Join Chris, Rick, and Todd in a reflective round table discussion as they share insights and experiences from their recent summit—dubbed 'The Greatest Summit No One Knew About.'
They delve into the highs and lows of organising and executing the event, the emotional roller coaster they endured, and the valuable lessons learned.
The conversation offers a deep dive into themes like letting go of expectations, emotional capacity, and the importance of creating platforms for meaningful conversations among men, particularly dads.
With the summit also marking the launch of 'Space Builders,' Chris and Rick provide a candid look at their entrepreneurial journey, the challenges faced, and the steps forward.
Tune in for an introspective and heartfelt conversation on personal growth, building community, and the significance of shared experiences.
00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Summit
01:17 Reflections and Emotional Journey
02:19 Summit Goals and Accomplishments
03:17 Challenges and Lessons Learned
04:16 Future Plans and Improvements
05:41 Audience Engagement and Feedback
10:27 Themes and Insights from the Talks
19:28 Technical Issues and Miscommunications
21:53 Handling Expectations and Moving Forward
27:30 Weekly Summit Chaos
28:05 Financial Struggles and Emotional Toll
28:31 Sharing and Processing Emotions
29:36 Changing the Narrative
30:52 Money and Personal History
33:11 Building Emotional Capacity
34:54 The Journey of Self-Improvement
36:57 Invitation to Join the Journey
43:13 Living in the Present
50:28 Final Thoughts and Sign-Off
Reflections on "The Greatest Summit No One Knew About":
A Conversation on Purpose, Growth, and Capacity
This past weekend marked a pivotal moment for me and my partners Todd and Rick. We pulled off what I often jokingly refer to as “The Greatest Summit No One Knew About,” and the experience has left us with a mix of emotions, lessons, and reflections that we're eager to share.
A Roller Coaster Weekend
The weekend was intense. It started Sunday 9 a.m. and ended on Monday 7 a.m. my time. Long hours, staying up just in case something went wrong—thankfully nothing did. Completing a summit has been a tick off my bucket list for years. When summits were huge, I always thought it would be cool to put one on, so finally doing it, especially with Rick, was awesome. It was a mix of fun and exhaustion but wholly worth it.
Behind the Scenes: The Struggles and Triumphs
For Rick, this summit was a culmination of a hundred-plus days of behind-the-scenes work. His goal was to create a platform for friends, mentors, and other respected men to share their wisdom with our audiences. We hit some significant milestones, with 5,300 people tuning in and roughly 10 men live at various points. Despite the roller coaster of uncertainties, knowing that our first effort reached so many is incredibly gratifying.
Lessons Learned
One of the biggest things we learned was the importance of promotion and building an audience before the event. We built the summit first and then tried to attract the audience, which led to some hiccups. But every experience is a learning opportunity, and this weekend was no different.
Themes of the Summit
A common thread across various talks was letting go of the shadow self, realigning with one's authentic self, and moving forward. These themes aligned beautifully with our vision of helping dads and men have meaningful conversations. For those involved, it was also a chance to share something close to their hearts in a public forum.
Technical Hiccups and Real-Time Learning
The summit’s technical issues, such as promoting a multi-platform live stream that eventually only streamed on YouTube, were a source of frustration. But these setbacks offered valuable lessons in managing expectations and miscommunication. We had to hack our way through various platforms, and the experience underscored the importance of clear communication and setting realistic expectations.
The Emotional Journey
What stood out most during this journey were the emotional and relational aspects, not the technical details or metrics. We underwent significant personal growth just by pushing through challenges, staying connected, and ensuring we supported each other throughout. For me, the toughest part was fighting the urge to burn everything down when things went awry—a testament to how far I've come in managing my bound-nature reactions.
Building Capacity and Holding Space
At its core, "The Greatest Summit No One Knew About" was more than just a milestone. It was an emotional and spiritual lesson in building capacity and holding space for each other. We created a platform to talk about these often difficult and uncomfortable topics and found that by doing so, we grew stronger as individuals and as a team.
Looking Forward
Despite some missteps, we now have data and experience to make the next summit even better. We're also quietly launching Space Builders, our new venture focused on creating capacity for the types of conversations we’ve had. These conversations are the adventure, the emotional CrossFit we all need but rarely practice.
A Grateful Conclusion
We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who participated in the summit and for those who supported us behind the scenes. The summit taught us that the journey and the community we build along the way are far more important than the destination itself.
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If you’re intrigued by what you've read and want to keep the conversation going, follow us on Space Builders' socials. We're launching a coaching offer soon for those interested in building their perfect average day by creating emotional capacity and holding space for growth. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more updates from our journey.
