Where have I been...

I'm back! I know it has been quite a while since I have made some new posts. I have been busy in many areas of my life. But rather then bore you with all of those details...it's time to get back to talking about change. Since I haven't written for some time, I have plenty of experiences to share...

Let's start with a recent one.

My 5 1/2 year-old Jack has just begun kindergarten ( still hard to believe). My wife and I decided that it would be a great idea to take Jack and our 15-month old daughter Lucy to a family oriented fun park for the weekend before Jack started school. We had a vision of an enjoyable and entertaining weekend with each other...looking back I have realized that it is clearly unlikely that parents and kids share the same ideas about what is fun and enjoyable.

We had been told for years that Holiday World (www.holidayworld.com), located in Santa Claus, Indiana (yes..I did say Santa Claus) was a wonderful theme park to visit with family. Additionally, everyone raved about the cleanliness, the friendly park staff; and let's not forget...free unlimited soft drinks and sunscreen. WhooHoo!

So, we packed up the van and made the 3 plus hour trek down south, never passing any reindeer or elves. Just minutes after arriving, the realities began to set in. Crowds, lines, congestion at every turn. We pushed forward and hopped into a line for a ride that Jack could actually ride (height restrictions on most rides). Jack turns to me and says "how long do we have to wait?" How could he not understand that...it's a theme park, right. Well, I suppose if you consider he just spent over 4 hours travelling and getting into the fun park, a 5 year old might have trouble with that.

After our first ride, which lasted about 120 seconds (with a 40-minute wait), we needed some hydration. And here is where my real issue with this park are exposed....

They have a few "sponsors/partners" of the park. One of them happens to be a small outfit that goes by the name of Pepsi. Located throughout Holiday World are what seem like dozens of small buildings with fountain soda machines located inside. And, let me tell you, they are getting used non-stop. Already concerned about what might be available that wasn't completely unhealthy...we approached the machine. Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Mountain Dew, Gatorade, and Fruit Punch....Oy! No milk, no juice, nothing with a drop of nutrition...unless you count water out of one of the shared fruit punch nozzles. Boy I wish I brought more of Jack's all natural, no sugar added juice boxes and organic drinkable yogurts. We did bring a few, but Holiday World clearly states on their website that no outside food or beverage may be brought into the park.

Look, I am a reasonable and rational person. We are at a theme park, you would expect this type of offering. However, this particular theme park raves about it's commitment to family. Please, if you had a real commitment to family and kids, you would make different choices. I have spent my entire life engaged in the field of sales and marketing. I can imagine the co-op dollars Pepsi provides. Couldn't Holiday world step up and have their "partner" provide some alternatives...Pepsi owns Tropicana juice, Aquafina water, Sobe Life Water, Dole juices, Ethos Water and others that would be far better choices for "families".

Now, the food choices at the Holiday themed paradise aren't much better. Pizza, corn dogs, funnel cakes and so on. I had to really search to find one outlet that had a salad for me to eat! So, here is my point...

If you are really committed to families and children, change your views. We all have this responsibility, but that responsibility is much greater when you serve masses of children. Think about the advantages it may offer the park. Call Clif bar, they offer a (great and healthy) organic bar for kids. Call Kashi and get some granola bars. Imagine the interest from brands committed to health and wellness...they don't typically have outlets such as this to provide their products. Oh, of course it may cost a bit more...so add a couple bucks to each of my ticket prices, I'd happily pay it. Or, allow people to bring their own food and beverage.

Times have changed. If you truly want to provide a great family oriented experience, try to make it a healthy experience as well. Otherwise, you might as well serve the kids coffee, funnel cake and throw them in a movement restricted line for 45-minutes.

Time to change . . .

More soon....

Josh
Agent of Change