Finally Home!

[ShanaSmith]

Wow! That was a Great, Inspiring, Crazy, Wierd leadership summit!

I'm sure everyone has both great and horror stories to share. For now I will just leave it at "We won't be going back to Cincinnati anytime soon!"

I am so excited about all of the great new incentives, products and news, perhaps after I've had a little more sleep I will even try to type out some high points.

[its_me_susan]

Wow! That was a Great, Inspiring, Crazy, Wierd leadership summit!

I'm sure everyone has both great and horror stories to share. For now I will just leave it at "We won't be going back to Cincinnati anytime soon!"

I am so excited about all of the great new incentives, products and news, perhaps after I've had a little more sleep I will even try to type out some high points.

PC won't go back or you? What happened????

Did you take good workshops? I'd love to see notes!

Do you have any pictures to share?

[Happy Chef]

Glad you're back. When you're ready we look forward to hearing about your experiences and updates.

[ShanaSmith]

First, I had a great time, and learned tons of new info that I plan to bring to my business. Met lots of new people and created great friends. However, the hotel was a totally different story! It was bad enough that they had to refund EVERYONE that was there on Wednesday night for their room. And it didn't really get any better. I heard things went smoothly at the other hotels, but not at the Millinium. It seemed like the hotel and conference center had never held a conference before. And the Millinium is attatched to the conf center! It got to the point of "Ok what can go wrong now?"

I think between PC having to get the busses to get people from all the far away airports and the hotel from you know where, it would not make a likely place for us to use again. I'm sure the busses cost PC a pretty penny, but I know I would not have gone it that hadn't been an option. It make for even longer travel days though. It took me over 12 hours each way.

[pamperedbecky]

Yes, that hotel was horrendous!! My roommates waited in line for THREE HOURS to check in. I lucked out because I arrived right as they were just about up to the counter to check in. I agree, it seemed that they weren't equipped at all to deal with large amounts of people. Hello!! As Shana said, they're connected to the big convention center for crying out loud!! No hot/warm water, their computer/system being down more time than not and who knows what else did NOT make this an appealing place to be. I very much doubt we'll be going back there.

I haven't checked out CS yet---did anyone spill the beans where the NEXT Leadership will be?? I can't wait!!!

Other than the hotel and some other weird adventures in Cincinnati, the actual conference was pretty good. I heard it was hit or miss with the workshops...some loved them, some didn't. I'd say I had a so/so experience with those, but I did at least get a few good ideas from each workshop. How did others like the speakers at dinner (or I should say AFTER dinner) the 2nd night? Personally I feel it was WAY too long of a day to have that speaker after dinner. It was a nice gesture to try to give us some more motivation and info, but my brain had turned off by then.:indifferent0016:

LOVED all the announcements and incentives. Woo hoo!!!!!

[PamperedPosey]

I had almost all so so workshops. I too learned at least a couple of good tips at each one. I was so excited when I got to my first workshop and Don Funt was the speaker. He was a great speaker and I enjoyed listening to him, but almost all of it was information that I already knew. The one thing he said that stood out was that he bought a shower caddy rack that had suction cups on the back and when he goes anywhere he attaches it to the window of his car and fills it with catalogs/business cards and such. It is almost always empty when he gets back to his car. I guess when you have a lot of catalogs left near the end of a season that wouldn't be bad, but I couldn't afford to do that all of the time (I'd have to at least down size to mini's). I'll try to think of some other things I heard soon. I have to get my notes out.

[ShanaSmith]

Yup my workshops were 50/50 2 outstanding ones, and 2 duds, but that can happen anytime. I thought the speakers were a little odd since most of us have no problem talking to any and everyone. Especially in that situation. I am sure that it was really what some people needed to hear, but it seemed to miss the mark for many of us.

On the subject of the hotel... did you hear all the stories about people getting locked in the stairwells? or what happened on Friday night in the elevator. Nice place!

[chefmeg]

Yes, that hotel was horrendous!! My roommates waited in line for THREE HOURS to check in. I lucked out because I arrived right as they were just about up to the counter to check in. I agree, it seemed that they weren't equipped at all to deal with large amounts of people. Hello!! As Shana said, they're connected to the big convention center for crying out loud!! No hot/warm water, their computer/system being down more time than not and who knows what else did NOT make this an appealing place to be. I very much doubt we'll be going back there.

I haven't checked out CS yet---did anyone spill the beans where the NEXT Leadership will be?? I can't wait!!!

Other than the hotel and some other weird adventures in Cincinnati, the actual conference was pretty good. I heard it was hit or miss with the workshops...some loved them, some didn't. I'd say I had a so/so experience with those, but I did at least get a few good ideas from each workshop. How did others like the speakers at dinner (or I should say AFTER dinner) the 2nd night? Personally I feel it was WAY too long of a day to have that speaker after dinner. It was a nice gesture to try to give us some more motivation and info, but my brain had turned off by then.:indifferent0016:

LOVED all the announcements and incentives. Woo hoo!!!!!

I stayed at the Millenium with no problems after the check in incident and since they paid for that night, all was well!
Next Leadership is in Denver!!!!

[pckrissy]

I stayed at the Millenium also..i can take alot...but 3 cold showers, lines and long waits for an elevator and the hotel bistro was awful service also..I don't like to complain but that was horrible!! This was my first Leadership. My workshops were so/so as well. I never felt squished like a sardine at National..all the workshops were very crowded. I did gain some good info and loved all the general sessions. I met some great fellow cheffers and I'm excited to come home and grow my business :)
Good luck to all of you as well.

[dannyzmom]

I had almost all so so workshops. I too learned at least a couple of good tips at each one. I was so excited when I got to my first workshop and Don Funt was the speaker. He was a great speaker and I enjoyed listening to him, but almost all of it was information that I already knew. The one thing he said that stood out was that he bought a shower caddy rack that had suction cups on the back and when he goes anywhere he attaches it to the window of his car and fills it with catalogs/business cards and such. It is almost always empty when he gets back to his car. I guess when you have a lot of catalogs left near the end of a season that wouldn't be bad, but I couldn't afford to do that all of the time (I'd have to at least down size to mini's). I'll try to think of some other things I heard soon. I have to get my notes out.

What if it rains???

[PamperedPosey]

What if it rains???

Well, I think you don't keep it on the window all of the time. You just have to see what the weather looks like that day and decide whether or not you want to put it out when you get out of the car.

[finley1991]

I had an awesome experience at Leadership... probably the best I attended! My roommates were AWESOME! Roomed with 2 others from totally different clusters... even our uplines aren't the same. We had a blast. Our hotel was great and no problems with service anywhere!

My workshops were amazing and I came home armed with so many amazing ideas and things I can really do! I've been to every National since 2001 and each Leadership since 2003.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the two ladies that spoke at dinner... it was such a long day and I was so tired I really had a hard time embracing what they had to offer. I wanted to get their book and was disappointed they didn't have a booth. But that's minor in the big picture.

[DebbieJ]

I wanted to get their book and was disappointed they didn't have a booth. But that's minor in the big picture.

I know! I wanted their book, too!!! It may not have been the most challenging topic for Leaders (as I think Shana mentioned) but they had a lot to offer for us to bring back and train our people.

[chefmeg]

I felt like they were preaching to the choir as far as networking was concerned. I was SOOOOOO tired from staying up until 1 am with my childhood friend and after a LOOOONG day of workshops, I left their talk early!
I was in the bed and asleep by 10:00!
I had great workshops...I feel that anytime someone gets in front of us to share any information, it's great! I took away a renewed sense of my business and cannot wait to get into my office tonight to get started!

MEXICO here I come!