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How Do You Build an Incredible Experience?

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Communities Don’t Get Built, They Grow

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I’ve walked around for about an hour, trying to put words to the change that happened at SOBCon this weekend. I spent another hour trying to explain how it could happen twice.

Every sentence I made seemed inadequate and unworthy.

How do you explain an incredible experience of community, learning, and outright fun? I’m at a loss.

Here is a way to find out for yourself.

    Build an experience for intelligent, passionate people — head and heart in a meaningful context.

    Invest all you are — commend, commit, confide, consign, give, hand over, trust.

    Hold up every person who wants to be part — bank on, believe in, count on, depend on, reckon on, rely on, have confidence, trust.

    Make it easy to trust and talk — caretaking, watching, overseeing, be trustworthy.

    Listen with an open mind, heart for the meaning they take, give, and find on their own.

In other words, trust. Trust in people who trust.

An incredible experience is built on trust. Trust yourself. Trust the people around you. Trust that when things don’t go perfectly other folks will understand. People do the most amazing things in a community filled with trust. They change, grow, learn, connect, feel, and communicate. They smile at the drop of a hat.

It’s that easy.

I was changed as a person by being a part. . . .

Thank you to everyone who came to SOBCon08.

How do you do recognize an incredible experience?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Thank you, Thesaurus.com for help filling in the words.

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Comments

  1. Change inside and out is what’s coming for me. The presentations, discussions, and comraderie really made an impact on me. It’s one thing when a conference informs, another when it turns your viewpoint on its side, and opens your eyes to other possibilities.

    Thank you Liz and Mr. Starbucker, thank you.

    Reply

  2. You recognize:

    1. An intimate learning experience oriented to exactly what you came to learn.
    2. The speakers come to share their experiences in a way that helps others to learn.
    3. Old friends online meeting for the first time talking with each other as old friends.
    4. Meet new people who become a bigger part of your life after the weekend.
    5. You realize that what happened could have continued three more days and you still would not have learned all there was to learn or see everyone you wanted to see.

    Thanks to everyone that worked on the event — it is the bloggers conference where you’re only a stranger once.

    Reply

  3. Pissed at you because I still can’t find a way to express my feelings about SOBCon in words. 😉

    You and Terry are just so dang remarkable that you make the most verbose bloggers speechless! Enough with the greatness already!

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  4. The great thing about SOBCon is that I felt happy, included and appreciated whether I was on Lake Michigan in the Open Comments Boat surrounded by a grunch of other people, or holed up alone in my hotel room trying to use the tools and ideas I’d been given to construct a business model that made sense.

    Thank you, Liz, for making the virtual become the reality.

    Reply

  5. Wish I could have been there! Seems like bloggers with good hearts, clear minds, and creative spirits create wonderful community online or in a conference. Congratulations!

    Incredible experiences make me pause, even if for a second, as memories, experience, wisdom and the moment gel into one epiphantic “WHOA!” The puzzle pieces fit together for that wonderful space and time as warmth of heart and clarity of mind leap and dance on the mountain tops of my spirit.

    Reply

  6. Incredible experiences are the ones people are still talking about, long after they’re over.

    The fact is, we’re still talking about SOBCon07! And I suspect we’ll be talking about SOBCon08 for a long time too as each one builds on the one before.

    Many thanks and big heartfelt hugs to you and Terry both for a great weekend! Here’s to next time!

    Reply

  7. “Trust in people who trust.”

    I like that. I know I will be processing what happened at SOBCon for a long time. I will, in fact, be learning from it forever. This is me doing the “rock n roll” sign to Liz and Terry:

    m/ O_O m/

    Cuz you guys ROCK.

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  9. I think the greatest experience was the willingness of everyone to share what they knew and help someone else, and that’s not something you find easily these days. It was all geared toward learning and sharing. That’s something even the best business schools and biggest companies have trouble doing. Kudos, Liz and team. Well done. Take a bow.

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  10. Liz, you’re not alone it seems in not finding the words… Expression of the power of head & heart is always the most difficult, even for those who quite often share quite easily.

    I thank you and Terry for organizing an incredibly rewarding event where those with the Dreamers Disease to be empowered and encourage to share.

    I too am looking forward to using the knowledge shared by so many new friends to find new ways to express my thoughts and ideas in blogging.

    I’m glad that “we’re not strangers any more”.

    -Rick

    Reply

  12. I’m the sort that misses an incredible experience sometimes until later, when my mind has sorted it all out. Only then do I recognize the significance. For instance, I have been processing some of your videos and what you said about blogging, and it is starting to make more sense. Becoming an expert in actually doing that — not so easy, but I am beginning to understand, which took time.

    Or sometimes, I will hear or see something and my conscience and perception changes in that instant, and suddenly it’s as if I am more alive, and everything is connected, and the moment just balloons into the extraordinary.

    Both incredible experiences, just one is an instantaneous wave of sensory input, and the other is like an ocean, carrying you along to some special place.

    Reply

  13. 2 things, Liz:

    1. SOBCon09 is coming fast. I’ll do all I can to help make it even better than the ’07 and ’08 iterations.

    2. TRUST – what a word. Y’know, trust is even better than love in a way – because you can love anybody, but you can only trust the ones who keep their promises. No trust = no foundation. So “I love you” is a plateau, but “… and I trust you” is the summit.

    Okay, 3 things.

    3. THANK YOU.

    Reply

  14. Liz and everyone reading this: You DO rock, to echo Michael. SOBCon is the only conference I’ve ever attended where I start looking forward to the next year even while I’m packing my computer at the current one.

    SOBCon rocks because of who you all are, the generosity of spirit that’s at its foundation, and the founders are an incredible group of folks.

    Love you all!

    Reply

  15. I am right there with Tammy Lenski about this group of people. So many people have said to me, “So what kind of people go to a BLOG conference??” (A little sneer on the word “blog.”) And I’m honest with them. It’s the coolest people you’ll ever meet. What a treat to hang with you all! Thanks Liz for all you do!

    Reply

  16. Stephen Hopson is staying over at my house and we were talking about the amazing feelings that the SOBCon set loose in us. As the only deaf bloggers–we wondered how it would be to communicate with so many people from all over–would we understand? Would we be able to read lips? Would they take the time to communicate with us?

    And yes, they did. I felt connected, welcomed and included. To all of you–a big, heartfelt THANK YOU.

    And just like Stephen is welcomed and staying at my house right now, I’d welcome each of you anytime!

    Reply

  19. Oh boy……I’m still trying to figure out what I want to say on my blog. Thank you all for your kind words and comments. As for you, dear Liz, thanks for making a little dream come true in a BIG way. We truly do get what we give.

    Much love,
    Terry

    Reply

  21. To Liz, Terry, and everyone else that made SOBCon08 possible, I have to offer my thanks as you knocked it out of the park. With SOBCon08 being the first conference that I have ever attended, I am not sure anything else will live up to it – except SOBCon09.

    With pages of notes to digest and a wealth of people that I met, I was truly touched by the experience and I drove my wife mad as I couldn’t talk about anything else since arriving home.

    As others have said, it is amazing to see the openness, respect, and caring between everyone. I’ve taken away so many things from this experience and am looking forward to giving back so much more. Thank you!

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  22. Liz, thank you and all the other organizers for putting this together. I never felt more at home and met so many fantastic people. It was a real treat!!

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  23. Who was it that said on the boat that they found their tribe? Let me repeat. I’ve found my tribe. Notes to self: Happy. Welcomed, Ready to implement much of what I learned. Know that a lot of what I’m doing is on the right track. More conversation. More community.

    Reply

  24. Michele, it was Sonia Simone but I think she spoke for all of us.

    Guys in the comment box – if you’re not on twitter, sign up now, then follow all your sobcon friends – it’ll help to keep the high going, the friendships developing, the business connections pumping.

    I got back here after a long flight feeling kind of spaced out and had to log on to my twitter a/c, not to feed my habit but to talk to all of you. To continue these conversations, friendships, learning and inspiration.

    Blimey. You’ve all got me crying now.

    I’m with Wendy. Kind of lost for words 🙂

    Joanna

    Reply

  25. SOBCon08 was one of the most unusual conferences I’ve attended. Why? Because the conversation started before we got there, continued during the event and will keep going and going and going. There is no end, just more waves . . . thanks for engaging and rocking us, Liz!

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  26. I sat on the plane home just trying to process all whom and that I had experienced in the previous 48+ hours. I have have been to plenty of conferences, but none that so completely challenged and energized me personally and professionally.

    The quality of speakers was *outstanding*. The participants equally so. What Liz and Terry have created is unique and powerful.

    Thanks to Rick Mahn, whose Twitter first alerted me to SOBCon08 and pointed the way. Thanks to Liz for making room for me as a last minute registrant and encouraging me. Thanks to Lorelle for all sorts of things. Thanks to Vicky for sharing a room. Thanks to Terry for the social leadership. And thanks to everyone else for making it the incredible event that it was.

    I am looking forward to growing my relationships with all of you — and to coming back next year for more!

    Reply

  27. We’re always amazed when we get to spend time with people in the blogging and podcasting communities. We can’t possibly imagine a more giving group! Thanks Liz and Terry for an incredible experience of learning, loving, and laughing.

    Reply

  29. My recap post is in draft. Still. I have been visiting it all day. It’s way too long yet I think I needed to write it to sort this weekend in my head. Simply I feel loved, full, I feel inspired and awed. Best of all I feel connected. Love what Robert said, that the hum of this will continue for some time and joanna I shed a few tears today too. I should have given you one of my vintage hankerchiefs!

    Reply

  30. I think Wendy Piersall said it best, “I go to all kinds of conferences every year, but this one… this one is family.”

    I feel privileged to have been there, and I loved meeting everyone I met, and wish it was two full days, so I could’ve met the rest.

    SOBCon08 gave me the clarity I was looking for. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

    Reply

  31. How do I recognize an incredible experience?

    A sense of elevation, heightened awareness, wider vision, the opening of a locked door.

    The feeling that I’ve become a better person for having gone through it. Something within me has been upgraded.

    Reply

  32. Liz
    Thank you for being so inviting. We only had the opportunity to chat on that first night, but I really appreciate everything you put into SOBcon08! I have yet to decide what my blog theme is going to be, but after SOBCon08 I know I now know my motivation will lead me to find it sooner than later.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  33. The nicest danged bunch o’ folks it’s been my pleasure to meet in some time.

    And I’m actually REFRAINING FROM SWEARING, so you know I’m touched.

    Reply

  35. Generosity of spirit…that’s the phrase that comes to my mind. As a fairly inexperienced blogger, wherever I went this weekend there were generous people ready to help me.

    Thank you to friends I met in person after developing friendships online….and thank you to those I met at the conference who are now my online buddies.

    I’ll visit everyone’s blog soon…and look forward to continuing the conversation and community.

    Thanks Liz, Terry, Lorelle! Amazing experience.

    Warmly,
    Donna Cutting

    Reply

  36. I was blown away by the amount I learned in each and every conversation, and the open-hearted generosity of all who were there. I went directly to another conference where, like Christine, I encountered bewilderment by fellow marketers as to what I was doing at a BLOG conference! The subtext of which was “oh, yeah…Geek City.” It’s rare to fine yourself in a group with so much passion. I’ll be remembering, revisiting and rejuvenating for weeks and months to come.Thanks to everyone who made it possible but especially to you, Liz, and Terry for having the vision.

    Reply

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