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How do you typically judge a gathering – say a party or even a seminar?

As an MRev volunteer and co-organizer, the first, second and third questions I’m frequently asked is “How many people are going to be there?”  It’s just human nature.  Bigger = better, right?

Wrong.

My MRev Orlando experience began the day before the event.  In fact, it began upon my flight from ATL landing at Orlando International.  I didn’t even realize who was seated directly across the aisle from me until I stood up to grab my bag from the overhead.  It was Todd Duncan.  Todd had no idea I was sitting across from him either.  You know how I realized Todd was there?

As everyone was scrambling to grab their bags and run to baggage claim, Todd noticed a retired U.S. soldier behind him.  Nobody was watching and nobody would have noticed.  But Todd turned to the soldier, gave him that big Todd Duncan smile and said “Thank you for your service.”  Then Todd stood and waited as the retired soldier acknowledged his kind words and stepped off the aircraft ahead of him.  Nobody was watching, really, not even me.  Yet, somehow I noticed – and Todd provided yet another example of how to be a better person… not just when everyone is watching but especially when everyone is not.

Next, I arrived at baggage claim… and there was Sue Woodard.  Sue greeted me with a hug and a smile… and a thank you for Mortgage Revolution.  I told her that I was a little nervous about MRev Orlando because we were expecting a smaller crowd.  I was afraid that people might think we’d failed.  The speakers might think they’d wasted their time traveling thousands of miles to speak (for free).  The attendees might not create that positive MRev vibe like in ATL and SF.

Sue looked at me and immediately put my fears completely to rest.  She told me that no matter how many or how few showed up, the event was going to be awesome and that she was honored to be a part of it.  She’d spoken to large crowds and she’d spoken to very small crowds – and the most important people to Sue are the ones who showed up.  She was going to be there for them – and she was going to give 100% – regardless of how large her class was.  Oh, and by the way, Sue had just returned home to Minneapolis from an international flight the day before MRev.  It would have been very easy for her to skip Orlando – but she was there – and she killed it as usual.

And so, before I’d even set foot in my Orlando rental car, I’d experienced my special MRev moments.  Of course, the actual event rocked as well.  The speakers were phenomenal.  The people were again positive, inspiring and generous.  At the event, we presented over $25,000 in donations to four charities from MRev SF.  World Domination Orlando was perhaps our greatest evening session yet – masterfully emceed by local host Chris Brown.  Speaking of emcee’s, Rene Rodriguez again served and did another outstanding job tying everything together.

Another huge “Thank You” goes out to all the people who made MRev Orlando happen…  the local hosts, the guys and gals behind the scenes, the speakers and most of all… you – the mortgage professionals who come from all over the country to make these events great.  The wheels are turning on another MRev – details are forthcoming.  Based on who’s throwing the next party, I think it’s going to be our best event yet.  Stay tuned.