Why do we endure the hassle of conferences and retreats with time away from family, expensive travel, noisy venues, and exhausting days? The allure of online professional development is strong. Yet, something magical happens at the best events that leave us feeling rejuvenated and inspired. Why?

In this episode, we’ll learn what makes some conferences and retreats so powerfully invigorating. After attending a playful and creative DnD convention, I began to see a pattern. The best events reignite our creativity. We explore three unique professional gatherings I experienced this year, dive into the four stages of creativity, and learn how to harness this power to make our future conferences and everyday lives more creative and fulfilling.

Join us to discover the top 4 ways to transform your next conference into a creativity-fueled adventure!

Resources:

• Links to the four conferences I mention in the episode:
  • Join me in Mendocino for the annual women’s leadership retreat! https://www.irenesalter.com/leadership-retreat
  • Charter School Development Center’s annual Leadership Update and other trainings https://www.chartercenter.org/support/leadership-trainings
  • DunDraCon an annual Dungeons & Dragons convention takes place Presidents Day weekend every year https://www.dundracon.com/
  • Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference https://www.bookpassage.com/travel
• This BYU article offers a great introduction to Graham Wallas’ four stages of creativity https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/graham-wallas-the-creative-process
• This is a surprisingly readable research report on the neuroscience of creativity in the premier scientific journal, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep10964.pdf
• Anna Abraham’s book, The Neuroscience of Creativity, is a great deep dive http://www.anna-abraham.com/book-the-neuroscience-of-creativity-2018.html
• For more on the stuck cycle vs inquiry cycle https://www.irenesalter.com/post/are-you-stuck

For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast