I know, I know. Most of you reading this have no intentions whatsoever of going to Atlanta for the Catalyst Leadership Conference in October.
And honestly, that’s the point. Maybe you should at least think about it.
Why? Well, here’s the best 19 reasons I could think of.
19 Reasons You Should go to Catalyst 2011
1. I will be there, so if you’ve ever wanted to give me a high five, this will be your best chance.
2. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to punch me in the face, this will be your best chance.
3. The theme of the conference is “Be Present”. Who doesn’t want to be more present in this short life we all have to live? (put your hand down, funny guy.)
4. Because they always have free coffee in the lobby throughout the event. Free coffee!!! Last year Land of a Thousand Hills coffee served over 18,000 cups of coffee at the event.
5. The blogger meetup held the Wednesday night of Catalyst is a fantastic time to make connections. This year should be no different, especially since there’s a good chance I will be heavily involved in making it happen.
6. The average temp in Atlanta in October is 72 degrees. In other words it’s perfect, unlike the average temperature wherever you live.
7. The price is not as scary as you think. $259 for 2 full days of teaching, inspiration, and life-changing experiences is a great investment in yourself. Not to mention that if you register with a friend it costs $239. Or if you’re a student it costs $159. (These early-bird rates end thursday 6/23) UPDATE: I’ve got a discount code at the end of this post that will get you a ticket for under $200.
8. Some of you haven’t taken a risk and done something completely out of the blue in a long time. Here’s your chance.
9. Last year Tripp and Tyler rappelled from the rafters of the Gwinnett Center. Who knows what they will do this year to make Tyler want to pee his pants like a toddler, but I’m sure it will be fantastic.
10. The speaker lineup is great as always. Andy Stanley, Dave Ramsey, Judah Smith, Jim Collins, Priscilla Shirer, Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, Blake Mycoskie, and Judah Smith? Yes please. (here’s the full list)
11. The music throughout the entire conference is incredible. I’m not just talking about the worship bands and the special guests they bring in, either. Even the house band (that plays everything from U2 to Bon Jovi to One Republic during intermissions) is phenomenal.
12. I’ve heard a lot of you say, “I’d like to get to Catalyst some day.” Well, if the Mayans are right this is your last freaking chance. Are you really prepared to let the Mayans do that to you?
13. You can pretend that you came down with strep throat for 3 days and Catalyst will provide you with a note from their staff doctor to get you out of school/work. (On a related note, the previous statement is completely devoid of truth.)
14. You can add Wednesday Labs for $99, and you’ll get to hear from folks like Jon Acuff, Susan Isaacs, Michael Hyatt, Mark Batterson, Margaret Feinberg, LeCrae Moore, and a bunch of others. Last year Jon Acuff gave a shout-out to my blog in his lab session and I missed it. Never again. (Full List here)
15. Because I dare you to go. What are you a chicken? (If Marty McFly is reading this right now, he is TOTALLY going to sign up.)
16. You can find flights into Atlanta for pretty cheap right now. I got my round trip ticket out of Philly for $194.40.
17. And if you don’t want to fly? Road Trip!!!
18. Joel Houston from Hillsong United will be there. He’s doing a lab on Wednesday, and let’s hope he’ll be doing something musical later in the week or I will fight everyone on the Catalyst Staff.
19. Believe the hype. It’s that good. You won’t regret it.
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Best Rates on Catalyst tickets end on Thursday, June 23rd, so register now. Call 888.334.6569 to speak to a Catalyst Concierge, or register online at www.catalystconference.com. Use Rate Code FOB and receive a ticket price of $199 (savings of $120 off regular prices). Catalyst will sell out, so make sure and register early!