My Brain Is Finally Back on Earth… After Lift Off!
Because, yes, I was at Lift Off, and yes, it took everything to another level.
3…2…1…
Leading up to the Lift Off weekend, I felt like the countdown clock couldn’t come soon enough. I kept looking at the calendar and would will it to change pages faster. Then, all of the sudden… it was here. I was getting on the plane, landing at Phoenix airport, getting my car and driving up to the ranch. I was at Lift Off!
Immediate Changes
Upon arrival, I felt instantly lighter. I got the key to my cabin, unpacked, got a cup of coffee and sat on my porch… with a book. Something I had been wanting to do for awhile, and finally, I was getting the chance. Looking out at the mountains and the Saguaro’s going as far as the eye could see was incredible. It inspired me right away.
Then We Met
At dinner… you wouldn’t believe that most of us had met for the first time. there were all kinds of conversations, people telling stories… and laughing… lots and lots of laughing. It was amazing. To ‘fit’ with a group of people so quickly. This was definitely going to be a very different retreat!
Then we worked…
This was not just working… this was full on, head first, figure out what it is you’re doing work. The kind of work that makes the epiphanies come (and not stop!), the kind of work that causes amazing ideas to come out, and show themselves. The kind of work that makes a day go by fast, and makes you feel like you really did something.
Then we presented…
To hear what others were working through… what their ideas were, and where they needed help was probably one of the most inspiring parts of the weekend for me. To hear other people talk about what their business is, what they want it to be, where they want to go… not just inspiring… life changing! It made me realize I’m not alone on this crazy entrepreneurship path. That there are other people who see the world as I do.
The presentations never really stopped, once they began. Because every time all of us were together for a break or a meal… we were talking about all of the cool projects that were getting started, refined, completely changed. Nobody could stop us. We wanted to support each other and hear more. It was AWESOME!
Then we all said goodbye…
Which was hard. I wasn’t ready to go home and not have my tribe with me at dinner. I couldn’t believe I had bonded with this group of amazing people so quickly. I’m a bit jaded when it comes to stuff like this, but it is true. I bonded with each and every one of them.
Then we tweeted…
We all got home… and twitter was full of these great and amazing people. Everyone talking about what was going on. Sharing success stories, telling others about Lift Off (that they should go, no matter what!). It was nice to have twitter for the transition. The one thing we all seemed to have in common… we were EXHAUSTED. Processing. Could not think, had to go to bed at 9PM (I’m usually up until midnight) kind of processing.
Then the success stories flooded in…
I can’t even begin to tell you how many of us had amazing (and I’m not using that term lightly) success stories right off the bat. First clients, new clients, articles being picked up on various blogs, starting transitions out of full time employment to take the plunge 100%… and so on and so forth.
I have talked to people about this. It is not a phenomenon that is happening with this group. This was a group of people ready for major change, and Lift Off forced us to think through our businesses… our plans, our ideas, our struggles. We all worked hard to get things out, and the amazing thing is, once things were out, then ideas just kept coming, action plans got made, and measurable results got defined.
I believe that Lift Off caused a mental shift that allowed each one of us to see our businesses and ideas clearly. So clearly, that we could take real action. I know for myself, it caused me to see the entire picture much more clearly, and in bite sized chunks. It was no longer a huge sea of ideas floating in my head. It was a real business, with a plan and a desired outcome.
And now… life is different
And it is good. I (among others) have jumped off “the cliff” and made the conscious choice to do our thing. To take the next logical step… to take the risk… and make our thing happen.
It is amazing to see how much has changed for all of us. How much we all learned. How excited we are to take on the challenge.
The best part… we all have an amazing support team that just over a week ago… we did. not. have. It makes all the difference.
If you are thinking about going to the next Lift Off… don’t think any longer. Just go.
You”re just BURSTING with all that excitement and energy still! I love this post. Every time I start to forget how amazing it was, I”m coming back and reading this again.
Thanks, Rachael! I appreciate the nice comment. I”m so excited to see everything that the people from our Lift Off group do over the next few months!
Great post! In your usual style, you distilled the retreat into succinct points that I can refer back to again and again.
Like Rachael, I can almost feel your bubbling energy coming through in the writing. It’’s so motivating!
Kyle, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post! Thanks or commenting.