5 Tips For WDS Newbies

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Last year, I went to the World Domination Summit (a.k.a. WDS) on a whim. A few of my friends were going. I heard really cool things about previous years. What can I say? FOMO is real. That said, I didn’t have many expectations. I didn’t know what I was getting into. I just knew it wasn’t your typical boring, stuffy conference (it’s more of an unconference IMO). I came away from the experience more inspired than any conference I’ve ever been to or for that matter any trip I’ve ever taken and with an arsenal of really cool, new friends. So needless to say, I’m super pumped to be heading back to Portland this year as a second timer. While I don’t claim to know all the things (or for that matter even many things), here’s five tips that I picked up last year that helped me get more value out of WDS.

1. Be spontaneous

It’s great to have a plan. However if you over schedule yourself and try to go to every single meet-up, talk and cram in everything in Lonely Planet’s guide to Portland, you are inevitably going to be exhausted, stressed and end up missing out on a lot. Some of my favorite experiences from last year were the serendipitous experiences. Randomly meeting someone in line or on the streets by the concert hall. Don’t be afraid to throw your plans out the window to go grab lunch or a beer with a new friend or a Twitter buddy that you finally get to meet IRL. It’s all a part of what makes this experience unique and great.

2. Reach out to other people who are attending

If you know me, you know I create Twitter lists for any conference I go to. WDS is no different. If Twitter isn’t your thing, use a Facebook list, email, Whatsapp, Groupme, etc. This is where you can compile a list of people that you know will be in town. In the case of Twitter, it also makes it incredibly easy to open up just one stream on Twitter to connect and make plans with people while on the ground.

3. 90%+ of attendees are introverts  

This isn’t backed by any stats, just my observation from last year. As someone who is naturally an introvert, I found this refreshing compared to most other conferences I’ve been to. I actually think it contributes to the overall, awesome environment. WDS attendees tend to be some of the most friendly, welcoming, and creative people from all walks of life. If you find yourself alone for even a couple of minutes, get up and strike a genuine conversation with someone. I can guarantee you will end up striking up an awesome coversation at least 8 times of 10. This is coming from a person who is notorious for being terrible at small talk.

4. Carry backup batteries and chargers for your iDevices.  

You will use your smartphone more than you ever thought possible. And your battery will likely die faster too. Having a charger or a backup battery will ensure that you stay connected throughout the experience. Oh and if you want to be really nice, bring a power supply or small extension cord too. Power outlets are a huge commodity. This is a guaranteed way to make fast friends with other wired attendees. Power buddies!

5. Embrace the chaos and the late nights!

You are guaranteed to have long days, late nights of partying and probably too little sleep. You may even lose your voice. Just embrace it.

Will you be at WDS? Hit me up. 🙂

About the author

Jessica Malnik

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