Welcome to the SPIN November 2025 Newsletter with contributions by:
Lisa Jennings - CEO, Wildly Different and All Around SPIN Supporter!!!!
Monica Graves, CEO, Soulbare and All Around SPIN Supporter!!!!
Carolynn Santos, SPIN Executive Director!!!!
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November Articles
🍁 CSR Team-Building Tips To Be Grateful For 🍁 Lisa Jennings, Wildly Different ✨ The Science and Soul of Gratitude ✨ By Monica Graves Garcia, Founder, Soulbare Wellness 💡 Thanks for Nothing (Going Wrong): The Art of Pre-Event Gratitude 💡 By Carolynn Santos, Executive Director, SPIN: Senior Planners Industry Network |
November Contents
SPIN Events and Programs miniCon, SPINCon & Ask Me Anything Launch Strategic Alliance Partners and Sponsors Meet Talkadot, Innovia, Wildly Different & Soulbare Newsletter Guest Writers Needed Share your Experience and Insight w SPIN Members Photo Fun Furry Fun for Halloween |
🍁CSR Team-Building Tips To Be Grateful For 🍁
Lisa Jennings, Wildly Different
At Wildly Different, charitable team building events are the most popular type of team building request we get. After leading thousands of these events, we know that choosing the right one for your group can be the difference between your employees finding it grating or being grateful!
When to comes to the dos and don’ts of charitable team building, ask yourself the 5 Ws to ensure your event is worthwhile, wonderful and will wow your group.
feels proud of the impact, not just the activity, and the charity feels genuinely supported.
Don’t: pick a CSR event just because it’s trendy. Your “why” should make the attendees say, “Oh, that fits us perfectly!”
Picture this: a game show where teams score points by completing challenges, such as uncovering hidden numbers in fun facts about the charity. (“The charity is even devoted to helping the families of the sick children they help by… ”Did you catch the hidden “SEVEN” between two words in there?") Everyone still gets the thrill of playing and giving, but without a single child or toy car in sight.
Don’t: dismiss monetary donations as “less exciting.” Remember, gratitude isn’t about volume. It’s about value. Sometimes the most meaningful gift fits neatly into a check envelope.
Don’t: assume the charity will be delighted to host you. They might love your spirit but lack the staff. Save them the stress, and yourself the hassle, by keeping the giving experience on-site at your locale.
complete donation kits. If the weather (or venue) isn’t conducive to out-and-about, people can still move around inside. Set up stations around the room where teams complete mini-challenges to earn donations. Or, if you’re really pressed for time or space, stay put! Let teams compete from their tables to win items that roll in dramatically at the front of the room on carts waiting in the wings. Ta-da!
Minimal setup drama.
Don’t: pick a program that doesn’t fit your physical reality. Even gratitude can wilt fast when people are stuck in a room for too long and/or forced to sweat outside in business attire if professional dress is de rigueur.
want, and the key messages you’d like them to cover (and not cover if need be – you’d be surprised what could be said). If the charity can’t attend, ask for a short video message. A two-minute clip showing the real people your team is helping can have a far greater emotional punch than a 20-minute speech ever could. This is especially ideal for those who want kids at their event, but the team building is scheduled for school hours and renders this impossible.
Don’t: wing it. Without structure, the moment can easily go off-track, leaving your audience glazed over instead of glowing with gratitude.
When to comes to the dos and don’ts of charitable team building, ask yourself the 5 Ws to ensure your event is worthwhile, wonderful and will wow your group.
- DO Start With The “Why”
feels proud of the impact, not just the activity, and the charity feels genuinely supported.
Don’t: pick a CSR event just because it’s trendy. Your “why” should make the attendees say, “Oh, that fits us perfectly!”
- DO Think Beyond the “What”
Picture this: a game show where teams score points by completing challenges, such as uncovering hidden numbers in fun facts about the charity. (“The charity is even devoted to helping the families of the sick children they help by… ”Did you catch the hidden “SEVEN” between two words in there?") Everyone still gets the thrill of playing and giving, but without a single child or toy car in sight.
Don’t: dismiss monetary donations as “less exciting.” Remember, gratitude isn’t about volume. It’s about value. Sometimes the most meaningful gift fits neatly into a check envelope.
- DO Be Smart About the “When”
Don’t: assume the charity will be delighted to host you. They might love your spirit but lack the staff. Save them the stress, and yourself the hassle, by keeping the giving experience on-site at your locale.
- DO Choose the Right “Where”
complete donation kits. If the weather (or venue) isn’t conducive to out-and-about, people can still move around inside. Set up stations around the room where teams complete mini-challenges to earn donations. Or, if you’re really pressed for time or space, stay put! Let teams compete from their tables to win items that roll in dramatically at the front of the room on carts waiting in the wings. Ta-da!
Minimal setup drama.
Don’t: pick a program that doesn’t fit your physical reality. Even gratitude can wilt fast when people are stuck in a room for too long and/or forced to sweat outside in business attire if professional dress is de rigueur.
- DO Highlight the “Who”
want, and the key messages you’d like them to cover (and not cover if need be – you’d be surprised what could be said). If the charity can’t attend, ask for a short video message. A two-minute clip showing the real people your team is helping can have a far greater emotional punch than a 20-minute speech ever could. This is especially ideal for those who want kids at their event, but the team building is scheduled for school hours and renders this impossible.
Don’t: wing it. Without structure, the moment can easily go off-track, leaving your audience glazed over instead of glowing with gratitude.
Gratitude that the company has the resources to give. Gratitude that the team worked together and bonded more so because of it. Gratitude that, for a moment, the world feels just a little bit better because of something they did…together. And gratitude that YOU pulled it off successfully! So, choose with purpose. Plan with empathy. Laugh along the way. And don’t forget to take that photo—because when it captures the smiles of a grateful team, it’s worth more than a thousand words (or a thousand canned goods). About the author: Lisa Jennings is the Chief Experience Officer for Wildly Different, a company that specializes in unique team building experiences. She is also the 'Queen of Clever' for Masters of the Hunt, which focuses on creating and implementing bespoke scavenger hunts and escape experiences. Connect on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jenningslisa. |
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SPINners - Newsletter Guest Writers Needed!
Join us! The Editorial Team is looking for SPINners who would like to share their voice and expertise with the industry and over 2,000 of their peers.
Please consider being a SPIN Newsletter guest writer for an upcoming edition (or two or three or twelve!). Each month we'll have a theme and can provide topic ideas if needed. As a writer your voice will be heard in the Community and beyond, providing you with professional development while showcasing your thought leadership on a subject.
Please let us know you're interested here or by emailing Carolynn.
Please consider being a SPIN Newsletter guest writer for an upcoming edition (or two or three or twelve!). Each month we'll have a theme and can provide topic ideas if needed. As a writer your voice will be heard in the Community and beyond, providing you with professional development while showcasing your thought leadership on a subject.
Please let us know you're interested here or by emailing Carolynn.
✨ The Science and Soul of Gratitude ✨
By Monica Graves Garcia
As we move into the season of Thanksgiving, messages of gratitude amplify across the collective radar. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and appreciate what’s good. The act of being thankful not only releases feel-good hormones, it also radiates positivity to those around you.
Sounds like a win-win, right?
Well… for most of us, gratitude is much easier said than done.
That’s especially true for meeting and event professionals. While others slow down for the holidays, your world ramps up because you’re the one throwing the dang parties! You’re juggling budgets, speakers, contracts, and nonstop logistics. The pace rarely slows enough to even say the word gratitude, let alone journal about it.
But here’s the truth: gratitude isn’t simply a “nice-to-have.” It’s a high-impact leadership practice that rewires your brain, sharpens your focus, and changes how you show up under pressure.
And when you understand the “what’s in it for me,” it’s easier to prioritize. So let’s build the case together.
1 | The Science of Gratitude
Modern neuroscience has caught up with what wisdom traditions have taught for centuries: gratitude changes the chemistry of your body and brain.
Three fast facts:
Translation: Gratitude helps your nervous system operate more efficiently. You recover from stress faster, think more clearly, and regulate emotions with greater ease.
And in an industry where one wrong detail can unravel a production schedule, that kind of steadiness is worth its weight in gold.
2 | The Soul of Gratitude
Beyond brain chemistry, gratitude is a practice in mindful awareness. It’s an intentional way of choosing where to shine the flashlight of your attention.
Your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts as your internal filter. Whatever you focus on most, it brings more into view.
Consider the Red-Car Effect.
Ever notice that when you think about a red car, suddenly you see red cars everywhere? They were always there. It’s just that now, your perception has been tuned to notice them.
Gratitude works the same way. When you focus on what’s working - your creative solution to a client curveball, your supportive teammate, the perfectly timed coffee delivery before keynote, your warm bed at night - you begin to train your perception to find more of what’s working.
This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s strategic awareness. You can still acknowledge life’s difficulties without trying to fix, deny, or judge them… and you can simultaneously choose to point your attention toward what’s good.
In doing so, you send a clear signal to your brain (and to the universe) that says: my life IS working out. Happy, thank you, more please.
And before long, you’ll start seeing that “more” is exactly what you receive.
3 | Gratitude as a Two-Way Street
Most of us have been taught gratitude as an object-referred practice. “I’m grateful for my team,” “I’m grateful for my family,” “I’m grateful for coffee,” and so on.
That’s a beautiful start. But there’s another layer: self-referred gratitude. Which is the practice of recognizing your own growth, effort, and resilience.
Try this tonight: a practice I frequently share with my clients called 3 Points of Praise.
Before bed, name three things you’re proud of yourself for today. They don’t have to be monumental.
Each acknowledgment strengthens the neural pathways of self-trust and self-respect. You’re teaching your system: I’m doing well. I am capable. I’m proud of who I’m becoming.
Don’t Just Take My Word - Try it for Yourself!
Gratitude doesn’t require a journal, an app, or an hour of quiet time. It simply requires intention and attention. Just a one-minute decision to notice.
This November, give yourself a mini challenge:
Take 60 seconds in the morning, evening, or between site visits to recognize one thing around you that’s working and one thing within you that you’re proud of.
As you develop your relationship with gratitude, you’ll discover that it’s about so much more than being thankful for what is.
It’s about training your perception to create more of what can be.
About the Author: Monica Graves García is a speaker, strategist, and Chopra Center certified master educator, specializing in regenerative wellness and mindful leadership. She partners with organizations and event professionals to design experiences that restore clarity, creativity, and collective well-being. Connect at soulbare.com or on LinkedIn @ Monica Graves García.
Sounds like a win-win, right?
Well… for most of us, gratitude is much easier said than done.
That’s especially true for meeting and event professionals. While others slow down for the holidays, your world ramps up because you’re the one throwing the dang parties! You’re juggling budgets, speakers, contracts, and nonstop logistics. The pace rarely slows enough to even say the word gratitude, let alone journal about it.
But here’s the truth: gratitude isn’t simply a “nice-to-have.” It’s a high-impact leadership practice that rewires your brain, sharpens your focus, and changes how you show up under pressure.
And when you understand the “what’s in it for me,” it’s easier to prioritize. So let’s build the case together.
1 | The Science of Gratitude
Modern neuroscience has caught up with what wisdom traditions have taught for centuries: gratitude changes the chemistry of your body and brain.
Three fast facts:
- A review of 64 randomized clinical trials found people who practiced gratitude experienced an average 5.8 % boost in overall mental well-being.
- Those same participants reported about 7.8 % lower anxiety and 6.9 % fewer depressive symptoms.
- Brain-imaging research shows gratitude activates decision-making and empathy centers (the medial prefrontal cortex) while quieting the amygdala—the brain’s stress-and-fear hub.
Translation: Gratitude helps your nervous system operate more efficiently. You recover from stress faster, think more clearly, and regulate emotions with greater ease.
And in an industry where one wrong detail can unravel a production schedule, that kind of steadiness is worth its weight in gold.
2 | The Soul of Gratitude
Beyond brain chemistry, gratitude is a practice in mindful awareness. It’s an intentional way of choosing where to shine the flashlight of your attention.
Your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts as your internal filter. Whatever you focus on most, it brings more into view.
Consider the Red-Car Effect.
Ever notice that when you think about a red car, suddenly you see red cars everywhere? They were always there. It’s just that now, your perception has been tuned to notice them.
Gratitude works the same way. When you focus on what’s working - your creative solution to a client curveball, your supportive teammate, the perfectly timed coffee delivery before keynote, your warm bed at night - you begin to train your perception to find more of what’s working.
This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s strategic awareness. You can still acknowledge life’s difficulties without trying to fix, deny, or judge them… and you can simultaneously choose to point your attention toward what’s good.
In doing so, you send a clear signal to your brain (and to the universe) that says: my life IS working out. Happy, thank you, more please.
And before long, you’ll start seeing that “more” is exactly what you receive.
3 | Gratitude as a Two-Way Street
Most of us have been taught gratitude as an object-referred practice. “I’m grateful for my team,” “I’m grateful for my family,” “I’m grateful for coffee,” and so on.
That’s a beautiful start. But there’s another layer: self-referred gratitude. Which is the practice of recognizing your own growth, effort, and resilience.
Try this tonight: a practice I frequently share with my clients called 3 Points of Praise.
Before bed, name three things you’re proud of yourself for today. They don’t have to be monumental.
- You negotiated a complex vendor contract with grace
- You took a five-minute walk instead of powering through lunch
- You simply got out of bed and faced the day with presence
Each acknowledgment strengthens the neural pathways of self-trust and self-respect. You’re teaching your system: I’m doing well. I am capable. I’m proud of who I’m becoming.
Don’t Just Take My Word - Try it for Yourself!
Gratitude doesn’t require a journal, an app, or an hour of quiet time. It simply requires intention and attention. Just a one-minute decision to notice.
This November, give yourself a mini challenge:
Take 60 seconds in the morning, evening, or between site visits to recognize one thing around you that’s working and one thing within you that you’re proud of.
As you develop your relationship with gratitude, you’ll discover that it’s about so much more than being thankful for what is.
It’s about training your perception to create more of what can be.
About the Author: Monica Graves García is a speaker, strategist, and Chopra Center certified master educator, specializing in regenerative wellness and mindful leadership. She partners with organizations and event professionals to design experiences that restore clarity, creativity, and collective well-being. Connect at soulbare.com or on LinkedIn @ Monica Graves García.
SPIN Events
!! miniCon is Back !!
Thursday, 11/13/25
11:00 am - 1:30 pm, Central
Online Zoom Gathering
Gratitude. Connection. A dash of SPIN magic.
Pull up a chair (and maybe some brunch) for miniCon — SPIN’s bite-sized virtual gathering packed with peer insights, real conversations, and that unmistakable SPIN energy we all love.
Here's what's on tap:
Because together, we make this industry better — and a whole lot more fun.
Registration Fee: $0
BONUS: Join us for miniCon & receive a discount of $50.00 on your SPINCon 2026 registration!
Register Here!
Thursday, 11/13/25
11:00 am - 1:30 pm, Central
Online Zoom Gathering
Gratitude. Connection. A dash of SPIN magic.
Pull up a chair (and maybe some brunch) for miniCon — SPIN’s bite-sized virtual gathering packed with peer insights, real conversations, and that unmistakable SPIN energy we all love.
Here's what's on tap:
- MEETING CHAOS!! A fun but wildly useful immersion into problem solving and difficult personalities, led by SPIN's Executive Director, Carolynn Santos
- A bite-sized, amazing session by Monica Graves-Garcia to cool your jets just in time for the holiday season
- A brief look at impactful new teambuilding ideas by Lisa Jennings to fuel your creativity for the new year
- The MOST USEFUL AI tool EVER, presented by Shawna Suckow, SPIN Founder, to blow.your.mind.
- Not one, but TWO cool new industry tools you'll love.
Because together, we make this industry better — and a whole lot more fun.
Registration Fee: $0
BONUS: Join us for miniCon & receive a discount of $50.00 on your SPINCon 2026 registration!
Register Here!
Facebook Live - ASK ME ANYTHING Launch
December 11, 2025, 11:00 am, Central. Live in the SPIN (Members Only) Facebook group.
SPINners, you’re going to love this! There's a new tool out there that will significantly decrease the risk involved in selecting speakers. It's called Talkadot, and they're now an official SPIN partner!
Talkadot reduces risk because you get real, unbiased, unfiltered data from speakers' actual audience members and clients, ***not just the ones the speakers want you to see.
Grab a cup of coffee and join us for a quick chat with Talkadot Founder, Arel Moody, to see how this tool helps you discover speakers who don’t just sound good on paper—they crush it on stage. Click here to let us know you're coming
Talkadot reduces risk because you get real, unbiased, unfiltered data from speakers' actual audience members and clients, ***not just the ones the speakers want you to see.
Grab a cup of coffee and join us for a quick chat with Talkadot Founder, Arel Moody, to see how this tool helps you discover speakers who don’t just sound good on paper—they crush it on stage. Click here to let us know you're coming
SPINCon 2026: Postponed :(
SPINCon needs a home—got ideas?
SPINCon needs a home—got ideas?
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The location we had in the works couldn’t secure the sponsorship needed to make it happen (cue the "whomp whomp" sound). So, we’re back on the search for a destination to help us bring the SPIN signature magic to life.
Let’s find SPINCon its next great home—because this show must go on! Want to join the Planning Committee? Our next call is Wednesday, November 12, 2:00 pm, Central. Email Carolynn if you'd like to be included in the planning. |
💡 Thanks for Nothing (Going Wrong)
The Art of Pre-Event Gratitude 💡
Carolynn Santos, Executive Director
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In the Event World, No News Is Great News, Right?
All the planning is done. You’re onsite. Set-up is complete. You are downstairs at 6:00 am. Registration opens at 7:00 am. Everything is ready to go. You take a moment – you take that deep inhale breath and then a slow exhale breath – registration opens and nothing goes wrong! You take the invisible win. Senior planners are hard wired to see where something could go wrong before it does, and we have that planner power which allows us to anticipate and prepare for those situations. We can act in real-time and no one knows anything has happened. Here is an idea – when we take that last deep breath before showtime, we allow ourselves some grace and can be grateful for the chaos that didn’t show up; this time. The Invisible Wins We Never Celebrate – Let’s Appreciate Those Too! Here is a different perspective on the meetings and events we plan, it is okay if the event is “boring” on the operations side. How cool is it that nothing went wrong…
Allow yourself to appreciate the invisible wins, the wins that mean little to anyone but those senior planners who put the effort into the event. We know the extra effort makes the experience seamless and priceless for the attendee, which is why we do what we do. |
The Power of Proactive Planning (AKA Why We’re Legends)
Events go right because senior planners plan meetings and events like chess champions on a double espresso coffee.
We have done the requisite walk-throughs of sites, risk management is covered, security is deployed, the pre-cons will cover everything and everyone, and our back-up plans have back-up plans. We are ready because we’ve done this - time & time again. And, it is okay to appreciate and give yourself kudos that you have never had to use a back-up plan to make the magic happen!
Thank You to the Crises That Didn’t Happen - The Best Situations To Be Grateful For
Even the most meticulous of senior planners can have a small something go wrong no matter the amount of planning one puts into a program. So when something doesn’t go wrong, we can be grateful for that too. Something like…
One or more of these things has happened at least once to all of us, and it’s the moment when that doesn’t happen that one feels an immense amount of relief and gratitude - on to the next event.
Practicing Pre-Event Gratitude - Not Easy To Do
What senior planners do is not luck — it’s craft, skills, experience and collective wisdom from the senior planner community, and, maybe, just a little bit of magic and planner sorcery to put together a meeting or event.
Next time you are onsite and are ready to take that final deep breath before showtime, give yourself a moment to appreciate the smoothness of execution ahead - you’ll be ready for that one thing that could go wrong.
Events go right because senior planners plan meetings and events like chess champions on a double espresso coffee.
We have done the requisite walk-throughs of sites, risk management is covered, security is deployed, the pre-cons will cover everything and everyone, and our back-up plans have back-up plans. We are ready because we’ve done this - time & time again. And, it is okay to appreciate and give yourself kudos that you have never had to use a back-up plan to make the magic happen!
Thank You to the Crises That Didn’t Happen - The Best Situations To Be Grateful For
Even the most meticulous of senior planners can have a small something go wrong no matter the amount of planning one puts into a program. So when something doesn’t go wrong, we can be grateful for that too. Something like…
- “Thanks for no Wi-Fi meltdown during the keynote.”
- “Thanks to the universe for no fire alarm evacuation during dessert.”
- “Shout-out to the attendee who didn’t try to bring the emotional support python.”
- “Grateful that nobody said the words ‘Let’s just change the agenda real quick…’”
- “Thankful for name badges that are printed correctly. Every. Single. One.”
One or more of these things has happened at least once to all of us, and it’s the moment when that doesn’t happen that one feels an immense amount of relief and gratitude - on to the next event.
Practicing Pre-Event Gratitude - Not Easy To Do
What senior planners do is not luck — it’s craft, skills, experience and collective wisdom from the senior planner community, and, maybe, just a little bit of magic and planner sorcery to put together a meeting or event.
Next time you are onsite and are ready to take that final deep breath before showtime, give yourself a moment to appreciate the smoothness of execution ahead - you’ll be ready for that one thing that could go wrong.
In a profession built on anticipating challenges, take time to acknowledge the problems that never happened. Recognizing smooth execution and crisis-free moments builds confidence, reinforces mastery, and prevents burnout — because “nothing went wrong” is a victory worth celebrating.
SPIN Announces the Strategic Alliances Program
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We are excited to announce our first alliance is with Talkadot!
Find the Right Speaker Every Time Talkadot makes it easy to discover your perfect speaker match by using feedback from over 11,000 speakers and over a million data points. Our tool leverages our unique database and AI to match you to the perfect speaker for any topic, budget, or audience size, Talkadot helps you book with confidence. Best of all, there’s no cost or obligation, just smarter, data-driven matches. EARN A COMMISSION! SPIN receives a small commission for each speaker a SPIN member books through our link with Talkadot. YOU receive $100 commission that can be sent directly to you, your organization, or you can donate your referral fee back to SPIN. NOTE: TO GET YOUR REBATE, YOU MUST BOOK THROUGH SPIN's referral link!! Please reach out to Carolynn with any questions. |
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Recommend Sponsors & Receive a Referral Fee!!!
Dear SPINners – we are actively doing outreach for year-round SPIN Sponsors for 2026. We have several sponsorships including in-kind, event, and annual options to choose from.
If you know a supplier company that would be a great partner, please send contact information to Carolynn [email below].
If the Sponsor signs on with SPIN, the SPINner will receive a $100 referral bonus that goes right into your pocket (or your company's, or you can gift it back to SPIN).
Winner-winner chicken dinner. Send contact details to [email protected].
If you know a supplier company that would be a great partner, please send contact information to Carolynn [email below].
If the Sponsor signs on with SPIN, the SPINner will receive a $100 referral bonus that goes right into your pocket (or your company's, or you can gift it back to SPIN).
Winner-winner chicken dinner. Send contact details to [email protected].
Furry Fun on Halloween!!!
SPIN SUPPORTERS
Strategic Alliance Partner
In-Kind Sponsors
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