Last September, I went to my first SOBCon NW in Portland, Oregon. For those who don’t know, SOBCon is what is known as the think tank of the social web. It is where some of the best minds in the Internet space gather to present models, discuss insights and determine best practices. SOBCon originated in Chicago and this past September it was expanded to include an additional event in Portland, Oregon.
As I headed off to my very first SOBCon experience, the truth is that I was more than a little intimidated. I was actually pretty scared. I was worried that I just wouldn’t fit into the SOBCon way of things or thinking. I felt that that I was just not far enough along in my online experience or progress to really be able to be part of such a group. Yet, something drew me there. I didn’t really understand at the time why I needed to be there; I just knew that it was important. I knew that by attending I would be able to challenge myself to perhaps find my true voice for my own blog writing and that SOBCon was something that would likely stretch my leadership skills in important, new ways.
At the beginning of SOBCon, I nervously walked into the meeting room and was not sure where to sit, who to talk to or what to do. The uncertainty I felt was actually overwhelming. Yet, I pushed myself, I found a place to be and eventually settled in. Guess what I very quickly found out? Liz Strauss and Terry St. Marie, the co-founders of SOBCon, were (and continue to be) masters at cultivating an atmosphere of safety and respect. They knew exactly how to ensure that the right people were in the room at the right time. They knew how to make us all feel welcome and part of the SOBCon community.
As soon as I realized this, my mind was immediately at ease and I knew that I too was really meant to be there. I understood that I was one of the right people in right place at the right time.
Over the next two and a half days, I listened, I learned and I interacted. I talked with people and I connected. I was inspired. I was challenged. I was no longer scared or nervous. Most importantly, I came to understand that what I have to say online really matters. That I can be true to myself by nurturing and growing my online voice and at the same time my consulting business will become all the more successful.
After SOBCon, my mind continued to process all that I had learned for weeks following the event. Some days my thinking became even clearer, like things were constantly coming further into focus. By late October, I knew I was on my way. I managed to create a two-week window to really work on my ongoing business vision, to update my blogging plans and to truly develop action steps. I acted on a lot of the things that I came to understand as a result of being at SOBCon. I developed checks and balances to hold myself more accountable for achieving my goals. I set a business development and coaching strategy in place. I nurtured new business relationships that I had developed by being in Portland. I also began to regularly remind myself that I truly am as brilliant as Liz Strauss told me I was. (This is something that I used to believe, but had somehow forgotten.) All in all, I made significant progress in the months that followed SOBCon.
As of today I can tell you that I will be continuing my journey of personal growth and ongoing business development by attending the next SOBCon this coming May 4-6 in Chicago. I know that being at SOBCon is one of the best investments that I will make for the future of my business in 2012. I understand that it will further expand my horizons, stretch my boundaries and simultaneously feed my soul. It will also continue to support the ongoing growth and development of my online voice.
So, if you are wondering if you should attend the next SOBCon, here is what you really need to know:
Those who are in the room at SOBCon are not only good people; they are the right people. They are the people who are committed to the true community that SOBCon represents. They are the people who will support you as you grow your business, as you make tough decisions and as you work through challenges. They will be there for your highs and lows. Most importantly though, they will help you move toward your personal and business dreams while also ensuring that you remain true to the brilliance that is within you.
To register for SOBCon click here.
