So, was my 6-figure investment in Ali Brown’s diamond mastermind worth it? Before I answer that, let’s talk about whether SHINE itself was worth it as there was lots of talk about that in Las Vegas among the women in attendance.
Shine was a three-day event in Las Vegas. The ticket price ranged from $997 for early bird tickets all the way up to $1497 right before the event. If you stayed at the hotel, room rates ran $209/night. Lots of women shared rooms (as many as three to a room). I shared a room with my honey, Dave Dee. Lots of people did not stay at the hotel, which I think was an error*, but in that case, room rates could have been as low as $50/night at other hotels. Some women attended on scholarship, in which case they did not pay for their ticket. Flights likely ran anywhere between $100-$250. The networking party was$100. And of course you had to feed yourself the three days of the event, which probably ran right around $500.
So, all in all, not an inexpensive weekend by any means.
Over and over again, I heard people asking … so, are you glad you came?
And the answers ran the gamut. One of my coaching members absolutely loved the event. For her, it was the first time she was ever in a room with so many women like her … moms in business who want more from life. Just having that sense of “I’m not alone” made the trip totally worth it for her.
On the flip side, there were some who were in major complaint mode, feeling as if their expectations weren’t met.
And of course, there were as many responses in between.
So, was it worth it?
Here’s the deal … and it’s the exact same thing I’ll say regarding whether my diamond investment was worth it. YOU determine whether it’s worth it.
Here’s what I mean:
Even if you didn’t love the content of the event (and I do acknowledge that for those of us who have been around the online world for a while, it was light), there was so much you could have gotten out of SHINE:
1. Focus on the networking opportunities.
Ali Brown attracts the most amazing women to her events. Who cares about the content when you can spend all your time in the halls connecting with all your online friends, creating joint ventures, and intentionally spreading the word about your business.
2. Watch what she is doing.
Ali is a master. Sure, there were a few things I would have done differently at the event (for example Lynn Rose was a far superior emcee at OSBW last year than the guy Ali probably paid beacoup bucks for this year and Ali’s mentor Anne’s presentation was totally inappropriate to me on so many levels) but this was Ali’s very first SHINE and all in all it seemed to have the desired effect of inspiring women to step up to a new level of beingness in their life and business. Not to mention, I’m sure Ali filled her 2010 diamond coaching program (that’s a million dollar payday people!) and even if you don’t have any plans for anything like that, there’s a whole lot you can learn by watching her do it.
3. Pay close attention to what’s coming up for you.
If you find yourself sitting in an event like Ali’s and judging it the entire time, you need to ask yourself what that’s about. In my own experience, I’ve discovered it’s very likely a sign that I am jealous and want what I am judging or that I’m blocking some important self discovery for myself with my judgment. When you find that happening for yourself, go within and ask yourself “what is here for me?” There are no accidents. If you’ve spent hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend an event and taken time out of your life to get there, you are there for a reason. If you spend the entire time in judgment, you will block your blessing. Instead, ask to be shown and stay open for the answer.
Thinking about this, I remember back to the Dan Kennedy event I attended three years ago that changed my life. After investing everything I had in learning from Dan by reading his books and buying his products and even hiring coaches who used his name in their marketing, I realized I was never going to get it without getting out of my comfort zone and flying to Cleveland to attend one of his events. It was a $3,000 event and I’d have to be away from my kids and office for 5 days. A HUGE investment for me at the time.
About half way through the event, I still had not figured out why I was there. I had been staying open, meeting everyone I could, soaking up every minute of the content. The content was all the same stuff I had already learned from the books and products I had invested in and I hadn’t met anyone I thought could help me, but I stayed open. And then, it hit me! Everyone in attendance at the event who was successful doing what I wanted to do (move out of the 1-to-1 service delivery model and into a 1-to-many model of business) was in either Dan or Bill’s mastermind. So, I decided then and there, that’s what I would do. I’d get into one of their masterminds. Of course, getting into Dan’s mastermind was impossible, I knew, so I thought I’d convince Bill to let me in. Ha. Looking back now I know how funny that thought was. But, thank God for naivete’, right?
So, I go up to Bill at the next break and I say “Bill, I’m so close to making this information marketing thing work, I just need a little bit of help. I want to join your mastermind.” And, he looked down at me with laughter in his eyes and he said “Sorry, you can’t do it. There’s simply no room.” And just as I was about to say, “Ok, let me hire you then.” (I was truly desperate for help!) He said “And, you can’t even hire me, I have absolutely no time.” I was devastated. I just knew it’s why I had come to Cleveland. But, just then I heard a voice in my head and it said “don’t wimp out Alexis, you’ve come this far, ask him if he has any ideas for you.” So I did. I said, “Bill, do you have any other ideas for me?” And it was this willingness to persevere and follow up even though I was embarrassed and judging myself and experiencing everything else that we do when we hear no that changed my life.
Bill pointed a couple of feet away to a man and said “go talk to him and see if he can help you.” And I did. That him turned out to be Dave Dee. Within three months of meeting Dave, I had a $117,000 payday on a 67-minute teleseminar, turned that into a total of $200,000 of revenue over 6 weeks and turned that into a 7-figure plus business within a year. Oh, and we fell in love.
None of that would have happened if I would have sat through that event in judgment about what I wasn’t getting or how much the content sucked.
So, if you did that this time, don’t do it next time. And, if you did do it this time, it’s not too late for you to still get what you may have missed. Sit down for some quiet focus time and ask yourself what you learned from being there … then write.
This got pretty long and I committed to myself to make my blog posts short and to the point, so I’ll be back in a few days to talk about my $100,000 investment in the diamond program and whether it was worth it.
*Why is at an error to go to an event and not stay at the hotel where the event is held? 1) Especially in Vegas, it takes a long time to get everywhere. Things seem close, but the scale is all whack and nothing is actually close; 2) Staying in the hotel allows you to participate in everything and make the most of event networking without having to worry about getting back to your hotel; 3) If you forget something in your room, you can just go up and get it; 4) As someone who hosts events myself, I can tell you, it’s really bad for the event host if you don’t stay in the room and they don’t make their room block.
33 Comments
Fabulous post, Alexis! Your #2 point is key – Ali is a master marketer, she filled the room, and achieved a 1million pay day. Rather than complain, observe.
Very good insight! I always watch big people like Ali and how they work the event. I look at it from a marketing perspective as hey, that's my business (well, my soon to be new business anyway…).
I've been to a few events and I agree that the content was light. But that wasn't why I was there. I was there to connect with like-minded people, network, and keep myself and my mind open.
Even when I hear the same material over & over, it really is true that every time I hear it I “hear it” in a different way. And being in that atmosphere just gets my brainstorming juices flowing.
My only regret is that I didn't get a chance to personally meet you. I'm one of Kendall's new certified Money, Marketing and Soul coaches and she's often talking about the power, passion and support from her Diamond peers like you!
I have to agree with Alicia. I heard a lot of people complaining that there wasn't enough “how to” ….but really the “how to” was in watching how Ali conducted herself/ had a million dollar payday of her own (not to mention the payday of filling up the seats at Shine). Observe is right.
Interesting re staying in the same hotel … I disagree. For some people (like myself) it is really important to get out of the bubble every day.
Staying across the street was amazing for me, because every day I went out into the fresh (well, it's vegas, so sort-of-fresh) air, walked around, and just was around different people. It is so easy to get caught up in the insanity of an event, and getting out of the physical space is powerful.
Also, being sensitive to energy / an introvert, I need to get the heck away from the zillion people in the room. 🙂
~ ElizabethPW
Thanks Dineen. I would have loved to meet you as well. I was talking with some folks about SANG the other day. SANG is arguably THE event for high level marketers. And, the big complaint I heard about the event was that the content was TOO good and there wasn't enough time for networking and connecting. LOL.
Hi Alexis,
My disclaimer: I did NOT go to Shine. So, these are not my thoughts on the event specifically. Just some feedback regarding my expectations for any event since I think it's an interesting concept.
I read your post and it sounds like you are trying to make lemonade from lemons (to use a worn-out cliche). There are a lot of high-ticket events that deliver nothing but fluff and there are much more affordable programs that deliver a huge ROI.
When I pay to attend a conference or workshop, I sure as heck don't want to do it just to get a look at how the presenter is working the room. I want…no I expect…solid value from the content.
Best, Wendy
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Edit thisHi Alexis,
So glad I got to meet you at Shine!
Interesting post.
Re: expenses — Rooms with 2 queen beds were $230/night for the first 2 people. We had 5 people in our room, which means the hotel added $35 each for guests 3, 4 and 5. So even taking that total x 4 nights + tax and dividing it by 5, we had a great price for a beautiful suite.
Four of the five ladies in our room were scholarship winners. We can't begin to express how much we all appreciated receiving the scholarships from Ali.
My plane ticket was $700. Add meals, airport/hotel shuttle fees, and long-term parking at my home airport, plus the fact that I lost out on three days worth of pay from my day job while I was gone.
Was it worth it?
Absolu-freakin-lutely.
I have followed Ali for a while and have purchased most of her products, but this was my first in-person event.
I had already heard some of the things she said, but I did not close my mind during Shine. There were a lot of people at the event who had not yet heard it. She needed to tell her story and bring everyone up to speed before we could move on. Plus it's like re-reading a book — certain points pop out at you when you read it again.
At one point, I was near someone who spewed negativity. As the day went on, she made comments that I thought were inappropriate. She wasn't happy with anything about the event — the venue, the notebooks, Ali's hair, the music, Ali's outfits, and everything was a sales pitch according to this chick. I was relieved when I no longer had to sit within earshot.
I had a GREAT time and met some FABULOUS people! Now that I'm home, I'm inspired to get busy and conquer new things.
Alexis,
Great commentary. Did I think Shine was worth it? Definitely yes. Were there areas that disappointed me? Yes again. The content seemed a bit light, but the moments of clarity that I experienced with Ali's guidance and the women who were present…AWESOME!!!! Ali totally delivered.
You and so many other remarkable women made the event one that I will not forget for a long time. I hope to come back next year to be challenged again…to re-examine my values, to reexamine my business and to have the opportunity to engage such a diverse group of women in meaningful conversation.
LOL re sort of fresh air in Vegas. I walked outside once and was bombarded with cigarette smoke. Ick. And, I do make an exception for you and staying in the hotel because, well because you are you EPW and you weren't not staying at the hotel because you were trying to save money. You were not staying at the hotel because it authentically contributed to your well being.
Fabulous post, Alexis! Your #2 point is key – Ali is a master marketer, she filled the room, and achieved a 1million pay day. Rather than complain, observe.
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Edit thisVery good insight! I always watch big people like Ali and how they work the event. I look at it from a marketing perspective as hey, that's my business (well, my soon to be new business anyway…).
I've been to a few events and I agree that the content was light. But that wasn't why I was there. I was there to connect with like-minded people, network, and keep myself and my mind open.
Even when I hear the same material over & over, it really is true that every time I hear it I “hear it” in a different way. And being in that atmosphere just gets my brainstorming juices flowing.
My only regret is that I didn't get a chance to personally meet you. I'm one of Kendall's new certified Money, Marketing and Soul coaches and she's often talking about the power, passion and support from her Diamond peers like you!
I have to agree with Alicia. I heard a lot of people complaining that there wasn't enough “how to” ….but really the “how to” was in watching how Ali conducted herself/ had a million dollar payday of her own (not to mention the payday of filling up the seats at Shine). Observe is right.
Interesting re staying in the same hotel … I disagree. For some people (like myself) it is really important to get out of the bubble every day.
Staying across the street was amazing for me, because every day I went out into the fresh (well, it's vegas, so sort-of-fresh) air, walked around, and just was around different people. It is so easy to get caught up in the insanity of an event, and getting out of the physical space is powerful.
Also, being sensitive to energy / an introvert, I need to get the heck away from the zillion people in the room. 🙂
~ ElizabethPW
Thanks Dineen. I would have loved to meet you as well. I was talking with some folks about SANG the other day. SANG is arguably THE event for high level marketers. And, the big complaint I heard about the event was that the content was TOO good and there wasn't enough time for networking and connecting. LOL.
Hi Alexis,
My disclaimer: I did NOT go to Shine. So, these are not my thoughts on the event specifically. Just some feedback regarding my expectations for any event since I think it's an interesting concept.
I read your post and it sounds like you are trying to make lemonade from lemons (to use a worn-out cliche). There are a lot of high-ticket events that deliver nothing but fluff and there are much more affordable programs that deliver a huge ROI.
When I pay to attend a conference or workshop, I sure as heck don't want to do it just to get a look at how the presenter is working the room. I want…no I expect…solid value from the content.
Best, Wendy
Hi Alexis,
So glad I got to meet you at Shine!
Interesting post.
Re: expenses — Rooms with 2 queen beds were $230/night for the first 2 people. We had 5 people in our room, which means the hotel added $35 each for guests 3, 4 and 5. So even taking that total x 4 nights + tax and dividing it by 5, we had a great price for a beautiful suite.
Four of the five ladies in our room were scholarship winners. We can't begin to express how much we all appreciated receiving the scholarships from Ali.
My plane ticket was $700. Add meals, airport/hotel shuttle fees, and long-term parking at my home airport, plus the fact that I lost out on three days worth of pay from my day job while I was gone.
Was it worth it?
Absolu-freakin-lutely.
I have followed Ali for a while and have purchased most of her products, but this was my first in-person event.
I had already heard some of the things she said, but I did not close my mind during Shine. There were a lot of people at the event who had not yet heard it. She needed to tell her story and bring everyone up to speed before we could move on. Plus it's like re-reading a book — certain points pop out at you when you read it again.
At one point, I was near someone who spewed negativity. As the day went on, she made comments that I thought were inappropriate. She wasn't happy with anything about the event — the venue, the notebooks, Ali's hair, the music, Ali's outfits, and everything was a sales pitch according to this chick. I was relieved when I no longer had to sit within earshot.
I had a GREAT time and met some FABULOUS people! Now that I'm home, I'm inspired to get busy and conquer new things.
Alexis,
Great commentary. Did I think Shine was worth it? Definitely yes. Were there areas that disappointed me? Yes again. The content seemed a bit light, but the moments of clarity that I experienced with Ali's guidance and the women who were present…AWESOME!!!! Ali totally delivered.
You and so many other remarkable women made the event one that I will not forget for a long time. I hope to come back next year to be challenged again…to re-examine my values, to reexamine my business and to have the opportunity to engage such a diverse group of women in meaningful conversation.
LOL re sort of fresh air in Vegas. I walked outside once and was bombarded with cigarette smoke. Ick. And, I do make an exception for you and staying in the hotel because, well because you are you EPW and you weren't not staying at the hotel because you were trying to save money. You were not staying at the hotel because it authentically contributed to your well being.
Hi Alexis, I sat behind you on the second day, but unfortunately did not get to meet you 🙁 Hallelujah for your post! Negativity and criticizing don’t do anything for me. I learned a long time ago that when I choose to attend an event or seminar that I will seek out the gold nuggets to learn from. If I can’t learn something valuable, then I’ve stopped growing.
Shine was a new event and there were a lot of gems to get from it. Sure. It kicked my butt and had my head spinning in different directions and had me confused about what I was really doing. But, that’s all part of the movement forward. I’m in a much better and different place than I was before attending.
I realized that I am very skilled at business plans. I really thought I would have the opportunity to drill deep and whip out a cool biz plan. That wasn’t the case. But, I realize that I have a lot to offer other people that are looking for that and am now encouraged, motivated, and inspired to whip out a program. I certainly would not have found myself doing this if I had not attended Shine.
I’m thankful and grateful for every ounce of the experience – which I was sure to attend every second and get everything out of it that I could.
I’m all about taking the positive aspect of things, or at least twisting it around to my benefit.
Thanks again for your post! I truly appreciate it.
Lisa
I agree that you get what you take out of an event like this. I came not expecting much in terms of content (Ali was still creating content only a couple of weeks before the event, according to social media posts). My focus was on learning from others in the room, seeing what new “tricks” Ali had up her sleeve, and hearing from the celeb speakers.
The event totally matched my expectations, although I was hoping for more. When things become predictable for me, that's a sign that it's time to uplevel my thinking and connect with more ambitious folks. That was a huge take-away for me.
Whenever major upleveling happens in my life, it's usually coupled with a major weather disturbance (weird, I know). So after Sunday's earthquake AND the tropical storm we flew through on my way home, I knew I made a god decision to attend Shine – even if the content wasn't all that was promised.
I could have done without the celebrity speakers. Scary to say that, but I would have been happy with some deeper content instead. But that's just me.
The newbies may have thought the content was plenty deep, though. Depends on where you are in the learning/doing process.
I agree that you get what you take out of an event like this. I came not expecting much in terms of content (Ali was still creating content only a couple of weeks before the event, according to social media posts). My focus was on learning from others in the room, seeing what new “tricks” Ali had up her sleeve, and hearing from the celeb speakers.
The event totally matched my expectations, although I was hoping for more. When things become predictable for me, that's a sign that it's time to uplevel my thinking and connect with more ambitious folks. That was a huge take-away for me.
Whenever major upleveling happens in my life, it's usually coupled with a major weather disturbance (weird, I know). So after Sunday's earthquake AND the tropical storm we flew through on my way home, I knew I made a god decision to attend Shine – even if the content wasn't all that was promised.
I could have done without the celebrity speakers. Scary to say that, but I would have been happy with some deeper content instead. But that's just me.
The newbies may have thought the content was plenty deep, though. Depends on where you are in the learning/doing process.
I didn't attend this event, but have been reading “reviews” as I would consider attending next year.
In terms of content vs. watching Ali, it's a fine line between getting solid, applicable information to help your business grow and feeling “sold” too after you've already paid to be there. I also agree that depending on where you are in your business helps determine how much of the content you think was relevant.
Finally, I 100% agree that you get the most out of these events when you open yourself to all that's possible and focus on what you can learn that will give you the results you want.
I didn't attend this event, but have been reading “reviews” as I would consider attending next year.
In terms of content vs. watching Ali, it's a fine line between getting solid, applicable information to help your business grow and feeling “sold” too after you've already paid to be there. I also agree that depending on where you are in your business helps determine how much of the content you think was relevant.
Finally, I 100% agree that you get the most out of these events when you open yourself to all that's possible and focus on what you can learn that will give you the results you want.
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Edit thisGREAT post Alexis!
I had just stumbled on this post today (along with several others, prompting me to respond on my own blog) and I can easily say (without a doubt) that SHINE has completely changed my life, and although I may have been a scholarship winner this year; I will certainly be going back next year – and GLADLY paying for my ticket in full!
For me, the most important things were to go with a completely open mind (as many others here have stated) in addition to weighing my ego against my bank account and realizing that I had SO MUCH to learn from Ali, her billion-dollar mentor, and all of the high-calibre entrepreneurs who are members of her Platinum and Diamond tiers!
Not only that…but I also made the leap of faith to attend Shine because I knew that the calibre of networking would be top-notch, and that the people I would be able to meet could allow me to find mentors, clients, friends, and business partners…ALL of which I did, and it allowed me to make back my Shine investment in a matter of weeks – and it's barely been 14 days since the event!
Finally – I think a key here was that I took ACTION on what I learned almost immediately, and chose to “strike while the iron was hot” as opposed to focusing on what I may/may not have liked about the event.
Long story short — I believe that in life, our attitude determines our results; which is why I am so thrilled to have gotten so much out of SHINE, and why I can't wait to attend once again next year!
PS: Sorry I didn't have the chance to meet you in person, Alexis — but I'm sure we'll bump into each other at an event in the near future 🙂 !
GREAT post Alexis!
I had just stumbled on this post today (along with several others, prompting me to respond on my own blog) and I can easily say (without a doubt) that SHINE has completely changed my life, and although I may have been a scholarship winner this year; I will certainly be going back next year – and GLADLY paying for my ticket in full!
For me, the most important things were to go with a completely open mind (as many others here have stated) in addition to weighing my ego against my bank account and realizing that I had SO MUCH to learn from Ali, her billion-dollar mentor, and all of the high-calibre entrepreneurs who are members of her Platinum and Diamond tiers!
Not only that…but I also made the leap of faith to attend Shine because I knew that the calibre of networking would be top-notch, and that the people I would be able to meet could allow me to find mentors, clients, friends, and business partners…ALL of which I did, and it allowed me to make back my Shine investment in a matter of weeks – and it's barely been 14 days since the event!
Finally – I think a key here was that I took ACTION on what I learned almost immediately, and chose to “strike while the iron was hot” as opposed to focusing on what I may/may not have liked about the event.
Long story short — I believe that in life, our attitude determines our results; which is why I am so thrilled to have gotten so much out of SHINE, and why I can't wait to attend once again next year!
PS: Sorry I didn't have the chance to meet you in person, Alexis — but I'm sure we'll bump into each other at an event in the near future 🙂 !
Hello Alexis, I am new to you, not to Ali or Lisa Sasevich. I love what you wrote, so very true. All these people complaining, why are they then not on that stag and doing it themselves if they know it all so well? You nailed it – observe what comes up for you, as I always say: It's all an inside job – check within! If you like it great, if you don't change it, but please observe and listen!
Yes, I agree stepping into high ticketed programs is scary, mine run around $15K each, done various, not all what I expected, and that's my own fault, cause I did it with the same person – i.e. an overload of the same, with not all that much new variation – sold into, versus paying attention to what was really offered – oh boy, am I learning from Lisa quick! Regrets, no, I learned a lesson, didn't I? Pay close attention to your feelings and to what is being said between the words. And again, as you said, so many serendipities little things happen later on as a result of such an event, you had no idea they would happen, nor can you relate them back to that event. It is all a matter of growth within yourself, moving up and stretching beyond you. In the end, let's face it, money is only energy, it's an idea, and few are raised to understand that, I wasn't, but I am catching up fast. I agree with staying at the hotel of the event, you spend $xxx on the event, and then you want to scramble on the hotel??? I used to do it, to regret it, cause the event and the hotel is pampering yourself – so do it all the way – YOU DESERVE IT!! Give yourself permission to enjoy it to the hilt! I intend to do that with Lisa and Suzanne in March in Austin!
TYes, keep an open mind, BRING your energy, versus sucking it out of the event, expect great things to happen, and if you hear what you already know, maybe you needed to hear it again, or just observe how the speakers are doing what they are doing and take notes on that, forget the content for a moment. Radiate joy and happiness and you will meet the right people at such an event – life is a numbers game and being at such an event creates the opportunity to meet all the right people, they are all like-minded in a way, makes it a lot easier than going through all those FREE Meetups!
Greetz, Elvire
Hello Alexis, I am new to you, not to Ali or Lisa Sasevich. I love what you wrote, so very true. All these people complaining, why are they then not on that stag and doing it themselves if they know it all so well? You nailed it – observe what comes up for you, as I always say: It's all an inside job – check within! If you like it great, if you don't change it, but please observe and listen!
Yes, I agree stepping into high ticketed programs is scary, mine run around $15K each, done various, not all what I expected, and that's my own fault, cause I did it with the same person – i.e. an overload of the same, with not all that much new variation – sold into, versus paying attention to what was really offered – oh boy, am I learning from Lisa quick! Regrets, no, I learned a lesson, didn't I? Pay close attention to your feelings and to what is being said between the words. And again, as you said, so many serendipities little things happen later on as a result of such an event, you had no idea they would happen, nor can you relate them back to that event. It is all a matter of growth within yourself, moving up and stretching beyond you. In the end, let's face it, money is only energy, it's an idea, and few are raised to understand that, I wasn't, but I am catching up fast. I agree with staying at the hotel of the event, you spend $xxx on the event, and then you want to scramble on the hotel??? I used to do it, to regret it, cause the event and the hotel is pampering yourself – so do it all the way – YOU DESERVE IT!! Give yourself permission to enjoy it to the hilt! I intend to do that with Lisa and Suzanne in March in Austin!
TYes, keep an open mind, BRING your energy, versus sucking it out of the event, expect great things to happen, and if you hear what you already know, maybe you needed to hear it again, or just observe how the speakers are doing what they are doing and take notes on that, forget the content for a moment. Radiate joy and happiness and you will meet the right people at such an event – life is a numbers game and being at such an event creates the opportunity to meet all the right people, they are all like-minded in a way, makes it a lot easier than going through all those FREE Meetups!
Greetz, Elvire
I was there and absolutely loved it. I love being in that environment and being inspired by other women.