The O Effect

My friend Paul called this morning, and we talked about the two events we were both involved with in the last few days. Paul's event was a New York City VIP event, attended by many notable bold face names from society, business and politics, including former President Bill Clinton. I wanted to hear all about his event but Paul wanted me to go first, "You had Oprah at your event. She's bigger than the President!"

Many of my colleagues have been working round the clock, for several months, for the multiple events that were part of the larger than life O anniversary celebration. I was helping with a live Today show shot from the event, so had gone over the day before for a walk thru with the producer. Walking out of the Javitz Center, the sign above -- the theme of the weekend -- made me pause, and I thought, "I've been to a lot of events, but I don't think I have ever been to an event like this."

It wasn't the VIPs that were attending throughout the weekend, or the sheer planning and production of what went into the weekend that impressed me (though of course that was very impressive!). It was the 6,000 people that traveled from every state and even other countries to see Gayle, see Dr. Oz, see Suze Orman, see Adam Glassman, but most of all, to see her. She's in their living rooms on TV every day, or in the magazine they get every month. But she's more than a hero, or an inspiring leader, or a famous bold faced name; she's familiar, she's a trusted friend, and she cares.

Oprah opened the event with a keynote speech where she discussed the overall intention of the magazine, and the weekend. "We're here to help you fill your cup, so you can then extend that cup out to others."

As she said in an interview in the anniversary issue of the magazine..."The greatest thing you can do is make somebody feel that they matter. So that is my secret to interviewing: How do I find the common denominator that allows a person to know that I hear them, and that what they say means something to me? if you can do that in all your relationships, whether it's with your children, your boss, your girlfriends, or your spouse -- if you can be present enough to really emit that energy, that's all anybody is looking for."

Amazing to witness that energy bouncing from the stage and back, and all over the room.