|
Hi ala,
As a gardener, I'm a bit of a bust. Others in the family have green thumbs. But I am a protector par excellence, and I am currently defending my hosta from the rabbits who are devouring every single plant in the yard.
We've sprayed with various repellents, both store- bought potions and "make it yourself" options. I chase rabbits out of the yard multiple times a day. And I've been using my seemingly endless supply of branded trade show water bottles to throw at them. They head for the hills.
Meanwhile, we've also started the annual campaign to support Innovation Women as speakers at SXSW. SXSW PanelPicker voting is now open! Check out this post I created with a first batch of our members and their brilliant, intriguing and innovative ideas.
TODAY'S SPEAKER LESSONS
-
Don't fight alone. Rabbits are persistent. So is the competition for SXSW speaker slots. Communities outperform individuals.
-
Use every tool you've got. Store-bought repellents. Homemade concoctions. Water bottles. Office hours. Past webinars. Peer feedback. Community voting. None is enough by itself, but together they improve your odds.
-
Persistence beats perfection. Chasing rabbits in your pajamas doesn't solve the problem. Campaigning for votes for a speaking engagement isn't a one-day affair either.
-
Resourcefulness matters more than fancy equipment. A branded trade show water bottle wasn't designed for the rabbit wars, but it works surprisingly well. Likewise, Speaker Friends, SXSW office hours, and community discussions aren't "secret hacks". They are the right-there-under-your-nose tools many wannabe SXSW speakers overlook.
-
Success is a team sport. Our garden is a team sport – some people plant and weed. Some people throw water bottles at rabbits. At Innovation Women, members don't just submit proposals—they review each other's ideas, discuss their options, share insider information, remind each other about deadlines, and vote for one another.
Sometimes the tool that makes the biggest difference isn't the one you bought for the job. It's the one you already have, whether it is the Speaker Friends who have your back or a cupboard of water bottles conveniently near the back door.
Bobbie and the entire Innovation Women team
P.S. Help out your Speaker Friends! Here's a list of very cool speaking topics which could use your vote. Are you in the running? Add your SXSW PanelPicker link in the comments!
| 
