Tropical Think Tank 2015 [Full Event Review]
DON’T DELAY: ATTEND NEXT YEARS EVENT – SECURE YOUR SLOT TODAY!
WOW. Where do I even start!!!?
A few of weeks ago myself and my team held the second annual Tropical Think Tank event here in the Philippines and it was a rip-roaring success!
I wanted to get around to publishing this update a little sooner, but a trip to Hong Kong straight after the event with John and Kate from Entrepreneur on Fire, client visits, funnel build-outs and spending time with my youngest before he goes back to school full-time, have taken up most of my attention!
However, here I am, finally getting around to writing it – but, first, here’s the video highlight reel from this years event – please watch for a really good idea on the type of vibe the event is all about!
The First Time it Was Personal!
When me and my team held TTT14 last year, it was ‘for fun’. The speakers were made up of some of my closest friends, and the attendees were a collection of my biggest online buddies, private coaching clients and the audience that had become the ‘Chris Ducker Community’. We knew we could put on a good event and with 25 attendees and 8 amazing speakers it was a big success, selling out in 27-hours and changing the way that smaller business events are put together and executed. It was a slam dunk all the way!
This Time it Was Business!
This year however, we wanted to do things even better. But, I also needed to take a clear stance on the fact that if we were to do it again, we’d have to not just do it for the reason of getting people together in a cool place to hang out and talk business for a week. We’d have to go bigger, better and bolder – with every aspect. So, the price was increased, and the number of attendees was doubled to 50. And we sold out.Again. Granted, it took a little longer to sell all the tickets this time around, but we were confident that we were going to hold the most important event in the attendees lives, and as a result we were confident that we’d fill the slots. This isn’t 10 people hanging out in a beach house for a few days. This is a full blown business conference / mastermind experience. World class speakers. Amazing mastermind sessions, with plenty of goals set and a boat load of action taken. Couple all that together with evening dinners and other activities such as a sunset cruise and our now infamous White ‘Closing’ Party and you’ve got a life-changing experience. As a result, we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from all the attendees – with just over 50% of them placing a deposit down for next year (tickets go on sale soon).
Highlights from TTT15
There were so many remarkable moments from this years Tropical Think Tank – way, way too many for me to document here. Those that were there… know. But, there were a few attendee-focused moments that I wanted to mention, because they really embody what the event is all about. First up there’s TTT14 alumni attendee, Brian Creager. This year, while at the event he did what he’d been planning for quite some time. After working hard on his side hustle since last years event, he finally sent in his resignation letter and quit the corporate job he’d been enduring for years – complete with a photo of himself on the beach – now that’s taking control of your life! Charles and Esther Anderson celebrated their wedding anniversary whilst at TTT15. Esther asked to have the stage for a few minutes to tell the story of how Charles and her met, and to tell him just how special he is to her and what being with and working with him means in her life. There were many couples at the event together, and these two were a big hit with everyone! Then there’s Tanya Van Rickley-Herrera, a single mother from the US. She recently launched a new business and brand and has been making great strides on building her client base and overall business strategy. Seeing her taking all the action she has been since the event is all I need to see, to know she’s gonna be killing it very, very soon!
Returning TTT14 alumni, Katie Wardrobe hit the stage as part of our ‘Alumni Spotlight’ (you can watch her entire 9-min presentation above) series throughout the event and shared with everybody how she set a target of $10,000 for a product launch and subsequently smashed the target in just two days and finished off with a launch week total of over $34,000 – all as a result of the plans she put in place following attending the event last year.
And finally, another couple Ant and Kelly Exeter from Australia. These guys are so loving towards each other and everyone else. Even I was moved to slight tear when, in the middle of Lewis Howes’ closing keynote, Kelly took to the microphone and shared with the group that she wished they could work less, and for the chance to be able to have their evenings and weekends back as a couple (and not have to work to lights out!) and specifically for Ant to not have to suffer the amount of stress he does, as they run their business together.
Lifestyle is important to me, and hearing Kelly talk like that really resonated with me and my wife, Erz. When I burned out in 2010 – she was there to support me, and figure out a way to get things back on track – just as Kelly is for Ant. And I know that by TTT16 they’re going to be in a totally different position.
#TTT15 Reviews Online
It’s best to hear more about the event from the people that attended… so, the following is a collection of other reviews from TTT15 attendees and speakers. They are a mix of blog posts, video diaries and podcast episodes.
We Just Had Our Minds Blown at Tropical Think Tank, by the Merry Maker Sisters
Full Recap (Podcast & Blog Post), by Kate Erickson at Entrepreneur on Fire
Part 1 (of an expected 3-part series), TTT15 Takeaways Report by Amar Ica
From 80-Hour Weeks to Following Your Path (Podcast), by Cas McCullough
What I Learnt at Tropical Think Tank (Podcast), by Michaela Clark
5 Reasons Why Tropical Think Tank Alumni Can’t Fail, by Tanya Van Rickley
We’re So Much Closer Than We Think, (Learnings from TTT15) by Kelly Exeter
Sun, Sea and Tropical Think Tank, by Karen Hardie
The Power of a Mastermind, by Lane Kennedy
My Five Biggest Takeaways from Tropcal Think Tank, by Zach Swinehart
Amy Schmittauer’s Video Recap of Tropical Think Tank 2015
Gary Griffiths’ ‘Jerry Maguire Moment’ How TTT Changed My Life
Other Things That Happened at TTT15
Mothers Day happened to land on the first day of the event. As I opened the event up, I realized this and got my team to fly into action and find 25-odd red roses, package them up nicely, and then later in the day we distributed them to all the Mum’s in attendance. To see them so surprised and happy with worth the extra effort – and THAT’S what makes a great event, in my book – the extra bits and pieces you do to create memories.
The sunset cruise was a real highlight of the event for me. We hired three bunker boats, complete with music, bean bags, snorkel gear and coolers filed with drinks and snacks and headed out to one of the most beautiful marine sanctuaries in the neighbouring islands. A late afternoon full of laughter, fun, conversations, more brainstorming and lots of swimming with the fish ensued, and we came back to the resort, just as the sun was setting.
Following the cruise we all hit the sack for an hour or so, and then hit the beach bar for pre-party cocktails – before heading to our last party together – the Closing ‘White’ Party, where all attendees and speakers rocked their best all-white outfits and partied the night away. Myself and speaker Michael O’Neal also jumped up to the band and jammed a few numbers with ’em, myself on vocals and Michael rockin’ out on the drums – the evening ended with fireworks and lots of dancing!
10 Reasons Why Every Entrepreneur Should Attend Tropical Think Tank 2015
DON’T DELAY: ATTEND NEXT YEARS EVENT – SECURE YOUR SLOT TODAY!
The online business landscape changes at an insane pace and it is up to entrepreneurs to stay abreast with the latest news if they want to stay relevant. Events and conferences are the perfect way to blend work and meeting new people, but sometimes it can even be more than just that – here are a few more reasons to how Tropical Think Tank can be a cornerstone in your entrepreneurial journey.
To get a feel of just how much of a ‘different’ event Tropical Think Tank is, check out this quick video, showing behind the scenes and more:
1. Upgrade You & Your Business!
Being an entrepreneur means that you have to constantly keep your ear to the ground and update yourself on what is happening. Attending events gives you the chance to see what new business ideas and strategies are out there and how you can apply them to your own business.
2. Get Up Close & Personal with Industry Influencers
One of the best perks of getting to attend events and conferences is the chance to meet industry influencers. Listening to podcasts and blogs are always helpful but nothing really beats the real thing when (if you are lucky!) you get to chat with a leader or an influencer in your industry. Tropical Think Tank offers an intimate beach setting where you get to spend a week meeting with these leaders, along with the chance to actually interview the speakers on what is on your mind.
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By Demand: Private USA Mastermind Sessions Coming this July! (Limited Seats)
At the beginning of May, I ran the 1st and 2nd Chris Ducker Dot Com Mastermind Sessions in London, comprising of 20 people in total, which sold out in less than 48-hours.
For many of those that attended, it was their first mastermind ever.
Being in an exclusive setting with other likeminded entrepreneurs to discuss business for an entire day was memorable enough, but once you add-on the time spent enjoying drinks together afterwards, the experience turned into something completely different.
Friendships were formed. Alliances were created. Joint ventures entered into and even businesses have been started-up. Here are some of the actions that London attendees have taken in the last few weeks, post Mastermind:
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