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Hello from San Diego! I'm on the West Coast for the ASI San Diego show. The show has been great so far and I have been able to visit the booths of my favorite suppliers and see their new product offerings. One of the best parts of the show was the keynote session with Michael J. Fox this morning.
I arrived at the packed San Diego ballroom of the Marriott Marquis and Marina a few minutes before the 8:15 a.m. keynote. I've long been a fan of Michael J. Fox, most recently more for his activism than his acting (though he's wonderful on The Good Wife). The founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research did not disappoint. Between gentle ribbing on his height and condition, Fox gave a compelling and entertaining account of his career and disease and how each has shaped the other.
The main takeaway for salespeople and this industry is not just the keynote motto of "Don't play the result," but rather the goal of his foundation, which is to spend money more effectively to find a cure. Effective spending is what keeps this industry thriving. This relates to nonprofits, awareness initiatives and any other programs you have going on now. Whether you are searching for a cure or the perfect promotion, spending your time and resources and the resources of your client effectively is the difference between a one-time sale and a career-long program.
And because this is a fashion blog and I'm in the most celebtastic state in the U.S., I'll comment on his attire. Fox wore a gray suit, white shirt and pink tie. His hair was slightly mussed. If you want to recreate his look, just search for corporate apparel on PromoMarketing.com.
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