Embody Intentionality When Attending Online Summits: Ditch the Stress & Overwhelm
- jessicajbrist3
- Apr 24
- 7 min read
Right now I'm "promoting" the Purl Power Summit, a summit for new to intermediate level knitting pattern designers, but this isn't your typical summit promotion.
The thing is, you're busy. And I'm busy, so I totally get it.
Summits can be extremely overwhelming, super draining, and very difficult to actually work through the content on time.
And I'm here to make your life less overwhelming. Not more overwhelming.
So let's talk real talk Summit Attendee Strategy and how to decide if attending the Purl Power Summit (or any summit - feel free to save this and refer to it any time you're trying to strategize your way through the next summit!) is right for you.
What Are Online Summits and How Do They Work?
Most summits we see in the online world today look like this:
A large 3-4 day online event highlighting several business owners - each providing a presentation/lesson/class on a specific topic [in the Purl Power Summit, there are 21 guests (I'm one of them) – when you scroll down on the sign up page, you'll see all of the speakers listed]
While the summit is usually 3-4 days long, each presentation is only available for 24 hours, maybe 48 hours. So the presentations are released over 3 days, and after they're released, they're only available for 1-2 days.
At the end of each presentation, the presenter offers a “freebie” to help you take action and to get you on their email list.
Some presenters will have a “tripwire” (I hate that term, don't you?!) after you sign up for their “freebie” to help you with the next step using one of their paid offers. This is often a discount on a low-ticket offer to “get you in the door.”
Then the presenters will have an email nurture sequence that you go through after signing up, so you can get to know them, their business, and their offers – and ultimately, you decide if you stay on their email list or not.
Typically, the incentive for a business owner to participate in a summit is to grow their email list, build authority, and make sales from affiliate sales (and any follow-up pitches).
The incentive for folks to attend a summit is to learn - for free - from experts in the industry on a topic that is of particular interest to them.
The Results of Attending an Online Summit
There can be a lot of very valuable information packed into a summit. But if you're already pretty seasoned in the industry and know your stuff, usually a summit will feel like a lot of fluff.
That's because summits are often targeted at folks earlier on in their journey (as a designer, business owner, knitter, etc). [Just like the Purl Power Summit was designed for the brand-new designer (and then shifted to include designers up through “intermediate level” business and design) so it's not going super deep into any of the topics.]
But the main things I see with folks attending summits is:
stress (from keeping up with all of the content, live events, presentation dates, and the urgency attached to the event)
overwhelm (from the huge volume of content - and then from alllll of the emails delivering freebies, bonus content, and nurture sequences)
And that's what we're trying to get away from: stress and overwhelm. Right? So how do we decide if attending a summit is the right choice, and if we do choose to attend, how do we interact with the summit intentionally so it doesn't lead to stress and overwhelm?
How to Decide if You Should Attend a Summit
Your decision to attend (or not) a summit ultimately comes down to this question: “Will I actually get value out of this, or am I getting caught up in a lack mindset or FOMO?”
Take a look at all of the guest speakers and what they will be talking about. [AKA - go to the sales page and scroll down to the event schedule.]
Decide if any of the content is worth your precious time.
Don't get caught up in FOMO (fear of missing out). It's really easy to convince ourselves that something will finally cure our business woes or unlock the magic key to success. Sometimes that happens, but a lot of times you already know the content. So be real with yourself. Ask yourself what you already know about the topic and if you really need more information or if you just need implementation.
If you decide that there is content you do want to watch and it'll truly be valuable for you, then yes, you should attend!
How to Get the Most Out of a Summit
Alright, so you've decided to attend a summit, but you don't want to deal with the stress and overwhelm that so often accompanies attending an online summit? Ultimately, it's about intentionality (not getting caught up in the commotion or FOMO of it all) and clarity (about what you want to get out of the event).
Go back through the event schedule again. Decide which topics you really want to listen to. Make a note (write it on a sticky note, add it to your calendar, whatever you need to do) of which topics you want to watch and when they will be available. Remember that presentations are only available for 24-48 hours.
Look at the other offers inside the summit. What would truly benefit you? What do you realistically have time for? Do you want to join the Facebook community for the reminders, games, and connection; or will that just create more overwhelm and chaos for you? Will you feel more at ease if you purchase the VIP upgrade (more on that below)?
Think about your inbox when you sign up for freebies. It can be tempting to feel like you need to grab all of the freebies you can, but be real with yourself. Whose email lists do you really want to be on? Which freebies will you actually work through and find value from?
What About Summit VIP Passes? How Does It Work?
Every summit has some sort of upgrade option (it'll be the “tripwire” that you see right after you sign up, and then it will be promoted throughout the event). It might be called “VIP Access," “VIP Pass,” or something more specific to the event and the audience, like “Yarn Boss Toolkit” (that's the name for the VIP pass inside the Purl Power Summit).
With the VIP Pass, you will typically get:
Extended access to the content: Overwhelmed by the 24 hour turnaround time but you really want to watch the content? The VIP Pass solves that problem, either granting you lifetime access or giving you a few months to work through the content.
Presentation notes, slides, or outlines: With each presentation, you will have access to a PDF with the general information from the presentation, along with additional links mentioned in the presentation.
Exclusive live events: These events are usually calls with the host of the event, and they might include additional content, watch parties, networking, and/or co-working events.
Access to a ton of bonus materials: The bonus packages are usually packed with value… things like templates, courses, and bundles. However, they are also typically delivered via an email opt in (followed by an email nurture sequence) because they are provided for free by the guests. AKA: gaining access to these bonuses can further add to inbox overwhelm, so use the same intentionality in signing up for the bonus content as you did signing up for the freebies.
Free or discounted access to the host's high-ticket offer: Typically, the host of the summit is hosting the event with the intention of building and nurturing an audience to purchase a coaching offer, course, or membership from them. So, at the end of the event, they will give VIP attendees a month of free access in their membership or a big discount on their coaching or course.
For the Purl Power Summit specifically, VIP attendees (aka folks who purchase the Yarn Boss Toolkit) receive:
Over $500 worth in bonus materials - including trackers, classes, guides, and ebooks
Lifetime access to all presentations starting on April 29
Access to a private podcast feed with all of the presentations
Presentation notes for all presentations
30 days free access to Ashleigh's (that's the host) new membership, Purl & Publish, for designers
Access to networking and coworking sessions
When taking a look at a Summit VIP Pass, use the same intentionality as when you were choosing whether or not you'd attend the event and which presentations you'd watch.
And that's your guide to navigating summits! As a quick summary we talked about:
what summits are, what they include, and how they're set up
why summits often lead to stress and overwhelm (both in the event and in your inbox)
how to decide if you should sign up for a summit like the Purl Power Summit
what the VIP pass is, what it includes, and how it can also contribute to overwhelm
intentionality as the key to reducing overwhelm in the event and in your inbox
Your Invitation to a Summit for Knitting Pattern Designers
So with all of this in mind, I invite you to take a look at the Purl Power Summit sign up page through the lens of intentionality.
If this event is something you believe you will receive value from, I look forward to seeing you inside the event! My presentation on Generating Unique Design Ideas - Even in a Creative Slump will be available on Day 1 (Tuesday, April 29).
If you decide the Yarn Boss Toolkit is a good fit for you, you will receive access to a themed version of 52 Weeks of Creativity for free.
The Yarn Boss Toolkit, with over $500 in bonuses, lifetime access to the presentations, and more, is available for a discounted price until the event starts. You'll get the lowest price offer right after you sign up.
Wishing you beauty + alignment in each step of your journey,
Jessica
Full Circle Entrepreneurship
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