When Transformation is Imminent, Know Your Resources
One year ago today (for this recording), March 12, 2020, we were at the top of the world at the Mid-America Club in Chicago on the 80th floor of the AON Center.
The No Longer Virtual Summit, limited to 50 guests, had shrunk to 20 in the room. When my husband and I left Montana at 6am on the Tuesday before, the airport was pretty quiet. I remember thinking the airplane was particularly clean that morning. We arrived at O'Hare and took the train into the city.
I had already received 5 or 6 cancelations from people who didn't feel safe to travel, or their employers were highly discouraging them from leaving the county or country (Canada).
I also received a dozen messages and calls asking me not to cancel. Since we were already there, and others were on their way, we went forward.
A moment of stress relief, wandering with Robert Downs (Photo courtesy of Robert Downs Photography)
Wednesday was brutal. It seemed the hotel was going to hold me to my contract, which meant my room attrition might cost me nearly $10,000, and that didn't include the catering bill.
The Mid-America Club was far more accommodating. With less than 24 hours notice, they allowed me to shift the final catering number in half, reducing the potential for a dramatic amount of food waste, something I couldn't tolerate on top of the rest of the stress filling my days.
Brainstorm session for NLV2021 Notes
On this episode of the Your Stories Don't Define You podcast, I'm joined by three #NLVChicago2020 guests. Shelley Brown, Mike "Fritz" (the Fritziest) Fritzius, and Kevin Strauss shared their stories about those two days in our little #NLV bubble.
It was magical, truly, and you'll see I'm not the only one who feels that way.
My intention is to have a few more of these episodes to highlight the experiences of others in the room those two days. It was different for everyone, and yet, we knew we were surrounded by the people who would help us adjust as the world around us transformed before our eyes.
If you're interested in learning more about this year's No Longer Virtual Summit in Montana on June 10, 11, 2021, click here.
ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
Audiobook cover art
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.