Top 3 Takeaways from the DisneySMMC: Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2015

And we’re OFF! To infinity…and beyond! I’m back to recap the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2015 Day 2, which was conference day! Actually I was shocked at how fast the day whizzed by. Varied speakers, interesting topics, amazing storytelling–I was enthralled. You know you are doing what you love when all day indoors and mostly sitting flies by for you, especially when that conference is at Disney!

I went in, computer and iPhone in hand, DisneyBounding as Mr. Smee and Mickey sparkle ears in place. I came out with more knowledge and enthusiasm for my blog and this community and inspired by what I had seen and heard.

My Top 3 Takeaways from DisneySMMC (Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2015):

1. “No one in this room is competition.”

Such a simple and powerful statement. Chris Brogan, thank you! Even better that his statement got applause from the audience. We get it. My little blog can exist side by side with the big mom bloggers. It was such a validation that all of us are needed and that even a small fish in a big pond is vital. In other words, “just keep swimming” even if you are a Nemo.

2. Share

This sharing theme ran through several of the speakers’ presentations. By sharing about yourself, you can make a huge impact. You just have to make that leap. And share what others are doing to help enrich the blogging community and contribute to fellow bloggers’ success. This is a definite tug of war that goes on within me when I am deciding what to write and how much to share. But my eyes were opened to the concept than we all have a story and a message and we MUST share it.

Donald Driver-yes, THE Donald Driver of Green Bay Packers, asked us to answer this simple question: “Why do you blog?” What are you about and how do you share that message with readers/viewers? I never imagined a former NFL superstar would lead me to ask these questions! But painful as his life lessons may have been, Driver was willing to share about his life so that others could benefit and also relate. He poured out his heart recounting the loss of his father to cancer and teared up onstage-now that’s a REAL man for you. I get why Disney Social Media Moms keeps asking him to be a speaker (and he’s going for a three-peat next year!) He reminded me that if you write what you love, your passion will ooze off your page. I find myself now looking for new ways to be fresh, current with content and try new things with my blog. Driver said this:

3. Take a Stand

At 8 years old, Vivienne Harr saw this photo in a San Francisco art gallery:

The photo shows 2 brothers who were slaves in Nepal having to work in a rock quarry. Inspired into action, Vivienne ran a lemonade stand for 365 days and raised $ 101,320. As she puts it, “Compassion is not compassion without action.” Her goal is to end childhood slavery. She is the first kid in America to bottle her lemonade stand lemonade, aptly titled “Make a Stand Lemon-aid.” Also, Stillmotion Studios created a documentary about the STAND story that released last year. #standwithme. And she is 11 years old, y’all. Seriously. She spoke with poise and conviction and gave us this jawdropping nugget to think about:

While Vivienne spoke, I kept thinking: 1) wow-she’s only 11 years old! and 2) I would love for my kids to hear this. So I will introduce them to Vivienne’s story and hope it astounds them as much as it did me. I fortunately saw Vivienne after her talk and was happy to share a photo together!

 

My last session of the day featured Thomas Smith from the Disney Parks Blog, which always boasts excellent content. So to get to see behind the curtain a bit at how they do things was invaluable! After breakout sessions ended the day, the evening capped off with Mickey’s Beach Bash on the sandy shores of Crescent Lake at the Beach Club. Picture this: buffet lines, live music, photo ops with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto, and lots of smiles.  Better yet, look at these and you’ll see why the Beach Bash was the Bomb!

 

Disclaimer: Disney invited me to Orlando to attend this wonderful event. My expenses have been discounted and I have received some goodies, but all opinions are always 100% my own. Scout’s honor!