Have you ever left an event feeling both energized… and completely overwhelmed?
That was me at my first MG100 Community weekend in Nashville back in 2022. I had attended local MG100 events before — but those were with two dozen people at most.This time, every member of the community, a few hundred people, were invited and a large portion showed up.
When my husband texted to ask how it was, my response was simple: amazing and overwhelming. And that’s coming from an extrovert.
There were incredible speakers and moments of entertainment. But what stood out most wasn’t the content—it was the people.Reconnecting with individuals I felt I already knew… meeting others for the very first time… and realizing just how expansive this community has become—it was powerful.
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It’s Not Just About Being Together—It’s About What Happens Because of It
At one point, Marshall Goldsmith asked a simple question:
“Have your lives been made better by this community?”
Hands went up—almost unanimously. And it got me thinking…
We’ve all heard about the importance of connection—especially over the last few years. But hearing firsthand how community has impacted people’s lives in meaningful ways reinforced something deeper:
Community isn’t just nice to have. It’s essential.
In a world where isolation and disconnection are increasingly common, community gives us something we don’t always realize we’re missing—support, perspective, and a sense of belonging.
What Community Really Gives Us
I am part of several communities—MG100, groups of authors, and my local circle of friends built over years of shared experiences. And what I’ve come to notice is this:
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It gives us:
- Access to new ideas
- Opportunities to help others
- A greater ability to make an impact
Marshall invited people to stand up and share how has this community helped you? And although I didn’t get called on, my answer to that question would have been, “This community has given me the ability to help others and to increase my impact and ability to help — and that is a gift.”
Because at the end of the day, whatever we’re trying to accomplish…It takes a village.
A Question to Consider
Think about the communities you’re part of right now. Not just where you belong—but how you show up.
- Where are you actively contributing?
- Where are you just observing?
- And where might you step in more fully?
Also consider where you could be engaging—but aren’t yet. Because community is not just about what you get. It’s about what you give—and how that exchange creates something bigger than any one person alone.
One More Thought
I know large events and communities can feel overwhelming. Even for extroverts.
But what I’ve come to realize is this: They almost always give you more than they take.
So if you’re hesitating…Lean in.
Keep connecting. That’s where the real impact lives.