2017 ispa conference & expo
keynote speaker October 17, 2017
at the beginning of the General
session, ISPA Chairman Todd Shaw
took the stage to thank the entire ISPA
community for such an inspiring and
incredible week. He implored the
community to continue the momentum
of the ISPA Conference & Expo
throughout the entire year by getting
involved. He also presented awards to
our 2017 Innovate Award winners.
These companies were voted on by their
industry peers for their outstanding
innovations in experiences, leadership,
philanthropy, products, technology and
equipment and treatments. Zeel was
also presented with the first-ever
Innovator of the Year Award.
He then introduced spa industry
pioneer, Deborah Szekely, who graced
the st age with her daughter-in-law and
grandson. It was so special to hear her
talk about her health, longevity and the
future of the spa and wellness indus-
tries. Her wisdom and experience are
markers for all of us who truly want to
make a difference in both our
community and the world.
Szekely also presented the Alex
Szekely Humanitarian Award to our
keynote speaker, Peyton Manning, for his
work with several charitable organizations
including his own Peyback Foundation,
which aims to help kids in underserved
communities.
Manning graciously accepted the
award and took the mic for his capti-
vating keynote presentation. His humor
was not only surprising, but infectious,
and even though spa and football don’t
generally seem to mesh, he built a
bridge between the two that wowed and
inspired the entire audience. Here are the
top 10 takeaways from Manning’s
presentation.
1. “expand your limits beyond what
you thought were your finite
boundaries.”
2. “learning to lead was one of the
most valuable takeaways from my
years of football.”
3. “Knowing what your team knows
helps you know how to handle it.”
4. “everyone has to earn the mantle of
leadership.”
5. “everyone needs a detailed game
plan. Winging it is a dangerous and
even arrogant approach.”
6. “everyone has to be on board and
everyone has to earn the results.”
7. “every day we either get better or
we get worse, we do not stay the
same.”
8. “attitudes are contagious; it is up to
you to decide if yours is worth
catching.”
9. “Power can intoxicate as deeply as
hopelessness demoralizes.”
10. “leaders must have the audacity to
believe there is something more to
reach for.”
After his presentation, Shaw came back to
the stage for a sit-down Q&A with
Manning. This is where we really got to
know him. The two men managed to get
the entire audience roaring with laughter
from their conversation.
Manning’s funny stories about hosting
SNL and post-football life gave us all a
glimpse into the humble man he really is,
on and off the field. One of the best
takeaways though, was from the first
question Shaw asked him: “What do you
miss most about playing football?”
“I don’t miss getting hit,” Manning
replied, which made us all chuckle and
nod in solidarity. But what he said next
resonated with our audience, who most
likely aren’t members of the gridiron gang.
He said, “I really miss being part of a
team.” So simple, yet so profound at the
same time. Because you don’t need to be
a football or soccer or basketball player to
be a member of a team. You have the
luxury of being a member of a team every
day when you go to work. You have the
opportunity to make that team strong,
close-knit and impenetrable by your
leadership. Isn’t that incredible?
So, take Peyton’s leadership advice to
heart and use it to make your team the
best it can be, because you never know
when the day will come that you’ll miss
being a part of that incredible team. n
December 2017
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