“It’s just 1k away? I’ll drive my car down one-way streets in the middle of this downtown area where all of the signs are in French to meet you.” And I will see you in 1.5 hours, because that’s how long it will take me to find you, park the car, and walk back to the restaurant.
“It’s only 4k to the top of the Tourmalet? Let’s walk it, the rain looks like it’s stopped! First let me get my backpack filled with all of the electronics I own.”
“Hey, why don’t I ride the Koppenberg on my 3 speed hunk of rental bike!”
“Missed the train? No problem – we can ride our bikes back to Gent! It stays light out pretty late here, right?”
“Yes, I’m going to rent a 1 person kayak and paddle down the canals of Gent. It hasn’t rained in days!”
So yeah, maybe I made a few mistakes along the way. Misjudged a few things.
But as with all adventures, the good and the bad, and the ones that feel bad in the moment but turn out really good in the end, they all start with an idea and involve at least some risk. Risk keeps life alive, and can bring awesome rewards in the end.
Posted: March 19th, 2009 | Filed under:Miscellaneous | |
Gym Clothes.
Sitting those long hours for long days makes me picture the collapsing of the capillaries I work so hard to build. Not only does getting some exercise in help me to maintain fitness even when I’m on the road, but it keeps me more alert and awake during the seminars. The brain loves good, oxygenated blood. Happy brain, happy learning!
Snacks.
Apples, dried fruit, nuts, protein bars. When you bring your own snacks it’s easier to stay in control of your diet. Otherwise, I always find myself eating unnecessary amounts of yogurt covered peanuts, corn nuts, and other gift shop specialties. However, I do usually buy 1.5 liters of water from the gift shop – better and tastier than the pitcher the hotels usually supply!
A CD of Binaural Beat Meditations.
This is especially useful if sharing a room, but beneficial even when not. The binaural beats work well in two ways – 1) they help to calm down an active mind to the slower alpha waves of sleep and meditation, thus inducing a deeper sleep, 2) for me, they allow me to set the intention that “The New Beliefs I’ve Learned Today Will Be Integrated During the Dream Stateâ€, and I can know that the binaural beats will guide me towards a solid dream state.
Comfortable Shoes.
Yes, business heels are lovely, but keep in mind the times you may have to run: to the taxi, to catch someone’s attention, to the back of the room (haha). Plus, the extra fatigue of walking around in non-comfortable shoes detracts from my mental focus.
A Budget. Written Down.
Keeping in mind that many seminars are designed not only to give value, but to upsell packages, a written down budget is a great thing to start with. When creating that budget, keep in mind things like: current responsibilities – will I have time to implement new strategies? If not, and I want to, How can I make that happen? Am I happy doing what I’m doing? Do I feel that what I’m doing is a good match for me? If not, these are indicators that you might indeed benefit from being a big YES to the opportunities presented. But the point is to be mindful of coming from YES! I WANT THAT! vs. “If I don’t take it, the opportunity will never ever come again!†(abundance vs. scarcity/lack)
Layers: Scarf, tanks, tees, sweaters, warm jackets.
I don’t care if your seminar is in Las Vegas or Fiji in the summer, modern technology brings us things called “air conditioners†that can quickly bring a room to freezing. I find being cold one of the greatest distractions from my learning and ability to absorb with an open mind.
A Clear, Specific WRITTEN Intention.
What I’ve found works best for me is to create from, “I want to provide value for 10 people this seminar,†vs. “I am going to ‘get’ clients!†From the space of value creation, whoever is meant to work with you will naturally gravitate towards you. “You can only get what you want when you help enough other people get what they want.†– Zig Ziglar.
An Ample Supply of Your Favorite Pens.
Essential Oils: Calming, Uplifting, Awakening.
These are a nice touch to a seminar, a way of creating a personal oasis and calm amidst the hustle and bustle. I like Lavender at night for calming; an Awakening blend to get my day started, and I also have one called “Creativityâ€. Whatever your favorite blend, essential oils are a great way to incorporate the sense of smell into your positive growth experience.
A Light Bag For Seminar Days.
I used to carry a huge purse and/or computer with me, my thought being that I can type faster than I can write, so I must take notes with my computer or else I will miss that one golden nugget that would have *poof!* changed my life. Lately, I’ve found that I love to travel fairly light, with just a great journal and collection of pens. The change is the result of changing my mental state – before I didn’t trust that I would “get†everything. After clearing out anchors in my subconscious, I now trust that between my notebook and the vast supercomputer that is my subconscious, I will retain exactly what I need to know to move forward and grow.
An Emollient Lip Balm.
Conference rooms are drying! Enjoy a swipe of luxury with a great lip balm. My personal favorite is Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.
Any men out there want to contribute the a How To Pack For A Seminar, Men’s Edition??
Frank Shamrock was interviewed on KROQ this morning, and he spoke briefly and with-hearty-laugh about the other fighters who do steroids. He said, and I paraphrase, “Yeah, I love the guys who do steroids. They come out all angry and crazy and I love fighting them. Because here’s the thing – they took a shortcut. They know they took a shortcut, they know they’re not training as hard because they recover overnight. They’re not connected to Spirit because there’s just that missing. There’s something missing at the core.” One thing I did not paraphrase from above is that he said, “spirit”. I love that he is connected to and aware of an inner strength, and a universal strength.
It got me thinking about the shortcuts we take and want to take in our lives.
The amateur cyclists who think that one extra bike fit is going to make them Lance Armstrong.
The new internet marketers who think they can buy the next new super program that will instantly turn on the faucet to money.
The thousands, hundreds of thousands of people who audition for American Idol.
Yes, some people make it through the shortcut and find success. But this is the exception and not the rule.
There is something very real about going through the process of development.
In my own business building career, all of the mistakes I’ve made may not have been comfortable, but they make me a stronger business woman now. When I first started my design career, I was terrible! It took me a solid 5 years of consistent, steady practice to be a decent designer, but from that foundation I was able to launch my growth exponentially.
Hope you enjoy this video!
What do you think about taking shortcuts?
When has it worked for you, and when has it NOT worked for you?
Posted: February 10th, 2009 | Filed under:Miscellaneous | |
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