One of the most exciting aspects in my line of work is no doubt, meeting people. People from every walk of life each with a story or passion to share.
So, before I talk about anyone famous, notorious or revered, let me get one thing straight. The most incredible stories are often those you stumble onto. Those chance meetings on trains when your guards down and it all begins with just a smile and hello. People who often work tirelessly without recognition with a reality thats not just gritty and grounded but human and beautifully real.
But todays blog isn’t about that. This is about passport security checks, frisking and metal detector screenings long after your flight to The Netherlands lands. Your private car takes you to the Soestdijk Palace and the Dutch royal family gather with delegates and dignity’s from the EU and UN.
Yes, I’m incredibly humbled by the various companies I’ve have the pleasure of working with and the unique adventures these often present. One highlight to this day has to be the winter I met a former President, Mr Bill Clinton who was to give an emphatic speech on Climate Change and reveal to the world his new pledge and future working path.
It was the inaugural year for the Clinton Climate Initiative and though he’d been out of Office for 5 years, and his Autobiography and other books were a success. The security measures prior to my arrival at the Palace that day with the cavalcade of black sedans filled with the large teams of Secret Service men undoubtedly shouted that Mr President, (as they are still to be referred to following their term of office), was still very imposing and impressive as we mortals all walked the final steps in the rain up the stairs and into another world that December day.
The build up from the entourage arrival, the elegance of the Palace, famous faces in the crowd, the excitement in the air was electric as the room as we took our seats. Hearing a former sitting Presidents address on Climate Change was something I’d not experienced or been close to before so this was going to be a first. Bill’s entrance into the room was rapturous as everyone rose and it was quite surreal if I’m honest.
With a casual wave of a hand, a smile that was clam and enigmatic, Bill delivered a presentation for 2hrs with passion. His presence, emphatic, engaging and personal in it’s tone with equal measure of climate change fear and hope. A bold message that we can an all work together for change to save our planet and a call to action for all.
A few of us were given a moment to meet Bill after his long address in which he was relaxed, chatty and informed. As you can see here from the picture we shared a light joke, which to this day I cant tell you what it was. Giddy from the euphoric statements that together we were going to change and save the world it all seamed to go by so very fast.
A former colleague who worked across political circles had warned of the Clinton affect prior to my visit, that state that they’d witnessed before. It’s a kind of charming hypnosis they said with a mixture of warmth in his drawl that only a local lad from Hope, Arkansas could possess. The charisma affect that took Bill so far and left more than a lasting impression whilst in office from the son of a nurse and a father who died before he was born.
So I guess Bill was just one of those everyday people that I mentioned before, just with a path that lead him to govern a nation and a country he clearly adores. A country that to this day he hopes to instigate real change in and as an entire family, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton and Chelsea all work on together with the Foundation.
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/
So the next time you look yourself in the mirror and ask where dose your story lead you. Know that your choices each day matter, however small and that with real drive and passion you can action anything you put your mind to. Today why not choose to do something that stretches you and shakes up your everyday routine? Start small and learn something that intrigues you and inspires you to do more, more for those that you spend time with and in the end rewards you all.
