I’m back from a whirl wind weekend at Blissdom Canada!
If there is one takeaway that I leave these conferences with each and every time, it’s that no matter how much I love being online, chatting via social media etc. nothing compares to meeting, hugging and laughing with people in person. (It helped I also had the greatest room mate ever 😉
I went into Blissdom Canada this year with a bit of a different approach – since I was invited to be a community leader, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to participate in a lot of the hands on learning parts of the conference (and that was ok! I think my presentation went really well, a huge thank you to everyone who came to table #19!), but it also meant that I was a bit more free to meet, listen and engage.
Last year I took in every last minute of learning that I could, but felt I missed out on some in depth conversations. This year, I let the conversations take precedent and that was fantastic. I heard some great speakers, but also got to really meet some new and old friends.
As I did last year, I left with renewed love for this space – for my own blog, my own purpose and also for those around me. I think sometimes the loudest, most negative voices seem to take ‘front page’ in the online space. They cause the most commotion, the most controversy, the most reaction. But the reality is, the kind, quiet, hard working, savvy, intellegent and fun people who fall somewhere outside of that are the ones that have much more to offer. To say. To give. Blissdom reminded me of that.
The nice guys can finish first. And in fact, they put on one heck of a conference.
This week on the blog I’ll try to get my presentation and notes up from my microsession about Growing an Engaged Community Organically. But I also have some posts brewing inside of me that might make us think. One on Evergreen Brickworks that I went to on Sunday and was so impressed. And don’t worry, there are some fun ones too, including a special one about Fisher Price and a HUGE giveaway that’s coming up.
Thank you to Blissdom for letting me be a part of your event.
Thank you to those I met for the first time for being kind and introducing yourselves and adding to my list of people to chat with.
Thank you to old friends who always make me feel welcome, who remind me of my own uniqueness (and what I could bring to this space) and for making me laugh.
I certainly found my ‘bliss’ at Blissdom this year.
Were you at Blissdom? What did you learn?
I would love to go to this. Maybe one day..
I love your photo with Michael Smith, we have that in common now 😉
Alex you’d love it 😉 I hope you can make plans to go next year! And yes, huge fan of Michael Smith
I love this: “But the reality is, the kind, quiet, hard working, savvy, intellegent and fun people who fall somewhere outside of that are the ones that have much more to offer. To say. To give”
It was the negative and the controversy that made me reluctant to attend. I’m gald I did.
Thanks Melissa, I am so glad you decided to attend. Like I said, the negative is sometimes the loudest but when we ignore it we find so much kindness around us. (The problem: it’s hard to ignore sometimes!)
it was so nice to meet you!
I always enjoy spending time with you, Bitsy. And you do Gangnam Style justice no matter what you wear 🙂
Ditto Sharon, and it’s never long enough
I was reminded to listen to my voice and use it. The best part was meeting encouraging people and making new friends. Also the dancing 😉
Our voice is sometimes so buried isn’t it? It’s nice to let it out and listen to it. So happy to have met you!!
This is really what “finding your bliss” is all about. The balance between connecting, learning, sharing, giving and recieving. The best feeling is leaving a confernece feeling fulfilled and wanting more at the same time. So happy to have seen you – wishing it was longer – looking forward to next time.
I definitely wanted more! Always wonderful to see you Candace!!
Yes! I left feeling exhausted, but energized. And filled with love and positive vibes. There is so much to learn both from the sessions and the informal chats and connections.
It was so good to see you!
The informal, random chats have so much value – I didn’t do it enough last year and was happy to this year. Glad you took so much away from it!
It was so great to meet you, finally! I know your sessions must have been gold because I learned so much in just a 10 minute conversation with you, haha.
I’m glad you enjoyed your time, I know I did!
It’s bad that it took us to get all the way to Toronto to finally meet. And thank you for the kind words – anytime! 😉
Chef Michael Smith gives great hugs too. He reminds me more and more of the actor John Corbett. Glad to share that “bliss” with you, Becky. 🙂
yes! he is like John Corbett! Was great seeing you Victoria!
This was my first time at Blissdom and I learned SO much! I only wish we could have attended more than three microsessions! I didn’t make it to yours, unfortunately, so I’m looking forward to seeing those notes!
that is what I’m hearing most Kate – the microsession topics were pretty awesome and people wanted more (and keep an eye out on the Blissdom site for everyone’s recaps).
Thank you for the wonderful session! I’m already using your worksheet to help me grow my online community in a way that’s meaningful!
I am so happy the worksheet is a little helpful 😉 thanks so much for attending!!
Your session was on my list to attend. (Ask my roomie–I wrote out lists for both of us so we could scramble to tables in time.) I didn’t make it over because of said scrambling though. I’m glad it went well. I wondered what the conference was like for you community leaders. Neat to hear the other side.
Thanks Shannon!! I will definitely get the info up, although honestly it’s mostly just a bunch of silly pictures – I guess I better remember what I said 😉
I’m a big panel fan actually so I do hope they consider bringing those back next year, a couple in the afternoon would have been neat for me I think
I know I said it on twitter but I think it needs to be repeated. Your session was fantastic. I walked away with the tools to grow and maintain my blog community.
I loved your talk at table 19, Rebecca! You are a genious.
I was going to try to meet Michael Smith, but I didn’t, because dude is like a foot and a half taller than me, and I already look weird enough in pictures.
And you totally rocked the Mary Crawley/Gangnam style.
he was super tall Karen! And thanks, I’ll retire my Gangham moves for a bit though 😉
I loved this. Especially,
“The nice guys can finish first. And in fact, they put on one heck of a conference.”
I’m sending that to the team.
xoxo. See you soon?
I’m glad to see you, as little as it was… we need to see one another in a less busy situation. 🙂
It’s good to remember… Kindness always wins!!