Pulse Legacy Archive January / February 2011 | Page 38

ISPA
Foundation
President Jeff Kohl kicked
off the General Session
with news on the release
of the Financial Management for Spas textbook. The book is
useful both for spa professionals who have a solid background in
accounting and those who don’t have any financial experience.
Kohl presented University of Houston student Kate Sornson
with the Mary Tabacchi Scholarship, and later gave the Ruth
Stricker Spa and Wellness Award to Barb Thomley, coordinator of
outpatient services in the Complementary and Integrative
Medicine Program at the Mayo Clinic, who said they will use the
funds from the award to evaluate the effect of massage therapy on
breast surgery patients.
Keynote speaker Marcus Buckingham helped attendees realize
their strengths with his presentation “What the World’s Best
Managers Do Differently.” Buckingham authored four best-selling
books including “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” to redefine
employee strengths and weaknesses. “Our weaknesses are not
areas of opportunity…People will grow and develop where they
have already demonstrated strengths,” he explained.

WEDNESDAY

Buckingham pointed out that workers and managers spend
more time focusing and trying to improve people’s weaknesses
rather than utilizing and growing their strengths. He advised
attendees to make a “Loved It/Loathed It” list for a week, jotting
down all the things they do at work that they either enjoy or
dislike. From the list, they must create a strength statement. “You
might be surprised to find out that you will have things that
you’re good at but hate doing,” he said. His advice was to find
ways to build your job around your strengths.
When you identify a weakness, he advised to STOP:
S • Stop doing this activity.
T • Team up with people who are invigorated by what
weakens you.
O • Offer up your strengths and you may get to avoid a weakness.
P • Perceive your weakness through the lens of your strength.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
BEST SURPRISE: The 2010 ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award was presented to John and Karen Korpi, the “spa papa and spa mama” of the industry.
After meeting at one of the first ISPA Conference & Expos, this duo joined forces
to help move the association forward.
EXPO MOMENT: A drawing for the chance to win a collection of the new
product launches on display in the Expo got attendees excited. The lucky winner
was Sheila Garrison from Hiatus Spa + Retreat in Dallas, Texas!
ONLY ON WEDNESDAY: The ISPA Evening Event gave attendees a
reason to unwind and hang out while creating lasting memories.

36 PULSE

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January/February 2011

“We are more fearful of
our weaknesses than we
are of celebrating our
strengths.”
—Marcus Buckingham