Career Lessons from [Virtual] Adult Summer Camp

Recently I got to attend Heather Hubbard’s Summer Camp, a one-of-a-kind, three day virtual event that fulfilled Heather’s promise for attendees to leave “inspired, replenished, and refreshed.”  (I was honored to also get to lead a workshop on career resiliency and career planning when circumstances are out of your control.)  The event included several career lessons worth repeating, and these four may be especially helpful as you look forward to the rest of 2020. (Side note:  If you missed this week’s ApochroMinute sharing advice Heather gave participants about video meetings, be sure to check it out.) 

Lesson 1:  Everyone great has had a “bathroom floor moment.”  Or several.  Speaker Kathy Klotz-Guest talked (in part) about what she called “bathroom floor moments,” those moments that bring us to our knees (metaphorically or literally) and force us to reconsider, “how did I get here?”  and, more importantly, “where do I want to go from here?”

It’s often easy to imagine that we are the only one who has struggled with fear, with uncertainty, or with self-doubt.  Being around outstanding leaders willing to not just admit but to celebrate their bathroom floor moments and, more importantly, what came next, was a reminder of the power of honesty and vulnerability in our careers.

If you lead a team, consider whether you are making space not just for your team to bring their whole self to work, but whether you’re able to bring your whole self to work.  Because reflecting on and eventually sharing your bathroom floor moment – or some version of it – might be the thing that ratchets up your leadership.

Lesson 2:  Energy matters even more online.  You’ve probably heard that if you want to show up as your true self online, you need to bring even more energy to online videos and meetings that you do to offline interactions.  Summer Camp emcee Mike Ganino was a living, breathing example of the power of energy to change the dynamic in your team.  His energy and enthusiasm got even the most reserved and staid attendee clapping, laughing, and often even dancing along, throughout the event.

This lesson is particularly important if you’re doing a lot of networking or pitching business over video (and you should be!).  Be honest with yourself about how much energy you can bring to a meeting, pay attention to your scheduling so you don’t end up wiped out, and be intentional about showing up as more energetic, focused, and “on” if you want to make the same – or even better – impression on video as you normally do in-person.

Lesson 3:  Personal development is professional development.  Heather said it at various times during the event, and it really struck a chord.  Working on yourself – whether something that can clearly help at work, like executive presence, or something less obvious, like meditation or gratitude – will help in both work and life outside it.  Prioritize the things that make you a better person.  Read a book for pleasure.  Fit in a yoga class.  Get better at the second language that you don’t use at work.  Take the time to attend a conference or webinar just because you’re interested in the topic.  Whether you realize it at the time or not, that personal development will help you be a stronger professional.

Lesson 4:  You’ll go farther with others.  At the end of Summer Camp, Heather shared the reason she wasn’t circulating the email addresses of the 150 or so people in attendance, despite requests from people who wanted to form their own mastermind or accountability groups.  The reason, she explained (and I’m paraphrasing):  No matter how committed you are, if you try to go it alone, you will not be able to replicate the experience you can have when an expert is intentionally creating a transformational experience for you.

It is one thing to attend a virtual event, meet some nice people, and “go home” (well, log off) to implement all you’ve learned.  It’s another to continue to make intentional progress with a cohort of others cheering you on.

You absolutely can create your own mastermind-like experience.  (I’ve written before about my own experiences with that.)  But at the end of the day, if you want to go farther, faster, you will do that much more quickly and efficiently, and with better results, if you join an ongoing program.

If you want to experience for yourself the difference being part of a expertly led group can make, we have three suggestions.

If you’re an attorney:  Our Future in Focus 2020 attorney mastermind members tell us how their confidence is increased, how they have finally taken ownership over their careers, and how accountability has kept them moving forward toward their career – and personal – goals during challenging times.  If you’re a curious attorney, join our free, one week Legal Career Resiliency Roundtable to experience a taste of what Future in Focus 2020 2.0 can do for you.  The Roundtable starts August 20, so register now. 

If you’re a non-attorney wanting to start or prepare for a career rebound:  Through our small group Career Rebound Bootcamps, a wide range of professionals come together to figure out where they want their careers and lives to go, and in two intense weeks take the steps they need to get there.  For a taste of the Bootcamp, join our free, one week Career Rebound Challenge starting August 20 by registering here.

And if an attorney-focused mastermind or short-term program for those preparing for or making a career rebound aren’t the right fit, consider whether Heather’s own Limited Edition 2020 Mastermind program might be the right fit for you.  (Visit www.heatherjoyhubbard.com/apply to apply.)  We have no doubt it’s going to be truly transformational.

Heather Hubbard’s Summer Camp is long over.  But the lessons, including that everyone great has had a “bathroom floor moment,” energy matters even more online, personal development is professional development, and that you’ll go farther with others, are worth hanging onto.  

Amy M. Gardner is a certified professional coach with Apochromatik specializing in career development and career transition coaching.  Amy is a former Big Law associate, partner at a mid-size law firm, and dean of students at a top 5 law school. Today she works with lawyers and other high-achieving professionals to build the career and life they want. Contact Amy directly at amy@apochromatik.com.