World Domination Summit: What to Know Before You Go
As the excitement builds for World Domination Summit, or WDS for shorthand, there are a few things you need to know if you are a WDS newbie.
WDS, which takes place in Portland July 6-8, 2012, is the progeny of my friend Chris Guillebeau’s fertile mind. Wildly successful last year, this is the sophomore year for WDS. This year WDS will double in size setting loose 1,000 official attendees, and likely many more who come to hang out, on downtown Portland, Oregon.
This gathering of iconoclasts, outsiders, creatives, travelers, and new economy solopreneurs is inspiring and a helluva lot of fun.
So what do you need to know? Several things, especially if you are prone to overload and overwhelm. For those of you who dig big crowds and non-stop meet and greet and watching indy online entrepreneur and creative superstars in the wild, then carry on. You’ll be just fine.
But, if you are susceptible to freaking out around so damn many people, then this post is for you.
Following are a few of the pitfalls that you may experience if you are a highly sensitive person (my unscientific guesstimate puts about 87.4% of WDSers in this group):
- You will be overwhelmed. Seriously, you will. Don’t try to do everything. You won’t remember everything you hear, learn, or see. That’s ok. Go outside, sit in the park—it’s across the street from the venue—and listen to the birds. Breathe.
- You will want to meet everyone on your list, but you won’t (unless your list has just four people on it). Plus, it would be too exhausting to do so, anyway. The superstars have queues of people waiting to meet them. Introduce yourself to someone who doesn’t have a line, someone who isn’t well-known. Pace yourself and enjoy those whom you do meet; this isn’t a race.
- You will overindulge. There will be parties. Many parties. You will eat and drink. Oh, and you will drink (did I mention that?), so, if you do indulge, go easy.
- You will miss something. Someone will tell you about a great speaker or life-changing workshop. The one that you decided to skip to engage in deep self-care (also known as a nap). Don’t worry about it. You are missing out on things all over the planet. Big deal.
- You’ll struggle with comparison-itis. You will be sure that everyone else is living a remarkable life, that your life is the only small life in the room. Stop it. Don’t fall into that trap. It isn’t true. Being remarkable is on a continuum and it can be measured in many ways. Make your own measure. Create your own amazing.
Most of all enjoy the spectacle that is WDS. Meet new people, fall in love with Portland, and be prepared to be inspired. Remember, World Domination doesn’t cease just because the Summit ends.
Oh, and don’t forget to say hello to me when you are there—I promise my line will be short!
more inspiration here!
23 Comments for this entry
Sue Ann Gleason
Love this post, Shanna and I am completely prepared to be overwhelmed, delighted and napFUL whenever I need it. See you in Portland. . .
Sue Ann Gleason recently posted..10 Tender Lessons From My Dad
Tess The Bold Life
Thanks for this message. My first time and it helped.
I love this!
You will miss something. . Don’t worry about it. You are missing out on things all over the planet. Big deal.
If your line isn’t too long…maybe I’ll see you there;)
shanna
Thank you, Tess for your comment–I am happy that my post helped. My line will be short, if there’s one at all 
I look forward to meeting you!
Sandi Amorim
Brilliant points with #5 making me laugh out loud as I remembered last year!
Sandi Amorim recently posted..Kiss Your Tolerations Goodbye
Jeffrey Sumber
Thanks so much for that. I needed it just about NOW. See you soon, or maybe I’ll find you at the park.
Jeffrey
shanna
Timing IS everything, isn’t it, Jeffrey? I’m pleased this post gave you a bit of what you needed. And yes, look for me in the park (or elsewhere) and say hello. I promise my line won’t be long
Katie Benedetto
hehe – it makes me feel better that you guys get comparisonitis, too. I’ve already had comparisonitis by assuming that everyone else is immune to comparisonitis! hehe.
So looking forward to WDS. Thanks for the encouragement to let go of the lists and just have a great time!
Laura gates
THANK YOU for this public service. I am already worried about missing out, and I am already worried about being tired and needing naps. I have decided to trust my inner knowing and be guided to where I need to be, who I need to meet, what I need to learn. And maybe that will end up being sitting in a coffee shop in portland by myself journaling about some profound insight! I am OPEN!
Laura gates recently posted..Women on the Verge
shanna
You are so welcome, Laura. I am happy to see this post spoke to you (and so many others). Let me know when you are ready to hit the coffee shop–I’ll meet you there with journal in hand
Amy Scott
Yes! Thank you for this. I tend to waver between loving meeting people and talking up a storm and running around like crazy doing everything – and then getting freaked out by the crowds. Great tips to really enjoy this weekend. See you there!
Amy Scott recently posted..Be a Nomad
Kathleen Prophet
YAY! Thanks for the Shanna! I am going to use it, though I doubt I will find myself alone in a park with the birds for long. Maybe I will sit there with YOUUUU! I appreciate hearing especially that I am missing things all the time on this planet! haha! cause its true! and MOST important for me…. is to meet my friends like YOU! and Chris. He’s the man who got me into this reality which I both bless and curse! haha!
See you sooooooooon!!
Kathleen Prophet recently posted..Summer Solstice – The Super Nova Self!
shanna
Yes, Kathleen, I’ll be the redhead on the bench next to you, feeding the birds! I can’t wait to meet you IRL
Dani O. Buckley
This is such a great post because you pretty much touched on everything I’m worried about as a first-timer. Especially the overindulging and the comparison-itis. I do NOT want to be hungover. I will not be hungover. I will not be hungover… if I say it enough times will it be true?
But seriously, thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to be inspired, overwhelmed, and everything in between!!
Laurie Rosenfeld
Just what I needed to hear. Thanks Shanna. I have just recently learned that I may be a HSP and that I am both introverted and extroverted (years ago, I tested high for extroversion; apparently that has changed). I am already feeling overwhelmed so your post offers some great reminders.
I don’t have many people on my “list” and am hoping I am not already on the wrong track! I am assuming that everyone who chose to come to WDS is worth meeting and I am trusting that I will meet the people I am supposed to meet. Glad there are some B-School meetup’s since I am especially excited to meet the spectacular women I have been learning with and from over the last year. Everything else will be a huge bonus.
Wondering if I should be setting more specific intentions to get the most out of the weekend? Love to hear your thoughts.
Laurie Rosenfeld recently posted..Remembering the witches
shanna
Hi Laurie!
Thanks for your comment. I think the best intention you can have for WDS is to just be yourself. Easy to say, and seemingly simple advice, but in these situations we often wear a mask when meeting others we feel in awe of or when feeling overwhelmed. Have zero expectations and everything will fall into place!
Akira Morita
So, so spot on, Shanna. I suffer from many of the above already (Facebook overindulgence, anyone?), and trying to keep myself in check.
Re: intentions, I’m with Laurie on assuming everyone will be awesome and not having a “list” necessarily, but I also have a set of goals for myself. I think it all comes down to balancing the specifics and the “unknown.” It will be interesting to see how it all mesh/pan out at the event for me:)
Akira Morita recently posted..Is community dead? | Notes from GATHER
Sammi
This is so funny – Jess and I were just talking about the overwhelmed feeling yesterday and how to prepare for it
Thanks for this article – I shared the link! This line
You are missing out on things all over the planet. Big deal.
Is going up on my bulletin board. This is where I’m like a 6 year old – I’m always afraid I’m missing something. I guess I am. lol I love it!
Sammi recently posted..World Domination Summit Here We Come
shanna
Thanks, Sammi, for stopping by and for your comment! Looking forward to meeting you and Jess!
Anita Horton
Thank you so much for this article. I’m packing and am trying to not overpack. It’s freaking hot in Texas and it is hard to imagine cooler temps. See you mañana.
shanna
Anita! I hope you enjoyed #wds2012. Thank you for your kind comment–I hope to see you here again
Maj Jensen
I’m with you all in spirit for WDS.
Thank you for your awesome perspective and advice on events like these. I am very familiar with the feeling of being the only one in the room with a small life. I get that it’s just my ego playing tricks on me – and I am eternally grateful for the fact that I have grown to learn how to love myself out of the fear of not being enough. But man, that stupid belief is a stubborn one
I’ll keep your words close to my heart for future events.
shanna
Ah yes, Maj, that pesky ego can certainly do a number on us! Thank you for your comment–I appreciate that you too the time to do so
Heather George
Thanks very much, I am going to ponder all this while I pack, time to start now!
Love this: “Make your own measure. Create your own amazing.” A good motto for life.
And since I hate lines, I’ll be looking for the shortest ones anyway… Hope to meet you Shanna.
Heather George recently posted..Challenge #12, June 2012: STILL SITTING STILL
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