At Baudville, we've been preparing for the 2014 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition for the last several months. Now, here it is less than a week away and many of us are breathing a collective sigh of relief knowing the only thing left to do really is show up. Show up and WOW the socks off everyone who visits us at Booth 1379, that is! 

It seems these days, a lot of us are on autopilot. You know: like when we arrive at our destination, but we don't really remember any part of the ride? Or when we're breezing through our daily transactions and the clerk or server asks how we're doing, but our minds are somewhere else, and so we grunt a quick answer and keep moving? It's easy to overlook the details when we're just trying to get things done, but, as a result, we're missing out on meaningful connections with people, with our surroundings, with the moments that form our days (and others' days, too). 

Finally, the sun is out – and with nicer weather, you know what that means! We are saddled up and headed back out to Equest!  

For those of you who aren't familiar, in 2013 in celebration of our 30-Year Anniversary, and to further our partnership with the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, Baudville sponsored the development of a sensory trail. All employees were able to volunteer to develop this trail from the ground up! It's been an amazing and fulfilling experience so far! But we are just getting started. 

The SHRM 2014 Annual Conference and Exposition is just weeks away, and we, at Baudville, are getting ready to talk all things employee recognition with the scores of HR Superstars who stop by booth 1379. This year, we're focusing on how all of the moments in a person's career matter and how Baudville can help you give them the fanfare they deserve. From the first day on the job, to important milestones, to everyday wins, to that final day of retirement, you can make an impression that will make a difference. On morale. On performance. On engagement. On everything.

It's interesting: challenge is a word that often has a connotation of difficulty, struggle, and frustration. We face challenges. We overcome challenges. But we rarely welcome them, unless, that is, we're at work. In the professional world, one of the top desires of most workers is be challenged—because it makes our days more interesting, more rewarding, more satisfying, and, ultimately, more successful.