On Saturday, I attended the Rise x Live virtual conference. Admittedly, I hesitated attending. Before registering for the event, I wondered how motivating and engaging it would be to stare at a computer screen for 8 hours. The Hollis Company’s marketing team purposefully promoted the event on social media wearing down my hesitation. After a peer accountability call where we discussed the upcoming event, I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

As a small business owner, I understand the importance of continuing to support the brands and companies I love during this time of uncertainty. I registered for the VIP ticket because of the bonus Q & A lunch with my mentor Rachel Hollis. (No, I don’t personally know Rachel, but I’m pretty sure she taught me the concept of finding mentors via podcasts.) The conference agenda was stacked with powerhouses in the personal growth & development space. Rachel Hollis, Dave Hollis, John C. Maxwell, Eric Thomas, Jen Hatmaker, Donald Miller, Ed Mylett and Brit Baron came together virtually to speak their wisdom and instill hope. Each expert emphasized courage and shared strategies to live life more courageously. The Rise participant handbook defined courage as “standing firm and secure in the face of hardship and meeting trials as they come.” 

I reviewed my notes (22 pages) and complied my top 10 takeaways from the conference. 

1. 5,4,3,2,1 Dance! – At first, I felt totally ridiculous jumping off of my couch and dancing each time Rachel yelled 5,4,3,2,1 and DJ Ahsohn blasted Mackelmore’s “Can’t Hold Us.” Since I committed the time, I decided to go all in. Throughout the conference Rachel leveraged Mel Robbins’ 5-second rule to inspire us to move our bodies by dancing for 30 seconds. I made a note in my journal to remember the energy and increased heartbeat that came from these dance breaks. The next time you are feeling uninspired or run down try dancing! I dare you to try this technique and not feel energized. 
2. Perspective Mindset – Perspective is the way you see things based on your reality which is shaped by your experiences and beliefs. Rachel used the vivid example of a burning house to illustrate this point. If you are a firefighter, you see a burning house as your job. If it is your house that is burning, you see grief and fear as you watch flames engulf your belongings. The situation is the same, a burning house, but perspective differs based on your reality. Your perspective shapes how you see things. Your mindset shapes what you think. Perspective mindset explains why some people can excel during this pandemic while others struggle. If you’ve been through really hard things in the past then you have the perspective that you can get through this pandemic.
3. It Doesn’t Always Go Right the First Time – This was the first time the Hollis Company hosted a virtual conference, so imperfection was expected. We experienced some tech glitches, but the team demonstrated the power of handling unexpected situations with grace. When we release ourselves from the expectation of getting it perfect, we can learn from these first-time experiences. John Maxwell pointed out that you might have to fight a battle more than once to win it. Eric Thomas shared that success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. 
4. Fixed vs. Growth Mindset – Our minds are incredibly powerful and what we focus on tends to happen. Courage comes from a growth mindset. A fixed mindset limits our ability to achieve and increases anxiety. An individual with a fixed mindset focuses on all of the negative “what ifs.” Rachel taught us that anxiety comes from a made-up future. When you find yourself operating from a fixed mindset flip it to a growth mindset. Instead of thinking what if I fail, think what if I succeed?
5. Your Environment Will Unlock or Hinder Confidence – Dave Hollis pointed out that if we are the most ambitious person in our circle, we need to get a new circle. We are the sum of the books we read and the people we surround ourselves with. Successful people intentionally consume podcasts, books and articles that accelerate their growth. Donald Miller taught us that we have more control over our lives based on the characters we play. Are you the villain who wants others to experience pain? Are you the victim who sees no way out with no hope? Or, are you the hero who demonstrates courage by acting in faith? What character are you playing in your story?  
6. Idea of Possible – Our idea of what is possible is often shaped by our experiences and environment. Dave reminded us that our perspective of what is possible can be altered by another person’s story. I think back to starting a 30-day exercise challenge with a group of women in March. Day 30 called for holding a plank for 5 minutes! I never held a plank for that long, and my mind immediately thought impossible. As the challenge progressed, we all got stronger. Reading the posts and stories of the women who already completed the challenge on the morning of day 30 opened my mind up to the possibility of holding that plank. Despite what my mind initially told me, I held that plank for 5 minutes. Prior to 2019, I questioned the possibility of starting a business because I had not done it yet. Each week I listened to podcasts hosted by badass women which re-framed my thinking and instilled the belief that I too can launch a business. If you want to grow and achieve big goals, listen to the stories of others who have achieved at that level. 
7. Stop Doing It All – During the VIP lunch Q & A with Rachel a participant asked for strategies on handling work, home, kids, marriage and school during this pandemic. Rachel bluntly replied, “stop it!” She pointed out that what is being asked of us during this time is to do more with less resources. She suggested we identify our core values and focus on strategies that support those values. Self-care is also incredibly important because we can’t take care of others without taking care of ourselves. This is a powerful lesson to carry forward from the pandemic. We put so much pressure on ourselves which leads to a lot of feelings of should be. In the opening keynote, Rachel exclaimed that we need to stop “shoulding” all over ourselves. 
8. Power of Why – In my work as a Goal Achievement Coach, I know there is no shortage of goals people aspire to achieve. There is, however, a huge gap between goal and achievement. Understanding your why helps close this gap. Recognizing your true why gives you the conviction to develop the courage and habits needed to consistently pursue your goals. If you find yourself struggling with execution, take a few minutes to ask yourself why you want to achieve the goal. Then ask why again, and again and again and again. 
9. I Can. I Will. I Must – There was a consistent message around choice and the fact that we have the power to choose how we respond to negativity during the conference. Eric Thomas shared that he started ET the Preacher during 2008 and it was the recession that gave him credibility as a coach. Rachel shared her story of being on the road speaking for 7 months and how difficult it was to be away from family. She thrived during this time by reminding herself that she previously prayed for what she was experiencing. Some of us are forced to shift and pivot right now. We have no choice but to figure it out! Choose joy, choose to keep going and choose to stand back up when knocked down. 
10. Courage Takes Action – John Maxwell shared a story that vividly communicates the significance of action. There are 5 frogs sitting on a log. 4 frogs decide to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log? Did you answer 1 like me? John pointed out that 1 is not correct. Just because you decide to jump off the log doesn’t mean you actually jump! Courage develops by taking action not by talking or thinking about taking action.