gift chains to Steve Jobs and our own families. Then, Noah joins us, and the dialog grows. I am genuinely happy because, to me, this is what life is all about: people.

We do touch on journalism and all parties seem to truly care about the thoughts and ideas of each other. We discuss how people get their daily news, story development and execution, and opportunities for media collaboration. And, I think to myself, this is why journalism, whatever it might look like, will survive and thrive. It’s because there are people inside news organizations and consumers outside of them that are truly committed to sharing stories.

And, as I state on my website, stories are how we celebrate the past, embrace the present, and create the future.

Moral of the story: Ellen and Noah rock. So do millions of people that walk our beautiful earth. Put yourself out there. Discover new friends. Build community. And, share stories!

I just spent two whirlwind days in New York City with my colleague and friend Laura Desmarais. We flew down for Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business event. But before I get into the details of our trip, let me backup and share how it came to be in the first place.

So, I am flipping through the May issue of Fast Company, and I see an ad for the 100 Most Creative People Within seconds I tell my husband I plan to go. As always, he supports me. A few days later, I go to sign up and to my dismay, registration isn’t open. What’s a girl to do? Jump on Twitter, of course, and email the brilliant brains behind the magazine’s online content, Noah Robischon. He replies immediately that the site will be ready soon, and he’ll “ping” me.

Well, I’m not the most patient person so I keep checking the site, and late one night I discover that registration is open. I also learn that the program is a mere three hours. There’s nothing wrong with this…it’s just a little hard to justify flying from Maine to New York for an afternoon. Deflated, I scratch the conference off my iCal.

Until the next day that is when things take an exciting turn.

Noah tweets me in the morning: site’s up. I politely reply that I don’t think I can pull it off, at least not in good judgment. To my surprise, he doesn’t let me off the hook that easily. Instead he writes, “We’ll make it worth your while. Who do we need to convince? I’ll help.”

Wow. For someone obsessed with Fast Company, I am both flattered and intrigued. Before I even have a chance to respond, I get another tweet from FC senior writer Ellen McGirt: “I’ll help, too.”

Now I’m literally smiling at my computer. I’m feeling giddy. The writer in me is doing cartwheels. And so the banter begins. I toss out the idea of a tour of Fast Company and drinks with them, and they bite! I jest that they are twisting my arm, virtual high fives ensue, and before I know it I am registered for the conference, making flight arrangements, booking a hotel, and calling Laura to let her know we are New York City bound!

Moral of the story: Be open to the unexpected. And, if you want something, ask for it. The world is filled with good people, and more often than not, wonderful journeys unfold.

Talk about refreshing. This is a vision I can get on board with. It’s simple, yet powerful: choose organizational democracy (www.worldblu.com/organizational-democracy) and help change the world. But, it was more than Traci’s message that resonated with me; it was also her. This bright, forward-thinking and successful woman was so completely down to earth, so gracious and fun. She brought to life the very characteristics her company stands for – from integrity to dialogue and listening to openness.

I love that Traci and the WorldBlu team are spreading democratic values throughout businesses worldwide. One of their key initiatives is a groundbreaking, global award: The WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces. This year’s list was announced three days ago and is comprised of 44 organizations from an array of industries, ranging from five to 60,000 employees. To learn about the recipients, visit www.worldblu.com/worldblu-list/list-2010.

In reading through this list, I was excited to see an organization from Portland, Maine, made the grade: Innovation Partners International (www.innovationpartners.com). I was even more thrilled to learn that Innovation Partners uses Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to help companies achieve excellence. Over the past several years, I have incorporated aspects of this methodology (AI) into my brand consulting services because I am a big believer in asking questions and using a strength-based approach to business.

On this note, and in the spirit of WorldBlu, what is one way your business already promotes democracy in the workplace and how might you build on this strength?

Meet Tony Hsieh.

Tony is the CEO of Zappos, the online retailer that Amazon acquired last year for more than $1.2 billion dollars. He’s a lifelong entrepreneur who has worked hard and reaped the benefits. Big time. But, I didn’t want to meet Tony because of his success in business. I wanted to meet him because his core goal in business and in life is to experience and share happiness.

Yes, I had to meet Tony.

Last month was my chance. I was in Austin, Texas, for SXSW. Tony was, too – riding around town on a bus promoting his upcoming book Delivering Happiness. I took my chance and tweeted Tony on a Saturday afternoon:

@Zappos My goal for today: getting on the @DHBook bus. On my bucket list: Meeting you. Any way to kill two birds w/ one stone?

A few hours later Tony sent me a direct message, followed by an email. He graciously invited my husband Shawn and me to meet the bus at 5 p.m. and join the festivities. I was so excited I was shaking. Literally.

We partied on the @DHBook bus Saturday and Monday nights. We swapped stories with amazing people, wore balloon hats, drank too much, and, yes, met Tony. As I’ve always read, he was incredibly shy but also unbelievably generous and thoughtful. And, although I felt a bit awkward, I did drop back in line at one of the bars to personally thank him for what he does. What can I say? I believe in expressing gratitude.

Bottom line, Tony gets it. The world needs more people like him: People who deliver happiness as a path to profits, passion, and purpose – which is what his new book is all about. On the bus, I was fortunate enough to get a signed, advanced copy of Delivering Happiness. I started reading it a few days ago and already love it. The book is broken down into three sections, and I plan to blog about each. But, let me share three things that resonated with me right off the bat:

First, Tony wrote the book himself. I love this. Way to keep it real, Tony.

Second, my favorite quote in the book (so far): “There was something alluring about being involved in something where the sole purpose was to create an experience and emotional journey for people, and then to have nothing but memories left afterward to hold on to.” This sums up my observation of Tony on the bus. He really seems to garner happiness by spreading it. It’s almost as if Tony sits contently in the shadows and soaks up the aura around him.

Finally, I discovered early on in the book that Tony is the first of three boys. I have three sons, and my oldest, Payton (age 6), already shows the characteristics of an entrepreneur. Last summer, he ran “Payton’s Sea Shell Company,” and he’s currently brainstorming his next big venture. But, what makes me smile the most is not that he shares this trait with Tony; it’s that Payton also has a heart of gold.

I wish the world for my children, but more than anything, I wish them happiness. And to think…they might someday find it in a place as random as a bus. I did.

I always connected improv with comedy until about a month ago when I was enjoying coffee with @DaveWeinberg, a Maine creative versed in improv. He drew a parallel between improv and life, and I was instantly intrigued by this connection. After all, we never really know what we’re going to say next, do we?

So, when I ran across Improv for Freelancers (by Amanda & Jordan Hirsch) in my SXSW planning, I immediately added it to my agenda. And, boy, am I glad I did. As freelancers, we are always writing our own script. And, as Jordan put it, “This is both exhilarating and terrifying.”

Here are 10 improv lessons I learned that will help ensure freelancing is exhilarating:

1. Practice being in the moment. Don’t think ahead. Live in the now.
2. Be an active listener. Listen, listen, listen, and absorb what your client is saying.
3. Take in more than words. Sometimes what people say and what they mean are different. For example, if a client says, “The graphics on this website need to be bigger, and we need to add red,” chances are what they mean is “Make the site bolder.”
4. Strip yourself of instinct. Listen and process, then respond.
5. Come on stage knowing something but not everything. Be open to what your client brings to the table.
6. Respect people’s ideas. You are not always going to love your client’s ideas, but you should always respect them.
7. Add value to the conversation. With every line, accept what your client is communicating and build on it.
8. Stay in the positive. Improv is about learning to respond, “Yes, and…” – even when the answer is really “no.” Here’s a sample scenario:
   Client: “I would like to meet today.”
   You: “Yes, and I would, too. However, I am booked. How about we get    together first thing in the morning?”
9. Make a commitment – and declare it. You can always change your choice, but be bold and make a choice in the first place. Get in the action.
10. Be in the scene you want to be in. Invent your career. Live out your passion. And, give it all you’ve got

I love these ideas, and I hope to incorporate them into my own life. After this workshop, I even had someone say to me, “If you want to change your life, study improv. Seriously, it will change the way you think.

Ironically, in the middle of writing this post, I received a message from @DaveWeinstein about an upcoming improv workshop in Portland, Maine. The thought alone takes me way outside my comfort zone, but then again, I just might have to commit.

Technology is a medium – a channel for exploring much bigger concepts. The core themes running rampant through my head include storytelling, improv, visual thinking, happiness, innovation, engagement, creativity, passion, gratitude, helping others, and living in the now.

This is right up my alley because I am a big picture person – a dreamer. I can hardly wait to think through and share everything I learned, and to put my ideas to work. There are so many people out there doing amazing things. I am inspired, and I am ready to rock the world with them.

(Top five lessons that came to mind, unedited, in no particular order)

1. I am not an expert.
   This is one of the first things I tell clients. And, it’s true. I am not an expert. I bring expertise to the table…and so do they. I respect my clients and have come to truly understand the meaning and power of real collaboration. When I enter a room, I always go in believing the answers are already there.
   
2. It’s okay to struggle with confidence so long as confidence wins out.
   On the last day of my first job (which I left because I was moving), my boss Sandy said to me, “You have the skill, now you need the confidence to go with it.” In delivering this phrase, she gave me confidence. I whisper this sentence to myself almost daily.
3. There’s nothing more powerful than a story well told.
   I just witnessed a wonderful example of this. The agency I share space with is kicking off an ad campaign for a local nonprofit to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Many organizations would celebrate this milestone by simply focusing on the number. In this case, however, they are telling 50 heart-opening, human stories every Sunday in 2010. Ah, I get chills just thinking about this. If given the option of communicating about helping hundreds of people or telling the personal story of one of them, tell the story.
   
4. Part of my responsibility is expectation management.
   One of my not-so-glorious responsibilities is to help clients understand that branding is a process. Overnight success is unrealistic. PR, for example, requires meaningful story ideas and time to nurture and grow them. Companies shouldn’t expect one press release to land them a front-page article in the New York Times – but they do. Therefore, it’s important that I am clear and honest upfront: Commit or don’t bother.
5. People are the heart of business
   I inherently believe that every employee matters – and contributes to business. This belief was reinforced for me a few years back when I was a patient in the ER at Maine Medical Center. My brain was bleeding and I was completely disoriented. I remember very little about that night – except for the friendly janitor who calmed me down by giving me a Tootsie Roll and reassuring me that everything would be okay. He got through to me in a way no one else could. I love Maine Med, and he is among the reasons why. Every person at an organization has the opportunity to live its brand.

These are just a few of the many lessons I have learned. And, I know it’s just the beginning. As we approach the end of this decade, I encourage you to reflect on your personal journey. What lessons have you learned in business?

I will hold steadfastly to my memories of seeing two beautiful bald women embrace each other for the first time, of witnessing cyclists raise their arms in victory as they crossed the finish, and of sharing in conversation with Alyssa, Renee, Doug, and others whose spirits alone lend credence to a cancer-free world.

The weekend was everything I hoped for and more.

I walked away truly inspired by people. I also left with a renewed belief in the possibility of business. Cause aside, LIVESTRONG is an amazing organization. As an individual who is passionate about worthwhile and sustainable brands, I put LIVESTRONG in its own class. Here’s a glimpse of why this brand rocks:

• Forget a mission statement, LIVESTRONG brings to life a manifesto (http://bit.ly/jfiR1)

• The headquarters is LEED certified, incorporates more than a ton of re-used materials from the existing building, relies almost entirely on natural light, and boasts a kitchen where recycling and composting are given behaviors

• This organization thrives on community from its engagement with local nonprofits to its global networking to its infamous twittering (with a live Twitter feed @LIVESTRONGHQ)

• LIVESTRONG is not just a workplace but also a workout place where employees can hit the onsite gym, break for yoga, or take a company bike for a spin around town

• The list goes on – internships, education, art, music, culture, outreach, websites, blogs, public tours, wristbands, patient support, empathy, vision…

LIVESTRONG not only bleeds yellow but also paints the world yellow with hope.

There’s a lot we can learn from LIVESTRONG, including how to live, work, and brand strong.

Situation/Goal:
EnvisioNet, a technical and customer care support partner, was preparing to make a major announcement: a new strategic alliance with Microsoft that would create hundreds of jobs in Maine. The company wanted to share this news in a big way, elevating its status as a major player in the technological revolution and catching the attention of potential talent.

Strategy & Solution:
We coordinated a press conference at the Capitol, followed by an optional media tour of
EnvisioNet, headquartered in Brunswick, Maine. Speakers included Governor Angus S. King Jr., and EnvisioNet President Heather Blease. We assumed responsibility for planning all aspects of this highly successful event, from strategy to press kit development to speech writing to event planning to onsite media relations and follow up.

Outcome/Results:
Our media event garnered statewide media coverage – print and broadcast. We also caught the attention of the Associated Press, regional publications such as Mass High Tech, and trade publications. In addition to generating external buzz, this media event spurred excitement and pride within the organization.

In collaboration with DW Group