INTIX 2026 in Las Vegas was an exercise in flexibility at times, with intense winter weather around North America impacting some members’ travel plans. For the most part, though, the four-day event’s scheduling was unaffected. The Inspiration Stage did have to pivot at one point, and the solution was ... well ... an inspired one!
Aren Murray
When a workshop was unexpectedly canceled, long-time INTIX member and industry consultant Aren Murray stepped in beautifully with a session titled “Creating Your Personal Vision Statement.” The topic was intimate in focus, but ended up appealing to a wide variety of ticketing and live events professionals. Murray only asked those in attendance to have a willingness to be open and introspective with oneself.
The Experience
The session indeed focused on writing out a personal vision statement to be used to guide future planning and career goals. Murray is hopeful her workshop has resonated well beyond the Las Vegas gathering. She says, “I hope each person in the session took home a new connection to themselves and an ability to vocalize their intentions for the future. When we are able to vocalize who we are, what is important to us and what we bring to the world around us, we become more capable of presenting ourselves, focusing on our goals and reaching our intended future.”
She was glad the audience was not huge as an impromptu writing circle formed right on the spot. A lively roundtable discussion ensued in which attendees’ desires and eventual goals were explored. It was also a very focused “wordsmithing and encouragement session,” according to Murray. “We shared words that described ourselves and encouraged each other to dig deep into how we see the world. We shared laughter, personal thoughts and moving moments as we explored a bit of how we looked at ourselves.”
The Task at Hand
So, what does the simple — or not so simple — act of writing out a vision statement do for someone eager to place greater emphasis on their goals and intentions? Murray says, “Writing about yourself is not simple. We are taught to not bring attention to ourselves, to fit in, to not make a scene. When you plan a vision statement, you are doing the opposite of blending and making yourself ‘smaller than.’ You are exploring who you can be and want to be. You are counting yourself as important and worthy of creating a future where you can see success and beauty. Writing your own vision statement proclaims that your ideas are interesting, that you matter and that you can live in the universe that you want to see. It’s empowering!”
She continues, “It also helps you make decisions that are uniquely designed for you. When struggling with next steps, if you have a personal vision, you can hold it up to the future and reflect whether each choice is the choice for you. We shared words that described ourselves and encouraged each other to dig deep into how we see the world. So, when you get that dreaded question in an interview, at a social event or a first meeting ‘Tell me about yourself,’ you know exactly what the answer is! It’s such a simple blessing.”
During the session, Murray spoke of realizing a “new you” in the short term, medium term and long term. Each of these three stages is as important as the other, she insists. Progression, though, is the key. Murray states, “The first step is defining yourself in the short term. That is why we worked on being word collectors. The gathering of words that define who you are right now, how people perceive you and what inspires you is important to defining your short-term self. It helps expose the truth in what direction you see your path.”
In the medium term, meanwhile, Murray says a vision statement begins to really take shape. At this time, one is more capable of placing that mirror up to the path he/she is on and using it to firmly take control of one’s purpose and intent.
“In the long term,” Murray adds, “your personal vision statement is your source for defining the success you have found. It is also important to redefine and reevaluate that statement so stagnation does not step in.”
How Does This All Apply to INTIX Members Specifically?
Ticketing and live event professionals are specifically challenged when setting goals and sticking to a plan for success. Murray cautions against a belief she has observed taking root with some ticketing professionals. “We tend to not see ourselves as key players in our organizations,” she says. “We sometimes get stuck in the ‘busy-ness’ of the work and don't take the time to reflect on our own value. Not all of us, but many. We also tend to be those that carry the ‘emotional’ work load, the weight of everyone else's needs. By taking the time to look internally and define our goals and visions, we can pull our feet out of that quicksand and reach for what brings us joy.”
She also acknowledged that ticketing pros have traditionally been involved in helping define organizations and venues and relaying those messages to ticket buyers. Murray declares, “We like details and focus! This gives us a unique set of skills and experiences to help us define our vision if we just look in the direction of self.”
Murray concluded by sharing some of her own personal journey, talking about past experiences that ultimately made her an ideal speaker on this topic. In her career, she has held such positions as Service Center Director for ATG Entertainment USA to Operations Manager US for Tixly to Director of Ticketing for the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio.
“I've been lost and didn't know what I wanted in life many times before,” she says. “I wrote my first [personal vision statement] over 10 years ago, and I use the concept daily. It reminds me of what I want, and that I just need to align my actions with my goals. Since then, I have walked many people through my process. Truthfully, it is not a one-hour session process. It is intensive and just the writing can easily take six weeks. But then you get to living it!”
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