It happened on the plane over to Chicago.
The excitement, the anticipation, and the nervousness over what was about to come.
SOBCon08. Showtime!
Like last year, I had fears that people wouldn’t come, the facility would be bad, the food would stink, and I would make a fool of myself at the podium.
Liz Strauss had put SO much work into this (if you all only knew) – I couldn’t let her down. She has always been the kind of partner you just never wanted to let down, because of what she gave – and gave, and gave.
The good news was, I knew how to quell those bad thoughts. Yep, the trusty iPod. iPod always knows what is good for me – it has a 6th sense (thank you Steve Jobs).
I clamped on my headphones, put iPod on shuffle, and let ‘er rip.
It did not disappoint me. Right out of the box it played “You Get What You Give” by the New Radicals, which just happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time.
Why? Because of a beat and melody you just can’t shake, and lyrics that hit me in the heart, right from the very first line:
“Wake up kids. We’ve got the dreamers disease”
I love that line. It’s a call to action. It was calling me to action. Forget about all that fear stuff – we are going to make everyone’s SOBCon08 dream come true!
My feelings immediately became lighter – now buoyant in the anticipation of what was to come. Then I heard the chorus:
But when the night is falling
And you cannot find the light
If you feel your dream is dying
Hold tight
You’ve got the music in you
Don’t let go
You’ve got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don’t give up
You’ve got a reason to live
Can’t forget you only get what you give
My eyes were welling up with tears – happy ones. I was about to spend three days with people like me, people with the same “dreamers disease” – and a bunch of givers to boot.
Then I realized that if Liz and I gave the best conference we could put on, what we’d get would be incalculable and indescribable.
I came to Chicago on a wonderful high, spurred on by a musical marker.
And then the smiling, and warmth, and giving, and learning began, from the very minute I picked up Chris Garrett from the airport on Thursday.
It went on for 72 hours straight – as many
hugs, smiles, photos
thank yous, laughs, Twitters,
“ah-has“, “wows“,
“you rocks!”, “I didn’t know thats“,
“why is there so many men with facial hairs“,
debates about the best music decade (I voted the 70’s),
interesting attempts at karaoke by the MC (”Sexy Back”, of all things) and by Starbucker and Brogan on the streets of Chicago (a rockin’ “Bohemian Rhapsody”),
“the food is pretty darn goods“,
“the speakers were awesomes“,
“I love yous”
and finally, tears (and hugs again)
as one could ever experience in that short of a time.
We even created (or should I say Melissa created and we endorsed) a new word – “vulnerablogity”
We put ourselves way, way out there – we gave ourselves up to the moments. Which was because, as Chris Cree said on Sunday, “we all have value – each of us has something to offer”.
And there were thousands of things offered, all moments to savor. I can’t even begin to list all of them.
By Sunday morning, the word “trust” was mentioned again and again – our hearts were clearly showing. There was no “strutting” going on (thanks for that word Tammy).
We didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want it to end. But it had to.
There was really no doubt about the words I wanted to use to close the conference (before Liz brought the house down). I had to bring this full circle.
I read the chorus of “You Get What You Give”.
Yes, we had the Dreamers Disease. We got what we gave, alright – and then some.
It all tells me, and all of us, that we must continue to dream, and dream big, and not let them go. Be fearless, and open, and giving – all the time. Nothing is beyond our grasp. After all, who would have thought a small little Open Comment idea would turn into this?
And oh yea, I should keep blogging too. 
To those who attended, or twitted, or watched the video feed, or submitted slides, or gave us positive vibes because they couldn’t go, I sincerely thank you all. You have enriched my life in ways I never thought possible.
Here’s the list of attendees
- Cliff Atkinson
- Shashi Bellamkonda
- JJ Betts
- Chris Brown
- Chris Brogan
- Anita Bruzzese
- Dave Bullock
- Mark Carter
- Brian Clark
- Tom Clifford
- Clay Collins
- Valerie Combs
- Chris Cree
- Lisa Cree
- Thomas Croghan
- Donna Cutting
- David Dalka
- Kevin Dixie
- Tim Draayer
- Andrew Dubber
- Easton Ellsworth
- Kevin Ferrasci O’Malley
- Chantelle Flannery
- Sarah Filipiak
- Mary-Lynn Foster
- Annie Galvin Teich
- Brian Gardner
- Chris Garrett
- Jon Gatrell
- Phil Gerbyshak
- Jared Goralnick
- Karen Hanrahan
- Joseph Hauckes
- Vicky Hennegan
- Scot Herrick
- John Hong
- Stephen Hopson
- Robert Hruzek
- Timothy Johnson
- Sara
- Pete Jones
- Todd Jordan
- Bob Kakoliris
- Christine Kane
- Adam Kayce
- Kristen King
- Scott Kolbe
- Jen Knoedl
- Thomas Knoll
- Stephen Koernig
- Bryan Kress
- George Krueger
- Amy L
- Tammy Lenski
- James G. Lindberg
- Eli Litscher
- Rick Mahn
- Sim Margolis
- Michael Martine
- Becky McCray
- Maria Meadows
- Cory Miller
- Ann Michael
- Dawud Miracle
- Debra Moorhead
- Matthew Murphy
- Paul O’Flaherty
- Tim Padar
- Jesse Petersen
- Melissa Pierce
- Wendy Piersall
- Sandra Ponce de Leon
- J. Erik Potter
- Karen Putz
- Susan R Quandt
- Levy Rivers
- Barbara Rozgonyi
- Jeff Sable
- Sheila Scarborough
- Mary Schmidt
- Derek Semmler
- Maria Sharon
- David Sherbow
- Steve Sherlock
- Brad Shorr
- Louise Silberman
- Sonia Simone-Rossney
- Julien Smith
- Stephen Smith
- Michael Snell
- Derrick Sorles
- Terry Starbucker
- Liz Strauss
- Jon Swanson
- Ruth M Sylte
- Michelle Vandepas
- Lorelle VanFossen
- Colleen Wainwright
- Denise Wakeman
- James D. Walton
- Randy Windsor
- Joanna Young
Incredible. Now it’s time to plan SOBCon09. You’re coming, aren’t you?
And here are all my pictures on Flickr.
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Am I coming to SOBCon09?
I already registered (in my head, of course!)
Nicely done, Terry.
Seriously, the joy I saw on your face this past weekend is simply a reflection of the joy you saw in everyone else.
If you believe we are all mirrors to each other, then my good friend, you have witnessed about one hundred dreamers with the “Dreamer’s Disease.”
And by gosh, if we are lucky, there will be hundreds more in no time.
Thanks for changing my life. Once again.
Terry! I treasure what you and Liz and everyone else connected to SOBCon have brought into my life. More than a blogging conference in ways I can’t quite put words to…your words say it all.
Like Tom, I’m already registered in my head and heart for SOBCon09.
Warmly,
Tammy
Terry,
You rock man! SOBCon rocked! Talk about getting high; my brain is still buzzed.
Right away I felt like part of a family there. I made new friends, cemented existing relationships, and what I learned blew me out of the water. My views on blogging will never be the same.
Some talked about tools, and plans, but some talked about love. Love isn’t just how you feel, but it’s what you do, and there was a ton of generosity and open sharing this weekend.
One thing I know to ask now, thank you Chris Brogan, will you be my pirate?!
Cheers! Arrr!
So .. is it over now? Are all the pictures up? Are the videos posted? Can I now pay attention to you guys once again!?? (without feeling sad or envious reminding me that I was unable to go that is
) Can I turn my twitter back on and not filter out the SOBcon messages?? whew!
It would be nice if SOBcon09 was like, mid-May or something .. so I can go next year // *hint,hint* // okay, going to catch up with your photos now!
PS vulnerablogity ?? that’s not a word. Now .. if you were to add a little “glen” into it .. maybe the phrase “vulnerablogadiggitidiggity, oh yeah” could work.
It was great to get to hang with you more this year, Terry. I’m going to check out the New Radicals right now.
One word: Crossfit, baby. Crossfit. (well, three.)
So fun, it’ll take me to SOBCon09 to absorb everything I learned. Everyone had something amazing to share, and that Coolidge quotation is going with my “keepers”….
You’re so cool, Starbucker! And it really was quite the special weekend. My favorite parts were just the great unexpected conversations with people that were so enlightening! It was great to see you. And just know that you and Liz (and Lorelle and everyone else involved) did a fantastic job making this thing great. Thank you and congratulations!
Terry,
You’re amazing and wonderful! You inspire me so. Finally I know what I want to say . . .
But first the world should be aware that I would have given out — I would never have gotten into this — without you. You’ve always had
the flashlight on the dark night,
the kind word when no one was listening,
the hand when I was falling down,
and the smile when you danced.
Your first words on my blog sparkled with light and life, but I never suspected that they were the beginning of a deep admiration and friendship that has changed who I am.
I only wish I could be so many things you already are.
Liz
Kudos for mastering the ceremonies, Terry!
You kept the show going and flowing – from running with the mic, to introducing speakers, to reading 5 minute blog posts – we wondered what you would do next.
Now, I’m doing what I do best: shoving aside emotion and being pragmatic by blogging about business and how I’m using what I learned in a notes from SOBCon08 series.
Did I get the Dreamer’s Disease? Didn’t we all?
Barbara
P.S. In case you want to link to/embed the music video:
http://tinyurl.com/2aveol – or use it to kick-off SOBCon09?
I’ll not only be there, I’ll be there earlier if classes permit. You may all finally get to meet my wife. Maybe.
Thanks for rocking my foundation, Terry. In a good way. . .
May there never be a cure for Dreamer’s Disease, except success, of course.
Thanks for an amazing weekend. All the hard work from everyone was appreciated.
Terry
Thank you for everything this weekend. I went into my first SOBcon without any expectations, because truly I had no idea what to expect. As a newby, I had no idea what the blogging world had to offer. I found that I haven’t even yet scratched the surface. On ward.
Fabulous. Thinking, dreaming, reaching. I’ll be in such a different place with my blog next year I can hardly wait for it to all emerge. And I’ll share it with my friends at SOBCon09. When can we sign up?
I wasn’t sure what I felt about you at the very beginning of the event. By the first hour, I knew you were cool. By the second, I liked your style. By the end, I was thinking about when we’ll talk next.
LOVED singing random bits with you on the streets of Chicago, and when you did the “go find Liz” bit at the end of the event. Great stuff, sir!
Amazing weekend! You, Liz, everyone was awesome! Do we really have to wait a whole year before the next one???
Ditto what Michelle said… I look forward to applying all that I’ve learned. Thank you! It was a great experience.
Terry, loved the way you reminisced and recaptured the essence of SOBCon. Dreamer’s disease is chronic, and the only cure is to infect others.
Your passion for dreamers and for SOBCon was truly something to witness! Not only do you believe in your dreams, but you love to encourage the dreams of others.
It was so nice to meet you and to watch you in action…especially when you sang “Sexy Back”.
“I think your special what’s behind your back
So turn around and I’ll pick up the slack.
Take em’ to the bridge”
Terry you know I had many moments over the weekend where I thought to myself “it would have been worth coming just for this” (and then another, and then another), but getting to know you is definitely one at the top of my list. Thank you, and I can’t wait to keep getting to know you better.
Your MCing of the event was perfect, just spot on for the audience of creative, emotional, honestly critical, free-thinking people in the room. I can’t think of anyone else who could have done it the way that you did.
Can’t wait to see you next year… and maybe before, who knows?
Much love
Joanna
You rock Mr Starbucker, and not just on the mic
Thanks for making SOBCon what it is, communities reflect their leaders and you and Liz set the tone perfectly with your warmth and positivity and by giving and giving.
Terry, thank you for helping put SOBCon08 together. This comment thread proves that it made a real difference to those who attended. What an incredible bunch of folks y’all are.
This was my first internet conference, filled with people that were there to share and learn and teach.
Every other conference I have been to seemed like it was filled with prisoners or vacationers. Disengaged. Sullen. Selfish.
At SOBCon I saw people sharing tips, tricks, strategies, practical applications, new plug-ins, downloads, books, hugs…the list goes on and on.
I am already thinking about next year. In thinking about it, it occurs to me that we now have about 200 bloggers with this experience under their belts. 200 Bloggers!
What untapped power is in that pool of talent and passion?
Where could this go but over the top?
What could we accomplish if we KNEW we could not fail?
To paraphrase of one of my new heroes, “Who are you NOT to rock this world?” What are we going to do?
Well, not the first to comment in this instance, but I’m home from Chicago, completely jetlagged and still buzzing from SOBCon08.
Had a fantastic time, extracted as much knowledge out of the speakers and the brilliant people that surrounded me as I could squeeze into my head – and loved that city to bits.
Thanks to everyone who had a hand in me being there, to Chris Garrett and Liz who selected my entry in the ‘Win a SOBCon’ competition, and to David Dalka for giving a foreigner and complete stranger a couch to crash on for the duration. A generous host and tour guide.
And just try and stop me coming back for ‘09. But just bear in mind that the only way to stop me being the guy sitting in the audience asking all the questions is to get me to be the guy up the front…
I wanted to thank lots of other people for the conversation and inspiration, but your list above is pretty comprehensive… so “ditto”.
Next time we take it to the CHORUS. You rock, Terry. Cheers.
What a hum,(get it? It’s a tune that keeps singing in our heads)
Did I just cleverly say that?
It takes a very special person to MC a conference, a certain calmness, quick to shift gears, one who can summise effeciently–poetically, and thoughtfully. Someone who examples the giving vs being all about themselves ( don’t you hate an MC who does nothing but talk about themselves? )
It takes someone who can pull the threads together and in the end show us the beauty of our own tapestry. None of which could not be created without the diversity of expression in the room.
Stunningly done.
Thank you for all your hard work on SOBCon, Terry. I never felt more at home than on The Summer of George.
Terry, can’t say thank you enough… both to you an Liz. I’ve not been to an event quite like this one, and probably won’t until SOBCon09 goes live next year. You an Liz created an atmosphere for dreamers to connect, learn and grow.
Already looking forward to next time, and watching for ways to connect with the SOBCon family throughout the rest of this year.
Thank you,
Rick
Oh my. I waited a long while before trying to answer these comments. You all are so kind. I’m humbled, I truly am. And SO grateful.
Thank you Tom (wicked!), Tammy (treasure indeed), Todd (Arghhhh…), HART (we’ll consult with you on the date, I promise), Adam (yoga baby!), Sarah (ever think you’d love a quote from Coolidge!), Christine (no, you’re so cool), Barbara (thx for the video), Jesse (yes, need to meet the wife), Erik (Rock on!), Karen (talk about amazing!), Pete (you’re not a newbie any more!), Michelle (dream on!), Chris (how about another karaoke session?), Matthew (good things come to those who wait), Ria (keep learning!), Michael (infect away!), Mary-Lynn (take it to the bridge!), Joanna (my kindred spirit), Chris (my new mate from across the pond), Easton (thanks so much for all you’ve done for us), Stephen (go over the top, of course!), Mother Earth (aw shucks), Brad (we’ll get you there all 3 days next time), and Rick (connect away!).
And for you Liz – I can’t even put it into words. They fail me now. I’ll just say this. Thanks for the joy – the pure unadulterated joy – you’ve brought to my life by opening the door to all of these kind, giving and loving people. I shall be forever blessed.
All the best to you all!
“Dreamer’s disease” Ahhh.. those New Radicals really knew what they were talking about.
Good job.
That song has gotten me through some hard times. It’s got a special place right in my big blue heart.
Can’t wait to experience this event with you all this year. <3
-Miss Destructo