Findling Events

There are less than 10 people in the world who have any interest in what this house is, was, represents.  It is the childhood home of my father.  Today my father proved what parents are truly for: no matter how bad your child screws up, you know one of 2 things:
1. When they get REALLY old, they need you to take care of them.
2. No matter what, they will always love you.  Or that is what you hope for.

If you don’t call your parents on a regular basis, do so.  Findling Events would not exist with out them, granted, I’m not sure what they would do if they came to half of the events I do, but still, they are the best.  Cheers.

A storm is brewing.  Yes snow is on it’s way to New York City, but this is not the storm I speak of now.  In the past few years of building Findling Events & Consulting I have met all sorts of people: good, bad, honest, cheaters, creative, boring - anything and everything you can possibly imagine.  In the past few days I have had the unfortunate experience of coming across a person who has absolutely no problem with his dishonest and unethical ways in dealing with people and/or business.  While I am not the most religious of men, I understand the concept of karma and even know the story of Purim, we hope that in the end good will overcome.I would love to have friends and colleagues add to this dialogue.  I am not even a big fan of blogs if you must know the truth - in fact as I write this I am late for an event to photograph.  But in the end, I turn on the news, I read the papers, I read blogs, websites, stories, ideas, articles, opinion, prose: anything where something looks like fact about the world and I shutter.  A storm is brewing in this world, but I am starting to wonder, will good overcome?   Seriously, what do we do when there is no more Plan B?  I used to hope that a smile, wink and a nod would take care of the issue - but my inability to focus does not allow me to see that clearly anymore.  

Hot then cold, warm then freezing - why can’t this weather thing make up it’s mind.  New York is cold, very cold.  But this picture of Key West just looks…well right.  I just finished writing my newsletter for the week - just look at how many Purim Parties are listed on Findling Events and Consulting.  Young Jewish Professionals are going to be out, about and gettin down, or so I hope.  

I was also reminded that there is more to Purim than partying, there is food!  There are megillahs, that are hamantaschens - wooho!  Where does one get all of these items, I would check out Purim.com.  My good friend Raphi Salem has all the best stuff at all the best prices.   I just bought a few gift baskets myself for some friends and colleagues.

Around this time of year parties start heating up.  Winter will thaw soon, people start coming out of the woodwork and their caves to find out  “WOW, you’re still alive!”  The other night Maral Yashar and the Jewish International Group proved you don’t have to be in hibernation to have a good time.  The picture posted here was from the Drums & Henna evening.  Sunday night I will be the photographer once again for the Mystery Masquerade, then following Sunday the 3rd Annual Purim Shpiel.  What does all this mean?  Pretty Jewish faces?  Drinking?  Costumes, laughs?  Well, yes, but networking.  Yes, social, professional - life is about networking, ok life in New York is about networking.  Just ask Raphi Salem from SalemGlobal Internet Marketing.  A lot of small companies get business from referals.  A lot of small companies get business from referrals.  A lot of relationships start from referrals.  I have been working within the Jewish Community for nearly seven years in New York City.  Doing marketing, photography, promotions - volunteering.  Without me referring people to organizations, those who want to know, would know nothing.  So if you are looking to be referred and lend a helping hand, give a shout.   Cause when the snow melts, your heart is needed more than anything.   Be well, be warm.  Cheers.

New York City is FREEZING.  It is February 19th and we are in this limbo state between Valentines Day, Spring and the Jewish holiday of Purim.   Today’s photo from Findling Foto is outside City Hall in Glasgow, Scotland.  I remember the few days I was there back in 2002 I was unemployed, having been downsized from Goldman Sachs.  I remember those few days I was in Scotland I was hurt.  I was angry.  Something I wanted so bad, to be working at Goldman Sachs was just taken away from me out of nowhere.  So what do you, how do people deal with such sudden loss?  

I myself am a survivor of September 11th.  I watched the towers burn, fall and rumble the ground below my feet from my office on Maiden Lane.  Be that a job, a loved one, a relationship, a family pet (I do miss my Norton), loss is never easy.  In the last week a good friend of mine shared a great loss he suffered in the last few months - more or less the love of his life just walked out on him after many years of a strong loving relationship.  She just said “it wasn’t what she wanted anymore.”  Winter can make people feel like there is loss, it’s cold, people hide indoors, the streets and parks are not as full, but still, spring comes back, the people return and our hearts are full again.  When I stood in front of City Hall in Glasgow, Scotland I did not know what would be. I did not realize I would have created Findling Events & Consulting, nor that I would return to work for SalemGlobal Internet Marketing for a short time (www.salemglobal.com) and return again 2007. 

What makes life fun?  Not feeling sudden or even slow agnonizing loss, but the surprise we feel when that void is filled.  On a cold winter’s night, I rest easy knowing that spring is around the corner, and with the heart of a lion, nothing can keep me down.  Cheers.

When I woke up this morning it occured to me that the world moves to fast for itself in general.  I live in New York City and by default you will find noise, BIG buildings,  lots of people and in January you should expect COLD air.  At the end of the day, you really never have to leave your home if you really do not want to - you could spend days looking at Friendster, Facebook, Amazon, Alexa, CNN, SalemGlobal.  Learn about people, places and things that you never would think to learn about and at the end of the day…

 What is there to show for it?  I hope money, I hope happiness, but is that what you really have?  Look at this picture #1: 

Now look at this picture:

Where and what would you rather be?  There are some good times to be had in life, Valentines Day reminds that you should value another person not because Hallmark says so, but because you want to, every day of the year, not one day of the year.  But trust me, those guys making millions of dollars off of cheezy greetings and teddy bears - they are probably walking under the sign of picture number one and not looking like picture nubmer 2, you chose, Findling Events will do its part to get you out of your house and into events in New York City - but if that doesn’t work, well, you can always try to play around with Facebook.

 Cheers, Michael

I came across a few things while thinking of business ideas, I mean we all have 1001 from:
- Trying something new on the radio
- Go to Hollywood and try to be an actor
- Get on a plane and go to India and finding yourself
- Website Marketing - www.salemglobal.com is your way to go
- This looks like fun: http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com/
- Bernardo’s has a lot of good stuff:

Sunday is NEWSLETTER day, some thoughts…and of course find it at www.michaelfindling.com/news. Picture of the day, San Diego Coast.

Hallmark, I mean Valentine’s Day is here, that means Purim, Passover and of course Tax Day is not far away!* As you will see below Purim is not far behind, check out some great parties below. As always if you have an event you would like to see posted in the newsletter send it down, the newsletter is now reaching almost 35,000 a week. As a personal note to the community, I revisited a great lesson in the last week and since I have a public forum to share, I felt the need to remind each of you: for better or worse every event, person and idea that passes your eyes and soul happens for a reason - there is no such thing as bad timing, timing is life.

Whether you read this newsletter and think about an event, a new job opening the greatest question I was asked this week was: if you could chose one thing in life that you knew you would fail at, what would it be? With Valentines Day and Spring coming, maybe it is best to wonder if it is better to have loved and loss than never to have loved at all. Truth is we never forget those we loved, each love is a lesson for life. I empower each of you to an amazing week and hope you make the best of whatever happens to cross your path. Have a GREAT week!

The blog reborn in Findling Events and Consulting. Many young professionals that I meet events will ask me:

1. Michael Findling, what do you do? What should I do with my life? Radion show host? Event planner?
2. Mr. Findling, how do you do it?
3. Findling, dude, if I wanted to a build a website where do I go?

A few days ago I rebuild my website, well, transfered it. Now I have to start writing more. At the age of 29, there are many whether the age of 22, 29, 35 - do we really know what we want to do with the rest of our lives? Maybe yes, maybe no….I am getting closer to that final answer - but world domination takes time. If you happen to see and/or read this, I’m curious what your thoughts are on what you want to be the rest of your life…give a shout.