Today is the last day of the “blogging biz school” and yesterday’s presenters were great - each of them had a unique slant on how to establish your blogging platform and what to expect from your blogging efforts.
Before I tell share with you a summary of what I learned, let me point you to Phil Gerbyshak’s Make It GREAT! site where he posted a photo of us at Macy’s where each of us had a free customized notebook made on site for us. I was impressed - if you’re ever in the market for a customized notebook, you should give these guys a try.
One more thing. I had a wonderful opportunity to meet up with one of my staunchest and long-time subscribers/supporters, Corinne Edwards last night for dinner. She asked if I, along with others who are also fans of Adversity University (Karen Putz, Michelle Vandepas and Chris Brown) could meet her at a well known Greek restaurant last night. A few of us became 12 - we had to take 3 separate cabs! More pictures and I’ll be uploading them when I get home later this week. It was an honor to meet Corinne. The evening made a lasting impression on me because after months of communication via email and leaving comments on each other’s blogs, we finally got to meet in person - what a divine moment that was! I’m grateful she was able to set aside some pressing personal things (a friend of hers is on her deathbed right now) to meet with all of us.
Okay, now for what I’ve learned so far. The presenters were: Brian Clark, Anita Bruzzese, Liz Strauss, Lorelle VanFossen (”Queen of Wordpress”), Wendy Piersall, Chris Garrett and Dave Bullock. Each of them had their own style of presenting their viewpoints.. Thanks to the interpreters, Karen Putz and I got quite a bit out of what was being spouted forth from the pulpit. If it wasn’t for the interpreters, we would definitely have missed out on a lot.
In a nutshell, here are a few things the speakers reminded me of:
- Sharing your own life’s experiences make you an authority on the subject matter. For instance, I talk about overcoming adversity because I’ve experienced it myself and therefore I am an authority on the subject of dealing with and overcoming adversity (Brian Clark).
- Who are you not to play big? (Wendy Piersall)
- Comments are the same as contents - do some gardening and weed out comments that do not serve your blog - ask yourself would you want this comment to take place inside your home? (Lorelle VanFossen)
- Blogging is like journalism. Correct mistakes immediately and own up to them as soon as you’re aware of them (Anita Bruzzese).
- Be nice when leaving comments on other people’s blogs (Liz Strauss)
- If you don’t talk about your successes online, no one else will - don’t be afraid to share your own successes - this could be used to inspire, motivate and energize other people (Dave Bullock).
- A really good question is more powerful than a really good statement (Chris Garrett).
Here’s the roll-call of participants - if you have time, be sure to check them out:
I’ve taken a ton of pictures and promise to be uploading them in the coming days. I’m here for another two days even though today is the last day of the conference.
Did I overdo it in terms of booking myself a few extra days in Chicago, staying in a hotel that isn’t exactly cheap? Perhaps, perhaps not. I consider it an ïnvestment in myself. I did try to change my reservations and cut my stay a few days shorter when I realized everyone was heading home on Sunday but it was too late - I would be penalized if I attempted to do such a thing.
So I am just going to go with the flow and see what surprises the universe has in store for me. More later!
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Welcome! I'm the founder and professor of Adversity University specializing in personal development for spiritual beings having a human experience. To see a speaking demo tape and other information, please click 
7:56 am on May 4th, 2008 1
The conference sounded quite interesting. I am curious to know more about it! Awaiting your next post
Nita
Nitas last blog post..Water trick
8:04 am on May 4th, 2008 2
Stephen, it was terrific to meet you at SOBCon and dine with you last evening…wish I was a bit closer to your end of the table so we could have talked more.
I’m still distilling my own best learning from the conference, and your post helps me keep the ol’ wheels turning in my head!
Best to you,
Tammy
Tammy Lenskis last blog post..3 simple tricks to calm down during disagreements
8:56 am on May 4th, 2008 3
This has been such fun meeting you and connecting with everyone. Great photo of you guys at Macys! I haven’t seen more than 1 block of Chicago yet..
1:55 pm on May 4th, 2008 4
Hey Stephen,
So sorry I couldn’t meet up with you in Chicago, I know there is plenty to do and you’ll find yourself lost in the wonderful city. So sad Meigs Field is gone, otherwise you could’ve rented a plane. Take a walk downtown to the big bean by Grant Park.
Just a thought… when uploading all those photos, would it be more productive to upload the whole lot into snapfish or flickr then allowing us to see the album? Not sure if you are comfortable with that idea. This way you can just upload your faves here.
Lisa Callsens last blog post..Seriously 17K spoken words a day, just sign instead!
2:57 pm on May 4th, 2008 5
Ahhhh, by the way, thanks for the tips. They are all very good nuggets. I agree with Brian Clark, our lives do give us authority.
I like Chris’s - a really good question is more powerful than a statement.. pretty moving in itself.
I can’t wait to hear more!
Lisa Callsens last blog post..Lipreading Misconception
3:25 pm on May 4th, 2008 6
Stephen, It was an honor to meet you. I enjoyed that as well as the entire conference. Hey Michelle, it was good to see you as well.
Lots of takeaways from this conference besides it being a fantastic time. Made friends, learned things, and came away stoked for more.
Best wishes.
Todd Jordans last blog post..Blog post in 2 minutes?
10:35 pm on May 4th, 2008 7
Stephen - It was an absolute delight to meet you in person. You are the real deal, and a great hugger. I’m so glad we could really connect and get to know each other.
The rest of the conference was pretty darn kick butt too!
Phil Gerbyshaks last blog post..Hanging at SOBCon
6:27 am on May 5th, 2008 8
Yes! The best hugger!
And you will not regret your extra days here. It’s a beautiful city with lots to do and see, but even just walking it is a pleasure. Two of my favorite things: walking the lake (as far as you can or are inclined to) and taking the “L” to the end of the Howard line and back.
Have a blast, my friend.
6:59 am on May 5th, 2008 9
Stephen - Sounds like you and Chris Brown had a fantastic time - and the group from your list looks like a whos who of all my faves. I talked to Liz Strauss the other day and was so sorry that I coudn’t be there this year. Hopefully next.
Your key learning points are amaziing. I intend to start practicing a few today!
7:09 am on May 5th, 2008 10
Stephen!!
I was soooooooooo thrilled to meet you in person. You are just delightful and I am happy to count you among my friends. Thanks for inviting me to dinner on Saturday night…it was wonderful. Remember…I still owe you a drink.
Warmly,
Donna Cutting
7:39 am on May 5th, 2008 11
Donna:
You bet - I was just going through some of the photos on Flicker under “SOBCon08″ and found my eyes welling up a bit, taking me completely by surprise. I guess I should have realized the emotional impact this weekend had on me.
It was great meeting you as well! I look forward to seeing you again soon.
7:40 am on May 5th, 2008 12
Ivana:
Yes, Chris and I had a blast - we had a one-of-a-kind kinship because she and I were the only bloggers from Ohio there. It was really neat to see someone from my hometown at the same conference. I had a really, really good time.
7:42 am on May 5th, 2008 13
Colleen (communicatrix):
And you’re a great hugger too! I was surprised that I didn’t recognize you right away at the FuelMyBlog event - thank goodness you were persistent and came over to “re-introduce” yourself later on in the evening. Remember the look of recognition on my face at one point while we were talking? It was as if a light bulb went off in my head and I realized I was talking to “the Communicatrix” girl! What a hoot. What a revelation, I should say.
7:44 am on May 5th, 2008 14
Phil:
Well, my vision of meeting you finally came true - what a divine moment that was Phil - the whole conference was a most amazing, bonding experience. I don’t think I’ve EVER felt that connected before. There was enormous amount of love and respect throughout the conference.
I kept saying over and over how the universe simply drew together some of the most amazing, loving group of people. It was astounding. Most memorable.
And my friend, you definitely lived up to the hugger reputation! You are an excellent hugger and most definitely the real deal. I was very honored to have met you and Ellen.
7:46 am on May 5th, 2008 15
Lisa:
I’m so sorry you missed this conference but there’s always next year. Based on what I’ve learned about you through Adversity University, I can tell you that you would have fit right in. You would have felt very comfortable and you would have hugged everyone - well, almost everyone.
The “take-away” nuggets, while not new, had an impact on me because they were shared in an conductive learning environment. After the presentations were over, we all had an opportunity to share amongst ourselves what we learned.
7:49 am on May 5th, 2008 16
Nita:
I’m still in Chicago, staying with the family of Karen Putz. I return to Ohio tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday).
When I get home, I anticipate giving a full, in depth report, including photos. But for now, you can see the photos by going to Flickr and typing in “SOBCON08″ in the search box - you’ll see in there a ton of beautiful photos.
7:55 am on May 5th, 2008 17
Todd:
And it was a pleasure meeting you as well. I was amazed at the kind of people that were attracted to the event. I felt the love that was incredibly powerful in the room.
Meeting you and the others was a most memorable experience. I am still reeling from it. Not only was the level of trust very high to the point where I would have invited anyone in my home at any time from that conference but there was an incredible amount of love and support. I have to say that there were a lot of huggers in that room, me being among them!
8:00 am on May 5th, 2008 18
Michelle:
I was absolutely thrilled when you made the boat ride on Friday despite the fact that you were stuck at the airport!
Meeting you and Corinne for dinner was an amazing experience, wasn’t it? I felt very connected at that dinner table, I shall never forget it.
Thanks for coordinating the dinner event with Corinne. It all worked out, didn’t it?
3:34 pm on May 5th, 2008 19
Stephen, it was great to meet you and the rest of the great bloggers at SOBCon08. Liz Strauss certainly created a conference that enables people to connect. I was able to connect with more people in meaningful conversations and relationships in one weekend than in a year normally.
Take care,
Rick
5:06 pm on May 5th, 2008 20
Stephen, it was so nice to meet you after we had the chance to talk a little via email before the conference. You have such an amazing energy that is very infectious!
I look forward to many more discussions and opportunities to meet down the road.
Dereks last blog post..Turn Off The Flash!
7:43 pm on May 5th, 2008 21
It was awesome meeting and talking with you, Stephen; your infectious spirit was one of the high points of the conference for me.
Like we said, I wish we had more time to hang out… but hey, that’s what SOBCon09 will be for.
If you’re still in the CQ/71 neighborhood, be sure to head over to Vong’s Thai Kitchen (Hubbard & State); amazing food, amazing service. If I was still in town, we’d go.
7:49 am on May 6th, 2008 22
Adam:
I was particularly impressed with how many guys at the conference were purposefully bald! Thanks for the compliments - I am definitely at my best when in a conductive environment like SOBCon08.
We will definitely get to know each other even more now that we’ve met in the flesh (hey, that rhymes - sort of).
Appreciate the tips on where to go after everyone left. I ended up going to Karen Putz’s house (A Deaf Mom Shares Her World) for two nights. Had a fabulous dinner at Wendy Piersall’s house with Lorelle last night. I guess booking myself a flight out two days after the conference was meant to be. Nothing happens by chance.
Thanks for stopping by - it was a privilege meeting you.
7:53 am on May 6th, 2008 23
Derek:
Hey, you too - like I’ve mentioned in earlier comments, I’m still reeling from the energy of that conference. I enjoyed greeting you each morning with a strong handshake and a “Good morning.”
It was a boatload of fun, let me tell you. The other night I was skimming through Flicker photos of the conference and found myself welling up a little bit, much to my surprise (but then again, maybe not - I have a tendency to get in touch with those feelings when the situation is right).
Heading back to Ohio today. Flight leaves this afternoon. Looking forward to getting settled in my home after almost a week away.
7:56 am on May 6th, 2008 24
Rick:
And you know what? The fact that most of us were able to connect on a spiritual level is what made the price of admission worthwhile. Wouldn’t you agree?
I mean think about it. Okay, I must have spent at least $1500 for the entire weekend, including EVERYTHING. We all like to analyze whether we got our money’s worth when that much is involved, right? Well, I know that my future and those of the others like yourself who attended is even brighter for the kind of connections we made. And those connections have no choice but making headway to bigger and better things that will go far beyond the cost of attending the conference.
That’s my take on things. You?
9:22 am on May 6th, 2008 25
Stephen,
I too found a spiritual connection with a number of people that I had been talking with previously, and meeting for the first time. It added even more to the value of the conference.
I too view SOBCon as a launchpad to the next stage. The future is a bit clearer now, what I should do is more defined. This is not only because of the content presented, but the environment and the people that where there to share. I really valued the moments I got to chat with you and look forward to getting to know you and our new friends even more!
Rick Mahns last blog post..Crossroads
9:42 am on May 6th, 2008 26
So great to meet you there–hope to get more involved in your site in the coming months!
Take care.
Jared Goralnicks last blog post..Maintaining real relationships online and off: a guide to presence
1:42 pm on May 7th, 2008 27
I had such a great time, and thanks for taking the time out to have dinner with us, too. We had so much fun, in spite of the confusion. We will be talking more, my new best friend!
1:55 pm on May 7th, 2008 28
Lorelle:
I can’t wait to talk more! I’m so excited about how God brought us together like this. I knew something great would come out of this conference but THIS? Friends with the Queen of Wordpress? Damn. I’m a lucky blogger! LOL.
4:05 pm on May 7th, 2008 29
[...] slant on how to establish your blogging platform and what to expect from your blogging efforts. Stephan Hopson - Adversity University Blog Communities Don’t Get Built, They [...]
10:28 am on May 8th, 2008 30
It was a real pleasure to meet you Stephen and I hope we get to meet again soon. It was great to meet you at SOBCon and thanks for dropping along to the Fuelmyblog Meet-up on the Thursday night as well
Paul OFlahertys last blog post..Michael Martine’s video from the Fuelmyblog Meet-up
11:14 am on May 8th, 2008 31
Paul:
I’m sure our paths will cross again one day soon. Thanks for hosting the FuelMyBlog event at SOBCon08. I had a good time playing pool, something I hadn’t done in YEARS.
8:18 pm on May 12th, 2008 32
[...] Stephen Hopson from Adversity University -SOBCon08 Update [...]
2:50 pm on May 15th, 2008 33
Hey Stephen, I apologize for not getting here sooner, you were so gracious to stop by and say hey to me. I am delighted we met in person and I know our circles will intertwine again. I am fascinated that you and Karen Putz had never met each other and that Corrine Edwards is someone I think I really know - she said the same thing about me and I’ll be darned if I can figure out why. Isn’t it wild how small the world is?
Mother Earths last blog post..Are You Trying to Clean Your Home…or Kill it?
7:49 pm on May 15th, 2008 34
Hey Mother Earth (you ought to leave you name beside the blog name - I like names better than standalone blog names):
Indeed, I’m glad we met and I agree with you that our circles will cross again - it’s almost inevitable, don’t you think?
Corinne Edwards is really amazing, isn’t she? When I met her at dinner, I saw the strength in her eyes. I was flabbergasted. It was great to be in her presence. I found myself reaching over and touching her hand, reassuring her that her best friend would be okay (her friend was on her deathbed the night we all had dinner).
Stephen