My Experience at Alt Oasis and What I Learned

It’s hard to believe that Alt Oasis by Alt Summit was just a month ago. It feels like the other day and last year at the same time. This year marked my third year attending the annual conference, and this was also the third year it was in Palm Springs! Alt has opened so many doors for me and my personal brand over the years, and this time, I wasn’t just looking forward to it because of the opportunities that were waiting to be cultivated, but because your girl really needed a change of scenery!

The Timing of Alt Oasis

Alt Oasis was the first time I had been away from home for an extended period of time since my wedding was called off. In my careful planning, packing and preparation for the event, I still managed to forget one thing: I didn’t prepare for the question. The question that I have been getting every time I have seen someone I know after “How are you?” since I got engaged.

“How’s the wedding planning?”

So, on the first day of Alt, as soon as I thought someone couldn’t possibly know I was engaged, I learned that they follow me on Instagram and have been following the progress. It happened about 15 times before I said that’s it for the day, and decided to excuse myself from the festivities. During the time to myself, I regrouped and gave myself the permission to miss sessions, events, venues, and “all of the photo ops.” So, this Alt experience was unlike any I previously had. Since we had the entire week versus two and a half days, it was easy for me to designate days to the conference and also leaving time to explore and do my thing. That approach allowed me to have a good time soaking up the sun and recharging my soul a bit.

You can’t attend Alt and walk away not knowing someone new or learning a new skill. Here’s a little of what I learned at Alt this year.

What I learned at Alt Oasis

There are a ton of people who are hungry for connecting with others

This was the largest conference in Alt’s history. There were a lot of skeptics, I included, wondering how the new format was going to work, and if people were really going to show up to fill all of these spaces. The time period was extended and it went from one venue to four. In the months leading up to the conference, it just seemed so big. But the question I ultimately asked myself was, “Is that a problem?”

I was astonished to see how many creatives came and showed out for Alt Oasis! There were so many people at all of the venues, and in true Alt fashion, people were all warm, open, friendly and shyness seemed to go out of the window. This is why creative communities are so important, especially for the solopreneur, maker, or influencer that often works independently. Community is powerful, and this one is that I love a lot!

It’s time to do something different

Think small and you’ll stay small. While I went through a rebrand a year and a half ago, I’ve still been doing the “same thing” when it comes to creating content. It ain’t broken so I’m not fixing it, but I definitely want to add to it. I went to Alt wanting to accomplish two things: learn how to launch a podcast from someone that is killing it and to connect with brands and other entrepreneurs that aligned with my values.

I accomplished both, and guess who’s launching a podcast on May 15th.

ME! More to come on that one…

Learning as you go may be the best part

It felt like the majority of the speakers I heard and people that I met, did not have a full launch plan before they started their venture. I come from a world where you build out a schedule to support a launch and every single step along the way. At the core of who I am, I still feel like you need that framework but the takeaway that I’m finally taking away is that it’s not the end of the world if something is missed or isn’t perfect.
I’ve been scared to start a podcast and start talking about my coaching services for almost a year. You should know that I have a parked website for my coaching and have since last spring. I made a pact to myself and you when I said I was saying f*ck you to fear at the beginning of the year. I’m not going to go back on my promise. I’m looking forward to putting myself out there more and making myself uncomfortable.

Taking a break is okay

I made a promise to myself that I would take one day off from “conferencing” and spend some time with myself, not with my laptop, phone or camera. Myself. I hit the road and drove to Indian Wells for a little rest and relaxation at the Aqua Serena Spa at the Hyatt Regency. I caught wind of the spa on Trip Advisor and later saw that they had a Groupon, so I decided to give them a call. I’m glad I did. I ended up indulging a body exfoliation service followed by a massage.

In between appointments, I was able to shower outside under the palm trees. It was a special moment, one where I felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks. I just stood with my forehead on the wall, water running down my back, inhaling, exhaling, then looking up at the sun. Praying. Trying to soak up as much of its energy as I could. It was so needed and perfect on the day before going home.

Pictures from Alt Oasis

Final Musings

I tend to be long-winded, so in case you were looking for the topline information from this blog post and didn’t get it, here it is:

Alt was a great conference. If you have never attended, you should totally go. It’s a place to really inspire you to level up what you’re doing and challenge yourself afterward.

I think this year was a little overwhelming for some (me included) because of the multiple locations, but there was a ton to learn and great connections to be made. I hope that sessions will be repeated versus a wide assortment of content. We’ll see!

If you’re attending a multi-day conference like Alt, don’t feel like you have to do EVERYTHING in the schedule. Take it at your pace and don’t attend sessions about things you are already good at. Stretch your scope a bit.

Taking time to recharge during the conference is essential. Pick whatever works for you.

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Photos by Christina Best Photography, Lorelai Roubideaux + Moi