THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
IRENE WOOD| EPISODE 66 | SHOW NOTES
FEATURED GUEST
She is the founder of The Fields, a luxury glamping resort located in her hometown of South Haven, Michigan. The Fields, recognized in Conde` Nast, Travel and Leisure, Forbes, Wall Street Journal and National Geographic has quickly become one of glampings premier locations and its effect, or “field magic”as guests affectionately refer to it as, has helped to identify her as one of the industry’s leading hospitality operations experts.
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Romanticize: She grew up on a working farm, her upbringing gave her a solid foundation and the values of hard work, chores, humility and many other skills that she carries with her today. Irene shares with us the beginning of her journey in creating The Fields but first shares her some of the steps leading up to this point such as her education, previous careers, raising children to then realize that she was going to want something of her own, something fulfilling and that would d keep me busy and not be sitting around waiting to be taken me off the shelf and play with me and that’s about the time her family farm came up for sale. She discusses how sometimes we may undervalue our resourcefulness, question our inabilities and or insecurities in going for something.
The 1st for everything is an honor. Greatest compliment is when guests come back to see you, hugs when they leave, when you get to see and be a part of their lives, notable names have visited but the notoriety is sweet but fleeting…all guests are known. Irene shares how it’s both an honor and huge responsibility to hosts her guests, they chose to be there in their special moments. She has an incredible team that she’s assembled, they’ve been together for four years and some since grade school. Her husband who is also a solid support with his business experience.
BFF: Irene makes us smile, “Can we be best friends?” there is a ton of wisdom out there but not a ton of wisdom out there. Women who support women have such a strength of empathy to assist, understand and be cheerleaders for each other. She talks about her supportive husband and her female friends that she collaborates on her ideas and plans with that she calls her Warrior Wall of Women. Irene articulates a fantastic illustration for an example of “How does she do it all?”, reflecting back, can you recall when your Mother or Grandmother so elegantly put together a feast for the family and as a child you just enjoyed it, she didn’t complain about but they were so grateful to be able to serve you. Irene tries to mission this as it relates to The Fields. She then shares a remarkable story about expanding from 10 tents to 20 tents, pandemic, trucks, trailers, trains and gusto! There is a part of her that almost feels like she would like to stay in the shadows so to speak-she recognizes all of the magic, all of the ceremonious events and moments that take place at The Fields that she is in a sense protecting guests from all of what does take place behind the scenes to prepare for those moments…if they knew all of that they’d like her even better (she is so humble!).
Bittersweet: She shares with us on how she shifted her perspective a bit in her late 20’s-30’s when she read a book Bittersweet; it talks about you cannot have the sweet without the bitter. There are lessons in the feedback (imbalance with your spouse, children or guests)…what am I supposed to be learning and how am I supposed to be growing? As a motto at The Fields they go by is: if its not seamless or doesn’t feel effortless than we have to stop doing it or do it different. Then she will re-ask those questions. Ask more questions, accept the answers as they come you are better quipped and equipped to enter the world with a little more humility. “Humility, kindness, grace, empathy are the new cool!”-Irene Wood
INTENTIONAL INSPIRATION
The grass is only green when you water it. By being present and intentional in your daily life, I do believe you have the ability to be able to manifest whatever it is that your dream.
RESOURCE LIST
Website: The Fields of Michigan.com
Email: Irene@thefieldsofmichigan.com
Socials:
Some Favorites:
Quote: You don’t go to bed when you are tired, you go to be when you are done. -Dad
Book: Bittersweet by Shauna Neiquist
Inspirational Mentors:
Jessica Zweig
Husband
