Tomorrow I’ll be leading a 7-hour workshop for a leading law firm in Cyprus.

The title? Good to Marvellous: Elevating Individual and Team Performance.

I feel incredibly grateful for the trust placed in me to engage, challenge, and (hopefully!) entertain 14 professionals across an entire day. And I feel proud — proud that, after more than 20 years in the professional services industry, this is the kind of work I get to do.

So, here’s a candid look at my preparation — in case it helps you with whatever you’re building, hosting, or delivering next.

1. Designing the Experience

I always begin with intention: How do I want people to feel at the end of the session? What kind of shift should they experience — intellectually, emotionally, practically?

With that in mind, I prepare the slides early and carefully. Each slide is not just a prompt but part of a journey. The structure includes:

• Guided discussions

• Brainstorming sessions

• Gamified challenges

• Creative exercises

• Real case studies

• And the telling of meaningful, often unexpected, stories

2. Logistics with Love

All printed folders and materials are delivered and placed in the conference room the day before — not just to avoid delays but to honour the energy of the space.

All participants will also receive a complimentary signed copy of the second edition of my latest book, The MARVEL of Happiness: Principles, Stories and Lessons for Living Fully — a gesture supported by the firm’s leadership.

This book, with an RRP of €20, is not just a gift — it’s a companion piece to the workshop. It deepens and expands on the core principles we explore throughout the day.

3. Technical Rehearsal

Today, I’ll visit the venue to:

• Connect my laptop and check audio, WiFi, and projection

• Prepare the trainer’s table with handouts, props, flipchart paper, clicker, etc.

• Even deliver a ladder (yes, really — safely!) for one of the exercises

• Ensure every detail is aligned for a smooth, focused morning start

I now joke that I can fit an entire full-day workshop into one suitcase. And it’s true — it’s a system. One that works.

4. Setting the Tone

Tomorrow, I’ll arrive early to welcome each participant. I’ll assign them (using a little magician’s flourish!) into four randomised teams.

From there, the day becomes an evolving mix of creative performance, thoughtful dialogue, humour, intensity, and insight — something closer to jazz than instruction.

Why I Share All This

Because the visible part — the session, the performance — is just the tip of the iceberg.

The real work happens before: in the care, design, logistics, intention, and spirit you bring to the experience.

That’s what elevates things from good to marvellous.

I cannot wait to begin. Onwards.

Philippos

PS: Photo credits belong to the incredible mindX Team.