“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” –U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
Honoring All Who Served
Thank you Veterans! http://ow.ly/i/eo991
MHG Travels to Dubai
MHG Brand Manager Stephanie Amos and Account Executive Jamie Wright traveled to Dubai earlier this year. We sat down with the recent jet-setters who shared their experience after visiting one of the most rapidly developing cities in the world.
A view of the city skyline from the Palm in Dubai
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION UPON LANDING IN DUBAI?
Jamie: Wow, it’s really warm. Travelling from New York where a high of 39 degrees is cause for a celebration, landing in a new country with a low of 92 degrees was an adjustment that I had to get used to. I landed in Abu Dhabi, so everything there was very old looking. After a 35-minute cab to Dubai, it was like night and day. It felt like every single building reached the sky. It was very similar to the tall buildings in NYC, but they were twice as tall, and they were a lot more spaced out. The people were remarkably friendly and respectful. Everything was “yes sir” and “yes ma’am.”
Stephanie: IT’S SO CLEAN! Dubai is literally the cleanest place I have ever visited before. Although, there is still a lot of construction since it is still such a new city, the streets and sidewalks are kept pristine. It is very rare that there is garbage or litter found on the ground. The landscaping was also incredible, very well maintained.
The corporate Ethiad Airway Center
Architecture at its finest
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES YOU TOOK PART IN?
Jamie: Sky Diving at Skydive Dubai, shopping at the Mall of Emirates and The Dubai Mall. We rode ATV’s through the desert. We went to the Burj Khalifa, and swam at the resort at the Burj Al-Arab and at Jumeirah Beach. We also went to the Wild Wadi Water Park and visited the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Stephanie: We went on a desert safari which included sand duning, a camel ride, sand boarding (similar to snowboarding, except with sand), a belly dancer who also drew henna on the ladies, an authentic Indian buffet and the famous drink and snack: Nescafé and dates. We also went to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. We were 1,500 feet up! When the weather is clear, there is a group of islands that is shaped like the continents, we were able to see part of them!
Before
During
After
WHAT WAS THE COOLEST THING YOU SAW?
Jamie: The coolest thing I saw was in the Dubai Mall called Dubai Dino. A Dinosaur in the mall standing 25-feet tall. The second coolest thing was the Cayan Tower, which sounds pretty ordinary, but it wasn’t. It had a twist to it, literally. Known as the Infinity Tower, it twists in a clockwise direction from its foundation. It literally looks like something out of the movie Inception.
Stephanie: Funny enough, one of the coolest things we saw was the Dubai Mall. It was incredible! And as a woman who grew up in New Jersey with all the malls I could possibly want, that’s saying a lot! Inside of the mall there was an ice rink, as well as an aquarium and underwater zoo! Outside of the Dubai Mall were the Dubai fountains, the world’s largest dancing fountains! Played in tune to classical, pop and Arab music, the fountains sprayed up to 500 feet and played every half hour!
Looking down 1,500 feet from the top of the Burj Kalifa!
The Burj Kalifa – Tallest building in the world
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP?
Jamie: My favorite part of the trip had to be skydiving. I have been skydiving before but the view from 15,000 feet over Downtown Dubai, the World and Palm Islands, and the Burj was mind blowing. Plus there’s no better rush than falling 130 mph over one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
Stephanie: My favorite part of the trip was definitely the Desert Safari. It was then that I truly realized I was half way across the world in Asia. We had dinner on Arabian carpets and pillows right on the desert. After dinner and the other activities had concluded, all of the lights were turned off so we could look up and see the stars. It was breath taking.
Getting ready to jump out of a plane!
Wild camels at their watering hole
Sand surfing in the middle of the desert
Henna!
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
Jamie: I would’ve never been open to the concept of traveling the world prior my experience here at MHG. A business owner who recently traveled there told me of all the attractions, and when the opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to capitalize on it.
Stephanie: As I was sitting in the airport waiting to board my plane back home, I realized how lucky I was to have the opportunity to visit Dubai. After being out of the U.S. for a week and being immersed within so many different cultures, I realized how sheltered I have been these past 27 years. I stumbled upon this quote by F Scott Fitzgerald and made up my mind that night that I would make a conscious effort to live my life by the following quote. “For what it’s worth…it’s never too late, or in my case, too early, to be whoever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over.”
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DUBAI FUN FACTS
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Dubai boasts the tallest skyline in the world including the tallest building, Burj Khalifa, which measures half a mile high.
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The city also features the manmade Palm Islands that required 94 million cubic meters of sand to construct.
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The seven-star hotel Burj Al-Arab Jumeirah costs $20,000 per night and is decorated with approximately 1,790 square meters of 24-karat gold leaf.
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Dubai is currently building a $64 billion entertainment complex called Dubailand, which is twice the size of Walt Disney World Resort and will have the largest collection of theme parks in the world.
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The Dubai police force uses super cars to impress tourists including cars like the Ferrari FF, Lamborghini Aventador, and the Aston Martin One-77.
Nepal Earthquake Relief
MHG team’s up with the American Red Cross to raise money for the Nepal Earthquake Relief
Face painting and water balloon contests aren’t MHG’s employees’ only forte, they also helped raise almost $600 in just a few hours! Also, eight large garbage bags were filled with clothes to ship over by the end of the afternoon!
A nice afternoon for a water balloon toss.
J. Eddie dropped by for a live performance! He drew crowds of all ages who helped contribute to the Nepal Relief!
Hangin’ out, maxin’ and relaxin’ all cool
Some employees educating passerby’s in the subway station. ◊
This was the worst natural disaster that Nepal has endured since 1938.
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More than 8,500 people were killed and more than 24,000 were left injured.
A big thank you to American Red Cross for teaming up with us, as well as everyone who contributed and helped out! Stay tuned for a press release!!
There’s always a cause to donate to! Visit American Red Cross to find out who you can help today!
MHG Spotlight : Jonathan Marks
Jonathan Marks, simply known as Jon to most, has been working at MHG Consulting for just about a year. Upon graduating from Franklin and Marshall in May 2014, Jon started as an account representative, only to quickly be promoted. Jon has learned a lot of the ins and outs of business as well as developed a lavish skill set. We are proud to offer him the spotlight.
Steph: “Jon, you graduated in May of 2014. It’s now almost a year later and I would say you’ve come pretty far! To help out the upcoming graduating class, what would you say your vision is at this point in time? And how did this past year’s experience with MHG Consulting help to develop that vision?”
Jon: “What I realized coming out of college was I had no clue what I wanted to do. All I knew was I wanted to teach people and I liked biology. I figured I learned all of this stuff and maybe I’ll be able to teach someone in the future. I chose biology because it interested me and my professors kept me interested and engaged. Going to class wasn’t a chore to me, it was something that I enjoyed doing. This is what made me realize that I want to be that person that can spark interest in people I’m able to teach. So whether that means being a professor or some sort of leader in some sort of business, I want to be able to spark that interest to help people create something better for themselves.
As soon as I started working at MHG Consulting and got promoted, I saw that I AM able to do that! I’m interested in what we do as a company and am able to transfer that knowledge to others within the company. Since I’ve been working here, I’ve broadened my business and entrepreneurial mindset as well as my communication skills. For me I’m a very vocal and communicative person but a new skill I learned here was how to speak in a different field, in a more professional way. Working at MHG has helped me to develop a pretty extensive skill set and I found a career for myself that I never thought I would find.”
Steph: “If you could pick anyone in your life, who would you say has made the biggest impact on you and been your biggest inspiration?”
Jon: “I would have to say my mom! Since I can really remember, she’s gone through a lot of hardships. She’s failed a lot, if you want to call it that. What I’ve seen from her, is every time an obstacle comes about, she figures out a way to overcome the obstacle, or as we say in the office, winners find a way to win, she finds a way to win.
For example, she was laid off from one of her jobs in an advertising position. This helped her realize though, that her true passion is helping people with music. She started her own company teaching piano and knew this was what she’s wanted to do. Randomly, she was talking to my Rabbi, and he mentioned a teaching position. Long story short, she realized teaching and music were her two biggest passions and still currently runs her own business teaching people piano as well as is a music teacher in my old Hebrew school. More than finding a way to win, she found what made her happy and win!”
Steph: “That’s an incredible story! What an inspiration! I’m sure your Mom’s successful career has had an impact on you. Kids always have this idea in their mind of what they were going to be when they grow up–what was your dream job as a child?”
Jon: “Well, besides being the President of the United States, and an astronaut, and taking over the world–I have always wanted to be a fire fighter.”
Steph: “Wow, that is so crazy. While I was drawing up these questions, I thought to myself, I think that this man had dreams of being a firefighter! Have you ever fought fires before?”
Jon: “HaHa! No, I’ve never fought fires before. But I’ve seen that there is a selfish aspect in a lot of positions. For instance, many jobs require people to hit certain quotas, or help people but still get paid for it. Firefighting is a position where it is all positive and completely about helping other people. Their job IS to SAVE people – and cats! – they are one of few positions that require their lives to be put on the line and risk their own well being to help others. It’s such a gratifying and selfless job. 9/11 is a great example. Firefighters from all over flocked to the city and look what happened to them–they got sick, lung cancer, all sorts of ailments, but they still continued to help anyway.”
Steph: “Do you feel like the idea of being a firefighter has helped you in other aspects of your life?”
Jon: “Yeah, I really try to use the mentality of being a firefighter in business. I constantly remind myself of how rewarding it is to help others and help them overcome their own obstacles and learn new things.”
Steph: “Coming off of that, what made you choose MHG?”
Jon: “I guess it would be two different things. The first is the people and the environment. From the second I walked in the door–no, from the second I spoke on the phone with KaiYan (one of our administrators) and had a 30 minute conversation with her, I just knew that the vibe was positive. I was so sick of calling places and talking to secretaries that hated their jobs. When I called KaiYan, she cared! I came to MHG and what excited me from day one was regardless of anything, every person cared about one another and each other’s development and well-being. I realized developing others will help me and it just creates a sense of mutual benefits. I’ve played a lot of sports as a kid and what attracted me then and now is the camaraderie of the team.”
Steph: “Oh yeah, there is plenty of camaraderie at MHG! Alright, Jon, lets get to know a little bit more about you…
3 things would you have on a deserted island:
1. Tablet fully stocked with books, movies & TV shows
2. Sunscreen — my pigment is too light!
3. My puppy Teddy!
Favorite Movie : Step Brothers
Who would you be star stricken by? Michael Jordan
Favorite Sports Teams : Jets, Mets, Islanders & Knicks
Pets : Teddy, 7 month old poodle shi-tzu & Oti, 10 year old poodle bichon
Dream Destination: Outer Space, Jupiter specifically
Favorite Snack at the Movies : Sour Patch Watermelon
Favorite Meal To Cook : Mac-&-cheese
Steph: “You’re making me hungry right now! Alright Jon, let’s bring it back home. What would be one piece of advice that you would give to the upcoming graduating class of 2015?”
Jon: “You need to keep an open mind. You don’t have to be stuck in a box because you’re not going to build on your own skill set or grow as a person. Whether that growth be in a physical, mental, spiritual or social aspect, you want to stretch your mind and your comfort zone. The second piece of advice that I’ve learned from others at MHG Consulting is if you have a good work ethic, keep a positive attitude and push through any adversities, you are GOING to be successful. Look at Mark Cuban, Ghandi, President Obama–the people that we talk about every single day–the thing that separates those successful people from unsuccessful people is a stellar work ethic and attitude. Regardless of major, background, or experience level, if you remember to keep a positive attitude and an impeccable work ethic, you will be successful!”
We thank you, Jon for all of your hard work and dedication! We look forward to seeing you continue to develop and help spread your knowledge through teaching and helping others!
From the City of Love to the Big Apple
Stephanie Bankoussou brought a flavor to the office that was undeniable! Perhaps it was the baguettes and brie cheese she so descriptively told us about as we drooled in jealousy. Stephanie, originally from Paris, France, joined MHG for an internship for a little under a year. Aside from broadening her travel experience, Stephanie was also given a chance to develop her communication skills as well as transition her mindset into that of a manager. She so graciously took the time to document her stay with MHG and give us all a taste of what studying abroad was really like!
“After graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at the Paris East University in France, I started looking for an internship in New York because the Big Apple has an attraction for its rich culture and is internationally recognized as a Hub for business.
After sending numerous applications, I finally was hired for a 10 month internship at MHG Consulting in White Plains, NY.
As a French native, it was my first work experience abroad. More than a basic internship, MHG gave me the chance to have a position in the company where I would have the same compensation and advancement opportunities as the other employees. Being developed in an exciting and high performing level job, enabled me to grow as a person, develop myself well with others, and gain communication and management skills. Step by step I’ve turned my previous employee way of thinking into a managerial mindset.
Thanks to MHG I’ve been 100% immersed into the American culture and work ethics: by attending team nights, enjoying all the best that New York city has to offer with my co-workers, being involved in community actions, and traveling and networking through business trips. I’ve worked at a company whose main values are integrity, effort and recognition.
Through this experience, the quote that I kept in mind is “ordinary people with commitment can do extraordinary accomplishments on their world”
Today, I have managed to build a valuable network of colleagues and have the necessary professional references to move forward into a future position when I go back to my country.
This awesome life experience just went far beyond all my expectations and will be with me forever. I’m grateful for the management, they showed me great examples of leadership as well as my co-workers who all contributed to my experience to be a greater and more skilled individual.”
We miss you Stephanie and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors! Hopefully one day we’ll all get a chance to visit Paris to get a taste of those fresh baguettes and brie cheese!
MHG Spotlight: Jamie Wright
Jamie Wright, an executive at MHG Consulting, was recently awarded in front of hundreds of his colleagues at a conference in New Jersey. He was recognized for his integrity, performance excellence, and leadership, all of which are very admirable qualities to obtain as a successful business man.
Jamie attended The University at Albany, and graduated with a bachelor of science in accounting with a minor in psychology. Upon graduating, Jamie had dreams to own his own business. He had a few different career paths in mind.
Dale, who works in the Human Resources Department at MHG Consulting, had the pleasure of sitting down with Jamie to learn more about his journey to success with MHG.
DALE: Jamie, what made you want to work with MHG Consulting? How did you know that this was the career path for you?
JAMIE: I feel like I had this cookie cutter approach in life; you go to high school, go to college, and get a job. You go on to work for about thirty years, and then you retire.
Working with MHG, I am able to dictate how fast I can progress. My work ethic and my effort was the motivating factor to get me to where I want to be, at a pace that I want to.
Prior to working here, I felt as though there was only one path; working for someone else for Forty years to get to where you wanted to be. In a position that I currently hold at MHG, I am building my own corporate ladder through my clients. I do not necessarily have to answer to anyone. There are tons of resources around you, and you are in a position where it is designed for you to succeed. I am lucky to say that I am surrounded by many business owners who want to help and continue to see me grow. MHG is a people helping people business; something that is so very valuable to me. The fact that our business’s overall goal is to develop and motivate each and every individual, and to get their employees to see their goals is much more satisfying.
DALE: What is one distinguishing characteristic of yours that not a lot of people are aware of?
JAMIE: I am an adrenaline junkie. I would do anything; sky dive, white water rafting. I cannot swim too well, but I would jump into a water of sharks just to do it. I would do anything just to remind myself that I am alive. Life is so limited. There is a clock ticking. I will take any chance that I can get to live life to the maximum. Live your every day to the fullest. Do fun things. Do memorable things. Make the most of it.
DALE: You will be opening up an office in the near future. Very exciting things to come your way. Where do you have plans to open up?
JAMIE: At first my eyes were only set on California, but at this point the sky is the limit. I want to open up several offices in several places: New York, Florida, Montana, Chicago, Colorado and Texas. I really want offices planted in all different sections around the United States. I would also love to have an office In Europe.
DALE: Jamie, what is one of your favorite most inspirational quotes?
JAMIE: I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. (William Ernest Henley, Invictus)
Not only is Jamie an asset to MHG Consulting, but he continues to play an active role in his community as well. Beverly Lacy, working in Financial Development for the YMCA of Westchester, had nothing but wonderful things to say about Jamie, and his eagerness to give back to the community. She summed up who Jamie has been for our company and community since he started with us last year.
“I truly enjoyed working with Jamie to set-up volunteer opportunities. I was so impressed that he did all of the coordinating for the volunteer opportunities after his own rather long work hours. He would put in a full day, and then work on giving back and helping to facilitate opportunities for his colleagues to give back. He has such a great attitude. He is a pro-active volunteer leader with a great outlook on what makes a community strong. Not to mention a wonderful cheerful attitude.”
We thank you, Jamie, for all of your contributions, and congratulate you on your recent award.
How To Stop Caring What Others Think
In order to excel in social settings, you must be able to step out of your comfort zone. Here is an entertaining article from Addicted 2 Success on how to stop caring what others think. The article discusses 10 weeks of assignments that will help you stop caring what others think. Enjoy.
Week 1. Look at ten people straight in the eye and hold eye contact. Don’t look away until they do.
Week 2. Smile and say “Hello” to ten strangers as you pass them on the street
Week 3. Ask ten strangers a ridiculous question.
Week 4. Go to five clothing stores for the opposite sex and ask for options on how an outfit will look on you. Then ask if you can try it on.
Week 5. Strike a conversation with a stranger, and find out their greatest fear and greatest passion.
Week 6. Have a two minute conversation with an imaginary friend in public.
Week 7. Get ten strangers to hug you.
Week 8. Lie down in a busy store. Stay there until someone asks you if you’re ok.
Week 9. Get on an elevator and shout each floor number from top to bottom.
Week 10. Sing and dance a whole song in a public place.
The ‘King’ and I
This past weekend, MHG Consulting had an office-sponsored event at Six Flags Great Adventure. As our caravan approached Jackson, New Jersey our team was greeted by towering coasters, sunshine and a little rain.
We all cringed at the thought of being strapped into the seats and launched up the tallest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka. But what better way to bond as a team than to conquer the Goliath of all roller coasters together?
The people in our group who had previously been on the coaster were swapping stories of their experiences, while those of us who hadn’t began to appear pale and nervously shift around in discomfort.
Our office culture is to have a winning mentality and operate outside our comfort zone. And that culture was evident as team members that swore they wouldn’t get on the ride overcame their fears by jumping at the chance to experience the thrill of the coaster.
Naturally we started our day at the park with Kingda Ka. The wait for the ride was shorter than any other line we could see and was filled with faces that looked both skittish and excited.
As we sat in our seats waiting to strap in for the ride, our hands trembled, like ice cold fingers trying to tie shoe laces on a blistering winter day.
As we rolled down to the launching platform, the 10 seconds of anticipation until our launch felt like an eternity. The clicking of gears sounded like the shifting of two tectonic plates. Then suddenly without warning were launched down the tracks at the blistering speed of 128 mph.
Only a few seconds passed before starting the upward climb, but our eye sockets and internal organs felt like they had shifted from the overwhelming torque of the coaster. As we climbed the face of the ‘King’ we saw blue skies and cumulus clouds.
As we submitted to a crawling pace atop the 456-foot giant, we could see the furthest limits of The Garden State and began to brace for the downward plunge. With no time to spare we were in free fall and cork screwed down the back of the coaster. There were no thoughts, no words. Just a giant gasp of air then silence as we braced for the adrenaline rush.
The entire ride lasted 28 seconds and as we headed back to the platform each passenger had their arms in the air as if they just won a grueling marathon; facial expressions showed relief and excitement.
Our experience with Kingda Ka will be remembered by our team as a moment of triumph, which made this trip just another reminder that we have the best crew around.
The Big Bear Classic VII: Malibu Style
We are excited to announce that the seventh annual Big Bear Classic will be held this year in Malibu, CA from November 1st – 3rd. The Big Bear Classic is an annual tradition in our organization, where teams compete in a ‘Survivor’ style weekend for the grand prize of The Big Bear Cup. Historically, the Classic kicks off on a Friday in which participants take part in various business workshops, to help them network and get the necessary guidance to better their business. Once the sun starts going down, the business suits get swapped out for shorts, t-shirts, and team colored bandanas as we prepare for the next day of events like canoe races, ultimate Frisbee, and dodge ball.
One of the things I love the most about The Big Bear Classic is the fact that you have so many highly competitive people pitted against each other in a wide array of events that test the athleticism, skill, drive, and mental fortitude. Friday night always has an interesting feel to it. Meeting up with old friends from businesses all over the country usually brings out a very relaxed environment, but on this night tensions are high in anticipation for what the following day will unfold.
The Saturday morning breakfast is a huge tone setter for the marathon of a day. As the participants file in, you hope that none of your teammates are amongst the late-night-shenanigan-stragglers that are strolling in to the mess hall. Shortly after breakfast the captains meet to go over rules and regulations.
As a captain last year, I remember analyzing every question and concern brought up by the other captains, and trying to decipher weaknesses from them. After the captains meeting, the pregame meeting is the final strategy session before the event begins. I remember feeling like Maximus in Gladiator as I was rallying the troops to leave everything we had out on the field, court, pond, table, floor, and whatever else surfaces we battled on. At one point I think I even picked up dirt from the ground and rubbed it into my hands. “What we do in life, echoes into eternity!” As I looked into my teammates eyes I could see them all thinking, “we know that’s a line from Gladiator, but we feel you, let’s ride!”
As the day unfolds, the war of words between teams brews throughout the tug-of-war, ultimate frisbee, and relay racing events. During lunch, faces of excitement, anxiety, arrogance, dejection, and determination can be seen depending on what place your team is in. The lunch time is the height of the tension, as even the wait staff is sometimes greeted with venomous snarls. After lunch, the day continues with trivia games (food digestion period), followed by volleyball, basketball, canoe races, and a few others to round out the day. The final event is the big pong tournament where the destiny of your team hangs in the balance with every shot.
The closing hours are not for the faint of heart. This is the moment where legends are born, and destiny is defined. The pin drop silence during the last shot, followed by the moans of the desolate and the roars of the victors is what defines The Big Bear Classic. When it’s all said and done, with the competitiveness beaten out of all the contestants, sportsmanship reigns supreme as hugs and handshakes are abound, and the winning team is presented the coveted cup.
Volunteering at the forefront of our company goals
While working in Los Angeles in 2010, our company had a great relationship with the Boys and Girls club of Venice. The president basically created a volunteer organization within the company to work closely with the kids who came to the Boys and Girls Club for after-school programs and events. We hosted many events including refereeing for a children’s basketball tournament, teaching resume building workshops, and volunteering at the annual Fall gala silent auctions.
That environment of work, volunteering and play was something that we really valued while in L.A., and we knew it was a model we wanted to follow when expanding to the east coast. For the past few years, MHG Consulting has organized events that have raised money for breast cancer research, Cell Phones for Soldiers, and Operation Smile among other things, but we still wanted to establish a regular working relationship with a local organization whose mission spoke to us.
This summer when we moved our office to New York, a couple of us headed over to the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester, which is just adjacent to our office building. We met with the director to talk about how MHG Consulting could help enhance the Y’s programs such as The Strong Kids Campaign and talked about the different ways we could offer our time and skill set to the center.
Our initial meeting at the YMCA went well and we’re scheduled to meet with the community director again later this summer to continue this conversation. Meanwhile, back at the office, ideas for programs have been pouring out across our company – everything from reffing basketball games and a sponsored golf outing, to helping kids with homework and holding a free resume building workshop. It’s really great to see that spirit of volunteerism resonate within our office culture and we’re really excited about finding new ways to be an active part of this community.
MHG Consulting | the blog 