1:10 - This time last year we shifted the dates for MMT to 2021
3:05 - How we showed up in the pandemic
5:00 - MMT Re-imagined
6:50 - MMT then vs now
9:35 - Factors that shaped our decision
18:20 - What’s next / our commitment to you
24:20 - Closing thoughts
As an empath + not being aware of my emotional capacity for holding space + Zoom fatigue + trying to work through my own professional challenges... I definitely brushed up against my own burn out.
It was not uncommon for me to find myself resting my chin on my desk at the office by 8:30am, as I had zero energy or stamina.
June took the last of my reserves as we executed a series of MMT at Home sessions (25 sessions, spread out across the month). Sessions ranged from ‘How to Build a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy,’ to ‘Learning Your People Into the Future of Work,’ to ‘How to Control your Breath Like a Navy Seal.’ And although the feedback was positive as we met online, there really is nothing like the energy felt when a beautiful collection of people are all together in the same room. It was clear the route many in our industry were taking--simply transitioning their events online--would serve as a temporary solution, but not a
substitution for the magic that is MMT.
After the 50+ hours of sessions back in June, plus the compounding wear of the pandemic, I was left with no choice but to take a break in order to recharge, regroup and gain perspective.
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Today, MMT is a thriving community supported by...
... with much more in the works over the next 12-18 months.
Unfortunately, after an agonizing decision, we’ve been forced to delay yet again, to July 10th to 14th 2022*
There is so much I want to share about this. I can’t stress enough the level of deep thinking and soul searching that goes into a decision like this. For the sake of your time and attention, I will try to keep it as high level as possible:
(know there are dozens more and keep in mind that at the time of writing this, MMT Palmetto Bluff is 89 days away).
We have Canadians, Australians, and we can’t forget our friends like Noom in Thailand or Philip in Ireland, and others. There are currently major travel restrictions in place. Canada, for example, continues to move their border closure dates every month like clockwork, and have continued to do so for the last 11 months.
With a young and healthy team here at MMT, we would be last on the list to receive the opportunity to get vaccinated (which looks like September or October if all goes well).
From a business perspective, regardless if we hosted a full live experience for 150 people or a more intimate experience for 75 people, the fixed costs for us as an organization are ultimately the same. Meaning if we were to do an event with the current restrictions, we would operate at a significant loss.
It’s said that transmission is more severe and folks are getting sicker (and are now representing a much younger population). So, it’s hard to say what the landscape will look like over the coming months.
I tend to prefer to live a life of optimism… If in the next 89 days everyone gets vaccinated, borders fully re-open, and gathering limitations in South Carolina get lifted… Make no mistake about it, we would 100% do the event. If the pandemic has solidified anything is that I am more bullish on in person experiences than ever.
However, in the words of Phil Caravaggio, “Never get knocked out of the game.” The reality is, if things didn’t roll out as perfectly planned it would be the nail in the coffin for us both personally and professionally, and ultimately we would be another business casualty of the pandemic.
The truth is that the event is simply a few months too early, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking if I’m being honest. For the last few months I’ve been glued to every chart and trend… Trying to assess the likelihood that we’ll be able to do the gathering. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride emotionally, watching infection rates versus vaccination rates. Now that the fate of the event in June is rather clear, every time I see an MMTer post about their vaccination, it makes me sick to my stomach wondering if I made the right decision.
Despite that, for all the reasons listed above, I believe this not only the right decision, but also the only one.
Since our last email, we’ve had lots of individual conversations with MMTers and some have pointed to one community that held an event recently in Costa Rica, and another that is slated to hold an event in Mexico later this month, as well as others. Hell, I even referenced an event that took place in October of last year in my last email.
Trust me when I say, we’ve allocated a ton of resources exploring rapid testing onsite, and seeing ways we could treat Palmetto Bluff like a “bubble,” similar to what the NBA did. This has been an idea we’ve been leaning into for the last 6 months… this article really put an end to those efforts.
Last year, we gave everyone the opportunity to transfer their spot to the following year and continue to take advantage of the community (a $3000 value). In doing this, hypothetically we left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table, however we felt it was the right decision at the time as a sign of appreciation to everyone who decided to stand by our side. To our surprise, every single member decided to transfer their spot last year.
Given that we find ourselves in an identical situation, we’re going to extend the same offer yet again. Your spot will be transferred to the next MMT Gathering* and you will receive an extra full year membership (a $3000 value) to carry you over, on us.
I’d be lying if I said these last few months haven’t brought on some dark moments. However, since the beginning of Covid I’ve always said with conviction that whatever will emerge for us from a business model perspective over the next two to three years will have far more of an impact, and be far more scalable, than what we offered before.
Looking back on the past year, I do feel a strong sense of pride. We’ve had many opportunities to cut corners and tarnish relationships, all in the name of self-preservation. Instead of deviating from our mission and finding scrappy ways to make a quick buck, we’ve focused on building even deeper trust, and building an even more purposeful brand, rooted in relationships.
We’ve done a lot of hard work, with more soul searching in the last five months than in the last five years. As a result, we’re armed, more than ever before, with a deeper understanding as to who we serve, how we can best serve, and we’ve built a rockstar team to support this new vision. We’re just about to emerge from the darkness. This is simply another small setback.
As entrepreneurs when the ground shifts below our feet it’s an opportunity to take a deep breath, anchor our heels in gratitude, and remain true to our purpose. As for me and the team here at MMT, ours is to create a container of support, inspiration and deep belonging for a handful of entrepreneurs we care deeply for (you ❤️).
Let's continue this dance 2021.
If you're interested at this level... I'm at a loss (seriously).
