Alt Summit Summer 2014

Most images by Justin Hackworth and Brooke Dennis, the photographers of Alt Summit. More found here in the Alt Summit Flickr stream.

What a whirlwind week! I spent last Tuesday through Friday in Salt Lake City at the first Alt Summit Summer. Alt Summit Summer is just like the flagship conference in January but, you guessed it, set in summertime. It was another fantastic trip and I can almost claim mastery and complete tranquility of the soul while flying. Almost.

Like the winter version, Alt Summit Summer boasted informative panels, face-to-face conversations with colleagues (the best!) and sponsor representatives and beautiful details every which way you turned.

Similar to January, I spoke on a panel on Being a Contributor. Kersey from And We Play, Janssen from Everyday Reading, Lindsey from Café Johnsonia and I worked together for the month preceding the conference, emailing and Google chatting, and our hard work paid off. The panel went well. It was a joy to work with these ladies.

As much fun as I had with our little group, I was ever so happy to get it done and over with. I was less nervous than I had been in January and I think if I keep at it, I will be even less nervous the next time.

Wednesday evening’s event was a party in the park. I haven’t done much outside for the January events so getting outdoors, on purpose, was new. At a city park a block away from the hotel, food trucks were parked and provided the fare and we spread out on the picnic tables and blankets. The evening’s entertainment included a dance crew (wish I had the moves) and a mural artist working in spray paint (lots more pictures here). It was a bit chilly and a little damp but it didn’t stop us from laughing and having great conversation.

Thursday was a big day. After morning panels, our lunch promised to be a special event. You see, Martha Stewart joined us, in the flesh. While we lunched (more like ignored the food and gawked), Gabrielle of Design Mom interviewed Martha on everything from starting a business, balancing work and life and her favorite thing about being a grandma. It was a treat to see someone with a name so big and a namesake company associated with so much sit in a chair like a regular human and chat. She was intelligent, funny and I enjoyed listening to her.

The final group event on Thursday evening was a stunner. The Grand American, with its hotel tower and conference wings, forms a square and in the center is a beautiful courtyard. I’ve never been out in the courtyard; it’s a bit chilly and snowy/icy out in January. But in June, the courtyard is lovely. The perfect place for a party. The green grass and foliage really set off the colorful tables and decor. The top image below is the party from the top floor of the hotel. Awesome, right?

The weather was ideal, the best day weather-wise of the conference. The Alt team does a good job of convincing you that the world is nothing but perfection and I, for one, love it. I love details. There was beautiful lemonade varieties, ribbons blowing in the trees, a croquet set that matched perfectly (here’s the whole album) and party guests enjoying it all.

Giant balloons are always fun. So is wearing a dress you’ve had forever but rarely wear. And making new friends doesn’t hurt, even if you look kinda strange.

And then it was over and I was back on a plane, back to real life.

I did take something extra home with me. Something more than the great conversations, laughter, swag and tips on improving in this business. As an over thinker, I sometimes allow the challenges and unknown future of this field to eat at my soul. I let the questions about direction, about my end game or goal, questions if I’m doing enough, if I’m doing things ‘right’, if I have what it takes to suck the joy and life out of me. I convince myself I am the only one with these questions, these troubles. Everyone else seems to have their stuff together and they seem to skip through while I trip and fall. But then I talk to people. I ask them about the questions and struggles I’m having. I ask them what they think, what they plan, what they dream. And it turns out, I’m not the only one.

I am not the only one who worries about what is coming next and wonders if there will be a place for me and my skills in the future. I am not the only one who dreams much bigger than their current skill level and you know what? It doesn’t have to be scary. I still don’t have all the answers and my future-predicting skills are non-existent. But, like so many, I am going to work hard, keep my eyes open and mind clear so when the right things come along, I will be ready.