Retired Popes, Trivia Team Building Professionals and Others With Few Peers
Today is a huge day for anyone currently living on planet Earth, because we’re all about to witness something that none of us have seen before: a sitting pope, stepping down from his position. It’s been 600 years, in fact, since the last pope stepped down – not exactly a move that’s steeped in tradition.
So, what are we to expect of the departing pope in his new role after today?
As has been widely reported in the weeks since his departure was announced, Benedict XVI’s move to step down puts him – and the church, and the world – into almost completely uncharted territory. Questions surrounding the life of a retired pope abound: what should his official title be? What will he do all day? Will he retain any power, authority or responsibility? Basically, who will he be, and what will he do for the remainder of his time here?
I can relate.
Now, before I delve in, let me be very clear that I am NOT equating myself with the pope, retired or otherwise. What I CAN understand and appreciate, however, perhaps to a degree more than others, is the fact that he will be in a position with little precedent, and absolutely no peers.
As a trivia team building professional, I too am out there virtually on my own. What I do and how I do it – combining my service industry background in professional event planning, team building and trivia event hosting – is pretty unique, and this, too is virtually uncharted territory. Sure, there’s plenty of self-proclaimed “team building” professionals out there (Google “team building NYC” and you’ll see what I mean), many of whom also throw in trivia as part of their menu of offerings alongside scavenger hunts, ropes courses, fish racing or what have you. But what I’m doing – specializing exclusively in professional, fully-customized trivia events, as my full-time job – is a niche area with virtually no peers, and even fewer resources.
Trust me, I’ve looked for others who understand my passion and share my enthusiasm for trivia team building as an effective form of group bonding, and creating a shared positive experience for teams to remember. I am constantly trying to improve myself and develop my professional skills; I read like a maniac, practice my craft constantly, experiment with new things and am always trying to grow – but there really aren’t any others out there I can learn from who “get it.”
Pat Kiernan gets it. The longtime NY1 morning news anchor also hosted VH1’s “The World Series of Pop Culture” for two seasons, during which time he gained a unique appreciation for the competitive energy among TV game show contestants, and realized how effective that could be for team building. I am so thankful to have gotten to know Pat over these years as TrivWorks’ “Special Host,” particularly since being a fellow event emcee, he really goes “get” what it is I’m doing as a trivia professional, and why I’m doing it – including the unique challenges I face, as well as the incredibly rewarding feeling achieved from a trivia event well done. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from Pat, and am so very grateful for it. But how many TV game show hosts will I have the chance to meet, let alone develop business or mentoring relationships with?
And so, I can relate a bit to the pope today. Am I the first guy in 600 years to think of doing trivia team building professionally? Probably not. But I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone else who has thought as much about and is as passionate about this as I am, who has produced as many events, written as many blog posts, and who knows in their heart that this is exactly what they should be doing.
(If you do know such a person, however, please let me know who it is – I’ve got a few questions to ask!)