I have a daily . . . tradition . . . habit . . . addiction . . . ? OK, I don’t know what to call it, so let’s just say all three.
As soon as I get home from work, the first thing I do is check the snail mail, say hi to Toby (my cat) and plop down on my bed to catch up on all that I missed on the internet. This means perusing through 100 – 200 blog posts. After a long Monday, Jenise Fryatt’s post I’m Going to EventCamp! The Very First EventCamp is Just Days Away was one of the first to pop up in my Google Reader.
Jenise’s post couldn’t have echoed my same enthusiastic and excited feelings any better. However, its necessary to add the oh-my-gosh-I-cannot-believe-I-am-lucky-enough-to-be-given-this-opportunity feelings that have been visibly buzzing around me for a few weeks now.
A few days ago, Robert Swanwick asked via the EventCamp10 Pathable page what our goals are for EventCamp. He challenged us to post them publicly with a promise that the organizers would do their best to make them happen. Here goes.
Convert more of the online relationships I’ve enjoyed over the past year to real-life friends/colleagues/mentors. There is just something about finally shaking hands with the person behind the avatar that really takes the relationship to the next level . . . and there are a lot of people I can’t wait to meet.
Come home with at least five major light bulb moments. I’m talking “Wow! Now I get it!” . . . “Who would’ve thought…?” . . . “Now THAT is thinking outside of the box – imagine the possibilities!” type of moments. And with the speakers lined up, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Come home completely reinvigorated, inspired and motivated to brainstorm my head off to develop strategies and ideas for events, tradeshows and social media too good to be overlooked.
Come home with one gem that is specifically relevant to medical association events. Many times at industry events I learn a lot of great information, but usually most of it is not applicable to medical meetings (think ultra-conservative . . . highly regulated). For example, IAEE’s annual meeting was awesome, but only one session was truly applicable to my current work. While the others were very extremely interesting and educational – they just didn’t have the value of that one session. I’m looking for one light bulb moment that will translate to the unique challenges of medical meetings.
Come home a slightly different person. I want “think outside the box” to be my way of life, not something I tell myself during moments of frustration.
Leave behind my annoying tendency to second guess myself to the point of clamming up and not offering my insight. Sometimes in meetings or at events I have questions or observations that could add to the conversation. Many times, I let my insecurities take over and I just leave it be. My question or observation becomes a mere note scrawled in the margin of my notebook, basically forgotten and worthless. I hate this about myself. I’m about to be in a room of like-minded people that will welcome this kind of dialogue and collaboration . . . and I’m determined to not let insecurity ruin this opportunity for me.
Give back next year. By this I mean get involved in the behind-the-scenes EventCamp work. The organizers of this event are working really hard to put on a top on the line, innovative and worthwhile event. I cannot imagine how these people handle this on top of their normal jobs! I hope they realize how much we appreciate the event AND the people behind it. Thank you for being leaders in the industry!
Take a picture with Christina Coster, my bestie I’ve never met, in matching Water Buffalo hats. Enough said.
If your questions are articulated as well as the ideas in your blog, I don’t think you’ll have any problem asking them at EventCamp. Have fun and tweet your @#$ off for the folks at home.
You’ll do great, Christina. And you never know – your question or little insight might provide the “light bulb moment” for someone else in the room. So don’t hold back!