Long before the food is bought, and dinner guests arrive, the most necessary component of a party takes place – creating a guest list.
As a host/hostess selecting your guests is a big deal. You get to decide who you want to come to the event. The hostess creates the energy for the evening by whom he/she chooses to put on a guest list.
Who to invite?
Just like a dinner invitation, YOU choose who to invite into your life. I am going to share with you, who I believe are some of the best guests to not only invite to a dinner party but also invite into your personal and business world.
The Traveler Invite someone into your life who has seen the world. When you travel your perspective changes. The traveler can share first hand experiences of the different cultures and people. I personally believe the traveler has some of the best stories to share. Through travel this person knows how truly majestic the really world is At the end of the day this person provides us with a touch of humbleness in knowing we are just a small part of a much grander universe.
The Philosopher– This guest turns your mind from auto pilot into super charge by offering you the experience of wonder. This person asks questions and is seeking answers. This guest would be a great invite because there is no small talk when in conversation with this person. This person isn’t interested in talking weather, sport or safe subjects. Their more interested in engaging in conversations that include questions or ideas that may stir in you a self-awakening.
The Leader–Inviting a leader provides a dynamic sense of accomplishment to your life. Through their knowledge and often their confidence, a leader offers insight and direction. This guest has the gift that enables others to respond to the call of action. Now I know what you are thinking, “shouldn’t I be my own leader? Yes! Yes! Absolutely you should. So, let me explain why a leader is beneficial to invite. You become like those you associate. By inviting a leader into your life, you will better yourself. You will learn from their experiences. A leader tends to be objective and more often than not, surrounding yourself with the leader provides you with a motivational drive. Having a leader as a guest is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign that I want to learn from the best, so I can continue to grow to be the best.
The Fan –The invite of a fan is an easy invite for they think the world of you. The fan is the one loudly cheering as you throw the winning touchdown and thy are the same person encouraging you to get back on the field when you throw an interception. In business the fan is absolutely your very best word of mouth advertisement. They speak your praise. They enjoy introducing others to you and your business. The fan believes in you and cheers you on. The fan is proud of you and is forever in your corner. This person is believing in you even when you are struggling to do that yourself. What truly make this guest so remarkable is they are a fan simply because you are you! While ultimately, we should be our biggest fan, there are times we simply need a fan. Inviting the fan makes life so much sweeter.
The Musician –Invite someone who loves music, for music is nourishment to the soul. A musician provides your life with every possible emotion. A musician is the one person who has the magical power to take you back in a moment of time and yet this same person has also the strong ability to keep you ever in the present moment as you sing and dance alongside to the lyrics of their voice. A musician wakens you up to the present and also allows you to reflect on the past. The musician gifts you all the necessary emotions to respond to situations that create your life.
The Philanthropist– This invitation is a precious because this individual tends to be the giver and not the receiver. This guest has a heart and kindness for the world. Their goal is to leave a legacy beyond themselves. Inviting this guest into your life provides an opportunity for the pay it forward movement to manifest BIG. This guest has the potential to inspire you to think about the ways you could impact the world for the better.
The Crush– This invitation is for that someone you know exists but have never been formally introduced to. This person is someone you be interest in knowing on a more personal level. This invitation’s a bit scary to send out because it could be potentially ignored or worse yet come back with a response of NO. So why this person? First, this person has unintentionally stimulated courage within you by the simple act of inviting – so that alone is a good reason. Other reasons why I think this person makes the invitation list is because they could be the potential link for both personal and business networking. This person could also turn out to become your new closet friend. A couple years back, I sent out an invite to some incredible women in my hometown, many of which I really didn’t know personally and now I get to do life alongside this awesome tribe of women. Just remember every friend you had was once a stranger. So make this connection happen.
The Facebook Friend– Let’s admit we all have a handful of friends that we interact with in the world of social media, but we don’t interact in life. Invite that Facebook guest because interacting live in person is so much better than a ha-ha wink on a post. You will learn so much more about each other though in-person interactions then you ever will through a phone screen. If you are looking for a genuinely deeper friendship with a Facebook friend, add them to your guest list.
The Opposite– This guest invitation is most risky. Why invite someone who’s my opposite? The stress that comes from this person would be too much. Why even hang with this person?! What could I possibly have in common? The opposite guest provides for you the opportunity to think about something in a “new” way. Perhaps you never thought this new idea would be what changes up your business or personal life for the better? Perhaps in hearing a view point that differs you might develop empathy or understanding as to how someone came to believe what it is they believe. Besides, you never know, it could turn out where your view becomes embraced by the opposite. Life is boring hanging out with a carbon copy of yourself. Life is not created to just live with only like-minded people.
One of the best examples that touches on this invitation is found in the bible. The parable starts off with an invitation for an elaborate dinner banquet. The invitation was sent out to all these “important” people. The who is who in that day. Certain to be the grandest talked about party with no detail overlooked something crazy happens. The night of the banquet no one shows!!! While I’m sure most had what we consider a valid excuse, there was no party guests. The master not pleased, gathered his servants and resends them back out onto the street inviting all those whom he would never associate himself with, and it turned into the grandest dinner banquet.
Invite different people into your life and watch how you can develop into a more inclusive, tolerate person that respects others despite their differences. Invite those who are unable to reciprocate, and you’ll experience a gratitude like you have never known.
You are the host/hostess in your life.
You get to decide whose name is on the guest list. It is fair to say, with 7 billion people in the world the invitation list isn’t open to everyone. Be wise in who you let in your party. There are good guests and there are some guests that are just better suited for another host/hostess party. Lastly, remember this, when you’re on someone else’s guest list, be a good guest. Show up to the party as your real you and have fun – after all, that is why you were invited.