Note: This year marks our fifth Big Omaha and in a effort to gather attendee stories, we’re sharing with you a few highlights from those of you who have helped grow, inspire and challenge our community.
About the author: Shane Mac is the director of product at Zaarly. He’s the founder of Hello There and previously spearheaded marketing for Seattle-based Gist, which sold to BlackBerry. Shane is also an Amazon best-selling author, professional musician voted best wedding band in 2009 and has been featured on the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the USA Today.
Shane (bottom left) may have missed the jump in this photo but he hits the mark with his Big Omaha story.
Thanks to our sponsor
Sometimes, when you look back, a single moment in time can have so much more impact on the path we are on than we think. Big Omaha is one of those.
Four years ago, I responded to a tweet from a girl who lived in Omaha. A week later, on Skype, she said I should check out her brothers conference in Omaha. That I should go. I signed up for the waiting list.
She introduced me to her brother, we chatted on Skype. He convinced me that I should give it a chance.
The day tickets went on sale, I was in.
My first Big Omaha was magical. From the host making sure everyone give standing ovations to the moving talks about changing the world from Scott Harrison to the one and only Gary Vee to the business minds of Jason Fried, Scott Belsky and Tony Hsieh.
I remember meeting Jeff Slobotski for the first time. I remember how inspired I was when I left and the notebook of ideas I brought back to Gist. The rest is how powerful this community is.
Here’s what happened over the next three years:
- I told Jen Pitts and T.A. McCann (co-workers at Gist) that they had to go
- We decided to sponsor Big Omaha 2010
- Espree Devora introduced me to Liam. I am now on the advisor board of staff.com
- Tony Hsieh told me that I should run slower to get better
- Met Holly McNamara who invited me to play Tony Hsieh’s 4th of July party
- Spent the whole night playing werewolf with Foursquare‘s Dennis Crowley and many others
- I met Ryan Paugh for the first time in person
- Matt Hunckler is a man I respect and met at this event
- Ben Huh hung out and chilled in the bloggers lounge with us
- Sat with Micah Baldwin and Gary Vaynerchuk and talked about fear of dying at the hotel
- I got a live dairy cow to show up to the event
- Met Marc Eckō who then invested in Zaarly
- Randomly met Brad Mccarty who wrote a great piece about Zaarly
- The guys behind The Combine have become great friends
- Then interviewed Gary Vee and Jason Fried for Ask
- Mr. Dusty Davidson is a man I truly love talking to
- Jeff Slobotski has become a great friend
- I told many other friends to attend
- Liz met Seth who then she co-founded DJZ
- Partied too hard with Dan Martell a few nights
- I ended up flying home next to Shervin Pishevar the entire way
- Stayed up all night playing werewolf
- Ben Milne from Dwolla and I sang “Stand By Me” in the bar
- I saw Antonio Neves host the last Big Omaha and now we’ve teamed up to do the Ask Summit.
- … and just met so many amazing friends I met and still talk to every day
Honestly, there’s probably so many more. There’s something magic here, it can’t be replicated.
It’s not about meeting people. It’s about the moments and relationships that you create with those people. That’s the difference between knowing someone and building relationships with someone. Real relationships make things happen. It takes time and it takes the right environment to make it start. A place where people are just themselves, accessible and share their vulnerabilities.
Share your Big Omaha story
Join us at Big Omaha 2013
For four years, we’ve been humbled by a ticket sell-out and packed house at KANEKO and we’re anticipating it, once again. You can still join us today.
Credits: Shane Mac photo courtesy of Mac. Big Omaha photo by Malone and Co. / Big Omaha.