JACOBY'S JABBER

Among our business principles, “Continually Improve Processes” has always struck me as the most serious. Other Smart City principles, including “Teams Work,” “It’s the People,” and “Seek the Best” highlight a more light-hearted tone, but “Continually Improve Processes” just sounds a little machinelike. But this quarter has proven that the pursuit of improvement can also be really enjoyable.

Throughout the quarter, I have been grateful to participate in a series of fun events that have helped continually improve the process, both at a company level, within my own marketing department, and as an individual. One event that stands out is our annual Las Vegas corporate outing, where the entire corporate office came together for an enjoyable activity. This year, we decided to attend a Las Vegas Aviators minor league baseball game. I was part of the planning committee for this, and I’ll be honest, it was a little stressful. We had to pick an event that most people would enjoy, pick a date that people could attend, and calculate how many family members each employee could bring, among other considerations.

And even with all our planning, we faced an unexpected surprise. The evening we chose ended up coinciding with the final NHL game of the season where the Vegas Golden Knights took on the Florida Panthers. And while that conflict may have been discouraging at first, our private suite at the Aviators game turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It allowed our office to come together and watch the Knights game on television as a group and it turned out to be a fantastic night of camaraderie and team bonding!

This quarter also saw the marketing department embark on their own team-building activity. After considering a wide range of different options, we settled on archery. Participating in archery as a department turned out to not only be a fun activity where I got to fulfill my lifelong dream of being Legolas, but it also provided me an opportunity to get to know my team a bit better and see them in an environment that I don’t typically see them in. It was a lot of fun!

And finally, on an individual level, I feel like I’ve continually improved my own process when it comes to interacting with professionals within my own city and industry. Last quarter, I attended a networking event with my manager, and talked to a grand total of zero new people. The few times I worked up the courage to make eye contact and speak with someone, they either turned out to be an event staff member or a photographer hired for the occasion. Naturally, I left feeling disheartened. However, rather than shying away from future networking events, I insisted on attending another one this quarter.

This quarter’s networking event felt like a step in the right direction. Determined to do better, I made more of a conscious effort to introduce myself and engage in conversations with those around me. I even got to participate in the sacred art of exchanging business cards. And on top of that, the event took place at Fantasy Lab in Las Vegas, which is an immersive art experience that provided a good backdrop for my own quest to network more. I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience this if I wasn’t committed to continually improving my own process. Now, I can’t wait for the next event!