My experience at @imagine1day’s workshop with @susanneconrad

Last week, I bought tickets for a fundraiser/workshop organized by Jocelyn Ling and the team of Imagine1Day. As an educator, it’s part of what I love doing (helping people learn and succeed). For the most part, I did it to support Imagine1Day and my friends who are involved with this worthy charity building schools in Ethiopia.

But what I got out of the workshop definitely surpassed my expectations, my imagination and thwarted any potential skepticism I had on Susanne’s ability to inspire me. After all, I am a researcher and an academic. I do rigorous research, and I am sometimes a bit skeptical when it comes to inspirational speakers. A bit ironic altogether, since (a) Susanne Conrad was amazing, and I didn’t expect her to be, but she was, and (b) I myself came to the workshop wanting to be inspired, with an open mind, and in particular wanting to find newer ways to relate to my students.

Susanne spoke to a room full of young people – it was endearing to me to see so many couples where one of the partners was pregnant. The age range was probably 20-32, but I think more than one people over that age range found inspiration in the workshop. The really interesting thing for me was that I allowed myself to be vulnerably me, in front of 100 strangers.

This didn’t feel wrong at all, however. I shared my vision of where I saw myself in 10 years (part of the numerous exercises that Susanne was going to go through, but we ran out of time). Quite honestly, I found Susanne’s approach incredibly refreshing and inspirational. She gave herself permission to jump to the visioning exercises after teaching about listening styles (stingy versus collaborative), and I really appreciated that.

I found myself reflecting on my future in a variety of ways. The vision statement I wrote wasn’t at all what I thought it would be, and it sounded SO right at the time I read it. And I decided to start setting goals so that I can reach that particular vision in 10 years. As I told Rob Winson and Andre Malan, I came into the workshop with the intention to learn new ways to relate to my students and found a new and amazing way of relating to myself.

Andre made a really good point that I also appreciated, mentioning that much of how he knows me is through the Hummingbird604 persona, and that he found it refreshing that Raul is actually much less bulletproof than HB604. I would entirely agree with Andre. But as I mentioned before, it is when I show myself vulnerable and human that I gain renewed strength, both online and offline.

I borrowed Jered Love’s Vimeo from the IGolU website so that you can see the response of some of the attendees. Honestly, it was a great experience. And I think those $30 were some of the best $30 dollars I have ever spent. Thanks, Susanne. You inspired me even when I did not expect to be inspired, and for that, I want to thank you. Also, for keeping me accountable to my vision. I’ll keep you posted on where I am in 10 years 🙂

Thanks Andre, Jered, Jocelyn – I am so glad I attended the workshop. It was truly life-changing for me.

liv’N it up! A Breakthrough in Communication and Relationships from Jered Love on Vimeo.