(Read previous entries about Days 1 and 2: Day 1, Day 2 )
The final day of Necker Cup was an explosion. After the tennis matches were complete and the Necker Cup was awarded, the tennis players and business leaders shared an unforgettable evening of charity and celebration.
During the live auction at dinner, the bids escalated for the chance to hit with the world’s top tennis players. The energy was electric as the final tally hit the screen. In just 3 hours, over dinner, Virgin Unite and The National Tennis Foundation raised more than $500,000. Amidst the cheers, you could see tears rolling down the cheeks of many guests.
What followed only added to these unbelievable experiences that I still don’t believe… and I was there. We met on the beaches at Necker Island for the ‘End of The World Party,’ aptly named. As the drinks started flowing, the band took the stage: Bob Bryan on the keyboard, Mike Bryan on the guitar, Jim Bogios (Counting Crows) on the drums, and former American Idol finalist Michael Johns providing the vocals. The music and dancing took us well into the early hours of the morning. It was electric.
It was nearly 4am as the iSpeed docked for the last time on Virgin Gorda. My mind was full of new ideas and exciting possibilities for my business in 2013 and my iPhone was full of new contacts (friends) made over the span of three days. I felt, as strangely as it may sound, like I survived the ‘end of the world’ with a new world before me looking forward. I can’t be sure if it was the salt water paradise or the company – I’m inclined to say both – that has given me an inexplicable energy. It is reminiscent of the energy I felt when I launched my business 4 years ago.
The context of this experience can’t aptly be detailed in 3 blogs posts and a few photos – despite my best attempt. I have a great amount of gratitude for the amazing group of people who created this world-class Pro-Am tennis experience for social change. The impact of this experience is profound not just for participants but for those touched by Virgin Unite and The National Tennis Foundation.
Even as I write this blog post, it’s hard to ignore the flashbacks. I will let the business and life lessons from Necker Cup 2012 fuel me in 2013. Thank you to my readers for sharing in the journey. It is my hope that in 2013 you, too, can build momentum, create a paradise, nurture it, and watch it grow…