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… what would it look like, and why? Even better, what would you WANT it to look like?

Interesting questions, don’t you think? Thought-provoking, profound and personally revealing – all at the same time. The perfect “get to know you” question. If you’ve been around the internet for any length of time, I know you’ve run across (or been tagged already) with one of those too-numerous-to-count memes: 1,000,000 Things About Me, 88 Random Things About Me, 500 Things About Me You Didn’t Want To Know But I’ll Tell You Anyway… or, well, something like that.

Now don’t get me wrong; I do enjoy finding out stuff about folks I read because it helps morph them from just pixels on a screen into actual three-dimensional people. But let’s face it; those are just words.

Yesterday’s post about plans, construction sites and buildings got me to thinking (in case you were wondering about that grinding noise) about what I’d like my life to look like if it were a building. Think of it as a branding question: What would your building say about you?

So how about some Friday fun?

Since most of us are visually-oriented anyway (sound of light bulb switching on), I thought to myself, “Hey! Rather than just telling us about yourself, why not show us instead?” (And I’m not even from Missouri!)

OK, I’ll start. Back when I was working in Las Vegas, I ran across this one:

For me, it would have to be the New York, New York Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. When I first saw it, I was literally mesmerized (sound of me, mesmerized). How on Earth did they manage to mind-meld so many different styles into one single building (and without a Vulcan in sight!)? It is absolutely incredible; not just from an architectural and construction standpoint, but to the senses as well.

Here’s why I would use this structure as “my” building:

1. Authentic. (Here’s one for you, Joanna!) I’ve never been to the actual New York, but it definitely gives you a genuine feel for the place. This was confirmed repeatedly by many I met there who had been to New York. If there’s anything I’d like my life to be, it’s authentic.
2. Consistent. Both inside and out, the entire place screams NEW YORK CITY! From the scale model of the Statue of Liberty on the outside to the choice of food vendors inside, it’s completely focused on giving you a feel for the real thing. The other half of the coin of authenticity is consistency.
3. Proud. Not as in arrogant; no, I’m talking about standing tall and willing to be noticed. The thing is, there are a lot of hotels in Las Vegas you never heard of, but this one is willing to be a focus of attention - a landmark, even. Are you willing to stand out from the crowd and be unique?
4. Whimsical. Defined as determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason, this seems to describe the overall look perfectly. I found it interesting that the World Trade Center building was shorter than the Empire State Building. It was an opportunity for the designers to emphasize what really says “New York” to most people. Taking a relaxed and sometimes whimsical view of life gives you the opportunity to see things you’d miss otherwise.
5. Serious. Hey, this is one of THE major money makers on the Strip. Big business for sure. And I’m not admiring the casino, or any specific part of it; it’s that I admire the great job the management team does: they know who they are they and do it well. Know your stuff, and be able to do it so well you don’t have to spend all your time on it. That way you can stop every now and then and have -
6. Fun. Notice the roller coaster surrounding the entire structure? That is one fun ride, especially at night! Gotta enjoy life!
7. Hospitable. Hey, the place is a hotel, after all, and the idea of hospitality resonates with me. I mean, I would like to be known as a hospitable guy, ready with a cup of coffee or cold drink if you need one, maybe a place to draw up a chair, have a seat and take a load off… (and hey, maybe even a Klondike bar or bowl of Blue Bell Banana Pudding Ice Cream - and yes, it deserves the Capitals).

(Oh, and by the way, if this building truly represented my life as I’d like it to be – I’d leave out the casino, and relocate the whole thing someplace else! Sin City is aptly named…)

Hey, this was fun! So what about you? What kind of building would you like to represent your life? Not necessarily your actual life, mind you, I’m talking about what you’d like your life to be. (Let’s leave some room for dreams and goals here.)

Hmmm, let’s see now… who to tag, who to tag? OK, how about:

Joanna Young at Confident Writing
Troy Worman at Orbit Now!
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog
Dawud Miracle at Healthy Web Design
Pete Aldin at Great Circle

Got a great response for this question? If you read this post, consider yourself tagged, my friends; no need to sit around waiting for a tap on the shoulder! Go for it! (And p.s., don’t forget to link here so I can capture them all in a wrap-up post later.)

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