How do you transition back to the “real world” after a conference or event?

“Your business will never grow past your level of personal development. It will never outgrow you”.

Words of wisdom from the irrepressible Lisa Nichols, storyteller extraordinaire and for me, the most powerful speaker at Awesomeness Fest.

Thirteen years ago Lisa was a single mother, unable to feed her son and watching her child’s father sentenced to 54 years in prison. That day she made a decision. That no matter what it took, she was going to have a different life. Fast forward to today and she is a best selling author and one of the worlds highest paid speakers, sharing the stage with industry luminaries such as Jack Canfield and Tony Robbins. She was the most requested contributor in The Secret and has been on Oprah, Larry King and many other shows. Her personal development and training company, Motivating the Masses, is about to go public with an estimated value of $40 million. Her story is inspirational and very very real.

This is a woman who walks her talk.

I was a front-row conference nerd every day at Awesomeness Fest and proud of it! This was the first time I had travelled overseas to attend an event and I was going to soak up every last drop of the goodness that was on offer.

If I had to leave after Lisas’ presentation on Day One I would have had my money’s worth. She blew me away! Some of the pearls of wisdom to share included:

• Get crystal clear on the results you produce in the world and communicate that, not the process by which you produce those results
• Ask yourself, how is the world a better place because of you and your business? Every business must either relieve pain or bring joy – which is it for you?
• Clarity provides momentum – you need to move from a convenient idea to a conviction of what you want to do – get moving!
• Sometimes you need to just start. With something small. Don’t let your doubts and fears and thoughts of the past get in the way of your breathtaking future.
• Sometimes you need to move forward without a plan. Without clarity. Sometimes to you to let go and trust and take the first step for that plan to begin to emerge….
• Share your dip – yes you may be great today, but what about the dark days that you experienced before you got here? Let me feel your why, your fears, your dark points, your struggles, what you had to overcome – let me learn from your lessons

There’s so much more I can share about the event, but for now, I’d like to take a look at the transition back to “real life” after you’ve had a peak experience yourself.

Perhaps you’ve attended an incredible event yourself and have experienced that all too common slump when you come back to your desk.

This time last week I was sitting beside a swimming pool at an amazing resort, buzzing from the speakers, feeling that everything was indeed, possible.

This week?

Lunchboxes, washing, homework, grocery shopping, traffic jams and bills.

It is all too easy for “business as usual” to kick in when you’re back at your desk.

BUT I’m not allowing myself to flatten out and I’d like to share the simple tips with you that I’ve adopted that can help you to maintain a heightened level of awareness and excitement and to make the most of your experience.

Step One

Acknowledge that there will be an inevitable dip in your emotions. You are only human! Don’t fight it. Just accept it. And then take on this great quote from Dr Seuss:

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.

A wee change in perspective that makes such a difference!

Step Two

Take time to process what you have experienced. Go over your notes. Highlight what stands out to you. Let go of the parts that did not resonate – you don’t need to take it all on.

Step Three

Create your 3-month action plan. Set yourself prioritised HEART, not just SMART goals. And then schedule these activities into your calendar – if it’s not scheduled in, chances are that it will not happen.

Step Four

Reconnect with your tribe – Linked In, Facebook, email, however you can stay in touch with the people that you met who shared the experience with you and can help you to stay on purpose because they really get it.  I was really lucky that my mastermind buddy came to Awesomeness Fest as well and we have discussed and processed all we had been exposed to and made our To Do lists that will help us to take on the world…. I’m also catching up with another dynamic woman I met at the event for a coffee in two weeks where we’re having our own wee book club – comparing notes on two books we bought during the event to keep the momentum going…..

Step Five

Deepen your knowledge. If there were particular speakers who really captivated you, dive deeper into their work. I’ve mentioned Lisa Nichols and I’m making sure the power that she injected into me from the stage lingers by watching her videos on YouTube, subscribing to her newsletter and buying her book. I really want what I learned from her to be reflected in my work so I can help my own clients to step into their power as we realign their businesses and so I am taking the time to solidify my understanding.

Step Six

Find the next event that you want to attend that will take your learning and motivation to the next level and book it in.

Because remember – you will never expand your own business further than you have expanded yourself and you are an entrepreneur, not a lonelypreneur!

To be an awesome teacher, you need to be a phenomenal learner, and to be a phenomenal learner you need to transition with ease…