It’s hard to sum up the awesomeness that was my 3rd Type-A Parent Conference this past weekend. The keynotes, the sessions and the hands-on workshops were inspiring, educational, and uplifting. And, as usual, I’ve got a list of dozens of things that I want to change and do better.
Type-A Parent Conference is the ONE conference that I will not miss. Apparently, it has just the right combination of information (I always leave feeling like I learned SO much), good people (these are people that I relate with, enjoy being around, and aspire to be more like), and fantastic brands (some of my best long-term brand relationships have been born inside the Type-A expo hall). I can’t say enough good about it.
I’m still feeling slightly overwhelmed since I’ve gotten back (to the tune of a few hundred pictures and a list of 8+ posts that are due soon), but I know that I need to get some of my thoughts down while they are still fresh in my mind. The majority of my Type-A conference notes were taken on Twitter, as I live tweeted many of the sessions that I attended. Since those short but to the point sound bites seem to so accurately represent the feel of the conference (plus, they say what I want to say so much better than I can say it right now), I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorite quotes from Type-A.
What is your favorite quote from the Type-A teachers?
Disney Inspiration via @Gary_Jerry:
1 – “Pie Crust Promises” are easily made and easily broken. Date the idea, don’t marry it!
2 – Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths – Walt Disney {Have a short memory and look ahead!}
3 – I would rather entertain someone and hope they are educated than educate someone and hope they are entertained — Walt Disney
4 – The difference between what Buzz called a “laser” and Woody said was just a “little light that blinks”….Imagination!
5 – “If you’re coasting, it means you’re going downhill.” -Walt Disney
6 – When you create content, remember the human element.
7 – “It’s not where you take things from. It’s where you take things to.” – Jean-Luc Godard
The importance of email marketing for bloggers via @phollows
8 – 5 mailing list tips: above the fold, social proof, incentives, respectful popups, don’t get complacent…test!
9 – Instant gratification matters…and works. Reward readers for joining your email list.
10 – Social proof – people like to feel like they’re not alone when they join a list.
11 – A FB like on a post is like an air kiss. When a reader becomes an email subscriber its like buying curtains together
12 – Seth Godin: “I get 10x more response to my blog from my email subscribers than I do from anyone else.”
13 – Make sure your email marketing is mobile friendly. 40% of emails are opened on mobile devices. wow!
Working with brands and firms:
14 – Be real, be you, and create great content for the brand & you’ll create that lasting partnership
15 – Yes, companies are looking at your community, no matter how small. The ROI doesn’t always exist with the big numbers.
16 – Don’t be afraid to negotiate! It’s not about greed, it’s about worth.
The value of the written word via @AnissaMeyhew and @postpartumprog
17 – Put more volume into what you say…not filler words!
18 – Remember brevity – when someone new comes to your blog, you’ve only got a few seconds to impress them and KEEP them.
19 – Don’t become paralyzed by what other people are doing and what you are NOT doing.
20 – When blogging…Keep it fresh – pay attention to what’s going on outside your content area.
21 – Be passionate about what you are writing about! If it’s not there, figure out a way to maintain OR move on.
22 – Be awesome + be authentic. Words to live by.
23 – Bad grammar is just as bad as auto play music on blogs! I so agree!
Courage…via @AmberCadabra
24 – Cultivate resilience. Regret is a much heavier burden than failure.
25 – Remember…you are not the only one “faking it” – beware if real life Photoshop. We all have struggles.
26 – “Having it all is…having enough!” So true! We don’t have to balance everything.
27 – I want to die empty. To have all the laughter, joy, fear, anger dispelled from me. (something to aspire to)
28 – Every successful person puts big things on the line. Also…sometimes its ok to quit things.
29 – Whatever is scaring you and holding you back…forget them. Take big risks to get big gains.
30 – Courage is about being afraid and doing it anyway!
The We Still Blog finalists read their inspiring, often tear-inducing, sometimes laugh-out-loud, always incredible posts on Sunday.
Were you at Type-A? What was the most helpful thing you heard or learned at the conference? If you weren’t there, what do you wish you could have learned?
*All pictures in this post were taken by me, as one of the official Type-A Atlanta photographers. A ton of my pictures will be added to the Type-A flickr stream and will be available to share soon.*
© 2013, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Great quotes! I love this one… “If you’re coasting, it means you’re going downhill.” -Walt Disney
How cool is that?! He was so much fun to hear speak. That man has energy!
O.M.G. Gary is a dear friend of mine and to see him and you… world’s colliding and I love it!
Oh I love those quotes, especially the “If you’re coasting, it means you’re going downhill.” – so true!
Very inspiring quotes. I haven’t been to a blogger conference yet but this is one I’d love to attend
Looks like a great conference – i’ll have to check out next years.
This quote is great:
Remember…you are not the only one “faking it” – beware if real life Photoshop. We all have struggles.
I think this ALL THE TIME!
Thanks for posting it.
Love this and this was a surprise for me….and made me think 12 – Seth Godin: “I get 10x more response to my blog from my email subscribers than I do from anyone else.”
I really wanted to go to Type A. Thanks so much for sharing some of the details!
I love the be awesome. And I hate auto music. Hate it.
Sounds like a great conference. Wish I could have been there!
I LOVE that quote about Buzz!!!
I wish I could say I was at Type A but no :( I love all the Gary quotes. Such gems that just roll off that Disney brain. Love it!
If you can…it’s a fantastic value! You will love it!
That’s EXACTLY how I feel! I love attending other conferences, but Type-A is the only one I count on attending each year. So happy that I could see you this weekend!
Yay! I recognize one of my tweets in your list. I SO love Type-A. I’ve been to all five of them. It’s the only non-negotiable conference I attend, an absolute MUST!
this seems like a great conference seems like there was a lot to learn, perhaps I can make it next year,.
I haven’t been to this conference. But I have heard great things. I love all the quotes and I plan to keep them in mind as I am working.
I love the quote that Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths!