What I Learned From An ICON

I just got back from an insanely awesome week at ICON, the annual user conference for Infusionsoft, in Phoenix, Arizona. I was blessed to spend incredibly valuable personal time getting deep insight, business development advice, personal career growth wisdom and just good personal chats with the most successful people in business today. These true leaders in their field, such as Scott Harris, Kathy Fettke, Clate Mask, the Infusionsoft executive team and the long list goes on of people who truly care about small business owners like me and people who have a passion to share with the world. It was an amazing experience and will forever change the way I view not only business but life. But it’s what I learned from an ICON, that has me still deep in thought.

I am a person who believes that if you want something and you set your deliberate intention to make it happen and you verbalize it to someone else, that you can make it happen. So, I am a huge Gary Vaynerchuk fan. If you don’t know who he is, I suggest you start watching everything he puts out immediately. I could go on for endless blog posts (and probably will) about the genius that is #GaryVee but trust me, the man is on-point about business today and I have a huge “work husband” crush on him!

Anyway, I knew he was going to be the closing keynote speaker at ICON and I set about an intention to meet him and I told not just one, but several other people, to

which they probably thought, yeah right! But, do not underestimate me when I have a goal in mind…that dogged determination is what makes people successful. I did sent him several Instagram messages before hand that I was going to meet him one way or another…and hopefully I did not have to get arrested!

So, there is GaryVee up there giving an incredibly powerful and rousing keynote and there I am in the 4th row, right in the center, fully in the moment, soaking up all the wisdom that he is so graciously giving but in such a way that has me riveted and laughing throughout. His in-your-face, blunt realities about business and the art and power of social media just completely resonates with me. The thing that struck me both during the keynote and later when I MET HIM…more on that later…were his statements about MONEY not being the most important thing. The most important thing is TIME. Above all else, your #1 asset is TIME…no question about it.

Time we can’t get back. Time wasted. Time not spent connecting with others or being present in life. The time that we didn’t do the things we had a passion, a burning desire or a dream to do. And in business, we demand time and attention from our clients or customers, yet do we show them the respect and honor that their time deserves? How much reverence do you give to the precious time that your clients or customers allow you to take from their lives?

If, each time, you considered asking your audience for their attention, you gave reverence for that gift by giving them more than what you are asking for, you will reap the benefits of their continued attention. In the new age of social media, blogging and internet communities, always giving more than you are asking for will provide you with the precious resource that you seek in business….the time and attention of the customer. Never forget this principal or you risk losing your audience, who is tired of a one sided relationship where you always have your hand out.

I won’t give you all the details of my ninja hustle moves but suffice it to say that I was 5th in his selfie line and was super thrilled to get a quick hug and a selfie. More ninja hustle and 5 minutes later, I am standing at his book signing table and he recognizes me and likes the hustle from huge line to the other so fast. 🙂 Did I mention the lines were several hundred if not a thousand deep at this point? Anyway, we have a laugh about an Instagram comment that I made that he remembers, which shall remain our little secret, he autographs my book and writes that he loves me (ok, it was a heart shape but whatever) and we longingly embrace (ok, quick hug and I was out!). I was kind of on a high, like if I had met Elvis back in the day! But we shared a moment! We shared valuable TIME.

GaryVee was completely present in the moment we spent together. He gave me his TIME, which is a very valuable commodity in his busy life and I gave him mine. I hope the laugh I gave him, in some small way, showed him the reverence I have for the time he gave me. I will be forever grateful for Gary Vaynerchuk and his influence on my business and personal development. And more than that, clearly this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between us…he probably is just not aware of it yet! 🙂 But we will be spending more TIME together, just you watch!