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When I started working online, I worked hard. Really hard. But I didn’t work smart.
I tried to blog my way to success. I (wildly) undercharged. I wasn’t clear on my overall vision. And just for good measure, I invented flaming hula hoops for myself to jump through instead of just asking for what I needed. (Thank goodness you know better than I did!)
I’ve come a long way since I started working for myself full time, and as I slowly got out of my own way and experienced some success, I made a promise to myself:
“As soon as you can make it happen? You are going to a small business conference to learn from people who are killing it online.”
When I found out about Pioneer Nation, I knew that I had to go. My obsession with passion for learning is only marginally edged out by my passion for getting things done. So a two-day, action oriented conference in Portland put on by the brilliant team behind World Domination Summit? It was the answer to my geeky prayers.
But for a long time? This was the stuff of my nightmares.
There are so many reasons I had never been to a conference like this before. Some of them might be running through your head now:
- “I don’t know enough about business, and I’m going to end up looking foolish.”
- “I’m an introvert!” */hides under desk*
- “I don’t have a real business idea yet.”
- “I’m just a blogger.”
Add to that travelling to a new city alone, depression and an anxiety disorder and (if I want to) I can find a solid reason to stay at home from pretty much everything.
And somehow, instead, this is what happened…
Alright, I’m teasing you with the last caption, but it was such an incredibly fun experience that it pretty much felt like that.
What I learned from Pioneer Nation:
- The internet is the biggest small town in the world.
I went to the conference without knowing anyone, but I ran into people who had guest posted on my tiny blog years before. I found people who I knew from twitter and didn’t know were attending. I had so much fun at one of the sessions that it had to be moved because we were causing too much of a ruckus! I ran into people I met at the only other, incredibly tiny, blogging conference I’d been to. There were connections everywhere, and everyone I spoke to seemed to be experiencing a concentrated kismet.
- Being in a room full of committed, curious people is priceless.
One of the hardest things to tell when you meet new people or make a new connection, is who is going to follow through. Are you really going to talk after the circus as packed up? How do you know where to invest your time? Going to a conference automatically pre-selects for people who see value in investing in learning and relationships – and that means everyone you talk to is much more likely to follow through. If you’re always the keener? This is a great place to find your people.
- Just having 300 people looking at you at the same time can seriously clarify things for you.
I don’t exactly know how you bottle that, but being asked serious questions about how committed I am to maintaining my blog and the blog for Freckled Nest Design in that situation made everything simple and clear. (My answer: Very! But I have no desire to make everything I do, including this blog, into a money-making business. I have one of those, that’s lots!) Getting that clarity was a relief, and speaking in front of that audience was a rush.
- Sometimes you need to get out of the way and let magic happen.
You can’t plan how you’ll meet the next people whose lives you’ll change or vice versa. You can’t know whose perspective is going to spark something that makes a tectonic shift in your world. But as in all things, you can show up. Be present, be open, be the thousand watt version of your genuine self, and sometimes the world will take care of the rest.
[Tweet “Be the 1000 watt version of your genuine self and sometimes the world will take care of the rest.”]
What do you think? Sound like it might be for you? No matter where you are in your journey, if you’re curious about business or really want to amp up and get into the nitty-gritty details I can’t recommend Pioneer Nation enough. It’s just starting out, and I think it’s exactly the conference that bloggers and the handmade community needs.
There was no fluff, just all actionable ideas, backed up with results, and geared toward helping creatives get profitable. After all, that’s how you can make people’s lives better, and live a creative life that’s sustainable.
Hey Kyla, the conference sounds amazing!
I’m going to my first conference this year, “Alive in Berlin” and I’m both totally nervous about getting out of my comfort zone and excited about the opportunity. Chris Guillebeau is one of my personal heroes too, and he’ll be speaking there too :)
In the last year I’ve been embracing the things I really love doing, am reaching out to the people I REALLY want to work for, and am suddenly starting to see results and lots of stuff is shifting. My business is taking an upswing as a result. My monster drawing gig was one of the first steps along that way, thank you so much for hiring me back then, I really enjoyed creating your drawing!
So much truth in what your saying and it really does get easier when you’re inline with who you really are. I’m starting to learn to get out of my own way and use the things I’m really good at to my advantage.
Such an exciting journey! <3
It really is a small little Internet world – I spy Willo O’Brien in one of your photos – we went to Mexico together last year on a group trip for women entrepreneurs. I always love those connection overlaps :)
No! That’s too funny, she was one of the keynote speakers and was fabulous. Love that it’s such a small world, even online :)
This sounds delightful! Nicely done miss Kyla xo
I hope this teaches you a lesson. Never say “I’m just a blogger” like it’s unimportant.
You’re a freaking blogger. You shine 1000 watts brighter than most of the population.
I’m glad you’re so awesome, and that you share your awesomeness with us.
Lovely, as always! You got me very excited for my first blogger conference.. whenever that will be!
I’m sure you’ll have a blast, Jess! Thanks for commenting :)
What an awesome sounding conference (maybe I can swing a trip to the US next year…)!
I think I’m a bit of a mix between introvert and extrovert. While I love to connect with people in person (and am quite confident about it) and find those connections to be particularly helpful, it takes a bit for me to put myself out there in the first place. Promising myself right now I’ll get out from behind the keyboard more this year!
I’m the same way, Katie. I love people and being in a learning environment, but I have to psych myself up for it more than my extrovert friends do. I also find that I get tired out from it more quickly than I’d like, so I just headed home when I was worn out. The great thing about Pioneer Nation is that they recorded all the sessions and are making them available to attendees for free, so you can watch nearly every session that went on! I found I had no problem signing up for an event in another city that I was really enthusiastic about, and after such a great experience I’m seeking out those experiences in my community. You never know what something like this is going to spark!
I really hope to attend a conference in the next year. I think it would be a truly amazing experience. I love to connect with people and learn from others. I just know I’d walk away from the conference so very inspired! Good for you for getting up on stage!!! That’s no small feat! Great post :)
It’s incredibly energizing. There’s even the local event, MBlog, to keep an eye on. It was a great experience too! Blogging is so often such a solitary thing, seeing all these people who are smart and interested, is a great way to remind yourself of the amazing people it can connect you with. :)
Way to inspire the crap outta me! So wasn’t expecting that but you’ve already got my wheels turning. Much love to you always, Kyla!
Aw, thanks for commenting Shelley! I hope these ideas spark something exciting & inspiring for you.
Great post, Kyla! I’m speaking at a workshop in July, and I am SO NERVOUS! This post really helped calm me down a bit – I’ll likely refer to it a few (hundred) times before July :P
Congratulations, Ashley! You’ll do great! Just write your content ahead of time and be really familiar with it. I’ve been surprised how much I enjoy speaking in that setting, I always thought that it would be over wheleming. Recently I realized that whenever I was speaking in front of people before now it was an assignment or forced thing. Now, it’s to help them, present strategies and insights that could be useful, and make blogging and social media fun for them. And I love being useful! Making that switch in my head was hugely helpful. What kind of a workshop is it? :)
This sounds so cool – and how awesome that you got up onstage! (And I KNOW they thought you were charming and winning!)
Ha! You make me smile. I definitely had fun – and most of all I’m happy I jumped into a new experience. I find it’s important to celebrate using those “out of my comfort zone” muscles so they’re a little more ready for the next time they’re needed.
“But as in all things, you can show up. Be present, be open, be the thousand watt version of your genuine self, and sometimes the world will take care of the rest.”
Love it.
Thanks Vanessa! xo
This sounds like a great conference! I am glad that you had such a great experience and props to you for getting up on stage. You seem to be getting more and more comfortable with that which I think is awesome because having all those eyes on you can be intimidating!
My blog is totally my creative outlet right now, I’ll never make a dime from it and that is OK. But I think it’s great that others can take their passions and interests and turn them into careers!
Thanks Lisa! I’ve been having a lot of fun with the opportunity to speak, especially because I used to really dislike it. Now that I have something I’m passionate about sharing, and I’m so interested in learning about, that curiosity really overrides it.
That being said, I definitely had a few moments where I was smiling, but thinking “HOLY HECK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. I THINK MY FACE IS SPASMING! BREATHE! ARE YOU STILL SMILING? STAY SMILING!” while people were giving advice or asking questions about the business question I brought to the “pioneer hot seat”. But I have Leslie Knope moments like that all the time, so it’s kind of par for the course lol