Post by Britt Raybould  (thanks Britt!)

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to give you a taste of what’s to come in Chicago. First up, the multi-talented entrepreneur and author Ric Dragon.

Last fall, we had the pleasure of learning firsthand from Ric at SOBCon NW in Portland. The response was so positive that we were thrilled when Ric agreed to share his insights and expertise with the Chicago crowd.

Below you’ll find a video of Ric doing his thing in Portland. If you can’t see the video, click through here to watch.

Pretty cool, right? It’s hard not to get excited when you hear Ric speak.

Now, we know it’s hard to think about what’s happening next week, let alone make plans for May. (That’s two months away!)

But here’s the deal, if you haven’t secured your seat at SOBCon Chicago for this May, you’re taking a big risk. You not only want to be in the room, you need to be in the room.

Besides being a room filled with some of the smartest people you’ll ever meet, you’ll also have the pleasure of hearing from some of the best speakers out there, including:

Chris Brogan
Carol Roth
Sonia Simone
Barbara Jones
Alli Worthington
Sean Ogle
Dianna Mullins
Drew Marshall
Jeannie Walters

If you still need convincing (seriously?), we’ll do our best to convince you of why SOBCon is the best event you can attend for yourself and your business in 2013.  See you next week.

Sign up for SOBCon Chicago 2013

Over the coming weeks, we’re featuring some of our alumni talking about why they keep coming back to SOBCon. These are people that have been to SOBCon multiple times, and they continue to invest their resources in your community. This week we feature small business expert and co-author of Small Town Rules Becky McCray sharing why she keeps coming back to SOBCon.

I’m skeptical of most conferences, because too many are all talk. Presenters get up and lecture, while we all listen patiently. I seldom feel like I learned anything I couldn’t have learned from just reading an article or book from the speaker.

SOBCon is different. There are presentations, but they come with variety. Some are single presenters taking us through a theme, some are panels or Q&A. But every time, we come back to small groups around the table.

The magic is in those small groups. It’s usually 6 people, all working together on the theme or model that we just heard about. I get to pick how much and how intensively I share about my own business. The more I share, the better ideas I get from my table team. Everyone in the room is there because they have committed to work.

In the two and a half days, I always gain new insights on my own business, and I always feel like I’ve done good in helping others.

Joe Sorge and I talked about SOBCon in this interview, starting at: 18:09:
http://tpn.thepulsenetwork.com/Business/kitchen-table-talks/ktc-of-the-week-becky-mccray/

Thank you Becky.

For small business insights from Becky McCray, visit Small Biz Survival or check out her book Small Town Rules, co-authored with fellow SOBCon alum Barry Moltz.

This month’s #sobcon chat tackles something that trips up even the smartest leaders: acting like a boss.

In other words, the leader becomes a not-so-pleasant person that creates a not-so-enjoyable work environment, and brings progress to a screeching halt.

Plan now to join Terry (@starbucker) as he leads a discussion on leadership. Plus, he’s promised to share some recent news about SOBCon Chicago.

So if you’re serious about #leadership, plan to join us tomorrow (2/21) at 10 a.m. PST/Noon CST/1 p.m. EST.

We were honored to be featured in the latest issue of ICOSA magazine, in an article written by SOBCon alum Rebecca Saltman.

Rebecca attended both SOBCon Chicago and SOBCon NW in Portland in 2012 ,and details those experiences in the piece, noting

“As a connector who has always been able to connect with new people, I clearly found that SOBCon made my strength (confidence in meeting and supporting collaborative goals) available to all attendees and even heightened my own experience of connecting to others. When your goal is elevated access to success, this type of authentic connection secures the path—and with “real-ebrities” in the room, the possibilities are endless!”

She also offered her thoughts on the real value of being in the room at a SOBCon event, adding

“The remarkable founders of SOBCon, Liz Strauss and Terry St. Marie (a.k.a., “Starbucker”), have developed a locus of ideals and talent that has not only provided tremendous value as a stand-alone conference, but has created new communities, networks and businesses. The innovations are boosted by a deep feeling of community; by planting a seed when you choose to join the conference, you will not be allowed to fail. SOBCon’s founders and avid attendees have come to live and breathe collaborative entrepreneurism by looking at information and ideas as anchoring one end of a continuum where the opposite end is intelligence and innovation”

The rest of the article can be found HERE.

Thanks Rebecca for a great summary, and see you in Chicago!

(And readers, don’t forget to register for SOBCon Chicago 2013 – our $200-off offer expires on 1/31/13)

One of the essential questions a new business must answer is “What Problem Are You Trying To Solve“?

It’s the critical driver of the core value proposition for any successful product or service.

SOBCon NW 2012 tackled this big question this past September in Portland,  with our showcase business panel featuring Lara Feltin, CEO of Biznik , Howard Mann of Brickyard Partners, and Todd Silverstein, CEO of Vizify, and moderated by Scott Sandler, Fund Manager of the Oregon Angel Fund.

We’re pleased to present the video from the panel discussion – watch and listen as these excellent business minds present their insights to our SOBCon audience, and now to you!