Dream Dinners

When I was teaching dance, I had a boss who loved to send us to those motivational seminars. Cheesball central, let me tell you. One workshop, we were supposed to walk across hot coals...I couldn't really see how THAT would enable me to sell more dance lessons so I skipped out and went for coffee. Some seminars, I sat towards the back ad doodled...Hey, at least I got the free tee shirt and tote bag! A few times I actually did learn something. The coolest exercise I ever did at a motivational seminar was to imagine your "dream dinner."

Now, I have NO problem whatsoever imagining my fave foods, but this was something more. This guy, I forget his name, had us close our eyes and imagine, if we could have eight people at a big dinner table for the evening, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would they be and why? He told us to make our list not based on who would be the most fun or entertaining, rather who would be help in our business lives. Who would those eight people be that would motivate you, inspire you, push you to new heights, have answers for you?

I don't remember all eight of mine, and really it doesn't matter anyway, since they were eight who would help me in my dance career. Question is, who would the eight be now? Who would yours be? I did some thinking, and thought, "Who would I really like to hear from now, at this point in my life?"

One: Henry Ford. No, I don't agree with his politics, or with his marketing skills, but he was brilliant in his unswerving work ethic and his ability to know what he wanted to create. Even though no one believed in the gas-powered engine, he did and he practically willed it into being. Nuff said.

Two: Oprah. Say what you will, I know of no other person today who has taken so little and made it ito something so big. Proof that it's not what you have, it's what you have inside.

Three: My Grandfather. He was Midas. Everything he touched turned to gold. No, I didn't agree with his politics either, but the man could fall out of bed into money. I miss him.

Four: Gene Wilder. Oh, you thought I'd say Wonka? Well, Gene Wilder WAS Wonka, and was also married to one of my fave persoalities, Gilda Radner. Just think it would be so telling to hear of his experiences on, and off, the screen. Plus, he could sing, "Imagination" for us!

Five: Donny Deutsch. Sure, there are too many business geniuses to count, but he has interviewed so many of them, he's sure to have the scoop. One man, millions of motivational tales.

Six: Thomas, from the Bible. The one who doubted, then believed. Feel like I have more in common with him sometimes than the others. I'd like to hear more from his point of view.

Seven: Meryl Streep. I think the genius of Ms. Streep's acting is her ability to seem so real. She is, to me, the best actress America has, and I bet she would be a wealth of information on how she became so esteemed.

And Eight: Don Cornelius. No one can TOUCH this man when it comes to marketing. Would love to pick his brain.

I know what you're thinking. I forgot so many. But these are people I would like to ivite to my dream dinner. Who would be there at yours?