I landed in Las Vegas mid day on Friday. First thing I noticed? The wonderful, amazing warmth. When I left St. Louis super early that morning (and I watched the twittering and facebooking of Blog Worlders who were still UP in Sin City) it was below 40 degrees.
Little did I know it would be hours before I would navigate the airport, the hotel and the hike to the Convention Center from the Hilton. And so it was that I saw dozens of people I adore,(@krista_parry and @todaysmam) but I missed the better part of the day’s sessions.
Deep sigh. I like to learn. Maybe tomorrow.
But that didn’t work either. I was signed up for Speed Dating (no, I’m not looking for a boyfriend – it was Speed Dating for Brands and Bloggers!) and my session started in the middle of one panel and continued into the next. So, only the final two sessions were available to me. But they didn’t have the panels that applied to me.
At first I was frustrated. But then I realized, it is the people I am learning from.
I am being inspired by the people who are sitting with me for coffee and at lunch, the hundreds milling about the Expo Hall, those I am meeting in the hallways and lines for ice cream. I met new people, deepened connections with people I have known for a while, exchanged ideas and walked away more motivated.
It seemed to me that virtually everyone I spoke to left me with a phrase, a thought, or a piece of advice that will encourage me to improve and allow me to grow.
I talked to brands, to bloggers, to social media junkies, to mom and women entrepreneurs, to tech businesses and video experts. And they all left me with a little something.
I love being surrounded by people who ‘get’ what I do. So even without the benefit of the sessions I wanted, I am leaving Las Vegas a stronger person than I was on Friday.
Thanks, Blog World Expo.
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