There's no question that the world is in unique times. New developments are happening every day and with the current lock down, physical distancing rules and more people working from home, it's no wonder stress levels are at an all time high.
But studies show that if you want to help your employees lead a healthier lifestyle, there are some easy things you should encourage them to do. First, get them outdoors. Going for a 10-minute walk around the neighborhood is much better than eating lunch at your desk. Research shows that fresh air and exercise releases chemicals called endorphins, which produces positive feelings in the body. As a result, productivity levels typically go up.
Now that the warm weather is here, it's also a perfect time to be outdoors. Instead of doing the usual Zoom Meeting call, why not set up an Walking Meeting for your staff? You can still wear masks and practice physical distancing but you'll be outside enjoying the summer time weather, as opposed to being cooped up indoors. Some of our more popular Team building programs include our Outdoor Meetings and Wellness Walks. We have noticed that companies who take advantage of these kinds of programs, often have happier employees and less conflict at the workplace.
The good news is that all of this is easy and it doesn't cost much. All it requires is an attentive boss (that's you!) who's "in tune" with the staff. Want more tips on how to keep your team happy and healthy? Check out our latest episode of "Live Your Dream." Click HERE.
In addition to being Travel writers, Marc and Darlynne run two Team Building companies, headquartered in San Diego. Where You Want To Be specializes in memorable Team Building EXPERIENCES. Out of the Ordinary creates high energy Team Building GAMES.
Where You Want To Be specializes in top notch Team Building EXPERIENCES while showing off unique, hidden spots in San Diego and nearby destinations.
Monday, June 29, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Mastering Virtual Meetings
As a team building company, our focus is all about strengthening relationships and face to face interactions. But because of COVID-19, that's all changed. For the time being, in-person meetings have been put on hold and as a result, many people are working remotely and communicating through online platforms such as Zoom, Webex and Remote HQ.
For some, this Virtual world can be scary. The lack of comfort can make it hard for some to open up, relax and communicate with each other virtually. Before starting our business, I was a TV News Reporter so I understand how speaking in front of a camera can be uncomfortable for some people. During my news career, it wasn't uncommon for my interview subject to freeze up right before the camera started rolling. Fortunately, I learned pretty quickly the art of calming down a person's nerves!
Now years later, I'm leaning into those very same skills. When COVID-19 first hit, we received calls from nervous colleagues wanting advice on how to look and sound good on Zoom. The questions ranged from "How come I look so pale" to "Yikes, that's what my voice sounds like?" As funny as these questions sound, they're all good questions. And, that's what led us to create our online course "Mastering Virtual Meetings." But, here's the thing. Mastering this new Virtual world is so much more than knowing what color to wear OR what your background should look like. It's knowing how to build content that will engage and inspire your audience, so they're moving with you and not against you.
Although many in the meetings industry and business world are still trying to figure out their "next steps," a growing number have already transitioned their conferences to full-on digital events OR the hybrid approach, which incorporates both face-to-face elements with a digital component.
And for those of you in sales? Videos will play an even bigger role in the Sales process. The bottom line? Getting comfortable with this Virtual world AND understanding the power of video, is a must if you want to stay ahead of the competition.
As uncomfortable as this may all sound, it doesn't have to be. In fact, once you master the Virtual world, it's quite FUN. And, it shouldn't cost you an arm & a leg. To help you navigate through this new medium, we've put together an online workshop which consists of three main topics:
A. Mastering the Online Platform: How to look & sound good virtually + Bonus Tips!
B. Creating Engaging Videos: How to shoot & edit videos using your smart phone
C. Video Marketing Content: Using video to set yourself apart
It's no secret that we LOVE the Video world and we understand its many advantages. But like many of you, I've been in the business world for a long time so I get your concerns. In fact, it's my combined experience as both an on-air talent and longtime business owner, that gives me a fresh perspective... allowing me to empathize with other business owners/leaders in a unique way. There are SO many benefits to this Virtual world and I'm excited to share our knowledge with you!
This online Workshop is designed for those who want to pivot their career to the next level but aren't sure how to get there. It's also ideal for Sales Teams wanting to up their game.
=====================================================================
TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEXT WORKSHOP, EMAIL US AT: MENKIN@WHERETOURS.COM
=====================================================================
Cost: $44.00 per person, per class.
Added value: Pricing also includes one 30-minute private follow-up coaching call.
MASTERING VIRTUAL MEETINGS: ONLINE WORKSHOP DATES
June 9, 2020: Mastering the Online Platform
June 16, 2020: Creating engaging videos - bring your smart phone/iPhone for this session
June 23, 2020: Video Marketing Content
Online Workshops run from 12:15 PM to 1:30 PM. Includes Q&A component.
Seating is limited so sign up now, to reserve your spot.
Looking forward to making a difference, together!
All the best,
Darlynne Reyes Menkin
Team building Facilitator/Media & Video Coach
Where You Want To Be, Inc.
www.wheretours.com
In addition to being a Media & Video Coach, Darlynne oversees two Team Building companies headquartered in San Diego, with her husband Marc.
Where You Want To Be specializes in memorable Team Bonding EXPERIENCES.
Out of the Ordinary creates high energy Team Building GAMES. Darlynne was in the TV News industry for more than 20 years as a writer, Assignment Editor, Producer and News Director before moving on as a News Anchor & Reporter. She worked in New Hampshire, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and sunny San Diego.
For some, this Virtual world can be scary. The lack of comfort can make it hard for some to open up, relax and communicate with each other virtually. Before starting our business, I was a TV News Reporter so I understand how speaking in front of a camera can be uncomfortable for some people. During my news career, it wasn't uncommon for my interview subject to freeze up right before the camera started rolling. Fortunately, I learned pretty quickly the art of calming down a person's nerves!
Now years later, I'm leaning into those very same skills. When COVID-19 first hit, we received calls from nervous colleagues wanting advice on how to look and sound good on Zoom. The questions ranged from "How come I look so pale" to "Yikes, that's what my voice sounds like?" As funny as these questions sound, they're all good questions. And, that's what led us to create our online course "Mastering Virtual Meetings." But, here's the thing. Mastering this new Virtual world is so much more than knowing what color to wear OR what your background should look like. It's knowing how to build content that will engage and inspire your audience, so they're moving with you and not against you.
Although many in the meetings industry and business world are still trying to figure out their "next steps," a growing number have already transitioned their conferences to full-on digital events OR the hybrid approach, which incorporates both face-to-face elements with a digital component.
And for those of you in sales? Videos will play an even bigger role in the Sales process. The bottom line? Getting comfortable with this Virtual world AND understanding the power of video, is a must if you want to stay ahead of the competition.
As uncomfortable as this may all sound, it doesn't have to be. In fact, once you master the Virtual world, it's quite FUN. And, it shouldn't cost you an arm & a leg. To help you navigate through this new medium, we've put together an online workshop which consists of three main topics:
A. Mastering the Online Platform: How to look & sound good virtually + Bonus Tips!
B. Creating Engaging Videos: How to shoot & edit videos using your smart phone
C. Video Marketing Content: Using video to set yourself apart
It's no secret that we LOVE the Video world and we understand its many advantages. But like many of you, I've been in the business world for a long time so I get your concerns. In fact, it's my combined experience as both an on-air talent and longtime business owner, that gives me a fresh perspective... allowing me to empathize with other business owners/leaders in a unique way. There are SO many benefits to this Virtual world and I'm excited to share our knowledge with you!
This online Workshop is designed for those who want to pivot their career to the next level but aren't sure how to get there. It's also ideal for Sales Teams wanting to up their game.
=====================================================================
TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEXT WORKSHOP, EMAIL US AT: MENKIN@WHERETOURS.COM
=====================================================================
Cost: $44.00 per person, per class.
Added value: Pricing also includes one 30-minute private follow-up coaching call.
MASTERING VIRTUAL MEETINGS: ONLINE WORKSHOP DATES
June 9, 2020: Mastering the Online Platform
June 16, 2020: Creating engaging videos - bring your smart phone/iPhone for this session
June 23, 2020: Video Marketing Content
Online Workshops run from 12:15 PM to 1:30 PM. Includes Q&A component.
Seating is limited so sign up now, to reserve your spot.
Looking forward to making a difference, together!
All the best,
Darlynne Reyes Menkin
Team building Facilitator/Media & Video Coach
Where You Want To Be, Inc.
www.wheretours.com
In addition to being a Media & Video Coach, Darlynne oversees two Team Building companies headquartered in San Diego, with her husband Marc.
Where You Want To Be specializes in memorable Team Bonding EXPERIENCES.
Out of the Ordinary creates high energy Team Building GAMES. Darlynne was in the TV News industry for more than 20 years as a writer, Assignment Editor, Producer and News Director before moving on as a News Anchor & Reporter. She worked in New Hampshire, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and sunny San Diego.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Introducing our New Travel Show - This Is Our Town!
If you've ever been on one of our tours, then you know we're all about the unique places. You know, areas that are off-the-beaten path? Living in San Diego is a perfect destination for our adventurous spirit because there's so many interesting places to check out. From hidden walking paths to beautiful roof top lounges and fun historical landmarks, San Diego has a lot to offer. So when we were asked to create a fun Travel show focusing on hidden gems, how could we refuse? It's right up our alley!
"This is our Town" showcases secret San Diego spots and has the same fun, laid back feel as our walking, biking and custom Rent-a-Local tours. We've been creating these personalized tours since 2003 and we absolutely love taking people to these hidden areas. And let's face it. With everything that's happening in today's world, we all need a little escapism!
Our first episode focuses on one of our favorite neighborhoods - Mission Hills! We felt this was a perfect way to kick off our new series as this community is so special - and truly reflects the uniqueness of San Diego.
We want to give a Shout Out to our Publishing Partner, Seacoast Media Labs, for making this happen! Seacoast produces The Poway Eagle, Scripps Ranch News and the new Digital Magazine, Words & Pictures. In addition to their online platforms, "This is our Town" will also be available on this blog, as well as our Facebook & Instagram pages, and YouTube Channel.
Let's head to Mission Hills!
"This is our Town" showcases secret San Diego spots and has the same fun, laid back feel as our walking, biking and custom Rent-a-Local tours. We've been creating these personalized tours since 2003 and we absolutely love taking people to these hidden areas. And let's face it. With everything that's happening in today's world, we all need a little escapism!
Our first episode focuses on one of our favorite neighborhoods - Mission Hills! We felt this was a perfect way to kick off our new series as this community is so special - and truly reflects the uniqueness of San Diego.
We want to give a Shout Out to our Publishing Partner, Seacoast Media Labs, for making this happen! Seacoast produces The Poway Eagle, Scripps Ranch News and the new Digital Magazine, Words & Pictures. In addition to their online platforms, "This is our Town" will also be available on this blog, as well as our Facebook & Instagram pages, and YouTube Channel.
Let's head to Mission Hills!
Happy Travels!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Where You Want To Be
www.wheretours.com
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Stay at Home Super Challenge
With most people working remotely, there's all sorts of interesting dynamics are happening. Not to mention, schools aren't open so the kids are home and suddenly, parents are faced with being the breadwinner, Mom & Dad plus school teacher.
Given everything the world is experiencing, we started thinking about our role - and what we could do, to help. We came up with lots of ideas but one thing that stood out for us was giving the gift of "fun." So, we decided to create the Great STAY AT HOME SUPER CHALLENGE!
Since we're known for creating cool Scavenger Hunts, we felt this was the perfect answer. It is FREE, family friendly and anyone can play it, regardless of where you live. And thanks to some very generous partners, the winning team will walk away with a fabulous San Diego Staycation prize!
The First Place team will win:
*One Night stay at Andaz San Diego + Valet Parking
*2 Jet Ski Rentals courtesy of San Diego Bay Adventures
*Movie Tickets for 2
*Urban Challenge Scavenger Hunt for up to 12 people
Entries must be received by April 22, 2020 so don't delay!
To get started, CLICK HERE. Be sure to watch the video for helpful tips!
Good luck, stay safe and Happy Hunting!
Where You Want To Be
619.917.6037
www.wheretours.com
Given everything the world is experiencing, we started thinking about our role - and what we could do, to help. We came up with lots of ideas but one thing that stood out for us was giving the gift of "fun." So, we decided to create the Great STAY AT HOME SUPER CHALLENGE!
Since we're known for creating cool Scavenger Hunts, we felt this was the perfect answer. It is FREE, family friendly and anyone can play it, regardless of where you live. And thanks to some very generous partners, the winning team will walk away with a fabulous San Diego Staycation prize!
The First Place team will win:
*One Night stay at Andaz San Diego + Valet Parking
*2 Jet Ski Rentals courtesy of San Diego Bay Adventures
*Movie Tickets for 2
*Urban Challenge Scavenger Hunt for up to 12 people
Entries must be received by April 22, 2020 so don't delay!
To get started, CLICK HERE. Be sure to watch the video for helpful tips!
Good luck, stay safe and Happy Hunting!
Where You Want To Be
619.917.6037
www.wheretours.com
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Walk of the Inns - A Unique Holiday Experience!
For most people, the holidays can be a hectic time of the
year. But no matter how busy it is, there’s one event in Palm Springs that we absolutely
enjoy, so when the date is announced, we do everything possible to keep it open.
This year’s Walk of the Inns is Thursday December 12 and if you’ve never experienced this event, it’s worth the drive.
Every December, about 12 Bed and Breakfast and small
boutique hotels open their doors from 6 PM to 9 PM, allowing visitors a chance
to see these unique properties up close and personal. Each locale has its own special charm so it’s visually stunning. And because it’s the holiday season,
the properties are decked out and quite festive! At some of the stops, don’t be
surprised if they serve you cookies and hot chocolate or some other delicious
surprise. Such a nice touch!
This is the event’s 24th year and it’s become a
popular holiday tradition among locals and out-of-towners. Last year, more than 1700 people attended but
over the years, they’ve attracted as high as 2500.
Dominic L of Casa Cody says it’s a great way for people to
get a behind the scenes look at some of the city’s wonderful properties. “Palm
Springs has so many lovely B&B’s and quaint small hotels that are like no
other,” Dominic says. Casa Cody was
founded in the 1920’s by Hollywood pioneer, Harriet Cody, cousin to the
legendary, Buffalo Bill. It’s the
oldest, operating hotel in Palm Springs.
The self-guided tour kicks off at the Palm Springs Art
Museum and the Palm Springs Women’s Club. Maps are provided and the route is
easy to follow. Most people walk the route so wear comfortable shoes – sneakers
are best – and dress warmly as temperatures do drop at night. Another tip? Come early so you can check out all
– or most of the B&B’s. It may not
seem like it, but 3 hours goes by quickly, so you’ll want to arrive as close to
6 PM as possible.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Safe Travels,
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Travel Journalists
619.917.6037
www.wheretours.com
In addition to being Travel writers, Marc and Darlynne run two Team Building companies, headquartered in San Diego. Where You Want To Be specializes in memorable Team Building EXPERIENCES. Out of the Ordinary creates high energy Team Building GAMES.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Over the years, we've created numerous Team Building programs. Some came to fruition because a client asked about it while others came from our imagination. While it's a lot of work to create original programs, it's also downright fun because it allows us to tap into our creative side, and explore new and exciting possibilities!
As any artist will tell you, it's very satisfying - and fulfilling whenever you create something new and then get to witness others enjoy it. People often ask us "What's your favorite Team Building program?" That's a tough question because the truth is, we love em all! But one of our newer programs called
"The Good Deeds Bus Experiment" has definitely captured our heart for many reasons.
For one thing, it's an immersive experience that showcases some of San Diego's secret spots. You know, places that are truly "off the beaten path." It could be anything from a little known historical suspension bridge to a unique walking path that overlooks the ocean. At several of the stops, we include surprises so for example, on our last program, we had a professional Hawaiian dancer who performed AND taught our group how to dance the hula. Imagine 50 people learning how to dance the hula right in the middle of a neighborhood! It was quite the scene. As a matter of fact, several of the neighbors came out and even joined us!
For us, seeing a group of strangers have fun together was super sweet. The last stop, also billed as the "highlight" of the adventure, was a mystery "volunteer location." For this particular group, the organizers chose to build trikes and then donate them to the Ronald McDonald House. Such a memorable way to kick off the holidays, and so much better than the usual office Happy Hour Get together.
hashtag#teambuilding hashtag#holidayparties #meetingplanners #sandiego www.wheretours.com
https://wheretours.com/the-good-deeds-experiment/
As any artist will tell you, it's very satisfying - and fulfilling whenever you create something new and then get to witness others enjoy it. People often ask us "What's your favorite Team Building program?" That's a tough question because the truth is, we love em all! But one of our newer programs called
"The Good Deeds Bus Experiment" has definitely captured our heart for many reasons.
For one thing, it's an immersive experience that showcases some of San Diego's secret spots. You know, places that are truly "off the beaten path." It could be anything from a little known historical suspension bridge to a unique walking path that overlooks the ocean. At several of the stops, we include surprises so for example, on our last program, we had a professional Hawaiian dancer who performed AND taught our group how to dance the hula. Imagine 50 people learning how to dance the hula right in the middle of a neighborhood! It was quite the scene. As a matter of fact, several of the neighbors came out and even joined us!
For us, seeing a group of strangers have fun together was super sweet. The last stop, also billed as the "highlight" of the adventure, was a mystery "volunteer location." For this particular group, the organizers chose to build trikes and then donate them to the Ronald McDonald House. Such a memorable way to kick off the holidays, and so much better than the usual office Happy Hour Get together.
hashtag#teambuilding hashtag#holidayparties #meetingplanners #sandiego www.wheretours.com
https://wheretours.com/the-good-deeds-experiment/
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Explore Maui from above.. on a cool Zipline Adventure!
As travel writers, we have visited so many beautiful destinations. People ask us all the time if we have a favorite place to vacation and while it's true we've seen many amazing places, there's one location that we feel is a perfect fit for us. That location is... drum roll please... Maui! The plane ride from San Diego is super easy and once you arrive on the island, you can literally feel the stress melt away.
We've been to Maui several times so we definitely have our favorite hangouts. But this year, we decided to try something different so we went Ziplining! We weren't exactly sure what to expect but boy, are we glad we went for it.
We chose Skyline Eco-Adventures and it was quite the experience! Their team did a great job at giving us an experience that we couldn't do on our own. Plus, we also got to learn a bit about the Hawaiian culture and what makes it so special. If Ziplining is something you've been curious about, do yourself a favor and... GO FOR IT! But don't take our word for it. Check out this fun travel video and see for yourself!
Click below:
Let's Go Ziplining in Maui!
Happy Travels!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Travel Journalists
619.917.6037
www.wheretours.com
We've been to Maui several times so we definitely have our favorite hangouts. But this year, we decided to try something different so we went Ziplining! We weren't exactly sure what to expect but boy, are we glad we went for it.
We chose Skyline Eco-Adventures and it was quite the experience! Their team did a great job at giving us an experience that we couldn't do on our own. Plus, we also got to learn a bit about the Hawaiian culture and what makes it so special. If Ziplining is something you've been curious about, do yourself a favor and... GO FOR IT! But don't take our word for it. Check out this fun travel video and see for yourself!
Click below:
Let's Go Ziplining in Maui!
Happy Travels!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Travel Journalists
619.917.6037
www.wheretours.com
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