Workshop Suggestions (Blog)

[mikkame77]

If we host a workshop or seminar in Las Vegas, under what conditions, if any, would you choose to attend?
I would attend if the topics are well-suited and the price is right for me $300-$500.

On a scale of 1-5, how appealing is this idea to you (1 = I’d never go, 5 = I wouldn’t miss it for the world)? 4

What personal development topics are of greatest interest to you? What would you want to learn?
One of my favorite posts is about "Motivation for Smart People". I attended (and enjoyed) the "Chest Pounding" event, but still need more to work through my goals , Finding your purpose, Passive Income, Building and Empire . I am definitely more interested in the material that Steve presents. Maybe a "beginners" class presented by Erin that would cover meditation, psychic development, etc.

In what area(s) of life are you struggling the most (finances, relationships, health, career, etc)? Finances, career

If you could make only one specific improvement in your life by attending such a workshop, what would it be? Finding and accepting my purpose

What is your preferred learning style? Do you prefer highly interactive, experiential workshops with lots of activities? Or do you prefer more lecture and/or PowerPoint presentation, packing in as much raw content as possible? Or do you enjoying mixing it up? I love to mix it up. Taking notes is one of my favorite things! Yes, it's true. I also think that it is imperative to "role-play" or get into action with the material that we are learning to have a better retention experience.

How significant a role does pricing play in your decision? Does $300 for a 3-day workshop seem reasonable to you? (That price is near the low-end of typical pricing for a 3-day personal development workshop.) Pricing is important, but value is even more important for me. (I've paid much more for a 3-day event.)

Do you prefer big seminars with hundreds of attendees or a more intimate setting with a few dozen at most? I prefer a more intimate setting. I've been to events with thousands of people which have been amazing. Yet, I prefer time to get to know the people that I am "changing" with.

[MariaG]

1. If we host a workshop or seminar in Las Vegas, under what conditions, if any, would you choose to attend?

I would consider attending if the workshop was scheduled well in advance, at a less busy time (ie, not when the CES show is on!).

2. On a scale of 1-5, how appealing is this idea to you (1 = I’d never go, 5 = I wouldn’t miss it for the world)?

Can't commit to a ranking until I know the topic. However, I'd probably give you a 3 just for the brown rice demo!

3. What personal development topics are of greatest interest to you? What would you want to learn?

I would really love to explore the "discover your purpose" topics that you've discussed.

4. In what area(s) of life are you struggling the most (finances, relationships, health, career, etc)?

Relationships (and being controlling) are a big one for me. Career is another one - hence my interest in finding a purpose.

5. If you could make only one specific improvement in your life by attending such a workshop, what would it be?

I would like to walk away from such a workshop feeling like I know where I fit in the world and what I can do to contribute.

6. What is your preferred learning style? Do you prefer highly interactive, experiential workshops with lots of activities? Or do you prefer more lecture and/or PowerPoint presentation, packing in as much raw content as possible? Or do you enjoying mixing it up?

I think a combo is important in a long-format situation. It's exhausting to interact all the time, but gets boring to listen to lectures for 3 days. A ratio of around 60% interactive vs. 40% lecture works well for me.

7. How significant a role does pricing play in your decision? Does $300 for a 3-day workshop seem reasonable to you? (That price is near the low-end of typical pricing for a 3-day personal development workshop.)

$300 seems pretty cheap to me! For me, the price points would depend on how much personal attention I'm going to get. Obviously, I would be happy to pay 3 times that much to attend a small gathering. If you're going to stuff me into a huge conference hall with 1200 people at a keynote - not so much

8. Do you prefer big seminars with hundreds of attendees or a more intimate setting with a few dozen at most?

For intense learning, I find smaller sessions work well. You could go with the huge keynote/small breakout combo, but that might be tough to pull off if only you and Erin are going to be doing everything!

As a bonus, I would love it if Steve taught a poker playing session. I have a feeling that with your powers of logic, you really know your way around a table!

[neoutah]

Hi Steve, I'm a long-time fan of your site and would definitely attend as Vegas is only a hop, skip, and a jump for me and I go there about once a month anyway to party and gamble it up. Anything around your proposed price range is a huge bargain and I'm degenerate enough that the casinos put me up for free so hotel is no problem I agree with most of what others have said as far as I think the content should mostly be geared towards those who have taken the time to become familiar with your previous work.
Having said that, although I initially found your site when researching sleep issues, I stayed because I found the articles re: raising consciousness, becoming more courageous, finding your real purpose, etc. very inspirational. Hearing a talented speaker (which I know you are from listening to your podcasts) cover and expand on these type of topics as well as provide further insights would be awesome.
This site was also my first introduction into IM and LOA and would love to have more discussion and exercises to practice that may help this process. Basically, I know you can't please all camps and expect you would go with more of the "classic" Pavlina-type subject matter, but I think a little time to cover your views on the LOA and IM and additional insights on how to implement it into your life will help even the most "practical" minded members in all areas of their life. As your audience for IM-type material is likely much smaller, you may want to consider different price structures for different lectures or days so those who aren't interested in one area would only have to pay for what they are interested in.

[adestiny]

It would be great to be a 1 day workshop, probably along the same time as other conference such as you can do it.
I would think $100 would be fine.

No particular topic I can think of, however I am more for PD instead of say Dreaming.

[Andreas]

Haha, nice one, Andrew. At the workshop, Steve could have a short cooking session, and everyone can get involved! Later on, they can all eat the brown rice for lunch. Next year: Food Preparation for Smart People, a weekly videocast hosted by Steve! (note: I would definitely watch that.)

Seriously though, this is a really great idea. Lately I've been reading 'Is Your Genius at Work' by Dick Richards, and I'm drawn to the results-driven attitude of his workshops. In the book, Dick talks about his small groups format allows every person some of his personal attention, which in turn helps them to identify their own personal genius much faster.

Steve, what overall result would you like each attendee to walk away with?

Yes, this will vary from person to person and personal development is a broad topic, but as you know there are levels of awareness. Most people still won't be crystal clear on their Life Purpose. Before anything else, I believe getting clear on their life purpose should be the main goal of the workshop for those who haven't reached clarity on that yet. With personal attention, coupled with group interaction, I believe you can get most people clear on that by the end of the workshop. The personal element is critical – it is personal development, after all.

For those that are clear on their purpose, you can move on to tips for expressing that purpose (which Dick refers to in the book as "putting your genius to work"). In fact, the workshop would do well to focus on the Courage to Live Consciously, from which everything else flows. By setting a bedrock foundation of each person's personal purpose, you can proceed with the rest of the "curriculum", as it were, in a much more comprehensive way.

Perhaps you have thought of all this already, but I submit these thoughts in the event that you haven't.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Haha, nice one, Andrew. At the workshop, Steve could have a short cooking session, and everyone can get involved! Later on, they can all eat the brown rice for lunch. Next year: Food Preparation for Smart People, a weekly videocast hosted by Steve! (note: I would definitely watch that.)

I think Food Preparation for Smart People could have some interest. I say this not entirely tongue in cheek.

[Andreas]

Gene,

Actually I didn't imply it completely tongue in cheek. I would definitely subscribe to a video podcast like that, as well as recommend it to many others. Now obviously producing something like that takes a lot of work, and Steve Pavlina's personal mission doesn't seem very close to cooking at the moment.

However, when (because I do think it's a matter of when) Steve holds an event in Chicago, I'm there in a half-heartbeat.

[Arash]

1. If we host a workshop or seminar in Las Vegas, under what conditions, if any, would you choose to attend?

I will definitely attend if it's a Friday, Saturday workshop.

2. On a scale of 1-5, how appealing is this idea to you (1 = I’d never go, 5 = I wouldn’t miss it for the world)?


5: I wouldn't miss it for the world.

3. What personal development topics are of greatest interest to you? What would you want to learn?


Any of the topics related to increasing the level of consciousness, in particular, the subjects of polarity and subjective reality.

4. In what area(s) of life are you struggling the most (finances, relationships, health, career, etc)?


career

5. If you could make only one specific improvement in your life by attending such a workshop, what would it be?


Being in around highly conscious individuals.

6. What is your preferred learning style? Do you prefer highly interactive, experiential workshops with lots of activities? Or do you prefer more lecture and/or PowerPoint presentation, packing in as much raw content as possible? Or do you enjoying mixing it up?


Highly interactive workshops.

7. How significant a role does pricing play in your decision? Does $300 for a 3-day workshop seem reasonable to you? (That price is near the low-end of typical pricing for a 3-day personal development workshop.)


$300 is very reasonable.

8. Do you prefer big seminars with hundreds of attendees or a more intimate setting with a few dozen at most?


No preference!

[Zaulche]

Here is my feedback to your questions:

1. If we host a workshop or seminar in Las Vegas, under what conditions, if any, would you choose to attend?

As long as I can afford it and have the time off from work I would go, especially if it was the weekend. I have family I can stay with in Las Vegas so it would not cost me as much to stay as some people, though I would still have to get there from Virginia.

2. On a scale of 1-5, how appealing is this idea to you (1 = I’d never go, 5 = I wouldn’t miss it for the world)?

4 – I like this idea very much, and getting the time from work is not a big deal if I know far enough in advance. The only thing holding me back is finances. If you ever came somewhere on the East Coast though it would considerable cut my costs and I would elevate my 4 to a 5.

3. What personal development topics are of greatest interest to you? What would you want to learn?

Topics concerning better understanding who I am and what my purpose is and then converting my thoughts and beliefs into actions to get things done.

4. In what area(s) of life are you struggling the most (finances, relationships, health, career, etc)?

As I look at my answers so far finances seems to be the one jumping out at me. I am also having some struggle with myself (personal development I suppose, though I am not sure if it is exactly that area).

5. If you could make only one specific improvement in your life by attending such a workshop, what would it be?

To be able to completely understand myself (thus, allowing me to manifest my intentions more clearly and efficiently).

6. What is your preferred learning style? Do you prefer highly interactive, experiential workshops with lots of activities? Or do you prefer more lecture and/or PowerPoint presentation, packing in as much raw content as possible? Or do you enjoying mixing it up?

I prefer more interactive workshops, depending on what the activities are. A mix of both is also very doable. I think a purely lecture seminar would lose interest over time though.

7. How significant a role does pricing play in your decision? Does $300 for a 3-day workshop seem reasonable to you? (That price is near the low-end of typical pricing for a 3-day personal development workshop.)

$300 seems very reasonable. I was thinking of visiting Erin while I was visiting relatives anyway, and an in person meeting is about that much for just an hour. A 3 day seminar for the same price would be a great deal.

As far as which of you will be hosting the seminar, perhaps you can divide it up? Maybe have one person hold seminars over the weekend more in the morning, and the other more in the evening or night. Then someone can attend either Steve’s or Erin’s for $300, or both for $500, or something like that.

I am not sure if that would work, since I have only been to day seminars, not whole weekend seminars. How much time is spent each day at the seminar?

8. Do you prefer big seminars with hundreds of attendees or a more intimate setting with a few dozen at most?

I prefer a more intimate setting, but realistically the more people that come the less costly it is per person, so whichever works best for you.