Awesomeness Redefined

The whole Tribe on the beach of a private island ready for the closing event on the last day.

Are you interested in personal growth? Do you like being around smart and inspiring people? The kind that make you articulate thoughts and ideas even you didn’t know you had? Those who don’t see you for what you are but for what you could be? If your answer is ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you should consider attending Awesomeness Fest.

I had the good fortune to be part of this one-of-a-kind, four-day event in June at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in Southern Thailand. Awesomeness Fest it is an invite-only gathering organized by culture-hacking company Mindvalley that claims to be “the ultimate transformational experience for entrepreneurs”.

You’re wondering what’s behind this elusive slogan?

What sounds like an elite assembly of larger-than-life personalities is in reality an event that brings together aspiring, motivated and like-minded people in a community setting so they can bond, be inspired and learn new ways of thinking. In short: it facilitates growth.

And did the attendees grow. The motley crew of 260 people hailing from 40 different nations consisted of entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, artists, coaches and many other backgrounds. We all agreed that the event lived up to its promising name.

Spontaneous dancing to Calvin Harris’ ‘Summer’ (our anthem) in between speeches. Totally normal!

Many even said it surpassed their expectations, which certainly had something to do with the impressive list of speakers: Lisa Nichols from The Secret, motivational speaker Sam Cawthorne, life coach Kute Blackson, serial entrepreneur Khailee Ng and founder of Mindvalley Vishen Lakhiani, among others.

What the goal of the speeches was you ask?

The workshops, exercises and TED-style talks were peppered with practical, applicable lessons designed to spur spiritual, physical, emotional and financial growth.

But what did we actually learn?

Well, among other things, we were challenged to disrupt our preconceived notions through consciousness engineering, learned that every crisis is an opportunity and asked each other questions like: ‘What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?’

It was these kinds of interactions that allowed people to connect with one another at a level many long lasting friendships never reach. Getting to know and bouncing ideas off strangers was one of the best things about Awesomeness Fest. After all, a stranger is simply a friend you haven’t met yet. In fact, many former “strangers” started working together after they had discovered commonalities at Awesomeness Fest. And there were many commonalities.

One of those common threads was the urge to make a difference in the world. Let me tell you, there are few things more enthralling than talking with somebody about her dream – doing it at a cabaret theme party being one of them.

There’s something exhilarating and liberating about living it up at a paradise location with outgoing and energetic folks you just met. During our tribal dance, everybody’s authentic awesomeness shone through, and I realized the purest joys are available to all of us, regardless of our status, income or experience.

Bonding made easy at the cabaret party.

Look. Hanging out with successful people is great. But partying together and wearing ridiculously awesome costumes while letting go of all your inhibitions or riding on a speed boat to a private island, dining together on the beach, lighting up the night with sky lanterns and dancing till the early morning hours to the tunes of DJ Ray Soo?

That’s priceless.

You may think ‘wow, this sounds awesome – but it’s probably unattainable’.

Full disclosure: As a recent college graduate without a proven track record, I had my share of doubts prior to the event. I thought: ‘These people have awesomeness written all over them – how do I fit in?’

Not only was this fear unfounded, but during Awesomeness Fest I realized that you don’t need to be an up-and-coming entrepreneur or an accomplished author to be able to contribute to the event. Or do extraordinary things in your life. Nobody is born with a master plan. Yet, everybody has a revolution beating in her or his chest. Awesomeness Fest will help you find and cultivate that inner voice that your head will tell you to ignore but your heart will tell you to pursue.

After all, the biggest difference between a person who lives his or her dreams and who aspires is to convert motivation into action.

So what are you waiting for? Go to Awesomenessfest.com, apply and take your life to the next level!