Why I Attend So Many Conferences: The Journey of a Lifelong Learner
The other day, someone in one of the groups I’m leading made a comment about how many conferences I attend. They mentioned how I must really enjoy them. There was no judgment, just an observation, but it got me thinking: Why do I go to so many conferences, trainings, and invest in coaching sessions? It’s not just about pure enjoyment.
I attend them because I have a serious growth mindset. I’m a lifelong learner. I thrive around others who are also committed to growth, where I can step into the role of the learner. It elevates my energy and my vibrational frequency. It expands my capacity as a coach to better serve others. I feel called to this work. Most importantly, I do it for you, my clients.
I love discovering tools and teachings that make my interaction with people so much more meaningful and fun. It’s incredibly rewarding when, in a conversation, I share just the right insight or tool at the perfect moment and hear, “Oh my gosh, YES, how did you know I needed that?” It’s a privilege to guide others with the right hacks, helping them reach their goals. It’s truly the best part of my work!
Best of all, I get to live my purpose, and I love it. But remember, that doesn’t mean that what works for me will work for you, and that’s okay. We each have our own journey.
The path to enlightenment is always the one you’re on.
A Story of Purpose
Not long ago, I found myself in a Colorado coat store with my daughter, who—coming from Texas—was woefully unprepared for the whole “below zero” situation. The guy helping us took his time with us and when I asked him questions about the company, he even researched how the birds were treated and where exactly those feathers in the puffy jackets came from. We spent over an hour with him, and it was clear he truly cared to calm all our concerns.
“You’re so sweet,” I told him. “My daughter is going to remember you when it’s below zero because you took the time to care.”
His response? “That means so much to me. I’m here doing this job so I can feel purposeful again.”
It was an opening, so I gently asked, “What did you do before this?”
As we talked, he shared that he used to work at a bird sanctuary, a job he loved for over a decade, until COVID forced him to shift careers. “My real purpose was working with birds,” he admitted, “so it’s taken me a minute to find purpose in this work.”
I could feel he was standing on the edge of a realization, so I asked, “What’s stopping you from finding purpose here? You clearly care, and you’ve made a difference in our lives today.”
That question seemed to unlock something. There was a deeper connection—a shift I could feel. “I guess you’re right,” he said, a little lighter now. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
Moments like these, where a simple conversation turns into something more, remind me of the power of living your purpose. When I’m coaching or leading groups, I don’t need to overthink things. I trust the thousands of hours I’ve spent in conferences, trainings, and coaching. At the moment, what arises is what’s needed—and it serves others at the highest level.