4 Tribe Conference Takeaways for Every Writer
And, the lessons I’ll never forget
I went to Tribe Conference with a fire to connect. I attended the previous year and was motivated by the speakers. I took time to nurture relationships prior to showing up and was ready to meet them in person. Their platforms were as familiar to me as friends. Three people were on my radar: Crystal Paine, Dan Miller, and Jon Acuff.
Say No to Everything But the Essentials
I bathe myself with Crystal Paine’s words. I am on both of her lists. Money Saving Mom and Your Blogging Mentor. On the first night, I spoke with Crystal in person. I am considering a pivot in my platform and I knew that she recently had embarked on the same adventure and was enjoying success through navigating the changes. I had to talk with her. She was gracious to break from her Instagram story and engage with me and gave me her best piece of advice for someone in my position, “Say no until you create space”. She ended her talk with a dare to “focus and finish”. Message received, Crystal. Thank you!
Invest in Yourself
I have listened to Dan Miller for years, but I didn’t recognize him until I heard his voice. No really. Someone said Dan Miller was over by the camera I just walked by and I didn’t recognize him. My coach even sent me a pic with a caption “I spy Dan!” with an arrow.
I’ll be making an eye appointment soon, but I did get to engage with him when he signed a book 48 Days to the Work You Love for a dear friend, Anne. Mr. Miller is a huge proponent in investing in yourself. There is no time in a person’s life when he or she cannot afford to invest in oneself. He even broke down how much money a person should invest in himself relative to his salary earned. Beyond that, he encouraged me to reach out to him personally for his suggestions on how I should invest in myself next. Here’s my outreach. Mr. Miller.
Finish
Jon Acuff took the stage and left us with a burning desire to Finish. That’s his newest book. Buy it, it’s a good read. The email I sent him said I shook your hand at Start night in Austin. Let’s finish what we started and meet at Jeff Goins’ Tribe Conference. He replied, “Awesome”! We didn’t get to connect in person, but his words connected with me. “Goals you don’t finish don’t disappear. They become ghosts that haunt you”. It is important to pick the right size goal. “People who cut their goal in half are 63% more successful”. And, “If you want a new idea finish an old one”. His words fell on me as I set at the front table, stage center. Yes, Sir, I will FINISH!
Community
Success can’t be reached without community. You need a community of those around you going through the same things as you. You can’t do this alone. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get going or keep going. Most of all you need encouragement. If you’re not in and creating a community you will likely not finish, or even get started. Get community, create community, and find your potential.
Bonuses
I didn’t get to connect with Jon Acuff, but the connections I made with others made up for it.
Dr. Michael Nichols is an amazing leader. If I work for someone else I want it to be him.
Jonathan Milligan is a blogger who helps people. I’m watching you, and striving to be where you are. Thanks for the hugs and encouragement. He called me awesome. Yes, this is me blushing.
Aaron Walker has a view from the top. He encouraged me to pick a date to complete my book and drive a stake in the ground. He wanted the date before I left the conference. I gave it to him. The stake is driven. Thank you, Sir.
Pamela Slim helps people escape cubicle nation. She bought me coffee during the conference. It should have been the other way around, and I was privileged to sit at a table with her and her friends to enjoy coffee. Here is the graphic I made just for you, Pamela.
Spending time with the ladies in the Airbnb. I am blessed to have known some of these ladies for more than a year. We had late night talks and early morning strategy sessions. We shared our vulnerabilities with each other and solved problems.
Check out the pics below. You may be in them.
Tickets for next year may be purchased at www.tribeconference.com. If you attended tribe Conference who was your favorite speaker? Share why in the comments.
I loved every single one, Nicole. But for me it was the very end – Jon Acuff. He made me laugh and laugh again. And desire to finish every good thing I start! Thanks for your post, Nicole, and for your amazing friendship, presence and encouragement. Love ya!
Jon Acuff rocked the house! He is amazing! I have more quotes from him than any other speaker.
Thank you for sharing your weekend Nicole. You described a weekend of dreams come true.
John Gyorki.
That’s a great way to say it! Dreams and inspiration that can’t be achieved anywhere else. 😉
Thank you for sharing your weekend Nicole. You described a weekend of dreams come true.
John Gyorki.
Hi John! It was a great weekend! Hopefully, the takeaways are helpful for others too. Thanks for your time to read and comment.
Hi Nicole,
You nailed it, the experience of being at the Conference and all the takeaways. It was great to meet you hope to see you again next year.
Laura, a pleasure to meet you. I’ve already purchased my ticket for next year. Hopefully we will meet again in person, friend. Looking forward to it!
Nicole – thanks so much for the shoutout here. You are the person every speaker wants sitting in the front row. Your engagement in the content and your enthusiasm for life just explode from every fiber of your being.
Hello, Dan! Honored that you commented here. When it comes to content I think you are engaging and your content is second to none, that said I’ll gladly be your understudy. Glad to engage with great content like yours. Thanks for your time to read and comment and your offer of personal development suggestions.
Nicole, this is a perfect snapshot of that magical weekend! So glad we got to meet.
Hi Kay! Magical indeed … the speakers … the connections … the community. Glad to meet you in person. You’re everything in person I thought you to be. 😉
Thank you for sharing your takeaways, Nicole! 🙂 I wish I could have made it this year. Sounds like there was a fantastic lineup of speakers.
Hi, Nicole! I was looking for you! Hopefully you feel as though you were there vicariously through the post 😉 The speakers were amazing! Hope to see you soon!
Nicole,
Yes, the speakers were great. I did laugh through Jon Acuff’s talk, more than once. It was a wonderful conference. But sharing the Bnb with all you guys was definitely a high spot of the trip. Great post and I hope it whets the appetites of any who are considering attending next year.
Hi, Anne! Sharing the Airbnb with my girlfriends made this conference unbeatable. If possible, this is the way to attend a conference. The strategy sessions were some of the best ever. Can’t wait to see you all in Zoom soon. Thanks for commenting.
These insights are spot on, Nicole. For me, the one that has brought the most fruit is to focus and finish. Do one big thing a day. Even baby steps matter. I’ve also learned to be more strategic.
There was so much great stuff there.
I was hungry to meet people, too. But the ones I was interested in were Tribe Builders – especially you. We’ve taken this journey from the start and has it been a fun ride! Thanks for stepping up and making this real for me and so many others.
I’m blessed to know you, my friend. Richly blessed.
Hi Frank! Blessed to know you as well, and that we talk frequently and strategize together. Focus and finish was a big takeaway for me too. Also, saying “no” to create space to work/breathe.
I haven’t shared all my secrets. I have a lot more and some developing over the next few weeks. Stay close and stay tuned. It’s going to be an awesome community building experience!
Tribe Conference is officially a writing goal for me after this post. What an amazing opportunity!
Hi Teresa! It’s a good goal to have. A fine opportunity, for sure. Being connected in the community along the way to help focus and stay on track is essential. Surrounding oneself with good people, watching and helping them thrive, and developing self is a fantastic way to grow.
Great stuff! I had a similar moment on Sunday when I realized Dan Miller was just hanging out listening. In fact, nearly every speaker was at some point just among us, which I found unique to this conference. Already looking forward to 2018!
Hi DJ! Wish we would have met at the conference, but glad we are connecting now. The speakers mingled among us with a humble spirit. They weren’t showy at all, and what an amazing trait to have. Each has success in his or her own right, and each was available, helpful, friendly. Maybe we will meet in person there in 2018. Looking forward to it.
Thanks so much for including me in the write-up! (Even with a graphic!)
It was such a joy to hang out.
Wishing you writing ease and success!
Hello, Pamela! Thanks so much for commenting. It was an honor to hang out with you. The graphic was the least I could do. Thanks for the coffee. I hope our paths cross again.