Next Level! 5 Takeways from the NASPP Conference Opening Keynote

It’s not often that poetry and stock compensation come together, but when they do, it’s at the NASPP Conference. #NASPPVirtual is off to a fantastic start, with a keynote that was energetic, touching, and…you guessed it…poetic.

I hope you tuned in for Sekou Andrews’ keynote but if you didn’t, you can still catch it on demand.

Here are a few of my takeaways:

1. Resiliency is not just about going up to the next level, sometimes resilience is about going back up to the next level.
2. The next level is not actually about preparing for what you know is next but about preparing for not knowing what’s next.
3. The next level isn’t something you climb up to but something you lift someone else up to. It’s not something that you jump up to, but something that you join. Not a tier but a team. Connection is a key ingredient in resilience.
4. When you learn to embed business data into personal stories, you make the data not only unrecognizable but also unmissable. It fosters empathy with the data and creates understanding.
5. You are not just in the information business. You have to remember that you are also in the inspiration business. You have the power to inspire loyalty, productivity, passion and hope.

And finally, say it with me…

NEXT LEEVVVV-EELLLLL!

That’s just a small part of what Sekou covered during his keynote. I don’t want to spoil the rest of it for you, so I’ll just say that you’re gonna want a tissue.

It’s Orange Cat Appreciation Day!

That’s as good a reason as any to watch my welcome video for the NASPP Conference, starring me and my cat Kaylee. I don't want to brag, but I think I might have a second career in sketch comedy 😉



I hope you enjoy the Conference.