Happy Sunday, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day (one day early)!
Today’s topic is SOBCon08 – for my newer readers, this is a fantastic conference that will be held at the Summit Executive Center in downtown Chicago from May 2-4. Liz Strauss and I are the founders and organizers of the event.
It’s actually the second year for SOBCon – last year we had an awesome weekend in Chicago with about 110 of our closest blogging friends, and it was one of the most satisfying and meaningful experiences of my life. I also invented (sort of) a new dance there – the “Bloggy Dance“.
It’s a labor of love to do it again with Liz, and I’m learning a lot about this type of business. It’s hard work, however. Trying to balance “the experience” with costs has been difficult and time consuming, because while we’re really not in this to make a big profit (truth be told, it’s costing us $300 per person, and we’re charging $350 for returning attendees and $450 for new attendees), it’s important that we provide real value for the conference dollar.
This year’s program really does just that. We’ve found an excellent facility in the Summit Executive Center , cut a couple of really reasonable hotel deals with Hotel 71 and Club Quarters (both a short walking distance away), and have a roster of speakers that know the business of blogging and can help you build your own business model for blogging success.
Heck, Liz can explain this part much better than I, and she does just that on a video taken recently at SxSW by Jason Falls, Social Media Explorer (posted at the SOBCon site – check it out).
But there’s even more to SOBCon which will make it so unique and different – the open hearted and welcoming spirit of friendship and generosity. I have been to my share of conferences, and never have I felt so “enveloped” in that spirit. It really makes you yearn for more.
Returning attendee Tammy Lenski captured this best when she said about SOBCon07:
“Generosity of spirit is viral. Picture 110 people in a hotel ballroom, all generously sharing business ideas and secrets, building on each other’s creativity, and offering their experience as a gift. I can’t remember the last time I was in a space where that kind of spirit abounded on such a large scale. Conflict tempts us to hold our cards close to our vest, to be cautious, to be stingy with our warmth and spirit. That stinginess begets more of the same. Generosity of spirit is so much easier…all we have to do is make the choice to do it. Thank you, my fellow SOBcon-ers.”
A conference that really MATTERS? A get-together that fills your brain AND lifts your spirit? That’s SOBCon, and you really can’t miss it if those dates are open for you. Go register NOW. Even if you can’t make it, and you are one of Liz’s long roster of “SOB’s” (or just an admirer), stay tuned for an opportunity to participate remotely (now THAT sounds cool, doesn’t it?) or perhaps contribute a small sponsorship amount to defray some expenses.
Of course, blogging about it would be appreciated too! 
Share in the spirit of SOBCon, either by attending or supporting the cause in some other way.
You’ll be glad you did.
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Terry, how nice to find myself quoted…especially by someone I hold in such high regard! I meant every word, too. I left the conference last year a true SOBcon evangelist!
Good share. I’m sure it’s hard work and it’s good to hear you say you feel strongly about it. Looking forward to meeting you in person.