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A Theme Is More Than a Decorating Style Whenever I ask someone about the theme for their event, I almost always hear the same kinds of answers. "We're thinking black and gold." "It's kind of a garden theme." "We're doing Great Gatsby." None of those answers are necessarily wrong, but they often reveal something much bigger. Most people think a theme is primarily a decorating decision. They imagine flowers, linens, invitations, or perhaps a signature cocktail. The theme become

For many affluent founders, executives, investors, and client-facing business owners, the home has become more than a private retreat. It is a carefully managed setting for relationship building. A dinner at home can do what a boardroom, restaurant, or event space often cannot. It can lower defenses, protect privacy, and create a sense of access that feels personal and rare. Hosting at home is not just about showing wealth. At its best, it is about creating the exact conditio

The word free has done a remarkable job of convincing business owners and consumers alike that something has little value. I think the opposite is often true. Some of the most valuable events you'll ever host won't generate a dollar at the registration table. Instead, they'll generate something much harder to buy: trust. I've watched free events reconnect dormant prospects, deepen relationships with existing clients, create referral opportunities, introduce businesses to enti

A tray of untouched chicken. Three extra pans of pasta. A stack of boxed lunches no one ever opens. They all have the same thing in common. Someone guessed. When most people think about food waste, they picture leftovers at the end of an event. I think about the decisions that created those leftovers in the first place. More often than not, the problem isn't the caterer or the menu. It's that the host had to make dozens of decisions with incomplete information. One of the eas

A question I often get asked is... “How much should I spend on an event?” To the untrained ear it sounds like a budget question. Most of the time, it is really an ROI question. People are not only asking, “What can I afford?” They are asking, “If I put real money into a room, a guest list, food, speakers, design, staff, travel, and follow-up, will it be worth it?” That is the right question. But the answer changes depending on what the event is meant to do. Some events are bu

A “quick coffee” is rarely quick, and it is never free. You drive across town. You pay for gas or parking. You order a coffee because sitting empty-handed feels strange. Maybe you grab lunch. You lose the time before the meeting, the time during it, and the time it takes to get back into your day after it ends. All of that for one conversation. Networking has value. One-on-one meetings can lead to referrals, partnerships, sales, and friendships. But when every new connection