Whatâs it like to be at a conference with âfancyâ people, when youâre the one feeling like you snuck in a side door as a seat filler? Okay, okay â thatâs just my imposter monster talking. In todayâs experimental episode, Iâm taking you behind-the-scenes of the recent 5-day main TED conference in Vancouver, building on Pivot episode 325: 10+ Conference Networking Strategies with Alisa Cohn.
In full-on morning voice with a travel mic, I do a daily check-in about what I was nervous about, spontaneous serendipitous invites, fan-girling my favorite authors and podcasters, falling off the energy cliff, what gave me FOMO and JOMO, and my daily quest for coffee. Always. Find. The. Coffee.
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3 Key Takeaways
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Identify when youâre at your conversation-sparking best: time of day and format (1:1, small group, big group; format vs. informal gatherings)
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Trust that less can be more: Fewer, deeper conversations can be just as powerful, if not even longer lasting than more, shorter ones. Resist the pressure to maximize every single element of being at the event.
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Put yourself in the path of people: Even when youâre not invited to the fancy formal events, place yourself in a central place â like the hotel lobby or a coffee station â to attract random conversation from other people who are also looking to meet someone new, but may be similarly unsure about how to break the ice of conversation.
đ Permission: Embrace JOMO, knowing youâll be at your best if you say no to situations that tend to bring out your worst.
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 Do (or Delegate) This Next: Send a follow-up note to reconnect with someone you met in the last year. Bonus: schedule a small group reunion event over brunch or dinner (or Zoom).
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Resources Mentioned
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Apply to attend the TED Conference in Vancouver
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Travel: Athletic Greens, TripIt Pro, Peloton, Tonal, my favorite Tumi carry-on bag
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People: Alexandra Franzen, Alisa Cohn, Jon Levy, Cameron Herold, Gina Bianchini, Amy Cuddy, Dan Harris, Scott Belsky, Krista Tippett, Jacob Weisburg
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Articles: Jon Levy Influencer Dinners
đ Books Mentioned
- From Start-up to Grown Up: Grow Your Leadership to Grow Your Business by Alisa Cohn
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You're Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging by Jon Levy
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Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy
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The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture by Scott Belsky
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10% Happier Revised Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris
- Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business
- Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
- Life After College
đ§Â Related Episodes
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The Sensitive CEO Show with Rose Cox: An HSPâs Guide to Podcasting with Jenny Blake
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Free Time:
- 043: From Start-Up to Grown-Up (and Coach to Author) with Alisa Cohn
- 166: Crashing into Quiet Time đď¸
- 126: Creating Time Bufferâ7 Strategies for Spacious Scheduling
- 084: Sprinkling the First 1,000 Serendipity Seeds of a Launch
- 167: Transform Your Approach to Community-Building with Gina Bianchini
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Pivot:
- 325: 10+ Conference Networking Strategies with Alisa Cohn
- 298: Networking in a New Niche and Becoming Broadway Investors with Dorie Clark and Alisa Cohn
- 251: Listener Q&A on (Furry) Imposter Monsters
- 324: Six Golden Shadows of the Imposter Complex with Tanya Geisler
- 77: 21+ Travel Tips, Tools and Apps â with Jenny Blake
- 302: Moving Beyond Burnout with Dr. Susan Biali Haas
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