What is SOBCon?

Why should anyone attend?

What is its essence – the core of the experience?

We can think of no better way to explain it than by presenting the co-founders own words.

Liz & Terry launched SOBCon NW in Portland on September 28th by talking about how SOBCon “works”, and it’s ultimate benefit to all who attend.

It’s simple, but yet inspiring – the power of community.

Watch these two videos, and see for yourself.

First, Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie addresses the “why” question, with a newfound entreprenurial perspective:

Then, Liz Strauss tells us the ultimate benefit of SOBCon that is unique to the room.

Come see for yourself this May 3-5 in Chicago, when we reconvene for SOBCon Chicago 2013.

We won’t let you fail.

It goes without saying that the past few years have been “the worst of times” for many small business owners. Uncertainty, lack of resources, lack of revenues… we’ve seen it all. Many businesses have completely disappeared. Yet there are those that have survived and even thrived during these challenging times. What’s their secret?

Two of our Sobcon community’s best, Becky McCray and Barry Moltz, have written a new book titled, Small Town Rules: How Big Brands and Small Businesses Can Prosper in a Connected Economy. In it they share some of the time-tested strategies that small, rural businesses have adopted to weather the storms (figuratively or literally!) and even grow.

That’s why we’re so excited to have Becky and Barry on our November 15 Sobcon Twitter chat to discuss some ways that small and online businesses can restructure, retool and refuel for success during economic challenges. Here are topics we’ll be discussing:

• What is Planning for Zero and why should you do so? Shouldn’t you plan for growth?
• You suggest spending brains before bucks. Ways to do that?
• How does one keep focus when pursuing Multiple Lines of Income?
• How do you know whether to keep going or go out of business when times get tough?
• Is a “Connected Economy” only social media? What about offline?

BARRY J. MOLTZ founded and ran small businesses for more than 15 years. He has since founded angel investor groups and funds and advised the Angel Capital Education Foundation. An Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame member, Moltz’s first book, You Need to Be A Little Crazy, has been translated into four languages worldwide. His second book, Bounce! Failure, Resiliency and the Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success, shows how to come back from failure and develop true business confidence. He is also the author of BAM! Delivering Customer Service in a Self-Service World. He has appeared on TV and radio programs, including The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, MSNBC’s Your Business and The Tavis Smiley Show, and hosts his own web radio show, Business Insanity Talk Radio, with guests ranging from Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh to Guy Kawasaki, Craig Newmark, and Seth Godin.

BECKY MCCRAY is a small town entrepreneur, with a cattle ranch, a retail liquor store and other businesses in Woods County, Oklahoma. A recognized small business and social media expert, she has spoken internationally to over 100 conferences on small business, rural issues and social media, including SXSW Interactive, BlogWorld Expo, the International Economic Development Council, 140 Characters Conferences, Revitalize Washington, and the Michigan Small Town and Rural Development Conference. She publishes one of the top 20 small business blogs in the world, Small Biz Survival, focused on small town small business and has been featured in Inc., The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and Entrepreneur magazine. In 2011, she was named one of 100 Small Business Influencers, and she is listed as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter.

What do they have in common?

While Barry Moltz lives in Chicago (population about 2.7 million) and Becky McCray lives in Hopeton, Oklahoma, (population about 30), they do share some common characteristics.

Both are entrepreneurs. Barry has had three businesses of his own. Becky started her first business in junior high school, and currently owns a liquor store and a cattle ranch along with her husband. (She also has a number of smaller side businesses.)

Both talk openly about success and failure. Both have been fired. Both have gone out of business. Barry has been kicked out of business by his own partners, and he sold his last business during the Internet bubble of 1999. Becky has run for public office and lost, started businesses that went no where, and has succeeded in building stable businesses in times of intense economic turmoil.

Barry also brings experience with large corporations through his time with IBM. Becky adds experience in agriculture, nonprofit and governmental organizations.

They wrote the book by collaborating almost entirely online, meeting in person only a few times.

We look forward to seeing YOU on on Sobcon Twitter chat on November 15th, 2012.

{updated 10/8/12} SOBCon NW 2012 in Portland is history, and we’d like to extend our grateful thanks to our sponsors, event partners, presenters, hosts, vendors, and attendees for making it an awesome experience.

It’s always humbling and inspiring to read the stories of those who have been kind enough to write about their experience at SOBCons, and this event has been no exception.

We are pleased to share just a small sampling of these stories, and will continue to share them as they are posted.

SOBCon is a unique social conference experience

By Jeff Bunch

Quote: “There are events that can instantaneously change career and life paths in unforeseen ways. SOBCon is one of those”

How to Find The People Who Won’t Let You Fail

By Dusti Arab

Quote: “SOBCon is a unique conference in that it is small, intimate, and whether you like it or not, you get to know many of the people in the room – because after every presenter, you mastermind with your tablemates. And it works.”

What Impossible Idea Would You Attempt If Surrounded by People Who Won’t Let You Fail?

By Glenda Watson Hyatt

Quote: “Founder Liz Strauss kicked off the conference by pointing out we were surrounded by people who won’t let us fail. I definitely felt that. No matter who I shared my crazy idea with, they were all supportive of my intention to become a motivational speaker.”

A Few First Day Observations From #SOBCon NW 2012

By: Roger Courville

Quote: “Ideas are cheap, execution is what matters” – Lara Feltin, Biznik

Most Memorable Things Said At SOBCON NW 2012

By: Jane Boyd, on List.ly

Quote: “It’s tough to read the label when you’re inside the bottle” – Howard Mann, Brickyard Partners

Community “in the wild” – SOBCon NW edition

By: Rosemary O’Neill

Quote:  “It’s not a blogger conference, it’s not a small business conference, it’s not a revival meeting, it’s not a personal development gathering, but it’s a powerful mixture of all those things and more.  It’s a true community.”

Now that SOBCon NW 2012 in Portland is history (and what an event it was – more on that soon!), we’re pleased to launch registration for SOBCon Chicago 2013, to be held once again at the fabulous Summit Executive Center on Michigan Avenue from May 3-5.

Sign up before October 31, 2012 and save $300 off the regular ticket price.

Liz & I are very excited about the theme for this event, but I can’t tell you just yet – so save your seat now, and then bookmark our site, sign up for our Newsletter (use the box at the top of our home page), follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and stay right up to date on all the latest news about the event.

See you in Chicago in May!!

SOBCon Chicago 2013 Registration Page

This weekend (Sept. 28 & 29) we’ll be live streaming SOBCon NW 2012 from downtown Portland. Join us “virtually” below, and remember, our hashtag on Twitter is “#sobcon”.

Live broadcasting by Ustream

It’s 2012 and our lives are more complicated than ever. Family and work obligations seem to be at odds with building a successful business, leaving us overwhelmed and exhausted. So that’s why we’ve invited Jane Boyd (@boydjane) of Work Family & Life Consulting (WFL) to guest host our Sobcon chat on Thursday, September 20.

Jane and WFL specialize in the design, development and delivery of progressive work-life solutions that address the issues faced by today’s work environments. WFL is a recognized leader in the provision of high quality, unique work-life consultation services and programs.

For more than 20 years, Jane has been at the forefront of the work-life field in Canada. She has worked with government, business and community on many of the most innovative work-life initiatives in the country. Jane has been instrumental in developing a number of work-life solutions that use a partnership or collaborative approach. She has worked with leading organizations to develop customized work-life programs and services.

On the chat, we’ll be discussing these important topics to help you gain more balance and fulfillment in your life and business:

• How do you define work/life balance?
• What areas should you address first in redesigning your work/life?
• How should you sort out conflicting priorities?
• How do you know if you’re making progress or just treading water?
• Any quick tips to implement right away?

So if you’re tired of being tired, but still want to be a success, join us for the Sobcon chat on Thursday, September 20, 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.