Big Skies, Bold talks, and a Few Takeaways Worth Sharing

Can you remember a moment that changed the way you looked at your life?

Maybe it was a book you read, a conversation you had, or even an unfortunate tragedy. Whatever it was, chances are it challenged your perspective and nudged you toward growth, maybe into a new job, a different relationship, or even a move across the country. 

This week’s newsletter isn’t strictly about real estate, but I know many of you, whether you’re corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, or simply people striving for more fulfillment, are an ambitious bunch, and I wanted to share an experience from this past week that left me feeling inspired.

I had the fortune of attending TEDx Billings in Montana, where my husband was selected to speak on the theme “Uncovering Hidden Potential.” There were 13 speakers, each sharing stories of perseverance, creativity, and transformation. For a Jersey girl like me, just being in Montana, where the wide-open landscapes feel like something out of one of my grandma's favorite Western movies, was already a shift in perspective.

Books have always been my biggest catalyst for change (though, truthfully, reading hasn’t always come easily for me – Your girl got out on the word “Certain” in my 5th grade Spelling Bee, and honestly, it still takes me a minute..). But every now and then, an event like this shakes things up even more. Here are three takeaways that stuck with me:

1.     The story you tell yourself matters. One speaker, Cam F. Awesome (yes, that’s really his name, and yes, the F is what you think it’s for), reminded us that failure isn’t the problem—discouragement is. If you can fail without being discouraged, success is inevitable. I loved the challenge to rewrite the way we talk to ourselves, to be the champion in our own story.

2.     Bond over differences. We often look for common ground to connect, but one speaker encouraged us to lean into our differences instead, our backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures, and use those as bridges rather than barriers.

3.     What you gain by losing yourself. My husband, Jay Abbasi, spoke about letting go of attachments, the constant “I want” and “I need,” to instead focus on the present moment. By shifting from me to us, we open space for deeper connection and service to others.

You don’t have to fly to Montana to have this kind of experience. Opportunities to expand your perspective are everywhere, whether through a local event, a new book, or even a meaningful conversation. I left Montana with a refreshed outlook, and I hope you’ll seek out something that sparks the same for you.

So tell me, have you ever attended an event, read a book, or had a conversation that changed the way you see the world? I’d love to hear about it.