No Longer Virtual: A Lesson in Turning a Dream into Reality

The inaugural No Longer Virtual was exactly what it was supposed to be.

"How are you, Sarah? Getting excited for your first No Longer Virtual?"

"I'm excited, but pretty stressed. I know I'm on the right track, I can feel it in every breath I take. I'm just questioning whether the timing is right. This is a big financial and personal risk I'm taking, and it's stressful trying to get registrations and hotel reservations to where they need to be so we don’t lose money, and to make this a success."

"Sarah, NLV will be exactly what it is supposed to be. Trust yourself, trust your network."

I knew my friend was right; I knew I had done a lot of work to make this happen, and that there was little more I could do at that point to ensure the event's success. Still, my brain told me I could have worked harder, spent more time on it, invested more energy.

Self Doubt

It wasn't just about the risks I was taking, and that my family was taking by following my dream; it was about making sure the participants and facilitators had opportunities for real value in their investment to be there. That's where I was feeling the pressure, it wasn't just about our financial risk. I had a vision for truly connecting people, for bringing something unique and special into the lives of my guests.

The doubts were paralyzing, especially as the deadline to fill hotel rooms loomed… my cost was tied to that room block, the meeting room rental depended on a minimum number of guests, and the session hosts I had recruited made their travel plans and invested their money and time to be there - to support me and this crazy idea.

In December, 2016, Cheryl Snapp Conner gave the inaugural No Longer Virtual event a spot in her annual "Can't Miss Conferences for Entrepreneurs" article on Forbes as an honorable mention - before it had even happened! No pressure, right?

That first burst of energy, that fire of ambition and excitement stayed with me for months, but as we rounded the corner into 2017, the confidence in my idea was beginning to sink.

Lost in the Moment

It took less than an hour on the first day of the event for the feelings of self-doubt and concern to disappear. The room was filled with laughter, warmth, and an engaging, supportive community of professionals. It felt more like a reunion than a conference full of strangers.

By the time we broke for lunch, I had pages of my notebook filled with ideas for my job, my side hustle, improved communication, and the potential for another NLV. The content was already outstanding, and we were only halfway through the first day.

No one wanted that first day to end. There wasn't an organized plan for the evening because I wanted to leave plenty of space for people to decompress and process the experience so far. But when I asked who might want to get together for dinner, almost every hand went up. 21 of us walked to a nearby restaurant an hour later. Thank goodness for the flexibility and graciousness of that downtown Atlanta Chinese restaurant!

But after the conference ended, my self-doubt returned. Although I felt the incredible energy in the room as people hugged goodbye, making plans for calls and future visits before leaving, I still wondered if the vision for the conference had been carried through to the participants. I also wondered if it had been valuable enough that people would commit to come back for another one in 2018.

Confirmation

Sometimes we're lucky, and we receive confirmation that what we're doing is good, right, and having a positive impact on others. Within a few days of the conclusion of the inaugural No Longer Virtual, I received that confirmation.

Amy Blaschka shared her thoughts about the adventure, and the investment's value to her.

“I knew she was on to something special; I could feel it in my bones. I needed to be there. In fact, I was so moved I wrote an article about it.”

A week later, Zach Messler shared an article about the value of those face-to-face interactions.

And more than 6 weeks after those first NLV participants returned to their homes and routines, Christian Farber posted an article, stating that he waited so long because he wanted to be sure the feelings were “sticky” before writing about it.

That was important confirmation for me, that our efforts to avoid the “after-conference hangover” through ongoing communication and support were effective, long after the event ended.

And as I planned for the second No Longer Virtual, Cheryl Snapp Conner directly named No Longer Virtual as one of 6 "Can't Miss Events for Entrepreneurs" in her annual article on Forbes.

For years now I've been writing about my concerns about the disconnect among us, the epidemic of loneliness, isolation, and depression, despite the incredible opportunities now available to us to connect on a global level.

Through blogs, podcasts, and other online forums like BizCatalyst360, a community has been building, a group of professionals who are committed to connecting authentically. 

But there’s a limit to truly connecting if you don’t meet – at some point – face-to-face.

We humans are designed to explore our world through multiple senses. Though a video chat is a great way to connect more deeply, we miss necessary elements of connection if we’re not in the same room. 

Face-to-face, our subconscious brains observe micro-facial expressions, scents, and shifts in tone of voice in a way our conscious minds cannot. When we shake hands, hug, and consciously, compassionately touch another person on the arm or shoulder, we release the happiest and most connecting chemicals in our brains.

The biggest, most important goal for every No Longer Virtual event has been to help others realize and remember the importance of face-to-face communication. It is about choosing to leverage our online relationships, our incredible opportunities through technology, to actually improve our face-to-face lives.

I wasn't completely convinced that this was what came out of that first NLV, until I read this from Zach's first post:

"But…here’s the thing…Even if you take advantage of all those communication channels, you still miss out on something much better…much deeper.

For lasting, meaningful personal connection, there is nothing like live and in person."

Lessons Learned, What's Next

As I reflect over the past 3 years of NLV events, Atlanta in 2017, Denver in 2018, and Atlanta in 2019, and consider the future of NLV, including Chicago in 2020, pages could be written about the lessons in this journey so far. 

A few key take-aways:

• When you believe in something so deeply, and you build a network of people who believe in you and in your idea, anything is possible.
• When you put positive intention into action, engage your whole heart, no matter what happens, you can be satisfied with that effort.
• If you think you are learning a lot from people through your online relationships, just wait till you experience learning from those people face-to-face! It’s an exponential increase!
• If you want to make an impact, and you want to find deep satisfaction in life, STAY CURIOUS.

We’re planning for #nlvchicago2020, the agenda is complete, and I’m looking forward to another year full of deeper connecting, learning, and yes, hugs.

Are you ready to take this step, to deepen your online relationships by meeting face-to-face?

Less than 20 spots left! Join us at No Longer Virtual in Chicago on March 12 and 13, 2020.

Early registration is extended through January 10, 2020!

There are limited sponsorship opportunities for No Longer Virtual 2020, contact me for details.