By Sandy Sites VP, Director. Jack Morton Training
This week on July 4th the United States will celebrate its birthday. Do you know exactly what it was that happened on that day 232 years ago? Was it:
A. The completion of The Constitution
B. The Boston Tea Party
C. Samuel Adams opening the first brewery in North America (Now that's cause for celebration!)
D. The convening of the First Continental Congress
E. The signing of the Declaration of Independence
For the correct answer, click on Continue reading below.
The correct answer is E. Did you pass?
Several years ago I visited with my sister and her family over this holiday weekend. As I sipped my Sam Adams, (I considered this my patriotic duty), I found myself in awe as we were invited to participate in what has become their annual July 4th family tradition. Starting with the youngest children old enough to read, everyone took turns reciting passages from The Declaration of Independence.
"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
My own understanding of these profound words reached a far deeper level of meaning coming out of the mouths of babes.
Since my sister was acting as facilitator keeping control of who would read next and when, I found myself paying very close attention so as to be ready when called upon. When my turn came I recited with particular care the words I was assigned.
My take away from that day is that each year I now am sure to read again this compelling document and invite my family and friends to do the same. Follow this link, read, reflect, and consider taking ownership adding this to your own July 4th tradition in future years.
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So are you asking yourself, "Why is this guy writing this personal family drivel as an entry on an experiential marketing blog site?" I realize now that on that day at my sister's house I was immersed in an experiential training session. The right environment. Expert facilitation. Appropriate and relevant documentation. Immersive exercises and activities. A call to action that inspired. Those of us who integrate training into the Experiential Planning process do so because we know that when audiences are truly engaged retention rates (knowledge transfer) reach as high as 80%. (Source: ASTD)
Here is a quote from Carl Buechner that I believe says it best:
"They will forget what you tell them. They will never forget how you make them feel".
So I ask you - do you have a similar story to tell? We would love to hear from you.
Comments (2)
I love the tie-in to training, Sandy. Your observation of your sister as facilitator is spectacular. There is so much training that comes out of the experience of family tradition. (Really, aren't families the be-all-end-all experiential marketing plan in action).
Posted by Elisa on July 2, 2008 7:20 PM
By the way, my cousin made us do this last Friday and it was great! As always in life, we often don't take the time to stop and think about what it is that we're doing and why--we simply barrel ahead. It was empowering(for lack of a better word) to read allow these words that were written with such passion hundreds of years ago. My cousin--a lawyer and ever the orator--read some passages aloud that were especially poignant and made the whole experience one that we'll remember beyond the delicious bbq and rainy fireworks.
Posted by Leesa on July 8, 2008 4:01 PM