Recently, I attended a fabulous Birthday Party. The Celebration wove it's festive strands throughout the grounds of the lovely home. The deck & gazebo were festooned with brightly colored streamers and guests could catch the strains of the jazz band playing whimsical sets below. A large tent was the setting for  the buffet stations which featured traditional favorites from Europe, North America, North & West Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. 

As I meandered through the grounds, savoring the visual artistry with which items were arranged, I was struck by some playful and elegant twists. Lo Mein noodles were being served on the Asian display; the stir-fry was ladled and dispensed into miniature take-a-way containers. The dessert table featured crepes which had been prepped in advance and were seared on a skillet and then filled with a colorful  bouquet garni of fresh, tropical fruits.

From the African table, the succulent scent of savory meats & fish wafted into the air. A sizzling burner nearby was deep frying a hot pastry style puff served with a delicious shrimp paste. The display featured tropical fruits and flowers against a backdrop of authentic African masks!

Now, No party would be complete without burgers...yet the twist on the traditional American burger was miniature buns and burgers served with regular sized chicken wings complimented with an assortment of dipping sauces! An artful display of fruit and cheese encircled the Brie on the European table where guests could also enjoy Polish specialities like perogies and kielbasa. All the dishes were traditional favorites but the presentation was artfully staged!

Later that evening, I had an opportunity to speak with the chef. He has recently retired after two decades of service with the Hyatt Regency and is exploring several options which include setting up his own catering business and a restaurant. I was fascinated as he described his vision...for which he used the term "FUSION"...a blending of flavors & traditional regional specialties in flavorful and interesting combinations which allows diners to experience something NEW within the context of a familiar menu item.

For instance, the Lo Mein noodles are served in Chinese restaurants every day, but most party goers don't expect to be able to watch them prepared fresh and then served to them in miniature take away containers. Creative Presentation is a skill set which has many applications in business.

Often, it's the little unexpected twist which can deliver the most bang for the buck. It can also create raving fans from a 'ho hum seen it all before audience." At a time where cynicism about the real estate transaction is at an all time high, the door is wide open to incorporate a New Twist in the ways we serve our clients. Making real estate fun and engaging is something that every professional in the industry can do with just a little effort, creativity and imagination.

A few years ago, our team went to the dollar store. We had about $250 dollars to spend. We bought laundry baskets, several yards of inexpensive gauze netting, and everything that we could think of which a new home owner might not be able to find during the first few days of their move...paper plates & cups, napkins, utensils, toilet paper, tissue, detergent, dish soap, screw driver, extension cord, pencil and paper, flashlight, cleaners, small broom set etc. We arranged these items in the laundry basket and delivered this to our client at the closing. This gift continues to give rave reviews...clients still refer to it and refer others to us because they remember it. A simple twist on what could be considered the mundane and dull aspects of moving.

Another meaningful gift that I have given over the years is a Brand New copy of a book which I've read and enjoyed. Giving someone a book in which you highlight specific areas which have been meaningful to you with a brief note in the book cover transforms this gift into a special memento.  I have been surprised by how this simple gift has been so deeply appreciated.  A handwritten note, a call of appreciation or encouragement...these simple touches are the elements which elevate a routine transaction into an experience that people remember and cherish.  I'm curious...I'd love to hear some of the simple ways in which you are elevating the Ordinary into the Extraordinary.

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