Bryce Canyon Winter Festival


Answering questions after the presentation at Bryce Canyon Winter Festival.




Well, I made it through my first big speaking event without throwing up!


I'd like to think that alone makes it a success. Ha ha ha.

To be honest, I am dying to talk about it, but I don't know what to say. I'm not exactly the most objective person to ask "How did the talk go?"


So, I thought I'd give you the overview--AND just add that we LOVED the trip, I learned a lot, and am looking forward to speaking again (March 9).




Overview


Speaking Location:
Bryce Canyon Winter Festival 2012 (Utah). Here:

Is this incredible? Bryce Canyon after a night of snow.




Attendees:
About 200+ people. (Ages 8-80.) These are people attending the Winter Fest (Where they snow-shoe, cross-country ski, ski, hike, ice-skate, and participate in all kinds of outdoor/snowy activities.)


Oh, and our 8 people ... so probably 208 attendees. Here:










Length:
I spoke for 90 minutes, then answered questions for another hour.

For this presentation, there was a major focus on Survivor.
The Conference is filled with people who do
rugged outdoor activities,
so the organizers wanted me to focus on the
survival aspect of the game (food, shelter,  water, etc.).




Highs:
People stayed! (And asked questions, said nice things, and clapped!) 


And ... our family LOVED spending time in Bryce! It was so beautiful.


We went to park itself, hiked around, went ice-skating, ate at some really fun SMALL town diners .... and were able to stay in a beautiful bed/breakfast. (Sidenote: So you don't think that we're The Jeffersons, "Movin' On Up"--the housing was part of the speaking arrangement. And we were so grateful for that. It was like a family vacation. Well, it was!)



Lows:
I think I went a little long. But when it was over I gave the group a little "Hay, I know you've got a big day tomorrow, if you'd like to stay and ask questions you can, otherwise, please feel free to go." 


And everyone, but 5-10 people stayed!



Bed and Breakfast where we stayed.
(Stone Canyon Inn)

Our "cottage" at the Inn.

Bryce Canyon.

Inside the cottage.

More Bryce Canyon.
Why, why, why do teens NOT HAVE FEAR?

Reading while it snows.

The view from our cottage ... and this photo was taken inside the spa BY ME!
What the what?




Survivor Sidenote: 


I think one of the most powerful lessons I learned auditioning and playing Survivor is this:


people who succeed in life are people who are comfortable with failure. 


I failed in my attempts to get on the show for 10 years before I was cast. I faced a lot of rejection. A lot.


Now, I'm not sure what makes some of us stick to our goals/desire for excellence/success--in the face of failure--but I do believe this:


If you meet a successful person, they are people who have failed a ton. A ton. And they're okay with that. They just keep getting back up and trying again.


So, next time you feel like a failure, remember ... that's NORMAL. 


Me and Dave.
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