One of the hardest things for me is "Show up." Whether I've been to an event or are attending for the first time, I always get anxious.   This week I'm headed back to Alt Summit --this time in Palm Springs at The Saguaro Hotel. So, in addition to packing, I'm working on my confidence game to step outside my comfort zone. My hope? Appear effortlessly at ease.     Here are the six things I'm doing.   How do you psyche yourself up for stepping outside your comfort zone?  

Looking smart when you're traveling is a breeze with the right tote--one that's rugged, able to be wiped clean and sanitized, and carries everything you need.     Almost by accident I acquired a signature color. And now it's a determining factor in my purchases--especially those for business. If you've been looking for the perfect tote, I've rounded up eight leather totes in my signature red color that easily accommodate a 15" laptop. (Totes are also available in black.)   Do you have a signature color? Is your luggage or tote in that color?  

Over the past decade and a half, I've been to over a hundred conferences either as an attendee, a sponsor, or an exhibitor. And rarely does anyone leave completely satisfied.     But, if you want to ensure you'll have a horrible time, here are my top three worst reasons to attend a blogging conference or event. Why do you attend conferences?  

In 2014, I decided I wanted to share my skills with others. I taught a Digital Marketing class at General Assembly and then spoke at Alt Summit in January 2015 and co-taught an Instagram workshop at Makeshift Society SF that March.   This April 2016, I'm speaking to another community of creatives at Snap! in Salt Lake City.     Will you be at Snap! 2016?  

Get a group of lifestyle writers and social media influencers together and guaranteed you're going to have a lot of Instagrammed moments. But if you're not a fashionista that's OK!     A smile and confidence is all you need to be memorable or as Hilary Rushford would say worthy of remark. Unsure how to portray confidence with your wardrobe? Here are five tips that work for me.   How do you plan your wardrobe for conferences?  

My year doesn't really kick into gear until I come back from my first conference--Alt Summit. Alt Summit is a business conference for creatives and bloggers. There are sessions on entrepreneurship, using your business to do good, social media promotion, and more.     This was my third year attending Alt Summit and first speaking so I had a different frame of reference going into the conference than years past. Here are the seven things I learned at Alt Summit.  

Technology connects all of us and has made the world a much smaller place. But, there's still something about an in person meeting and connection we crave and seek out as humans. As a freelancer or often the sole Marketing person at a start up, I turned to conferences to find inspiration and likeminded creatives with whom I could brainstorm and collaborate.     Depending on why you're attending a conference and what you're hoping to get from it, you may be disappointed or you may be elated.   Sadly, I find many of the people I interact with are in the first camp--they're disappointed.   Even worse, I also find that many people don't see any long-term benefits. Want to see those long-term benefits? Follow these five tips guaranteed to maximize your investment.   What conferences do you attend? What are your goals for attending conferences?  

Approach life with a beginner's mind. Easy enough if you're doing or trying something for the first time.   A little more challenging when it's your fourth time attending a conference. Last week I headed back to Salt Lake City for my fourth Alt Summit.     Alt Summit is " the premier business conference for pioneering and rookie bloggers and creatives. It's a community of exciting, experimental and expressive thinkers, makers and entrepreneurs. " For two and half days, depending on the event, among a hundred to seven hundred people come together to inspire, to share, and to learn from each other.   Approaching a conference that I've been to three times before without expectations and with a beginner's mind is challenging. While a challenge, I still try to actively practice adopting a beginner's mind. And the practice, always yields new insights. Once again I was pleasantly surprised by the experience I had (not one I had imagined I would have...

It's said confidence can't be taught. As a parent that's frustrating because we want our children to be confident and we want a proven methodology for imparting that confidence.   So, you can imagine my surprise when I found confidence I didn't know I had. For me getting out from behind the camera--and in front of it-- resulted in new found confidence.     What's your secret to building your confidence?  

This past weekend I had the opportunity to hear Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks speak at Alt for Everyone, an online conference hosted by Alt Summit for design bloggers, lifestyle writers, and creative entrepreneurs.   I was especially lucky that I was able to sit in on her keynote twice--picking up a different insight each time. One thing that was immediately apparent is that Karen leads by example and inspires us all to live a full life by following three C's: Creativity, Community, and Confidence.     How do you live your life? What do you value?  

No one attends the same conference as another and walks away with the same key insights or takeaways. What we glean from a conference is what we bring to it. If we're seeking guidance for the direction of our path or our purpose, we're more likely to "hear" or interpret what we hear with that filter. Here is my takeaway from Women 2.0 Conference 2014.     When I heard about the Women 2.0 Conference 2014 I wasn't sure what to expect. I hadn't read anything about it, so I didn't much beyond the Pitch Competition and whether sessions would be inspirational or informational in nature.   What conferences have you attended recently?  

Starting today and going through Sunday, I'll be sharing Alt Summit reveals with you. The first big reveal: my business cards.     How do you design? With a budget in mind? Or with a "sky's the limit" mantra?