Earlier this year, I helped put together the World Domination Summit, a conference of writers, travelers, entrepreneurs, and other folks who want to change the world, both for themselves and others. Though I hadn’t anticipated it, this one weekend in June changed my life. I heard amazing speakers, absorbed incredible ideas, and, most of all, met many remarkable people. This video summary of WDS 2011 only scratches the surface.
The planning team is now hard at work on World Domination Summit 2012. We’ve already selected the venue, lined up a few speakers, and are planning some fun surprises. Our goal is to make next year’s conference even better. Registration for World Domination Summit 2012 opens this Thursday. Many GRS readers wanted to attend this year but weren’t able to get tickets. The conference is doubling in size for next year, but there are still fewer than 1000 tickets available. If you want one, don’t hesitate.
Speaking of the World Domination Summit, let’s look at what some of the participants are doing.
First up, WDS speaker Michael Bungay Stanier, author of the awesome Do More Great Work, has gathered essays from 62 prominent business writers for his latest project. Contributors include Kevin Kelly, Pam Slim, Sir Ken Robinson, Derek Sivers, Barry Schwartz, Jonah Lehrer, Steven Johnson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Dave Ramsey, Dan Pink, Keith Ferrazi, and many more. Aside from the awesome lineup of authors, this book is special because $20 from the purchase of every copy will be given to Malaria No More. Interested? The book, End Malaria, is available today.
To learn more about End Malaria, watch this one-minute video.
Elsewhere, WDS volunteer Colleen Wainwright is in the midst of her own project. For her 50th birthday, Wainwright (better known as the Communicatrix) is raising $50,000 (plus!) to support WriteGirl, a nonprofit devoted to helping high-school girls learn “the craft of writing and empowerment through self-expression”. Wainwright is nearing the end of her project, and has already surpassed her goal, but that doesn’t mean more money isn’t needed. For more info, watch this two-minute video.
Finally, WDS attendee Greg Berg was inspired by the conference to start his own show on BlogTalkRadio. Radio Enso is a weekly live podcast featuring interviews about conscious living and self-improvement. Because it’s a podcast, you can access the archives at anytime. Past participants include travel blogger Jodi Ettenberg, business coach Pam Slim, and the afore-mentioned Michael Bungay Stanier. And, a couple of weeks ago, I was a guest on Radio Enso. My conversation with Greg Berg covered personal finance, travel, and more. I think it’s one of the best interviews I’ve given. But it won’t help prevent malaria or teach girls to write, I’m afraid.
This article is about Spare Change
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So who got dominated in 2011? Who do you plan on dominating in 2012?
I still can’t take this event seriously with that ridiculous name.
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That, Tyler, is your loss, because it’s a serious event with a serious mission. And it’s serious fun!
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Dude in the video who has decided “domination” and “service” are synonyms needs to look at a dictionary. Also, by the end of the video, I’m lost as to what this event’s “serious mission” might be. Talk to other people about how awesome you all are? It’s all about “meet like-minded people”, but like-minded in what way? In that you like good things and happiness and soft focus?
I don’t know.
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Yes! Soft focus, thick glasses and food trucks!!
I would really love to show up in my uber-corporate suit and heels, nylons and diamond studs. Then whip out a blackberry every few sessions.
All of my kidding aside, if I were in the states, I’d likely go, it sounds inspiring and fun. In fact though, I don’t need an inspiration conference – I have plenty of that on my own. I need an implementation and follow-through conference.
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Tyler, as usual you hit the nail on the head!
If this group encourages service, what has it encouraged JD to do but travel around the world sleeping on people’s couches? (Sorry JD, but your travel blog kinda sucks.)
I’m still waiting to see what JD is willing to do for someone beyond his own family. Talking is not doing. (Not that taking care of your family is a small feat. I admire his dedication to his mother and wife.)
And haven’t the poor and disenfranchised been dominated enough?
But I seriously doubt these people are helping anyone beyond themselves. It’s basically a small little party where certain types get together and commiserate and encourage eachother. Sounds a little like my knitting circle. But we don’t claim to be any good to the world.
I don’t get what it’s mission is or what it is helping anyone actually do.
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Like minded in that they aren’t INTJ’s like I would guess you are Tyler. INTJ’s don’t tend to mingle in this way or like to be dominated – or to dominate for that matter. We’re too independent to need a lot of support from others – and can’t understand why other people do. So they probably need someone like you at that conference – as a speaker, not an attendee.
http://typelogic.com/intj.html
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For starters, $49 of everyone’s admission fee gets donated to Charity: Water. There’s at least 500 people going, so that’s $25k right there. Not to mention Chris Guillebeau donates 10% of all revenue from his site (and he makes a ton) to Charity: Water as well. Maybe that alone isn’t going to change the world, it goes far beyond doing nothing at all.
Besides, why so much hate? Even if this conference was just about having a good time and meeting people (and it’s not), what’s wrong with that?
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They’d be better off donating all of the money to charity.
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Good grief! What’s wrong with some of you people? If you don’t like the idea of the conference, don’t go. But do you really mean to trash something that takes a stab at solving a few big problems? Small steps and a little fun along the way beats whining every day.
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I think the point about personality types is well taken. This is SO not my kind of thing that I had a visceral negative reaction to the video. It made me uncomfortable, which in turn made me resent what felt like its “intrusion” on a blog that I usually enjoy very much. But it certainly sounds like it was a positive experience for many and generated a lot of good outcomes, so – to each their own. I will just skip the WDS updates from now on
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I’ll be honest, i kinda agree with Tyler. the name does sound a bit ridiculous
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I think the name is great, but I’m a big Dr. Horrible fan.
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I love the name, but then again, I work for a place called The Motley Fool.
And I will certainly attempt to make next year’s event.
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how much does it cost? I did not see this info on the linked page. thanks.
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Just registered for WDS 2012! I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this event. Can’t wait to see you and everyone else there!
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Thanks for the roundup and shoutout, J.D.
I’d been planning my little birthday project scheme well before WDS, but being there and soaking up all the good energy, intention and ideas there definitely helped steel my resolve. Also, it was there that I finally met Jill Murphy in person; she went on to become my staunch ally and advisor on 50-for-50, and I highly doubt if that would have happened without WDS.
Bottom line is that it’s really easy to make fun of things but not especially easy to “make” meaning. And you and Chris and the team took a huge leap of faith, did a sh*t-ton of work, and created a 2-1/2 day space where that could happen.
I’m sure as hell coming back next year.
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Sold out in 13 minutes
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There’s no shortage of suckers in the world.
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I agree with Tyler. Personally, I can’t decide if the name is more creepy or pathetic, but it’s definitely a combination of the two.
J.D., you’re doing your otherwise-fine blog a grave disservice by publishing nonsense about this group.
I’d rather read the “hippie stuff” than this–that’s at least good for a few laughs.
This line made me almost spit out my drink in laughter:
“It’s basically a small little party where certain types get together and commiserate and encourage eachother. Sounds a little like my knitting circle.”
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JD – The more I read and hear about this, the more quickly I’m losing respect for you.
This sounds like nothing but a trumped-up party for a bunch of Portland hipsters with way too much time on their hands and highly inflated egos.
You, on the other hand, are a popular and well regarded writer with impressive mainstream appeal. In your personal life, enjoy the little party if that’s what tickles you, but keep quiet about it. Professionally, you do not want to be associated with this.
You’ve spent way too much time in Portland if you can’t realize how ridiculous and unprofessional this whole thing sounds.
(In my professional life, I’ve directed MANY people to your website in the past, with some warnings that “some of the posts are a little ‘out there’–West Coast stuff, you’ll see what I mean–but overall it’s got a lot of great advice.” I can’t keep doing that if you’re writing posts that a weekend of hammock races changed your life.)
On the WDS website, this is what they describe as their “story”:
“Last year, more than 500 people descended on Portland, Oregon for the inaugural WDS. It was an adventure like no other, complete with Bollywood dancing, hammock races, skydiving, cycling tours, and non-stop meet-ups.
Oh, and we also had a program… with great speakers and workshops. Pamela Slim beat up some guy on the stage. Leo Babauta did pushups and a very sexy moonwalk for everyone. John Unger played the harmonica. Danielle LaPorte, the original firestarter, started a real fire in the auditorium (true story).
One year later, we’ll be scaling up… carefully. WDS 2011 sold out five months in advance with a waiting list of 800 people. At least two hundred people without tickets showed up from out of town just to hang out at unofficial events.
This time, we’re prepared — and World Domination can no longer be contained to a single art museum. Instead, we’re taking over the whole city.
Our main stage events will be held in the Newmark Theatre, a 924-seat venue that includes a key feature: thanks to three tiers of orchestra seating, no seat is more than 65 feet from the stage. Even with a large group of awesome people, it will still be intimate.
An expanded set of breakout sessions and smaller workshops will be held in nearby hotels. (Field trip!)
We’ll have a Highly Sensitive Person Lounge with soothing hammocks and green tea for the introverts.
Speaking of hotels, last year our group took 50 rooms from Hotel Fifty on the waterfront… but this year we’ve asked for all two-hundred. Hostels and other shared housing options will also be available.
The city of Portland itself will be on full display, from food carts to craft stores. See hipsters and other people with no obvious means of employment in their native habitat.
Last year, attendees put together private activities that ranged from skydiving to mountain climbing to karaoke. This time, “unofficial WDS” will be expanded to include a dozen more activities, including yoga in the park, a 5k run, and our attempt to set some kind of Guiness world record.
The beer, cocktail, and chocolate tours will return, this time in self-guided form. In short, we’re doing everything except build our own fortress — it’s good to save something for another year.
Best of all, WDS remains a non-commercial, non-sponsored event. It’s all about unconventional, remarkable people coming together for a weekend of adventure.
All that’s missing is you. Are you in?”
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Coley, Tyler, Anne: While it’s obvious that the marketing does not appeal to you (and others like you), you’re wrong to label the conference as ridiculous and useless and nonsense just because you’ve watched a couple of videos and read some ad copy on the internet. Talk to the people who attended. Look at what they’re doing. They are making the world better, both for themselves and others. And we on the planning committee for WDS intend to make next year even more focused about others.
The World Domination Summit is a high-quality event that I am proud to be associated with, both professionally and personally.
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A huge thanks, JD, for supporting, defending, and planning WDS 2012. I’m SO excited to be able to go this year.
I’ve already connected with many of the attendees, and I can’t wait to meet everyone in person!
Naysayers, there’s a good reason the WDS doesn’t appeal to you. Either you don’t really know this crowd (what it sounds like), or the vibe is not a great fit to your personality and interests to begin with. It’s okay.
Many many thanks, JD for your work with WDS. I’m a longtime follower here, and I appreciate your blog even more for this. Thank you.
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What are you doing to make the world better?
You said you came away from the conference with the desire to travel. How is that making the world better?
What have you done to make the world better since last year that you wouldn’t have done without the conference. (I refuse to call it a summit. Summits don’t have hammocks.)
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I don’t understand the negativity. If something is inspiring to people, I’m not sure how that’s bad. The ‘over the top’ name is part of the charm.
Then again, I just got back from my fourth year at Burning Man, and the crap people spew about the hippies (believe me, I’m anything but a hippie) at Burning Man… well… It’s good those people don’t attend. They would ruin the event.
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“some ad copy on the internet”
I’m talking about their own web-site, JD, and it reads like a stupid, half-ironic joke from a bunch of drunk college frat boys.
If it’s as serious an event as you claim, there should be something serious written about it. I haven’t read all of your posts on it, but in the first few minutes of searching, I ought to be able to find something to take seriously. I haven’t.
Nobody’s going to be dominating anything any time soon from that outfit.
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J.D. – I like you and I like this blog, but overall I agree with Coley here. I wouldn’t state things in as harsh of terms that he does, but I certainly see his point. I watched the video, and really it just looks like a bunch of youngsters (dare I say hipsters) who want to get together in a cool city and have fun. There’s nothing wrong with that, but in no way do I see philanthropy as the focus of this conference. Perhaps you would say that means the video is flawed, but wasn’t thought put into it? I don’t see how a truly philanthropic conference would stress the local beer tours and collective dancing. Also, the short speech in the video about how you should always seek to do something that has never been done before was frankly just lame from my perspective. I did not find it inspiring at all. If anything, the charity seems an afterthought that gives everyone a there a good feeling about their week-end of hanging out with each other. I’m glad some proceeds go to charity – that’s a good thing. But I don’t see anything life changing or world altering here.
Sorry, but that’s just how it looks to this Midwestern 34 year old SAHM and Ph.D.
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Maybe World Domination is all about ideas. A world dominated, submerged with great ideas.
Nothing better than getting smart people together in unconventional settings to perhaps plant the seeds for an idea that could help solve at least some of the problems in the world.
The dancing and the other activities may seem hipster to some people but I think its worth it if it will get people out of their staid daily routines and comfort zones and maybe jiggle loose unconventional, even radical thoughts that someone else could run with and convert into a breakthrough.
The poor people in the world are not asking for fish to be handed out – they want ideas, techniques on how best to fish in their own unique, challenging environments.
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Anne says:
08 September 2011 at 7:44 am
I’m still waiting to see what JD is willing to do for someone beyond his own family.
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You mean like spend all his time creating one of the most popular finance blogs on the web which helped thousands of people deal with issues like debt and personal finance?
Hundreds of FREE articles with information, advice, tips etc all painstakingly written in such a way that it would appeal to the kind of people who have no foundation in finance?
FREE Information that otherwise would have taken me an eternity to research, compile and put together assuming I even had the skill to do it?
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I don’t usually comment, but before reading the comments, I knew I wanted to tell you how MUCH I enjoyed reading your post a couple months back after WDS 2011.
As much as I enjoy this blog, and personal finance encouragement (and light…gradually kicking away $21,000 in credit cards plus far, far, far too much in student loans), there has been no other post at all that spoke to me like that one. I can’t explain it. Maybe it’s that it’s my personality. I’m forever an optimist and truly believe the world can change with the right idea and the right support.
I’m not a hipster (but probably wouldn’t mind hanging out with them). I lived and traveled back and forth between the USA and countries overseas as a child and as an adult. Maybe it’s that I’ve been to developing countries, and then came home to be annoyed that the grocery store is out of tomatoes (a travesty!). Maybe it’s my education. But ultimately, I know I’m very lucky compared to billions of other people. I believe my life lends itself towards a more altruistic goal that I continue to work towards. And it excites me to read about/meet other life-minded individuals.
In response to the general comments – yeah, I don’t think this will directly be a world altering event. But what it can do is bring people from all over to converge on this idea of ideas. And if WDS continues to happen, it can grow. It’s not the meeting that changes the world, it’s the movement. Reading about the speakers, I know it appeals to people like me (but not most of the people I know). Maybe in the future they can work on marketing it to people like the skeptical posters tearing into J.D. But for now, I think it’s doing exactly what it needs to do. It’s getting the word out.
But the question of is it life-changing. Maybe not for you, Jane (for example), but it certainly could be for other people, and certainly was for J.D. I don’t really understand the purpose of criticizing someone for experiencing something that they feel HAS changed them. How J.D. continues to implement this thinking into his life, we’ll see. And the same should be said for all of us, regarding any life-changing event/idea.
Finally, for those of you criticizing the event regarding its charitable donations: you don’t want to go, and you’re not going to, so why don’t you go ahead and donate the cost of going to a reputable charity of your choice. For more fun, add the cost of food and lodging.
*I have a job that pays me more than I expected to be making at my age. But it doesn’t actually offer me that human connection to improving my world (does that make sense?). I’m looking to get out of this job (and field, honestly) and to have one that makes that difference. Sitting behind a computer is doing nothing for me. It’s reading about events like WDS (and I’m sure going if that were a possibility for me) that help to give me that inspiration. So thank you, J.D. I’m the type of person who appreciates posts like these. I don’t care that it’s on a personal finance blog…I think it’s nice to mix it up a bit.
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I think these reader comments are showing the big divide in the GRS community–between those focused on careful saving and careful spending to get rich slowly and those who are focused on careful spending and saving to get rich slowly … and little else, blinders on and ready to go. When something steps in their path that they don’t like, they seem angry and frustrated. How did that get there?
There are quite a few posts on this website every month that I could argue with or that just don’t interest or appeal to me. I generally ignore them or scan them and then forget them. Some of you should try it sometime! It’s so much more productive than complaining.
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Yeah, I think you’re right. Getting rich is something that would make my life more pleasant, but it’s not what my life is about.
Maybe it’s the INFJ thing, but seeing other people suffer or knowing that other people suffer diminishes my own pleasure in life. I’d like things to be better for everyone. It’s a big world with a lot of big problems and anyone who is trying to make those problems a little smaller is working for the good, IMO.
It doesn’t matter if it’s lending a friend a few bucks for gas until payday or if it’s donating millions to end malaria, it’s all worthwhile.
I don’t feel I’m the target demographic for the conference, but I still think it’s a great idea. The same folks that are criticizing it wouldn’t lift an eyebrow if these folks went on pricey vacations for simple pleasure. If people want to combine a good time with talking about ideas for doing good, I can’t imagine what the problem would be with that.
Live long and prosper kind-hearted hipster dudes!
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Thanks for the tip-off to the End Malaria book compiled by Stanier. It looks like a fantastic read and a great resource for anyone looking to increase their income by doing more of what they’re good at and making their jobs more fulfilling.
I understand that that’s likely one of the intentions of the seminar and have read some in-depth breakdowns of the seminar on blogs of attendees that make it sound like it’s a decent value and a good experience. But although a dream is good, it’s the implementation that’s key. This might be helpful for people who struggle with that: http://wishcraft.com/
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First I thought this whole thing sounded like a lame party. Now I’m starting to think it’s more like a cult.
There’s so much vague talk about ideas, or an “idea for ideas” and absolutely no substance to speak of.
Sorry, but nobody ever changed the world by dancing and playing in hammocks. It’s not going to happen.
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@Coley – You made your point clear about 9 comments ago.
Do you think that repeating yourself over and over is making the world a better place?
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Mike – I was hoping that someone might give a concrete example of something notable that was done as part of or as a result of the conference.
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Coley, I hear what you are saying in that the conference may not be all that it claims to be. Most things aren’t.
However, just because world domination and changing the world are on their agenda, doesn’t mean that reporting their results to us is on there as well.
Besides – those aren’t simple goals. It’s only been a few months since the summit – maybe give them some time?
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Well, *I’d* never raised $50,000 in 50 days for a nonprofit benefitting high school girls from underserved areas *before* WDS.
And I don’t think Michael Bungay Stanier was part of a project that raised $250K (in *two* days) to buy mosquito nets to help end malaria *before* WDS.
And I’m sorry if I don’t have 200 other examples right now, but I’m pretty effin’ tired from raising $50K in 50 days. Plus, maybe we could give people a little time to implement.
I’m also kind of sorry I jumped back in here to comment again. I half-promised myself I wouldn’t. Honestly, I feel like anything positive anyone says about WDS is going to be met with resistance, if not outright mockery and hostility.
But I am proud of what Chris pulled off. I’m looking forward to what he and the team will be doing differently next year to incorporate the feedback, which was about how we can make this even more useful to people who want to create projects to help change the world.
And yeah, I have issues with the name, too. So what? People have issues with *my* “handle” (communicatrix, for the record). IT’S A JOKE. Cheeses. I swear, I think 75% of the problems that rear up on the interwebs are b/c humor just doesn’t translate that well on the web.
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“I don’t really understand the purpose of criticizing someone for experiencing something that they feel HAS changed them.”
I don’t really understand why everyone gets upset when someone comments in ways that aren’t generic praises or when someone dares to question something written on a blog post. Isn’t that the point of the comments? To comment and discuss? I still maintain that my initial presumption of the focus of the conference and my understanding of it once I watched the video and read further are very different. And sorry, but I do think that is something worthy to mention.
And what makes you think that those daring to question the awesomeness of the Summit don’t already give thousands to charity a year? We might do it more quietly and without hammocks, but you are making as many presumptions about us as you think we are about the attendees.
I think there is a good point that someone brought up about personality types (e.g. INTJ) and perhaps why this type of thing rubs some of us the wrong way. I just know if I attended such an event, I would be pretending and inauthentic, but of course I know nothing of others and their emotions and personalities. Honestly this type of event reminds me very much of the conservative Christian mega-conferences I attended as a youth. They were all about inspiring and bringing people together. But at the end of the week-end, I more got the sense that they were also mostly about making money. Perhaps I was too cynical even as a teenager, but I still can’t get away from the fact that conferences tend to be about money.
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So don’t go. Everything else is uniformed assumption (like my comments about the two types–you get it!) Who needs to hear it? It doesn’t really add anything useful.
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@Jane, Chris LOST $25k last year. With a ticket price this year of $500, first round tickets sold out in 13 minutes (without promotion, since he knew there’d be a big demand). If were really about money, he would have charged much more.
INFP here. As a techie, I know so many INTJs – friends, coworkers, even my own boyfriend, mother – and have worked hard to understand how our personality differences can sometimes color our interactions. I strongly encourage you to read the description of the two types, if you haven’t already. Better understanding how different people think has had a solid positive impact on my relationships. And no, I cant quantify that with numbers
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When I read about the WDS here last year I thought J.D. had had a “come to Jesus moment” and realized he wanted to travel. Then he confirmed it with the posting about that nice too big house and disliking the yardwork, etc. Perhaps this is kind of like a Lebowskifest for bloggers. (Those are fun to attend, no pretense, just celebrate all things Lebowski. Have fun and enjoy the WDSII.
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I’ve posted before about how I find the whole personality cult of lifestyle “dream big!” bloggers to be off putting. I feel it’s just a lot of marketing gimmick and ego fluffing.
That being said, I can see how this gathering does help like minded people network. And I’m certainly not going to scoff at someone raising $50K in 50 days, or sneer at hundreds of thousands of dollars going to a myriad of other charities. I appreciate the final charitable outcomes, even though I still think the delivery is cheesy and overblown (and this comes from a political activist who volunteers for two international non-profits, marches and protests, writes letters to her senators, and spends a lot of time musing on how to be a better person and live an authentic life).
I suppose I’ve just found a lot of (cheaper) ways to network with like minded people, and I find inspiration to be a better person by volunteering and reading tons of books on social issues/self improvement, so this kind of conference just doesn’t do it for me. To each their own, as the saying goes, but nothing in that saying guarantees that you won’t be ribbed and laughed at a bit for your own if other people find it silly. Much like I can’t help making fun of unnecessary hipster glasses (no matter how nice the hipster wearing them may be) I just can’t help snarking a wee bit on the delivery of this kind of lifestyle blogger networking/marketing.
I’m all about having fun and living life and being positive and making changes, but to elevate a fun filled weekend of networking to some self consciously enlightened kind of world domination makes me a little cringe-y. I wish the video had focused more on all the charitable contributions that came out of the weekend, instead of a feel good montage of a bunch of people laughing with one another, eating food, and navel gazing about their personal passions and deep thoughts- at times it could have been an ad for a singles weekend getaway in Portland. It just reminds me way too much of those twee hipster blogs, where fluffy young girls write “thoughtful” gratitude lists and take pictures of themselves holding cupcakes in their overlapping hands, while musing on how “lovely” life is.
It makes it hard for me to focus on the good that the event is doing when they don’t even seem to focus on it, and what they *do* focus on seems so unbearably pretentious that my snark alarm starts clang a langin’. I do hope that maybe the marketing for next year’s event focuses on the awesome achievements of projects that came out of the event, instead of talking about beer tours and dancing.
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Meh, the thing is, I 100% agree with what you’re saying. BUT it doesn’t change the fact that criticizing marketing that wasn’t meant for you doesn’t make sense. I don’t own cats – now that doesn’t mean I get offended when I come across a cat food commercial. Same thing here. The marketing is clearly appealing to a certain demographic (namely, imho, fluffy headed types that tend to annoy the living daylights out of me) but it’s so clear that the marketing isn’t meant for me, it seems comical to list all the ways it doesn’t appeal to me. BECAUSE IT’S NOT MEANT TO. Fish bait for fish. So let the fish enjoy what’s meant for them. Just saying, your annoyance is understandable but betrays a certain lack of intuition.
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I’m late to this party but thought I’d jump in, because I didn’t go to the first conference but I HAVE signed up to go to the second.
And, for context, I’m a 47 year old female MBA who spent my first 32 years working on the East Coast and who has a closet full of suits for serious meetings about serious things. The only way I’m a “hipster” is if we’re talking about some extra weight I carry around!
I’m going to the summit because, by name and purpose, it encourages people to think beyond their self-imposed limits. I have been very successful by every conventional measure, but I know there’s more I can do if I begin to be more unconventional; if I can figure out how to get beyond my expensive training in “the right way to do things” and start taking some chances.
I think the name of the conference is both funny and pointed — it’s when I can begin to think of myself as powerful that I can find the strength to take risks on new adventures. And being surrounded by people who ARE taking chances, who are trying new things, who are willing to look silly, or fail, or get scorned for trying something different, will teach me a lot about what’s really possible. I’ve no idea what will come from attending; I’m open, however, to the possibilities.
And before anyone starts in on me about how I can expand my horizons through service without going to any conference, well, don’t. In addition to being a corporate consultant I’m also an Episcopal priest who served a parish for 12 years (doing corporate consulting on the side) and I’m currently the unpaid Executive Director of a non-profit serving kids across the country. My service credentials are just fine already, thanks.
We all need different things at different times. Right now, I need the inspiration WDS offers, and I thank JD, Chris and all the others for taking the time and risk to create WDS. If WDS isn’t for you, that’s fine, but for some of us, it’s the right conference at the right time. And that’s OK, too.
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So impressed with the WDS video! I might have to join you boys up there next year!
Best, Sam
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