Latest / Back in 10 / Episode 14: Meeting Mayhem - Mindset, Money, and Making Conferences Count

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Episode 14: Meeting Mayhem - Mindset, Money, and Making Conferences Count · Back in 10

0:00
Chris Stone: Here we go in three.
0:02
Two, one
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Jen Steadman: back in 10 is a podcast for dental leaders who do it all
0:09
and need 10 minutes to themselves.
0:11
Savanah Carlson: It's about real conversations, not curated ones, the
0:14
kind that happen off the clock, behind closed doors, and between the chaos of
0:18
running a practice and running life.
0:20
Jen Steadman: Hosted by Savannah Carlson and Jen Sedman, two women who've led,
0:25
learned, and laughed through it all.
0:27
Savanah Carlson: This show brings honest stories, leadership truths.
0:30
And the occasional sassy take on what it really means to lead in dentistry today,
0:35
Jen Steadman: because sometimes the best leadership happens when
0:38
you step away for 10 minutes.
0:40
Savanah Carlson: This is back in 10.
0:47
Hey everyone.
0:48
Welcome to back in 10.
0:50
I am Savannah.
0:52
And I'm Jen.
0:53
Last time we started a conversation, we are now deeming meeting mayhem
0:58
where we talked about the world of dental conferences and meetings.
1:03
So if you missed that, go grab your coffee and listen to part one first,
1:07
but if you're already caught up.
1:09
Welcome back.
1:10
Now let's pick up right where we left off before the next patient shows up.
1:16
Okay.
1:17
What else?
1:17
When it comes to going to any type of conference or big
1:21
event, um, can we touch on.
1:27
Your attitude about going what?
1:29
What you bring in terms of your attitude Oh yeah.
1:32
To types of events.
1:34
Jen Steadman: Mm-hmm.
1:35
Savanah Carlson: Openness and willingness to learn and grow are
1:39
at the top for me when it comes to attending any type of educational event.
1:43
Mm-hmm.
1:44
Because that's why we're there.
1:44
Right.
1:45
We we're there to learn and to grow.
1:47
So if you're not, mm-hmm.
1:48
If you don't have that mindset, you might be wasting your money.
1:52
Jen Steadman: To be honest.
1:53
Yeah, no, agreed.
1:55
And I think, look, that's what's gonna make the trip successful
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or unsuccessful is you.
2:00
It might not even be the event itself, it's you.
2:03
So go there with an open mindset, be prepared to learn, get in that head space.
2:10
I would say with that, with your mindset, try your very best to have
2:15
everything in your office, you know?
2:18
Tidied up, you know, everything is, is tied up.
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You're ready to go.
2:23
Pretend like you are going on vacation and no one is gonna talk to you for
2:26
the time that you're there unless there's an emergency or a fire, right?
2:30
Your team needs to know that you are going there not only for yourself, but for them.
2:35
You are going there to learn what's, you know, new and good, all of the great
2:40
stuff, so you can bring that back to the team and help to support them better.
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And you're getting pulled away because.
2:47
Someone canceled or someone was sick or something like that, that
2:51
they couldn't come into the office.
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That's, that's a challenge.
2:54
Like you need to, there's only so many hats that you can wear, and when you're
2:58
at the conference, your hat is learning.
3:00
Mm-hmm.
3:01
Right.
3:01
Trying to make sure that you've delegated some of your responsibilities
3:05
prior to, there's a big thing there as well, you know, getting prepared and.
3:11
Um, who is the one that if someone needs to call out, who are they calling?
3:14
Because at that time it should not be you.
3:16
Savanah Carlson: You're absolutely right.
3:17
It shouldn't be.
3:18
You and I, I have often seen that many of my peers at these meetings
3:24
and conferences are doing double duty.
3:26
They'll be in a class and also have their work emails up and like
3:32
feverishly replying to things and look.
3:35
I don't know what is happening in the scope of your practice.
3:39
I don't know if it's an emergency.
3:41
I do know as someone who's sitting in invested that money in my education that
3:47
if you're sitting next to me and you are secretly taking phone calls while
3:52
sitting next to me or feverishly answering emails, and it's an interruption to
3:57
learning, that's a pro that's a problem.
4:00
Yeah.
4:00
Jen Steadman: That actually happened to me before that someone answered their phone
4:03
from their doctor in the middle of class.
4:05
And look, if you have to do that, we don't know what's going on.
4:08
It's understandable.
4:10
Just excuse yourself.
4:11
Right?
4:11
That's totally fine.
4:13
Just be mindful of the people around you, I think is the biggest thing.
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And look, that's not.
4:19
Um, gonna be helpful to the person that's presenting either, you
4:22
know, that's one of the big things, like silence your cell phones.
4:25
Like everyone is there for a reason, so just be mindful of it and it's
4:29
totally okay to excuse yourself.
4:30
Go for it.
4:31
Do whatever you have to do.
4:33
Um, yeah.
4:35
Mm-hmm.
4:35
I think one thing that I wanna mention, 'cause we were talking
4:38
about like technology and stuff too, that I have seen more recently.
4:42
Which is actually kind of cool.
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So there's different AI programs out there, you know, for meeting
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note taking, all of that.
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Yep.
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Some people now have put the app on their phone and will ask
4:55
exhibitors as they're going around.
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If they start to get really deep into a conversation instead of having to
5:00
take notes, they wanna remember things.
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They literally will like start a meeting on the app on their phone and it will
5:06
record them talking and then it will take notes for them so they can be fully
5:10
engaged in the conversation and not have to worry like, who do I have to
5:14
follow up with and what do I need to do?
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And yeah, so that's another thing that's definitely has started, which could
5:21
be something useful for people too.
5:22
Savanah Carlson: AI is beautiful.
5:24
It is.
5:25
It's not going anywhere.
5:27
Welcome it as a friend.
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It doesn't have to be a family member, but it needs to be one of your friends at
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this point in, in where we are in life.
5:34
Um, I think that's a brilliant idea when you're having conversations on
5:37
the vendor floor, I have seen educators have to address the audience about
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those note takers because they've tried to record a full session.
5:51
It is, it is really important that if, if.
5:54
You need help in taking notes.
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You approach the educator before they start and ask for permission
6:02
to record their sessions.
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Typically, they're gonna say no, and you can't be upset about that.
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They will send you, well, most of them will send you notes or their
6:11
slide deck after the presentation.
6:13
Um, but if, if you're someone who wants to utilize AI help during
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any kind of session, it's really, really imperative that you ask.
6:20
Because that is proprietary.
6:22
Be respectful of that.
6:24
Balls to the walls use ai.
6:26
Jen Steadman: That's why not.
6:28
It's like with anything, right?
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We know even in dental practices, it's like.
6:31
When a patient calls, like you have to notify them if the call's being recorded.
6:35
So you wanna make sure that whether, you know, you're having a conversation
6:39
with a vendor or if you're in a class, people know, and that they've given
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you permission to be able to do that.
6:44
Mm-hmm.
6:45
Um, yeah.
6:45
Great point.
6:46
Mm-hmm.
6:47
Savanah Carlson: Can we talk about how the investment is made for these
6:51
conferences and for your education?
6:54
I've spoken to, to many of our peers who have said, how have you,
6:58
how have you asked your doctor?
7:01
To help cover this?
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Do they cover it at a hundred percent?
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For you, is it part of your benefits package as being an employee at that
7:07
practice, or is this a personal investment that you have to make year over year?
7:11
There are lots of really great conferences and meetings that we wanna attend.
7:16
It can get mad expensive.
7:18
These conferences are not getting any cheaper.
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No.
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And now that everything is going back to in-person and shying away
7:24
from virtual, you could spend easily.
7:27
10 grand to 12 grand a year on going to four events, between flights,
7:34
hotel, travel, preparation time.
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I mean, let's, let's chat a little bit about that.
7:42
When you went to any of these meetings, were you off the clock
7:47
Jen Steadman: or were you on the clock?
7:49
Hmm, good question.
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So.
7:52
I was on the clock.
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Same personally.
7:55
Um, and I'm doing it for myself and I'm doing it for
8:00
the business at the same time.
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That's another reason why I always, you know, business casual, right?
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Because it's, I'm, I'm on the clock.
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I'm working right now.
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Um, and with that too, what I did is I always tried to help to, you know, get
8:15
some information from other people in the industry that my boss knew and respected.
8:21
Got their insight prior to me even asking.
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So then it's not just me coming, it's, you know, talking to your different
8:29
sales reps, talking to different people that have been there before and say
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like, look, what did you get out of it?
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Um, and just be able to give a little bit more information instead of like,
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I just want to go, it is, I wanna go to the conference and here's why.
8:46
And it's not just time away, right?
8:48
It's not just a, it's.
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It's not just a want, I guess it's a need, right?
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Like I need to go here.
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This is why, this is why I need to go.
8:58
I'm, you know, gonna be able to network with people in the industry.
9:02
I'm going to like, look at the initiatives that you have coming up
9:05
in the pipeline and do your research.
9:07
Like, there's this speaker here that I wanna go and I, this is a pain point for
9:11
us and I wanna get some more information.
9:13
Right?
9:13
Like, pull in and do all of your research and, uh, bring that to the forefront.
9:19
I think that's definitely helpful to show the value.
9:22
Savanah Carlson: Right.
9:22
And some events do have this listed on their website of like,
9:27
how, help me, ask my doctor or help me, help me get this covered.
9:31
And they'll give you templates.
9:33
Uh, I mean, I know I created one for a previous employer for
9:37
a huge event, um, and took my knowledge and put it on the paper.
9:43
Like how would, how would I ask if I needed to?
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Here comes AI as well.
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Okay.
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You see this really awesome conference.
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You heard lots of really great things, but you've never been.
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Go to ai, copy the the event website, say, Hey, ai, I really, really,
10:00
really wanna attend this event.
10:02
It's a great investment in my education and it's a great
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investment for my office's education.
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Can you pull out highlights for me to discuss with my doctor about.
10:14
Why this is a good investment for the both of us.
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Mm-hmm.
10:18
See what comes out of that.
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For those, those talking points, then you draft your own letter.
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Don't ask AI to do all of this for you.
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Have some authenticity in what you're doing, and use those
10:30
points as a conversation starter.
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Mm-hmm.
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I cannot recommend that enough really diving into, uh, AI and
10:38
asking it to help you further your career in terms of education.
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Do it.
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Jen Steadman: Mm-hmm.
10:44
So, so ladies, ladies, the wizard is raising his hand for just a second.
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Okay.
10:50
Wiz.
10:51
So you're giving all these great tips on how to prepare for conferences,
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close note taking, convincing your doctor, all those things.
10:59
But I think one of the biggest questions that.
11:02
I would have, if I was considering going to conferences, Uhhuh is how in
11:08
the hell do I pick which ones to go to because there are so many of them.
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How do I pick the right ones to go to because mm-hmm.
11:20
Uh, again, I, I think obviously it, it varies based on the, the position
11:25
that you're in, in the office, right.
11:27
I mean, there's, there's, there's, there seems like there's
11:30
conferences for every specific area.
11:34
Mm-hmm.
11:34
But there's also lots of conferences for every specific area.
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So I, and, and I know you're getting ready to clock out.
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Right.
11:43
So maybe just your top, your top two, each of you, what are your top two
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tips that you would give people to when it comes to picking a conference?
11:56
I got one right off the bat.
11:57
Go ahead, Jen.
11:59
So, I usually look at who the speakers are first.
12:02
So for me, yes, material is important, um, but the person that is delivering
12:10
that material is really what's gonna help to, um, enhance what you're able to
12:16
take back and what you're able to learn.
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So honestly, when I've gone to conferences and I've looked into conferences before,
12:22
I will look to see who is speaking.
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I don't even know what their topic is, but I'm gonna look and see
12:30
who's speaking first and then see if their topic aligns with something
12:33
that I'm, that I'm going through.
12:34
Now, if you don't know some of the speakers out there, look on their YouTube
12:38
channel, look on their websites and see there are some amazing speakers out there.
12:42
I have, you know, I have two faves that I will always go see.
12:48
Um.
12:49
Dito.
12:50
One of them is,
12:51
Savanah Carlson: can I, I share a podcast with, oh my God, don't make me cry.
12:55
She, you are one of the most amazing dental speakers on the circuit right now.
13:01
I'm not even joking, like I'm not trying to blow smoke up your ass either, even
13:05
though I am, because you're one of my best friends and I love you and you're amazing.
13:09
But if you have not heard Jen Steadman live, you are missing out.
13:15
I'm plugging you right now.
13:18
Oh my gosh, her education.
13:19
I, I've, okay.
13:20
I have goosebumps.
13:22
Her hiring education.
13:23
I'm, you've heard the past two episodes of this podcast, right?
13:27
I just shut my, my frigging mouth.
13:28
I let, let her go like that.
13:30
That is her thing.
13:31
Um, her education is fierce and top notch and able to be implemented
13:39
in stages effectively and easily.
13:42
You need to go here, Jennifer, speak.
13:46
You need to.
13:48
Okay.
13:49
That, that, that's all.
13:50
Keep going, Jen.
13:51
I love you.
13:51
Thank you.
13:52
That was so kind.
13:53
Thank
13:54
Jen Steadman: you.
13:54
The truth.
13:55
It's the truth.
13:56
You know I speak truth, Jen.
13:57
I know, I know.
13:59
I know the hard truth, but.
14:02
So I think, look, some of the things that, that I have learned to include
14:08
in the presentations that I do, I have because of the speakers that I've seen
14:12
and have seen the way that audience have reacted and the way that I have reacted
14:17
and the things that I've taken back.
14:19
So those are the things that I like to include.
14:21
We've been to lots of conferences.
14:23
Um.
14:24
I'll say my top.
14:25
I'm just gonna, I'm gonna say my top two speakers.
14:28
Can I do that?
14:28
Can I just do that?
14:29
No.
14:30
Okay, perfect.
14:31
Savanah Carlson: Just start your podcast.
14:31
Do whatever
14:31
Jen Steadman: you want.
14:32
Okay, perfect.
14:33
I'm just gonna do it.
14:34
So, uh, actually I top three.
14:36
I'm gonna say top three.
14:38
Sorry to everyone else.
14:38
I love everyone, but these are the ones that I feel like I was always
14:43
able to go back and implement something in my practice after
14:46
I attended one of their courses.
14:49
Okay.
14:49
Go.
14:50
Okay.
14:50
I hope they're mine too.
14:51
I bet they are.
14:53
Judy Koff.
14:54
Okay.
14:55
Yeah.
14:57
Theresa Duncan.
14:59
Savanah Carlson: Okay.
14:59
Yeah.
15:00
Jen Steadman: And Carrie Weber.
15:02
Savanah Carlson: Oh, girl.
15:04
Slam.
15:05
Don.
15:06
I'm telling you, actually, I have to add two.
15:09
We can do, we do a top five.
15:11
Oh, yeah.
15:12
I mean, Catherine, I tell Belt, oh shoot,
15:16
Jen Steadman: girl.
15:16
Queen of Communication.
15:17
Savanah Carlson: Yes.
15:18
Okay.
15:19
That YS.
15:20
She leads that pride.
15:23
I, I'm happy to be part of her pride.
15:25
Jen Steadman: Oh my gosh, I love her.
15:27
I actually, like, personally flew to California and took one of her courses
15:31
because like a two day course queen.
15:36
Oh my goodness gracious.
15:38
Like unbelievable.
15:39
Yes.
15:40
Savanah Carlson: Yeah.
15:40
Yes.
15:42
There's, I mean, there's so many.
15:43
Jen Steadman: There's so many.
15:44
But look, those are, those are like four that we.
15:48
Follow and know personally of the impact that the material that they
15:54
have and the way that they deliver it, you can, anyone I'm gonna say
16:01
can take something from their courses regardless of what, um, industry you're
16:07
in, you don't even have to be dead.
16:08
Right?
16:08
Honestly, like regardless of the industry, they have amazing things to share.
16:14
I
16:14
Savanah Carlson (2): have the
16:14
Jen Steadman: other one,
16:14
Savanah Carlson: so that was our four, but I have the, the, the other one.
16:19
Steve Anderson
16:22
Jen Steadman: helay his education.
16:22
He's so good.
16:24
Savanah Carlson: And we're not sponsored by any of these speakers.
16:27
We are just, we're advocates of education, and these are our top five right now.
16:34
There's no hate to anybody else.
16:36
I will gladly mention every other speaker that I absolutely adore, like Dana
16:41
Watson, Lois Banta, Uhhuh, um mm-hmm.
16:46
Jen Steadman: There's so many Rachel Wall.
16:49
There's so many.
16:50
Love.
16:50
Rachel.
16:52
Savanah Carlson: I think we've pushed our break right now where we've totally,
16:56
Jen Steadman: I think so.
16:57
Savanah Carlson: Yeah.
16:58
Jen Steadman: I think the bosses might be a little upset.
17:00
Savanah Carlson (2): Now we're, we're in the bathroom on our phones.
17:02
Jen Steadman: That's what we're, we're we are like after hours right now.
17:07
Yeah.
17:09
But I think look in, in preparing for a conference, a few things.
17:13
Right.
17:14
Um.
17:15
One thing I wanna, well, this might be a two-parter.
17:18
Sorry, y'all.
17:19
So one thing I might I wanna say real quick is if you go to
17:25
your doctor and they say no.
17:27
Savanah Carlson: Mm-hmm.
17:28
Jen Steadman: That can be a sucker punch to the gut when you've worked so hard to.
17:34
Be able to have the opportunity to even sit in front of them and say, look,
17:38
this is something that I feel like that we need to do, and I really would like
17:41
you to invest in me and invest in your practice by sending me to this event.
17:45
If they say no, find out why.
17:49
Why, why, right?
17:51
And it.
17:52
Is there something that they, maybe they had a bad experience before that they sent
17:56
someone to a conference and they just end, that person ended up not gonna classes and
17:59
they were in the casino the whole time.
18:01
You have no idea the reason why.
18:04
So ask the questions and look, maybe it's something that your doctor goes with you.
18:10
Maybe the two of you go as a leadership team too.
18:13
Um, and if you just find out that that doctor just is not invested
18:18
in education and furthering, um.
18:22
Yourself and furthering their business, that might not be the right place for you.
18:27
So just keep those things in mind.
18:29
But I think sometimes a no might not be a no.
18:33
It might might be a, not right now.
18:36
Maybe they need more information.
18:37
So just ask them like what the barrier is.
18:39
Is there something else that you can do to support them and just be kind because
18:44
you don't know what's going on either.
18:46
You might not know all of their financial information, depending on what level.
18:50
Um, you like what you're looking at in the practice.
18:52
So just, just be kind, but just ask the questions, um, and, and see.
18:58
And honestly, there's been times I've gone to conferences and invested in myself.
19:02
I have not had same financial backing or I had to take time off to be able to attend.
19:09
That's up to you to decide.
19:11
Um, and that's okay too, but just.
19:16
Ask the questions.
19:17
Advocate for yourself.
19:19
Please advocate for yourself.
19:22
Savanah Carlson: Yes, you deserve it.
19:23
'cause you, it's not.
19:24
You're not in just a job.
19:26
This is your career.
19:28
Jen.
19:28
It's definitely time to clock out.
19:31
Yes ma'am.
19:31
But, but we'd love to extend this.
19:35
So if you come back next week, we wanna discuss the types of
19:40
education that really resonate with us when we attend conferences.
19:44
What is it about speakers that are impactful?
19:48
Why?
19:49
Why do we wanna hear the education?
19:51
What are they doing?
19:52
Um, and then also, what do we do with the education when we're done?
19:56
How do we implement change?
20:00
With what we've learned.
20:02
So let's talk about that and you know, we should throw in swag too.
20:04
I wanna talk about what my favorite swag is when it comes to
20:08
going to courses and conferences.
20:10
Yes, please.
20:11
Let's do it.
20:12
Sounds good.
20:13
Alright y'all.
20:15
Hi everyone.
20:16
We got this.
20:16
We got it.
20:19
Thanks for spending a few minutes with us on back in 10.
20:22
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Savanah Carlson (2): Instagram at Back in 10 Pod for more behind the
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scenes updates and probably a little
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Jen Steadman: chaos.
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We're not here to have it all figured out.
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We are just here to tell you the things that we wish someone had told
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us and remind you that leadership doesn't have to be perfect,
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Savanah Carlson: just real.
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We'll be back in 10 in 10.