16th Anniversary...

HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC just held it's 16th Anniversary at the Bridgeview Yacht Club Warehouse in Island Park. More than 100 of our clients, friends and family attended our Sweet 16. We held a traditional candle lighting ceremony and showed a video of the firm.

Listed below is the candle lighting ceremony:

CANDLE 1—
THIS CANDLE IS A PERSONAL CANDLE, IT’S FOR MY CHILDREN WHO GIVE ME INSPIRATION, MY HUSBAND WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME AND FOR MY FAMILY WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

CANDLE 2—
CANDLE 2 IS FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, MY HOME AND THE PLACE I STARTED HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

CANDLE 3—
THIS IS FOR OUR CURRENT HOMES IN WESTBURY AND MANHATTAN.


CANDLE 4—
THIS CANDLE, LIT BY KRISTIE, IS FOR ALL OUR PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CLIENTS FOR BELIEVING IN US AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM.

CANDLE 5—
THIS CANDLE, LIT BY LISA, IS FOR ALL OF THE MEDIA FOR BEING OUR FRIENDS, AND GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE POSITIVE THINGS OUR CLIENTS DO…

CANDLE 6—
CANDLE 6, LIT BY LORI, GOES TO ALL THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE SPONSORED OUR EVENTS AND PUT THEIR TIME, MONEY AND EFFORTS TOWARD GOOD CAUSES.

CANDLE 7—
CANDLE 7, LIT BY ALLIE, IS FOR NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY FOR HELPING US ADVANCE IN THE ONLINE WORLD THROUGH BLOGS, SOCIAL NETWORKING, PODCASTS AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS.

CANDLE 8—
THIS CANDLE, LIT BY AARON AND KAYLA, IS FOR OUR FREELANCERS, PART-TIME WORKERS, INTERNS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HELP US BEHIND THE SCENES GET THE MOST FOR OUR CLIENTS.

CANDLE 9—
CANDLE 9, LIT BY JILLIAN, GOES TO OUR VENDORS WHO PRODUCE QUALITY WORK FOR OUR CLIENTS AND HELP US LOOK GOOD!

CANDLE 10—
THIS CANDLE, LIT BY RICK, GOES TO BRIAN AND DEREK FOR SETTING UP OUR STEREO SYSTEM AND FOR THE HJMT IPOD FOR INSPIRING OUR CREATIVITY AND FOR KARAOKE WHICH HELPS BRING US TOGETHER ☺

CANDLE 11—
CANDLE 11, LIT BY MIKE, IS FOR RED BULL BOTH DIET AND REGULAR FOR KEEPING US AWAKE AND ALERT DURING OUR LONG HOURS.

CANDLE 12—
THIS CANDLE, LIT BY ELLEN, IS FOR FRIENDS OF THE FIRM WHO HAVE GIVEN US REFERRALS AND BEEN THERE FOR US ALONG THE WAY WHEN WE NEEDED THEM.

CANDLE 13 –
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NO LONGER WITH US AT THE FIRM, CANDLE 13, LIT BY CHRISTINA, GOES TO ALL OUR PAST EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE IMPACTED OUR BUSINESS AND TAKEN US IN NEW DIRECTIONS.

CANDLE 14—
CANDLE 14, LIT BY HOLLY, IS FOR EACH OF OUR FAMILIES FOR DEALING WITH OUR LONG HOURS AND ALWAYS SUPPORTING US…

CANDLE 15—
THIS CANDLE IS FOR MY HJMT FAMILY – THESE ARE THE BEST FRIENDS AND BEST WORKERS ANYONE COULD EVER HAVE. I LOVE YOU GUYS!

CANDLE 16—
AND CANDLE 16 IS FOR TAKING CHANCES, GOING WITH THE GUT, HAVING FAITH, TRYING TO CREATE GOOD KARMA AND TO MANY MANY MORE SUCCESSFUL YEARS AT HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Unusual Places to Network...

How many of you out there find that networking works best when you are "off guard?"

Lately, whenever I'm on a plane and on vacation with my family, I bump into someone I know from business.

Last year when I was in Vegas with my sister and cousin for a "girl's getaway weekend," I met up with an advertising colleague. We hadn't seen each other in a while and we had an opportunity to catch up.

I went back to Las Vegas this past weekend for a business conference on new media. At the conference, I met a few people who will donate products and services to some of our upcoming events that we will be organizing for our non-profit clients.

Back at the bar, my colleague and I met a real estate guru from New Jersey. We told him we would keep in touch. Then, on the plane ride home, I bumped into a former client! I was standing on line to use the restroom when I noticed a tall man who looked just like my uncle. I thought, could that be? I went over to him and asked him if he was a former client of my firm. And it turned out he was. It was great to catch up for a few minutes on the four hour flight back to NY.

I find that networking works best when you are on a plane or on vacation. You're relaxed and off guard. Anyone else have a similar experience? I would love to hear about unusual places to network.....