Since I attended the very first gathering, SOBCon has always been about taking the time to think through the trajectory of both my business and my life. If I like the direction, how can I do even better, and if I don’t like the direction, what are my practical alternatives? Twice after coming back from Chicago, I’ve launched a business partnership. The first one eventually petered out, but I learned a lot from it and those lessons have continued to be helpful as I run the second business, Tourism Currents with Becky McCray.SOBCon has also been absolutely key to my evolution as a blogger, aka a multimedia online publisher. I had no concept of the value of my social media skill set until one of the conference speakers (in 2008, I think it was) looked out across a roomful of attendees and said, “As a business person, I can tell you that we in mainstream business want what you bloggers have in your DNA; the ability to communicate effectively online. And make no mistake – we’ll pay you for it.” That’s when I got serious about figuring out what I needed to do to make a living doing what I love. Much of what I am today, I owe to Liz Strauss and Terry Starbucker St. Marie.
Liz said something at the very first SOBCon – “At the bottom of every draft blog post is a button that says, ‘Publish.’ You’re a publisher. That’s pretty powerful.”
As usual, she made my brain connect to an idea in a brand-new way. I think of her every single time I hit that button, publish on my blog and send thoughts out into the world.
Sheila Scarborough, Tourism Currents
This was my first SOBCon and I didn’t know what to expect. I went in with an open mind looking to meet great people and many of my virtual mentors in real life. The event exceeded my wildest expectations. It seemed like Liz and Terry screened for amazing people although the event was open to the public. Egos were checked at the door and the vibration was one of engagement and connection. I was surprised by the depth of the relationships that could be formed in a few days. I have never experienced this kind of energy at a live event. Fantastic.
“SOBCon was much more than I could ever have begun to imagine expecting, it was truly transformational! The joy of being able to collaborate and brainstorm with talented and passionate peers, the ability to take a step back, pull my self out of my day to day race (phone calls, meetings, clients to please, presentations to put together, investors to woo) and really think about myself, my business, my purpose, the mark I serve to make in the world, was immeasurably valuable.
Building a business is about building a brand and connecting with people. With today’s extensive social technologies, the barrier to entry is reduced to a proper understanding and knowledge of how to leverage these tools. 