Bring Brilliant People Together – Phil and Linda Laders’ Worldwide Renaissance Weekends and Walking Tours

Good morning, Live Better than a Billionaire-a-Holics!

Because my first blog entry this morning is a repeat, I wanted to be sure to share some new ideas with you today.

Let me tell you about how one couple's interest in getting acquainted with powerful ideas led them to an astonishing life.

Phil Lader is a law school classmate of mine. Although we knew each other only slightly in law school, we became friendly while I was heading the tenth anniversary gift campaign for our law school class. Phil was impressed with the many networking activities I had employed during the fund-raising. At the end of the campaign in 1981, Phil invited me to join his wife, Linda, and him for a gathering of a few friends to discuss important ideas over New Year’s Eve. I wasn’t able to come that year, but was free for January 1, 1983 and trekked to Hilton Head, South Carolina with my two sons for a little chatting and recreation. I was the only person who lived north of the Mason-Dixon line, but the southerners soon made me feel comfortable.

From such small gatherings, Phil and Linda developed the world-renowned Renaissance Weekends that are so often described in the press. Since then, my family and I have attended most of the gatherings on New Year’s eve and met many hundreds of fascinating and stimulating people . . . including many of my personal heroes and heroines.

Attending these events has been a high point of my life, and certainly changed Phil’s and Linda’s lives for the better. Through the relationship that Phil developed with Bill Clinton and his advisors at these gatherings, Phil first served as head of the Small Business Administration and later as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

While serving as ambassador to the Court of St. James, Phil found a whole new way to network: He spent every weekend walking part of the boundaries of the U.K., stopping along the way to chat with those he met. Now, Renaissance Weekends also extend to the Laders’ amazing network of thoughtful people in the U.K. as well.

Have you considered hosting such thoughtful weekend chats and pursuing such interesting walks? They could open up the doors of the entire world to you.

Donald W. Mitchell, Your Dream Concierge

Copyright 2005 Donald W. Mitchell

Be sure to check out my blog dated May 30, 2005 on Plan Your Best Fourth of July! To find that blog, keep clicking on the oldest blog entry you can find in the right hand column until you find the title "Plan Your Best Fourth of July."

Procrastinator's Last Chance to Create Your Dad's Best Father's Day

Good morning, Live Better than a Billionaire-a-Holics!

Yesterday, I received a terrific Father's Day card from my ever thoughtful, delightful Mother-in-Law. Thanks, Bernice! It's great!!

As usual, that set off some scurrying at our house. My wife looked at the card and said, "What would you like for Father's Day?" I replied, "Have you read my blog entry on the subject?" She said, "No."

I encouraged her to read the May 16 blog entry, and she had a very difficult time finding it. Then all was quiet in the house.

So just in case you haven't been able to find my advice on this subject (or have forgotten it), I've decided to reprint the May 16 blog for those who are just getting organized for Father's Day. The good news is that you have plenty of time to follow my advice. The bad news is that you'd better get started in the next 48 hours. Remember that e-cards can be sent for free through Sunday and will still be received in time. Good luck!

With Father's Day is coming up, I wanted to share a few tips for how to make this one the best ever for your Dad.

Planning for Father's Day is much different than planning for Mother's Day. For Mother's Day, you can offer to do things around the house, you can take Mom out to dinner, you can give her lots of touching personal gifts and you can tell her you love in many ways.

Most Dads wouldn't find that sort of event nearly as exciting.

Over the years, Dads I have spoken to tell me that "it's just another day."

Well, let's change all that!

First, break away from the idea that what you do for Father's Day has to be done on Father's Day. You can certainly give the gift and alert your Dad to your plans on Father's day . . . but June isn't the ideal time to actually celebrate a lot of Dads' interests. Chances are that your Dad has never been given a Father's Day gift that he can use on a more appropriate day. Surprise him!

Second, what has he always wanted to do . . . but hasn't done yet? Dads sacrifice a lot for their children, and delayed joys can pile up. Perhaps he'll never be able to afford that imported sports car . . . but you may be able to afford to rent one for him for a day when he would enjoy driving it. Who would he like to do or see that day? Many charities auction off the chance to meet famous people (including sports stars) for lunch . . . and other fabulous experiences. One man I know paid not very much money to watch a Patriots game in Coach Bill Belichick's sky box at Gillette Stadium while the coach's wife and daughter celebrated the daughter's birthday. If you ask your Dad what's he's always wanted to do, he'll tell you. Just don't wait to too close to Father's Day or you'll spoil the surprise.

Third, build the day around a theme. Here's an example. If your Dad has always been a big fan of fishing, take his photographs from successful fishing trips and put them into an album for him. Take him out fishing for the day. Call up his fishing buddies and ask them about their favorite experiences from fishing with Dad and put together an audio tape of what they say. Make a Father's Day card out of a fish he has caught that you still have in the freezer. Bake a fish-shaped cake with a little model of him on top . . . fishing away. Give him a vanity license plate that says "I'd rather be fishing." Blow up his favorite picture of a fish he's caught and put it into a beautiful frame.

Fourth, spoil him with what he really loves, but hardly ever gets. Many Dads like certain foods . . . but never get them because they make a huge mess in the kitchen. Other Dads like to skip shaving for the day . . . but don't on Father's Day because everyone expects them to go out to dinner.

Most billionaire Dads will tell you that no one has ever put together a day like the one I've just outlined for you. And you should be able to do it on a limited budget! If you cannot buy something at a celebrity auction, simply look out for free events. For example, the Patriots have open practices in August . . . and you can shake almost every player's hand at that one . . . and there's no charge. If you arrange to take Dad to a practice in that rented sports car, he'll have a ball.

Make it a great Father's Day!

Donald W. Mitchell, Your Dream Concierge

Copyright 2005 Donald W. Mitchell

Be sure to check out my blog dated May 30, 2005 on Plan Your Best Fourth of July! To find that blog, keep clicking on the oldest blog entry you can find in the right hand column until you find the title "Plan Your Best Fourth of July."