Learn and create together

I spent a large amount of time thinking how wonderful it is to bring so many people to Poole for an event. Not a major city. The strength of community and feeling of belonging is so impressive.

I recently spent 36 glorious hours #InPoole attending You Are The Media Creator Day and the “Failed Nights” event.

If you’re ever in Poole or Bournemouth, you simply must check out the Foundry too.

Special things happen when you bring people together.

I was fortunate to be a part of YATM Creator Day. It was a gathering of people who all believe they can add value to people in various ways and want to share their skills and talents. Individually we are all doing our own thing, much like people in a company may be working together or remotely.

But there’s something magical that comes when a group come together with a shared

I don’t spend enough time IRL…

I read lots and lots of books, I host tons of networking events, firesides and Masterminds.

It’s literally been years since I last attended a conference in real life. I attended YATM Creator Day.

It was epic. I met so many cool people and listened intently to some genuinely amazing speakers.

It’s the hidden network of communication, strength and support for each other, that epitomises Creator Day.

Genuine connection and support is well and truly here. Well played, everyone.

Mark Masters has a unique and special talent for bringing people together with a high value of connection.

I am still buzzing from the energy of it all.

I don’t go to many “conferences” but YATM Creator Day is one big family that comes together to learn, share, chat and kick back.

Running a small business brings challenges, and being part of  YATM and Creator Day has been invaluable professionally and personally.

I used to think in-person conferences were all about the experience – engaging your senses and feeling a connection with the speakers on stage.

But Creator Day, for me, is that and so much more. It’s also about being in an environment that encourages you to stand out instead of blend in. It’s hearing stories that grip you by the heart and shake you into action. Mostly, though, it’s about the people and the connections.

I attended YATM Creator Day 2024 and was truly inspired by the speakers.

The community vibe made it so much easier for me as an introvert to enjoy the event.

What did I get from it?

A real sense of belonging and meeting great people doing their bit to make their worlds a bit better.

And the overwhelming sense that we all need a tribe, a community, a village. It’s great to share ideas and thoughts worries and concerns with people you trust.

The emphasis on community and how to create that community, plus the invitation to all of us to be curious in our approach, were key points which resonated with me.

The concept of community is something I encounter when on my travels around the business-world. That common ground, whatever it may be, that allows us to feel part of something and evoke that belonging we aspire to have.

This event puts Poole on the map.

The community welcome folk from around the UK (and from further afield).

It was brilliant to hear so many diverse perspectives and feel the creative energy of the whole community!

It’s crazy what can happen when you simply put your audience (or in this case, a real community) first.

The YATM philosophy of inviting others to join in, goes against the grain of typical conferences, and creating a space where everyone feels welcome has grown YATM into an absolute powerhouse on the south coast.

As one person business owners, making the leap from solitude to collaboration is a game changer!

YATM Creator Day is a day of validation, camaraderie, curiosity, empowerment and belonging.

What a bloody brilliant week with the crew, the team, the super clan that is the You Are The Media community.

Entertaining, informative, collaborative, spirited, educational, emotional, exhausting(!), fun and so much more…

The warmth and dedication poured into every detail made it a day to remember.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside such a supportive community. And can we talk about the delicious food? It added an extra layer of joy to an already fantastic day.

So many elements of the awesome event that I still need to take in. From the Failed Nights evening on Wednesday, the main event of speakers on Thursday and the swim on Friday 7.30 am!

Did I really get in the sea? Yup!

The community feel that YATM fosters is evident in everything they do, creating a space that values community, while also focusing intently on the needs of each individual.

The speakers were particularly inspiring because of their openness and vulnerability. Sharing their personal journeys, it was very easy to connect.

As a newbie, I could have been nervous, but everyone was so welcoming that I felt totally at ease.

I met so many fascinating people IRL, some of whom I’ve been chatting to online for years.

I’m incredibly lucky to be part of this network of creative, collaborative, and crazy business owners and marketers.

My highlights:

1) Meeting online friends in real life and brand new people 2) Hearing from a range of speakers 3) Having a photoshoot in a Travelodge 4)  Singing ‘Livin on a Prayer’ with a couple of hundred people 5) Getting into (and then quite quickly out of) the freezing cold sea 6) Getting and giving juicy business development ideas through all the chats I had with brilliant people

It interests me how we feel closer to people when we learn something more personal about themselves that resonates deeply with us… All the speakers shared stories and in each story, I could draw similarities and parallels to me and my own life.

For me, it’s the little threads of stories that hook me in and wanting to learn more!

The YATM community has become my place that I feel a part of and I couldn’t be happier.

I had my graduation at the 2024 event with the Creator Lab team. It was great, now I’m returning the favour and will be on the other side cheering the 2025 cohort 😎

I attended my first Creator Day in 2023; it was so good that I attended again earlier this year; and now it feels like an event staple, so I’ll be there for 2025.

A must-attend event – I bought a ticket as soon as they went on sale.

Creator Day is an event unlike other ‘business’ events, just like YATM is a community unlike any other business community – not least because everything’s built around connection and the joy of joining in, and where you get the opportunity to try new things and work out new directions within a supportive environment.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗴𝗼?

🤩 There’s always a fab mix of speakers 🤩 Such a warm inviting atmosphere 🤩 Fab food 🤩 Very welcoming after party 🤩🤩🤩 I’ll be there! 😆