#173 sneak peek

In New York City, there is one night a year when "inflation" is a good word.  On the night before Thanksgiving, the Central Park West area comes alive with tankers full of helium, giant netting, hundreds of sandbags and a swarm of volunteers -- all to inflate the giant balloons for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

When I was among the throngs to see this event in person, I believe that I enjoyed it more than the parade itself.  It is a well-oiled machine -- with each balloon taking up more than a full city block.  At ground level, the balloons seem even more enormous than they do when floating down Broadway.  I can't watch the parade today without thinking about the process that goes into getting them ready for the sky.

Since 1927, Macy's has been allowing the public to observe the night-before parade preparations. I suppose they could rope off the areas or keep the fleet of helium tankers in a remote location, but instead they have embraced the crowds who serve to build excitement for the main event.

Do you do something that could benefit from others being involved in the preparations?  Could you invite people for a sneak peek into event set up, video filming, photo shoots or the like?  What about creating a window above your building construction site, publicly displaying interior design options or giving behind-the-scenes tours?  

Think of how you can help others see what really goes into your end product, give them an opportunity to gain appreciation for your work and build the loyalty that comes when they feel like an "insider".

The Wizard of Oz should be the only one behind the curtain.  Let people peek behind yours.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
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