The Turning Point
SOBCon08 had a different effect on each person who attended. It had a stunning impact on me.
A most interesting and pivotal decision came my way on Saturday, May 3rd. The conference I planned was not holding to schedule — I had planned too much to fit in too little time. It was a risk I took come to haunt me. As the day wore on, I realized something had to give. One choice presented itself as the best. I would give up my speaker’s slot. It was the only way to put the conference back on track.
At the time, I knew exactly what the choices were: choose to speak or choose for the event. I chose not to speak, knowing that people who attended for the first time would leave with an incomplete picture of who I am and what I do.
I’ve been tracking the impact of that decision. It’s been there in the blog posts and the comments about SOBCon this year.
I hit a turning point in my life.
The Realization
The part that was harder to face was the realization that had I been fully engaged as a leader, I never would have faced that choice at all. The conference would have had more of my hand behind it and more of voice in it on that day.
I knew what to do, but I didn’t do it, because ghosts from my past got in the way.
Who are ghosts to get in my way?
The clear message of SOBCon was that it’s time to step to the plate. Our blogs, our businesses have to be about serving our customers, but that can’t be at the cost of ourselves.
We each have to own our future. I’ve reflected hard on that thought these past two weeks. Today I’m taking back the keys. I’m walking my own path, shining my light on what I know worth sharing, turning off the noise that gets in the way. I’ll be bringing the most meaningful business and life conversations to this blog now — rather than keeping them behind the scenes.
It’s no longer my father’s saloon. The bar is still open. This time the drinks are on me.
What will you have?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Stepping aside as a speaker at SOBCon08 just shows your leadership qualities and certainly does not take away from them. It also shows you put your customers, those attending the conference first, above your own ego and feelings. Just one more reason I will make sure I make SOBCon09
Thanks Grant, I appreciate your support and confidence.
Not a doubt that SOBCon09 will be worth every penny we choose to charge (and more).
It will be spectacular. I’m seeing to that. 🙂
Pour me in on the next round–a double-shot of leadership with a courage backer–a glass half-full will do.
Liz! You’re awesome. All you have to do is be you. XXOO.
Hey Troy!
You got it! Can’t wait to come up with a reason that puts you and me at a table talking again. That’s my plan. 🙂
Hi Liz,
You made a great choice . . . decision. I’m curious: As interesting as your post is, what you didn’t write (here) looks to be valuable as well. Could you write a bit more? Thanks for writing and creating this blog.
p
Hi Paige,
What would you like to know?
I can hear the emotion in your writing. Maybe I’m feeling over-emotional today, but if you were here I would hug you and tell you it’s all going to be okay. On the other hand, you’ve already done that for yourself – your power and strength shine through at the end.
This is a fine line. The fact that you learned from the experience and now you’re moving forward (and onward and upward) speaks volumes.
VOLUMES!
Kind regards,
Julie
Hi Julie!
It was a conscious decision and a corner I painted myself into. Now it’s an interesting decision to track and learn from.
I won’t go there twice. 🙂
You bet it’s going to be okay. I realize now that I have to be as strategic about myself as I am about my work. 🙂
Hi Liz
Powerful learning indeed 🙂
The most powerful take-away point for me was from David Bullock – the importance of owning your own space. And boy did he model how to do that – with style.
I’ll take a glass of what he’s on, and toast you with that
Joanna
Leaders must often make difficult decisions. The intention behind the decision will mark the results in the eyes of the group being led. Is the decision good for the leader, or good for the group. Over time good leaders learn to always make the choice that is best for the group, and then by extension these same choices are good for the leader. When leaders cease putting the good of the group ahead of their own good the group will eventually go find a new leader.
Leading is a skill that is polished and honed upon the rough edges of the mistakes we make. Truly the best leaders have learned to exercise good judgement by making bad judgements. As the guys at StomperNet say “Failure is only a test result.”
For what it’s worth, Liz, you were the one who gave me back my power this spring. Because of you, my revised proposal goes out to the publishers from my agent this week and you know what? It’s no longer that important to me what happens now. I wrote the book proposal I had to write and I feel complete again. Thank you for once again modeling the behavior I want to follow. 🙂
I think sunny said it’s best – you model leadership 100%, no wonder we all appreciate you! You were there in some way when everyone of those speakers presented, and the place you chose to host the conference at, and the klondikes and and and and ….
you did good
Life allows us choices, which include sticking to our old ruts and mindsets or growing into our potential. I’m all for a manifesto with gusto! Cheers! Here’s to your courage!
Hi Joanna!
Thank you for your thoughts that helped me solidify what I’d been thinking about all of this. I toast you back for your wisdom and your friendship. You are by far an outstanding writing coach and life coach too.
Hi Philip!
I don’t so look on this decision as a failure and so appreciate your interpretation of it. I see it as an enlightening choice that points where I wasn’t paying attention to what would do every one more good.
I realize that had I not run into confidence shakers I might have come through the situation without having to face that choice and now I know to watch for the decisions that led up to the choice I faced.
Leadership means showing up even in the smallest things. 🙂
Hi Sunny!
That’s the best news!! Congratulations. I can’t wait to hear the details of where you’re at!! 🙂
Hi Mother Earth!
Thank you for your encouragement. My response is “Yes and no.” People can only imagine what they didn’t see. No worries though, this experience has changed me in a very good way. I’ve found my feet. 🙂
Hi SpaceAgeSage!
Growing most often comes from what didn’t go right. I’m lucky to have this opportunity to see myself so clearly from something that caused no real harm. 🙂
Hi Liz,
Oh I should have left that last line off! That’s not what I meant to imply at all. You were paying attention to things and you recognized that you had a choice to make. Like you said, being there even for the small things.
Sorry for the confusion!
I was a little sad that you didn’t get to “present” on Saturday, but I think that most of the attendees were able to get a few minutes with you between Thursday and Monday.
My own 10 minutes (Thursday at the FMB event) were pure gold. See my new homepage, per your suggestions.
I learned from the others (presenters and attendees) about three months’ worth of new projects and actions to make the whole package better. Thank you again Liz, for such a wonderful opportunity. I am looking forward to next year!
Ah Philip Robert!
I see totally where you were coming from and didn’t overvalue your last line at all. Thanks for coming back to make sure. That’s a nice thing to do. 🙂
Hi @Stephen!
I enjoyed our time at that meetup too. I sure made time for anyone who seemed to want some, in any case, I wasn’t really the star of the show. 🙂
Next year, I’ll make sure you get the “real deal” too.
There is the conundrum: let the conference go at its pace where everyone is soaking in the learning, or intervene and push it back on schedule.
The interesting thing to me was that we didn’t have enough time to discuss in our groups as I thought we would. Yet, the speakers and the information they were giving out was a total plus for the event. I’ve never heard such a great group of speakers for any type of event. Period.
So, there wasn’t enough time to speak to everyone there, wasn’t enough time to hear even more great things from the speakers, and not enough time to meet within our groups.
It’s a great problem to have!
Of everyone there, I believe that most everyone knew you the best. Your point of view, your key points, and the context behind them. Only you, Liz, could provide bullet points to get back on time without the context and everyone would get the context. It’s part of that thing you call community.
You just needed to get some pirates (a total inside joke for those who didn’t attend)!
And, by the way, there are a lot of us taking back the keys. For all the right reasons.
Thank you for that.
Hi Scot!
Thanks for that perspective. It’s nice to know that some folks got something from the short bulleted list I put out. I guess I would have liked to offer more depth to the conversation. But I did prove that I could have done 20 slides in five minutes — eh? 🙂
For each of us taking back the keys, I’m really pleased. We need to be in charge of our own destinations.
Liz, I don’t know you very well, and only met you briefly at the conference, yet I think you shined through and I certainly got to know the essence of Liz. From my perspective you made the right choice.. and I’m not sure why you are regretful of this fact? Do you think you would have gotten more business or more exposure if you’d gotten to give your prepared speech? For me the pace was perfect, and I know everything I need to know to decide if I would want to hire you, or ask you something, or ……
You may feel that you stepped aside and it was at a cost to yourself, but as a first time participant, it felt perfect, and although I would have loved to hear you speak, I did feel as though I got to know your message (or the part you wanted me to know) in the in between moments with Liz.
Liz,
You’re very welcome.
Now all you have to do .. is actually live it
Yep! KHC
That’s the plan.