CGW2 Review by a CGW1 Alumni

[Bing Wu]

A CGW2 Review by a CGW1 Alumni

Many people have asked me how CGW2 compared to CGW1. The short answer is that they were two very different experiences, each with their own virtues.

I felt that CGW1 had more loving and "oneness" energy, as evidenced by the amount of hugging that went on.

CGW2 was more power, courage and authority-focused. A lot of people, especially younger men, did stunts on the stage ranging from silly dances to shouts of "I am great!"

CGW2 had roughly 95 participants (including a dozen or so repeats), compared to about 115 for CGW1. Though we were a smaller group, there was table-and-chair seating this time, so we were more spread out.

A different experience for me

CGW2 was going to be a dramatically different experience right off the bat. Steve contacted me the Sunday before CGW2 started and asked if I wanted to introduce him on Day 1 of the workshop. Of course, my answer was YES. I'm still very grateful to Steve for giving me the opportunity.

Preparing the introduction was a little more challenging than I thought it would be. There had to be mention of turning off cell phones, telling the audience who I was, how I know Erin & Steve, a bit about what to expect, a personal story, and finally introducing Steve. My initial attempts came out really long and cheesy-sounding. In the end, I loosely based the structure around Darren LaCroix's intro of Steve at CGW1 (he did an amazing job with just 350 words).

I was really nervous delivering the intro, but overall I'd say it went well :-)

Differences in Content and Structure of the Workshop

Steve made a number of improvements and adjustments to the structure of the CGW. The power exercise was changed, so that instead of just finding a stranger to say something silly to, Steve gave us a list of 42 different power-challenges, ranging from smiling when you past someone, to tougher challenges like browsing a store intended for people of the opposite sex, and going out dancing. The objective is to choose something that pushes you out of your individual comfort zone. I enjoyed the added flexibility, and a lot of people took an interesting spin on their challenges. Overall, I found that the wide variety of choice resulted in less group "cohesion" in the exercise, so that it wasn't as much of a shared growing experience as it was last workshop when everyone had the same challenge, and one common barometer to measure up to.

During Days 2 and 3, when we apply the principles of growth to different areas of life (career, relationships, etc.), I feel Steve did a much better job of explaining each principle as it applied to each area. This made the written exercises much easier. Last time, Steve talked about each area of life, but not as much how, for example, Oneness applied to your finances. Because Steve took this extra time, the written exercises felt more rushed, and likewise with the discussions when we were paired up with partners.

Steve also made a point of bringing someone up to the stage for each area of life he covered. He would have them talk about how they were doing in that area, then coach them with the help of the audience. Steve coached them using a logical process based on the principles of growth. Some of these sessions were quite useful and insightful, but at times they felt like they were dragging on for too long, particularly for those of us who, using our intuitions, could get to the root of the issue faster.

Most of the basic content was identical, but one notable exception this time was that Steve & Erin did not do the relationship segment together. Instead, Steve brought up a workshop participant for the relationship segment, much as he did for the other life areas. I felt some tension between Steve & Erin in this area, though I don't want to speculate any deeper. I respect that the process of their separation and new explorations are still ongoing, and we'll have more details when appropriate.

Repeating the experience

What is it like going through a CGW again? For me, it helped fill in the gaps of things that I had missed at CGW 1. Steve's more thorough walkthroughs of the principles and life areas also helped. I was surprised that a number of my responses to the exercises had changed, since I have a better idea now, and more confidence, about my direction in life. I've also made some changes since CGW 1, such as speaking more regularly now at Toasmasters and pursuing intuitive development.

Initially I found it disappointing that CGW2 didn't have the same "huggy" or loving vibe that CGW1 did, and the energy in the room almost felt more scattered. The social activities were also different (groups were organized to sing karaoke and go dancing in nightclubs). Last time, I recall there were more off-site meals at Go Raw and Red Velvet, followed by simply hanging out.

In the end, I hung out with fewer people this workshop, but I got to form deeper relationships with those people. I left this workshop feeling more at peace than I did last time, when I was buzzing on such a high I'd swear I was on mind-altering drugs. The feeling of peace is, in my opinion, a better spot from which to set realistic goals and take thoughtful action.

I had some new experiences this time around: I gambled for the first time in my life, and won $50 at Blackjack, and I also ate at Red Velvet Cafe for the first time (a neat little vegan-friendly restaurant). A group of us returned for a hike at Red Rock Canyon, where it hailed (thankfully we had a rental car this time, instead of taking the taxi), and I went on the Big Shot ride (at the Stratosphere Tower) 6 times in a row.

Powerhouse Pros Toastmasters

Over 20 people from the workshop attended the Powerhouse Pros meeting on Monday night following the workshop. Powerhouse Pros is an amazing Toastmasters club. They have members such as Darren LaCroix (2001 World Public Speaking Champ), S. Frank Stringham (a professional entertainer and comedian), John Kinde (professional speaker and entertainer), Steve & Erin Pavlina, and the rest of their members are also really cool and funny.

Back in the fall, Erin and John Kinde invited me to do a speech at Powerhouse Pros when I returned for CGW2, and I delightedly accepted their offer. I did the same speech that I used at my Toastmasters district humorous speech contest, but it almost went better at the club - I wasn't worried about going overtime, so I milked more of the pauses and facial expressions for their comedic value. I had loads of fun, and some very positive feedback.

Powerhouse Pros is special because of their focus on humor, as evidenced by the 10 minute Observational Humor segment (led by John Kinde), where members have an opportunity to stand up and reel off punch lines about various aspects of the meeting.

Recommendations for Future Attendees

If I can recommend anything, it's to stay at least 1 extra day after the workshop. There were people who braved long international flights to come to Vegas, only to leave almost immediately after the workshop. Most of those people I talked to wished they stayed longer to hang out.

When I came to CGW1, the workshop itself was the centrepiece in my mind, but I realized later that hanging out with other conscious people was an equally great experience, and worth the extra time and expense of extending my stay in Vegas.

This time, I stayed from Wednesday before till Wednesday after the workshop. This gave me the opportunity to attend Toastmasters, hike in Red Rock Canyon, hang out with my local Las Vegas friend John Kinde, spend half a day going on the rides at Stratosphere Tower... and so forth. There's a lot to explore, and it's really fun when you're with growth-oriented people. Don't fly 12 hours only to retrace the journey immediately after the workshop ends.

[staceyterry]

Awesome Alex! Thanks for sharing this! I have to live vicariously through the current attendees until I can get things stable enough to make the trip and have the experience myself, and I'm sooooo looking forward to that!

[Dukie]

Great review, thanks Alex!

I'm sorry I wasn't there, there would have been more hugging

[Patrick Ward]

Spot on review Alex. Although I was not in attendance at CGW1, that was an apt description from my perspective of CGW2. I too found the one-on-one stage sessions to drag on a little too much and the pair-off sessions were a little too short. However, the overall experience was far greater than I anticipated. I took away some much needed insight about myself as well as some new friendships. I will most likely be joining another one in the future.

I'll also recommend staying longer after the conference. I had the pleasure of hanging out with you (Alex) and a few others the day after. Though I didn't ride the Stratosphere rides, I had an excellent time socializing with everyone.

I was also in attendance at the Toastmaster's meeting, and I must say you did an outstanding job. You more than stood your ground with the professionals! In fact, to me, your performance was more memorable than the others - wonderfully witty and entertaining. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. Well done sir! :-)

[yoopersmith]

Awesome Sauce!!! Thanks for the great review

[Savage]

I appreciate this feedback very much, and it echoes my own observations.

One of the changes I made for CGW2 was to do more one-on-one work. That was one of the top suggestions from CGW1. But I think that at CGW2, we went too far in that direction. One-on-one sessions are "expensive" time-wise because they typically take 30+ minutes each. There are a lot of other things we can do with that time that may be more effective. The only way to know for certain is to continue experimenting and listening to feedback.

This time I used a very symmetrical approach to each segment on days 2 and 3, but we don't have to do that. Asymmetry might be better because it gives people many different angles on the same ideas and offers more variety.

I'll be making a LOT of changes for CGW3. I learned a tremendous amount about accelerated learning methods a few days ago, so I'll be applying many new ideas to improve the CGW experience. I also got tons of advice from other Transformational Leadership Council members this week on ways to create a more immersive learning environment -- so many great ideas that it may take me a year or two just to test them all. I feel very fortunate to have so many great friends that I can ask for help and advice on something so important to me... including people who've been doing live events since before I was born.

[supertom]

who taught the accelerated learning methods?

[Savage]

Originally Posted by supertom

who taught the accelerated learning methods?

Bobbie DePorter
Cheri Clark
D.C. Cordova
Rob Evans
Mark McKergow
Lisa Nichols

[Gene]

Alex, Thanks for the review, the speech at PowerHouse Pros and the chance to meet and talk with you!

[Bing Wu]

It was great meeting you too Gene

[ehillis]

Steve, I actually felt like I gained and learned a lot from the one on one coaching sessions because I haven't had the opportunity to observe anything like that before. I didn't sense other audience members getting antsy or bored with the length until about the 5th one, when it was obvious what to expect. Maybe asymmetry is the way to go then, but I definitely hope you call 3-4 people up next time and allow 30 or so minutes or so for those segments.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by ehillis

Steve, I actually felt like I gained and learned a lot from the one on one coaching sessions because I haven't had the opportunity to observe anything like that before. I didn't sense other audience members getting antsy or bored with the length until about the 5th one, when it was obvious what to expect. Maybe asymmetry is the way to go then, but I definitely hope you call 3-4 people up next time and allow 30 or so minutes or so for those segments.

I wonder if a four day workshop where more people were brought on stage to do individual work would improve the experience. I would enjoy the extra one on one work.

[ehillis]

Wow, a four day workshop would be really energetically intense. I felt fairly drained after three days, and we weren't doing a whole lot more than listening, thinking, and talking to each other. I think I got to bed before 11 pretty much every night, save Thursday.

It would also be more difficult logistically, I would imagine. Maybe there will be an "advanced" 4 day workshop at some point in the future .

[Gene]

Originally Posted by ehillis

Wow, a four day workshop would be really energetically intense. I felt fairly drained after three days, and we weren't doing a whole lot more than listening, thinking, and talking to each other. I think I got to bed before 11 pretty much every night, save Thursday.

It would also be more difficult logistically, I would imagine. Maybe there will be an "advanced" 4 day workshop at some point in the future .

Eric, I agree a four day workshop would be an intensive or advanced workshop and would pose logistical challenges. I would attend a workshop that lasted four days and spend more money for attending if it had the kind of energy I experienced at CGW2.

Perhaps such a workshop could occur one time per year.

[Eloy]

How about an on stage coaching session for someone who's planet B isn't very clear? The prequalification my have lead others to not volunteer (but maybe is t was just me), but I would have liked to see Steve help someone go through the clarification process.

Cheers, Eloy

[bluelighth]

i must say i liked the one-on-one"s, and think they did a great job in helping me think things out.
One thing i think could help would probably be encouraging different seating after every break, so you never return to sit by the same person. i noticed my changing places every day helped me talk to more people, but i noticed some people kept their seats the whole time, so....
I really liked the oneness excercise at the end, as well as the guided meditation.
Another thing that could improve would be the focus on a stable planet A. I think that confused me alot, since I cant pin-point a stable planet A in most areas.

Lee-Orr