It’s that time of year again! In just a few weeks love professionals from around the world will descend on New York City for the 2014 Matchmakers and Date Coaches Conference. This time of year is always so exciting and inspirational for me. I started the Matchmaking Institute over 11 years ago, and continue to be impressed by how far we have come and how wide our network now reaches.
In the early days of the Institute we had only a handful of members in our circle. We mainly trained students, and worked on creating a code of ethics to ensure there were standards set within the matchmaking industry. Since then, our network has expanded to over a thousand matchmakers worldwide. After turning 50 this year, and with the 2014 Conference around the corner, I find myself thinking more about the mission statement of my beloved Institute.
What is it that we want to achieve long term? What are we trying to communicate to our network, and to the world?
After some deep thought, and discussion with the MMI team, we concluded that our mission as an Institute is ultimately to “spread the love one couple at a time.”
When I think about the potential impact of this mission it blows my mind. There are various studies that have shown people are happier and more productive when they are in a healthy and respectful relationship. If we approach matchmaking with this knowledge, and work to create couples where both individuals are so fulfilled that they are more valuable members of society, we will be making a meaningful and potentially global impact.
Our mission strives for more than simply matching two people together and calling it a day. We aim is to give matchmakers the tools they need to prepare their clients for the challenges they may face in a committed relationship. Long-term relationships can get messy, but the fruit they bear is unmatchable. If matchmakers have the tools to coach clients on how to achieve healthier relationships, I believe that we can help couples avoid becoming part of the rising divorce statistic.
The more successful we each become, the further our mission of creating happy, long lasting couples will reach.
Our mission to “spread the love” also extends to our own network of industry professionals. If we become a unified force that offers support to one another, and shares tools to learn and grow together as community, we will be able to achieve the best possible methods for matchmaking. The more successful we each become, the further our mission of creating happy, long lasting couples will reach.
In order to create this network of matchmakers who can work together and “spread the love” effectively, it is important that we all have a chance to meet, bond with each other, and learn from our industry leaders. The 2014 Matchmakers and Date Coaches Conference provides this unique opportunity.
Over two days we will be diving into topics that go beyond how to make a match. Seasoned matchmaker Julie Ferman will be speaking on how collaboration is the key to successful matchmaking. Matchmaker and social media guru Paul Brunson will be dishing on how he became an one of the top players in the industry, and Lisa Sumner and Cindy Gil of VH1 will be revealing how to build a brand through digital marketing.
We will have the unique pleasure of hearing from Dr. Helen Fisher, who is behind the methodology of chemistry.com, as well as Rachel Greenwald, an expert dating coach and NY Times bestselling author of Find a Husband After 35.
This year our conference is sponsored by eH+ by eHarmony. eH+ combines the power of eHarmony matching with the personalized service of a matchmaking professional. We are proud to have them as our sponsor, and by our side as we all work to create more love in the world.
This conference is truly going to be a catalyst for our global mission as an Institute to “spread the love” around the world. I can’t wait for the weekend to arrive!
If you are interested in learning more about the 2014 Conference (or attending!) please visit: MatchmakingInstitute.com. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us on twitter (@MatchSchool) and we will get you any information that you need.
