I know a lot of you enjoy Catalyst content on this blog from time to time, maybe you've even seen the talks from Catalyst, but you've never made the trip. Our friend, Bryan Allain, has compiled a list of reasons why you haven't come yet:
"I really wish I could go to Catalyst this year, but..."
and then fill in your excuse. I'm onto you. And frankly, I've had enough of your excuses.
You see, 12 months ago I was like you. I had always wanted to go to Catalyst but every year I had a great excuse to stay home. Then last year I decided to make the trip, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of my year.
So, what's your excuse this year?
Wait, wait, you know what, don't tell me.
Because I've got a list, and I bet your excuse is on it.
Top 10 Excuses For Not Going to Catalyst
1. I don't have the money - Ooh, playing the money card right away with your Dave Ramsey Jedi Mind Tricks? Impressive. But the truth is, most of us could scrape the money together to make a trip like this happen if we really wanted to. Stash away $25 a month, sell a few things on Craigs List, take money out of the offering plate, or work some extra Saturdays. I know it's not feasible for everyone, but I think you'd surprise yourself if you made it a priority.
2. I won't know anyone there - Hi, I'm Bryan. Nice to meet you. I'll be walking around Catalyst this year looking for you. Seriously, I will be looking for YOU. Please don't let me down. And please get a new excuse.
3. Been there, done that - You think Catalyst doesn't know you've been to their conference before? They know everything about you. Right now Brad is watching you read this post through the Catalyst Surveillance Camera in your monitor. They know people will come back to Catalyst every year, so everything they do is geared towards giving them a fresh and exciting experience.
4. Tripp and Tyler offend me on a personal level - Wow, and I thought I was the only one. The good news is, most of the appearances these guys make at Catalyst East are via videos, so you can close your eyes and drown them out if you like. Or better yet, you can run into them and find out they're good dudes. Well, at least one of them is...and I'm not saying which.
5. But there's only 1 or 2 speakers that I want to hear - I'm totally with you on this one. Last year I was convinced I'd only like 2 or 3 speakers. I expected Chuck Swindoll to rock me to sleep with tales about yesteryear, but instead he brought it better than any other speaker, hands down. Your preconceived notions won't hold up, trust me.
6. I can't go that weekend I have a wedding/reunion/vacation - You might want to look into cloning. The prices are really coming down lately.
7. There's a million better ways to spend my money - Wow, back to the money thing again? Listen, I agree that there's a ton of causes out there deserving of your money, and hopefully you are supporting a few you believe in. But there's nothing wrong with investing time and money into developing yourself as a leader, and Catalyst is a great place to do that. God has placed you as an influence in the lives of people around you, so whether it's at Catalyst or in some other fashion, you need to continue to develop and grow for your sake AND theirs.
8. Conferences bore me - Then don't think of this as a Conference. Think of it as a Leadership Dance Party where you soak up great teaching, enjoy powerful music, make new friends, laugh at the funny stuff, cry at the moving stuff, and leave a different person than when you came. (Also, I checked with Brad and starting a dance party during the breaks is not only allowed, it's encouraged.)
9. I don't want to waste vacation days on a trip to Atlanta in October - Well, last year the weather was absolutely beautiful, and looking at the 170-day Extended Weather Forecast, it looks like this year will be more of the same. Don't forget to pack sunblock for those outdoor lunch breaks.
10. I hate surprises and fun - Okay, you know what? If you're serious about this, then you probably shouldn't come. Last year was a parade of the unexpected: surprise live interviews, surprise musical guests, surprise 50-year old men diving 35 feet into a kiddie pool, and so on. If you hate surprises, hate being entertained, and hate being challenged as a leader, then Catalyst is NOT the place for you.
So was your excuse on the list? If so, I just shattered it, didn't I? Your welcome. And look, if you've got a better excuse than the ones I listed here, post it in the comments and we'll see if we can't help you work through it.
But all joking aside, Brad and his team made my trip to Catalyst last year such an amazing experience that I'm coming back again this year and I'm bringing my wife Erica with me.
So throw away the excuses and make a decision to come out to Catalyst from October 6-8. I'll be walking around looking for you...don't leave me hanging!
(Bryan Allain writes about the humorous side of life, faith, pop culture, and living among the Amish every day at his blog, BryanAllain.com. You can also find him on The Twitter at twitter.com/bryanallain )
