SHRM Florida Knocks Off SHRM National In an "Upset Special"

You make choices every day.  Good choices, bad choices, quick choices... Safe choices...

And the choices we make allow people to make assumptions about us.  Even when you think you're making a great choice, especially as an organization, you've got to be aware that people are watching - and comparing...

Case in point?  The entertainment choice at SHRM's 2008 national convention in Chicago. SHRM went with the safe entertainment giant choice - Lionel Richie.  I've got nothing against Lionel Richie, in fact my mom would probably like me to go to one of his concerts.  It's safe, there are no curse words to speak of in his music, the parking would be in a controlled atmosphere and let's face it, the whole night would be so...so... NICE...

Just for the record, I'm promoting bringing AC/DC to the 2009 Convention to rock, then keeping them around for branding purposes - read more here.

Back to the story.  In one of those comparison opportunities I was talking about, SHRM Florida has had entertainment at the recent HR Florida 2008.  SHRM Florida is no slouch, but let's face it - they're David to the SHRM Goliath with a measly 1,700 expected attendees expected to attend to the Florida meeting.

So, they can't possibly hang with SHRM on entertainment, right? 

Wrong.

In an upset that reminds me of Villanova vs. Georgetown or the USA hockey team beating the Russians in 1980's Miracle on Ice, SHRM Florida made the following selection for entertainment:

Morris Day and the Time....

It was over as soon as it was announced.  Down goes Goliath.  GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL.

What would you rather see crazy HR people rock to?  "Dancing on the Ceiling" or "Jungle Love"?  I hope they played Jungle Love 45 straight times.  Who cares?  It's MORRIS DAY.

Nicely done SHRM Florida.  You win.  Checkmate.