Conferences can help us reach new heights

I had the privilege of attending the Massachusetts Conference for Women yesterday, along with thousands of other women.

I look forward to this conference every year because it blends inspiration, tools and opportunities to connect with others.

We’ve all experienced good and bad conferences.  Bad ones can feel like they’re sucking the life out of you. Some common traits: long sessions, insufficient breaks, and irrelevant or tired material and/or speakers.

When a conference is good, it can be seriously revitalizing. Why is that?

First, a good conference will present speakers who inspire you to challenge your own boundaries.

When we do the same thing day in and day out, it’s easy to predict more of that sameness stretching out into the future.

A good conference will feature at least one – but preferably many – person who has challenged their own (and therefore our) concepts of what is possible, and has achieved greatness.

Why is it so important for us to see successful people?

When we look at others who have achieved greatness, we are reminded of our own limitless potential.

That reminder helps us to stretch ourselves; challenges us to think of ourselves in a more expansive way.
Not so coincidentally, this is also what is so powerful about coaching.

When we set goals that are aligned with our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem, we bring them into the realm of possibility.

The most inspirational speaker I saw yesterday was Judge Glenda Hatchett.  She left each conference-goer with a challenge, which I’ll pass onto you (paraphrased):

Think of one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done. What’s keeping you from doing it? Now get out there and make it happen!

I’m on it, Glenda!

To keep myself accountable, I’ll put it out there and engage my readers to hold me accountable, as a coach would.

I plan to write a book this year. I’ve begun working on The Other Baby Book with my friend Megan. You can learn more at www.theotherbabybook.com.

What’s your goal??