Lessons from my first conference

When signing up for the Scrum Alliance and Global Scrum Gathering 2023 #gsgpdx23 I was excited. It was my first conference and a chance to meet new people some of whom I had idealized from the time I decided to embark on my Scrum journey.

Have you ever felt like self-doubt was creeping in on you as an important deadline approached? It can be overwhelming, and sometimes it feels like giving up is the easiest option. “I'm not ready”, “I don't have enough experience”, and “I'm not good enough”

Well, guess what? You don't have to be perfect to start. You just have to take that first step and see where it takes you. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself with what you can achieve! So go ahead, take that leap of faith, and see where it leads you.

It was an awesome experience and I'm totally stoked to go to more conferences in the future.

Here are 3 things I learned:

1. Wear comfortable shoes - Trust me, I learned this lesson the hard way when I showed up in heels on day 1 and regretted it all day long. Save yourself the pain and discomfort by opting for comfortable footwear. Your feet will thank you!
2. Approach but don't impose - Keep in mind that how you present yourself during networking reflects your personal and professional brand. #LinkedInTip #Networking #Professionalism
3. Be a climber - Erik Weihenmayer our #keynotespeaker in his book @Overcoming Adversity describes 3 types of behaviors in climbing - quitters, campers, and climbers. "Climbers' are those people who continue to climb, grow, innovate, and challenge themselves, every day of their lives, until they die.

As I reflect, I realize that the connections I have made during the 3 days have been the true highlight. It's amazing how individuals from all walks of life can come together and make a positive impact on each other's lives.

I'm grateful for the people I've met and excited for the new connections that lie ahead. Here's to the power of human connection!

#agile #Scrum #gsgpdx23 #agilecoach