For the 2002 holiday season at the White House, pastry chef Roland Mesnier created a 20 pound chocolate eagle centerpiece for display at the social functions hosted by the President.

While having the good fortune to attend a White House Holiday Reception that year, I surprisingly witnessed someone repeatedly plucking the feathers of the not-intended-to-be-edible eagle.  I was stunned someone would eat Mesnier’s masterpiece, which was expected to last through dozens of other events that season.  Not believing what I saw, someone explained to me that people lose their heads when they enter a place like the White House, often behaving in ways they wouldn't otherwise.  I kept wanting to tell this person, "Don't eat the eagle."

Given the symbolism of the eagle through history, representing everything from the freedom of a new nation, to spiritual renewal in the Bible, the phrase soon became my metaphor for not getting so caught up with where you are that you lose sight of what is really important in life.
I chose this creative phrase as a name for my creative business.