I'm Not Attending Conferences in 2024
What I'm Doing Instead
Flash Sale is Ending TODAY
I’ve just attended the FinCon Conference in New Orleans last week. Last week I extended the coaching flash sale until Today-Monday, October 23, 2023.
If you’re looking for a 1-on-1 coaching session with me it will be $150 for a session if you book your spot today. Normally I charge $300 for a 1-on-1 session.
My doors will be closing to coaching sessions until mid-January 2024.
Book Your Coaching Session today
If you’re needing help with monetization strategies, feedback on what you’re doing or just another set of eyes that is not connected to your project-book a session and reserve your time with me.
This is the last extension LOL! The doors are closing. Pictured below is the Mississippi river as I flew into New Orleans.
I Love Conferences
In fact, I’m working on this newsletter from a cute locally owned coffee shop near the French Quarter in New Orleans. I’ve just attended FinCon, a conference attended primarily by content creators in the personal finance space. A lot of the content is focused on monetizing your brand, growing your community, SEO and more.
It was amazing.
But, before I arrived I was counting down to this event because I knew that it would be my last conference for likely the next 12 months.
What is going on?
At the end of 2022, I knew that I was speaking and attending a number of conferences in 2023. For several years now, I’ve struggled with how conferences can be both an amazing experience and hugely disruptive at the same time.
There’s just one Michelle (me) and so many things that I need to do and focus on. Every time I attend a conference my focus gets disrupted. I learn new strategies that I want to implement and I often find myself changing the direction and focus that I’d set for my business.
This constant change and disruption has been impacting my ability to build momentum with the projects that I’ve been working on. In 2023, I pivoted my business and brand and while that has been a very difficult process-I finally love my business again.
But, there are specific goals that I would like to make happen by the end of next year. I’ve realized that just like in life, there are different seasons with your business.
2024 is a Building Season
What do I mean? If you’re trying to build momentum, followers, subscribers, page views or income that means you have to dedicate time towards that goal. Anything that gets in the way of those goals are distractions. These seasons within your business may require what feels like some sacrifice.
In my case, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice because I’m so focused on reaching my end goals.
I just need more time.
To grow subscribers to Creators Getting Paid-This project requires that I interview and share other creator’s stories, find and review helpful resources and send out newsletters frequently.
Btw-I’m so freaking excited about the creators that I’ll be sharing with you that I met at FinCon!!
Publish my upcoming Michelle is Money Hungry podcast season that I’m releasing in 2024. It takes time to interview and publish this type of content.
Get my Colorado website into Mediavine-This project, in particular, is showing the most promise in terms of making passive income on a regular basis.
All of these goals require focused and consistent work.
Am I Worried About Missing Out?
No. I’m not.
I have the philosophy that your next conference starts the day after your last conference ends. With that in mind, I focus on connecting with people in the different spaces that I’m in throughout the year.
How will I stay connected?
Focus on nurturing the friendships that I already have-The people you care about need dedicated time and energy.
Attend activities/retreats with current friends-Right now, I’m tentatively planning to attend a small retreat/hang out with a group of 10 friends in the content creation space to Puerto Rico in 2024. In 2023 we went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. I’ve known these friends for many years now and it’s great to hang out with them in a relaxing space, talk about shared challenges, concerns and opportunities.
Hosting my own local Meetups-I used to be the head of the Colorado FinCon Community. Basically that just meant that I scheduled our meetups LOL! What people forget is that you can do this for your personal projects at little to no cost to yourself. I’m planning hiking, coffee shop and other fun local events for people who are in the spaces that I’ve grown brands in.
Attend other local meetups hosted in town-These are always so much fun and a great way to connect with creatives doing similar work in my hometown.
Hanging out with people visiting Denver-It often shocks me to think about how often I see my friends from other states in my hometown. I’m talking once or twice a month I get to hang out with friends from out-of-state who are making their way through town.
Online meetups-Have we all forgotten what happened during COVID. While not as ideal, it does work to connect online.
There will be more than enough opportunities for me to grow my brand without attending conferences.
I will be recording a podcast episode that will go more into depth about what I’m working on in 2024 and will share a link soon.
Will I Change My Mind?
The only way I will change my mind about attending conferences is if I achieve the goals that I’ve set for 2024. If you see me at FinCon/Afros and Audio or Podcast Movement that’s likely what happened.
If I’m not meeting my goals-I won’t be there.