Business wisdom from Flying Solo LIVE!

Before our recent live event, I spent my time fretting about mechanics. Will everyone show? Will the audience be able to hear? What flavour are the mini gelato cones? After all weโ€™re forever told itโ€™s the small stuff that matters.

Most of the leftover RAM was allocated to nervousness over my role as panel facilitator. I wanted to do it, but it was a big deal in terms of facing fears and doing it anyway.

Then there was the small fact I was leaving my baby for a whole day and night for the first time. All parents reading will remember how that feels.

With all that swimming around, it didnโ€™t occur to me that Iโ€™d pick up some very valuable business wisdom.

My favourite business wisdom gem was from keynote Paul McCarthy. He reckons we need to take a close look at the five people we spend most of our time with, as they are the ones whoโ€™ll influence us the most.

Not only should we be careful who we hang out with, we need to stay mindful what else we let in. Books, TV, websites: all will touch us in ways we donโ€™t realise.

I also discovered that a minibreak was definitely called for. Andrew May counselled that busy soloists need to schedule three day breaks every quarter to help them perform at their best, or theyโ€™ll suffer from lapses in concentration followed by burnout. Iโ€™d been in go mode for a while so this had me nodding along.

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The very next day, I sent an email meant for Robert to a delegate named Robyn. Once Iโ€™d stopped kicking myself, I got on the phone to Brunswick Heads Holiday Park.

I learnt, too, that the conference was not necessarily about โ€œEureka!โ€ moments. Some feedback from Andrew Penfold summed it up: โ€œI took away some MAJOR areas where I can significantly improve my performance (and enjoyment) of work. Strangely they are quite small things.โ€

If you have recently busted out of your comfort zone, learntย a small piece of business wisdom thatโ€™s made a big impact or realised you need a holiday, tell us about it.