The Power of Connection and Investing in Yourself

Moving towards becoming an entrepreneur can be a lonely journey if you allow it.

This can be especially true if you have a family and are working in a j.o.b. that you want to transition out of. Why the very thought of connecting in person with other entrepreneurs seems illogical as time off is very precious and money can be very tight.

When I first met Dan Miller and his family at his Write to the Bank conference in September 2011, we were in the process of paying off over $212,000 worth of debt and medical expenses in four years. The thought of spending hundreds of dollars between the conference and airfare seemed like an illogical move. Sensing an incredibly strong nudge to pursue it, we prayed about it. Feeling extremely excited and yes even scared, I registered when things fell into to place that made it possible to attend financially even though we were counting EVERY single penny it was costing. In addition to the expense part of it, being away from my husband and four kids was a major ordeal...other than a overnight bike trip, I had never spent a night away from them and this was a four day trip!

While I did learn a lot content-wise from that conference, what amazed me the most was the relationships formed from it. You see, I didn't go to connect with others, I was on a mission to learn. Needless to say, it is humbling to look back on my journey to becoming a full-time entrepreneur to see that every part of my business today can be linked back to that one conference.

Today, I look at the conferences I attend not as an expense, but as an investment.

Sometimes during the thick of things it seems hard to "justify" spending time and money on things such as conferences, live events, etc. especially when you are raising a family and juggling time to start your business, however my encouragement is for you to jump in and try at least one live conference this next year such as:

• Coaching With Excellence
• Innovate
• Speak It Forward

The content at all three of these conferences is great, however the people you meet will be powerful.

If you are really wanting an immersion type setting to connect and learn, consider joining Erin Casey and I on her Writer's Connection 5 day cruise in November. This event would not only be a great time for your family as we are visiting Cozumel and Grand Cayman, but also a wonderful way to connect with others while learning great content. In addition, Erin will have tools to help writers move forward in their projects BEFORE the conference which is incredibly valuable for first time authors or those looking to write their next book.

What is the one conference you would love to attend this year?