Power Play: Bring in the occasional icon

Nothing says power quite like a guest appearance from a great icon.

Power Players keep a list of iconic figures in their Rolodex and from time to time bring one in to do that classic inspirational chat. Hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth makes everything more believable: if they’ve lived through it they probably know what they’re talking about.

That the Power Player can tap the right person on the shoulder and get them in the room is also pretty impressive.

Icons remind us of what’s possible, and their star wattage goes a long way in turning just another day into a memorable one.

Power Players also have fun with their icon selection: the more surprising or lateral the icon, the better the value, because Power Players know that it’s these unexpected moments that lift their team’s spirits and transform the ordinary into extraordinary.

The story

I was at an intimate lunch for businesswomen when into the room walks Martha Stewart.

Talk about star power. Her trailblazing ways in publishing, building a personal brand and creating an empire are the stuff of legend.

Her story was inspiring and the lessons invaluable as she spoke honestly about the failures and the pressures. The ‘case study’ of her global success was real and personal, and the mood in the room was electric. I’ve never seen so many seasoned women turn into groupies. Fantastic stuff.