What I got out of Flying Solo LIVE!

Sam Leader Before our recent live event, I spent my time fretting about mechanics. Will everyone show? Will the audience be able to hear? What flavour are the mini gelato cones? After all we’re forever told it’s the small stuff that matters.

Most of the leftover RAM was allocated to nervousness over my role as panel facilitator. I wanted to do it, but it was a big deal in terms of facing fears and doing it anyway.

Then there was the small fact I was leaving my baby for a whole day and night for the first time. All parents reading will remember how that feels.

With all that swimming around, it didn’t occur to me that I’d pick up some very valuable advice.

My favourite gem was from keynote Paul McCarthy. He reckons we need to take a close look at the five people we spend most of our time with, as they are the ones who’ll influence us the most.

Not only should we be careful who we hang out with, we need to stay mindful what else we let in. Books, TV, websites: all will touch us in ways we don’t realise.

I also discovered that a minibreak was definitely called for. Andrew May counselled that busy soloists need to schedule three day breaks every quarter to help them perform at their best, or they’ll suffer from lapses in concentration followed by burnout. I’d been in go mode for a while so this had me nodding along.

The very next day, I sent an email meant for Robert to a delegate named Robyn. Once I’d stopped kicking myself, I got on the phone to Brunswick Heads Holiday Park.

I learnt, too, that the conference was not necessarily about “Eureka!” moments. Some feedback from Andrew Penfold summed it up: “I took away some MAJOR areas where I can significantly improve my performance (and enjoyment) of work. Strangely they are quite small things.”

If you came along or just want to take a peek at the action, check out our gallery of over 100 photos. We’re also busy collating presentations, audio and video that will be made available for download, so stay tuned!

If you have recently busted out of your comfort zone, learnt something small that’s made a big impact or realised you need a holiday, tell us about it.

	Want an ad like this?
SOLO SPECIAL: Advertise your business here. Our newsletter is emailed to over 14,000 micro business owners each Tuesday and your link is also posted online. Get the details at: www.flyingsolo.com.au/ss

Until next week.

Love your work - more than ever!

Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and its editor. She is the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.

8 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Sam - you, Robert and Peter did an outstanding job organising Flying Solo Live! I think the beauty of an event like FSL is that you pick up as many gems from the presenters as you do from the wonderful fellow business owners around you. Some things in particular that I really liked: the only limitations are in your head; according to research the key attribute that people want to see in a sales person (which is one of the hats we all wear) is enthusiasm; pleasure and pain motivates people to buy, with pain being the greater incentive….it has to hurt enough for people to need what you’re offering; most small business owners don’t fail they just burnout; and thanks to Andrew May I’ve found out that I’m a ‘gazelle’ because I’m perky in the morning, which means that I should avoid ‘bears’ who will eat me alive if I’m around them at breakfast time! What can I say, life changing (and live SAVING!) stuff…. Lucinda Lions from Sydney, Australia | Read my articles
The little things have had an impact on me this year - mini breaks are a great idea for 'Type A' type people like me who get anxious if they are too long away from work. Also, enjoying family and friends, reading and relaxing and being thankful for what one has is a key to receiving more; and so on. I agree with the statement, 'many business owners don't fail, they burnout'. So, managing one's health and work should be a priority. Having spent more than 7 months of this year battling allergy related illness (chronic sinusitis) and now coming out of it, together with the early death of a close family member, I realise that being healthy and happy means far more to me than anything else.
I have also learned to be proud of the things I have done and have regained a sense of excitement for the future. I am someone who absorbs knowledge and learning and hates not being occupied - but I have re-discovered that burying myself in a great novel is a fantastic way to 'escape to another world' and relax at the same time to give myself a small mini-break. And that it's ok to do this without feeling guilty.
By the way, I loved Flying Solo Live. The speakers were great, but so were the MCs - James Adonis was a most amusing and engaging MC and should be congratulated too. I alternate between being a 'gazelle', 'tiger' or 'bear'. My body rhythms change throughout the month, but it's good to recognise what they are. Paul imparted great enthusiasm and inspiration and taught us that to change results we must look at things from a different point-of-view; Robert also reminded us of the pillars to be remarkable including passion, consistency, engagement, reach and commitment.
A great success all round. Congrats to all involved. Karen Curran from NSW
Hi Sam, I resolved at the Conference to have a holiday at the end of this year (the first for a long time) and I learned at the Conference how many of us are in the same boat and how important Flying Solo is as our meeting place !! As for your panel facilitator concerns, you were so smooth and professional that I thought you must have done that sort of thing in a past life! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
I was struggling with depression and low energy yet inspite of focusing on the positive side, things were not feeling right to me. I finally asked myself what was really going on inside and followed the inner prompting to watch the movie 'Meet Joe Black' even though it was 11.30pm at night. Midway through this movie a sudden insight came as to the true cause of my depression. Due to financial pressure I was focusing so much on the lack of money that I was not providing a humane service and connecting with fellow human beings who were my clients. This movie reminded me of the bigger picture and the following morning I woke up feeling more alive and content than I had for 3 months. My zest and enthusiam is back for my life and my business so the future looks rosy again. Leisa from Perth
Hi Sam
I went to the conference with the aim of gleaning tips from all the different speakers, whilst giving myself permission not to network during the day (being a shy introvert...). Funnily enough, barely a moment went past when I wasn't talking to a new person I had met! And at lunchtime five of us fellow introverts struck up such an animated conversation that we have since arranged a breakfast for more 'small business discussion'. It was a fantastic inaugral event - well done! Victoria from Sydney
I recently tried something new - I scrapped my old website, created a video blog and got involved and started to create a community around my process business. Very slowly it's starting to work! I also found out that my Process Improvement video blog is a world first! Craig Reid from Sydney

8 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Add Your comments

Preview comment

Name

Website *

Town / city and country

Email (never sold, displayed or given away)

* This will link your name to your site. So please avoid self promotion elsewhere! We delete spam, disrespectful or off-topic comments.