This is a special time of year for our company.  We host the MJ Mirrors Celebration.  An individual receiving the MJ Mirrors Award is one who embodies the MJ Journey culture and brings it to life through behaviors.  There are months of preparation and countless hours invested to make the evening a success.  Passionate teams work on every aspect of the event.

Attendees travel, some from great distances, to be present at the event.  Dresses are carefully selected, suits are packed and shirts are starched just perfectly.  The excitement fills the air.  A buzz hums through the corridors.  It is a special night.

It all unfolds in six wonderful, positive hours.

This year nineteen Mirrors took to the stage of honor.   Every detail of the dinner was attended to.  A spectacular appetizer was served first with a well-paired glass of wine.  Then Bob Hartman, Chairman of the Journey Leadership Opportunity Committee, welcomed everyone.  Mr. Meyer shared how special the evening was and how intensely important Mirrors are to the success of MJH.  Mr. Jabara then expressed how proud he felt when each was readied to cross the stage…like a parent whose child was receiving an award of honor.  He confessed that seeing members of his MJ family receive these awards ignited that same pride and joy.

Terri Tucker delivered the keynote address and explained how a mirror is like a tool in a toolbox – reflecting reality.  The reality was that not reflection is “MJ Mirror Quality”.  She spoke to the intense selection process and how the majority of nominees are not selected.  The ones sitting in the room in this moment were indeed the best of the best.

The awards portion of the ceremony included sharing of stories.  Each Mirror had a wonderful story to tell.   That evening I heard stories of individual struggles… traveling to America for a better life.    I heard stories of single moms working to provide for their children.  I heard stories of young professionals leaving their mark on the world; seasoned professionals redefining their career paths to include serving others.  I heard stories! Five years, ten, twenty years of service…lifetimes and moments.

I was touched.  Hanging on every word of every story I was amazed and humbled.  These people had achieved true success.     They were successful at their jobs and in their personal lives.  Each brought The Journey to life holistically.  And that choice to do so had given them the competitive edge to be outliers.  They stood above others in their industry and made their communities and families greater.   And because of them – we are greater. Our company is greater.  Each of us is better because these eighteen have chosen to give of themselves within Meyer Jabara Hotels.  And the other Mirrors who have been honored over the past ten years combine with these eighteen to create our true competitive advantage.

The evening ended.  I was full…both my stomach and my heart.  I have a quest now.  We need more Mirrors.  We need more Mirror behavior.

How do we get more Mirrors?