This is a conference I look forward to every year. It’s fun, I’m able to see old friends, and it’s locally-focused. The last item is what makes it truly unique. The people who speak are not only inspiring, but most often, they’re doing something remarkable in the Atlanta area. So, while I love hearing big names from big companies, Plywood is really awesome because I can also usually say that the speaker or company is just miles away from me. It gives me plenty of chills and warm fuzzies.

Jeff Shinabarger, Plywood founder:

• Sit with people that don’t sound like you.
• Learn from people that you want to sound like.
• Share with people that engage your advice.
• Everyone has something to give. Everyone has something to learn.

Gregory Ellison, Fearless Dialogues:

• Sometimes things have to break down to have a break through.
• “The longest journey we have in life is from our heads to our hearts.” – a lady he knew growing up
• “I don’t know how to change the world, but I can change the three feet around me.” – his Aunt Dottie

Hank Fortner, Adopt Together:

• World Adoption Day
• People who need love don’t care how old you are.
• 19 million orphans in the world, 500K in US foster care, 25% of kids who age out of the system are homeless, 80% in jail, 30% are pregnant, 80% end up in prostitution and 56% wind up unemployed. The system is seriously failing these kids.
• Family is the answer to almost everything.
• Lots of organizations are doing great things, but they are all working piece-meal instead of in concert.
• Barriers to adoption are finances, information and community.
• Adopt Together allows micro financing for adoptions.
• Lessons learned:
  • Always throw a party.
  • Never give up space.
  • Always remember the details.
  • Never get stuck in the details.
  • Always solve a problem.
  • Never burn a bridge.
  • Always tell your story.
  • Never lose your story.
  • Always give.
  • Never forget extrinsics.
  • Always make money.
  • Always say thank you!

Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy:

• Met everyone of his neighbors and invited them to be a part of the work in this run-down, dangerous neighborhood. It took four months.
• Passion. Innovation. Creativity.
• When you bring good energy to a place, negativity leaves.
• Your team determines your success.
• Spend 15 minutes on an idea. Decide if it should continue, and then leave it or pour your heart into it.
• Live like it’s your life!
• Treat fairly, not equally.
• Put your energy into the people that actually make a difference, not the negative slackers.

Brian Pape, founder of MiiR:

• Buy consumer products, then decide where we want the money to be sent. We get follow-up info about the progress of the projects.

Andrea Sreshta, Luminade:

• Add water to the vessel as the battery. Remove water for the light to go out. Great for disasters and places with little/no light.

Curious Katheryn, 10-year-old entrepreneur:

• Break into Business kid’s camp
• She sells candles.

Patrick, Nisolo shoes:

• Artisan shoes, ethically-made
• Focus on work culture. A good culture attracts the right people.
• They own their supply chain.
• Check out the book “Essentialism”

Tripp Crosby, producer, comedian, sketch artist:

• It’s easy to take yourself too seriously.
• When you’re obsessed with expanding, you risk enjoying the process. And when you’re not enjoying the process, you risk the opportunity to expand.
• What’s the thing you should be enjoying but you’re not?

Brent Trapp, Booster:

• Lead with outrageous care.
• Notice the good things.
• Obsessive commitment to investing in people.
• Act like a friend.
• Live with ridiculous joy.
• Outrageous care breeds outrageous loyalty.
• How will you treat your people?

Ruthie Lindsey, speaker/stylist:

• Love people well.
• You can live a beautiful life despite your pain and circumstance.
• Choose joy.
• There is always hope.
• When we are open and honest, it forces others to do the same.
• When we live in our pain, it’s all we can see. We need to find the joy so we can live there instead.
• Pain can make us better and more whole.

Chris Marlowe, Help One Now:

• Doing good can be simple and easy. Love first.
• Find your fight.
  • Find something(s) that you can really dig deep with. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Help where you can.
  • Stick around for the transformation.
• Go far. Go the distance. Give your life.
• Go forward. Innovate. Care. Solve.
• Doing good can be simple and significant.
• Do good. Do good well. Do good together.

John Lewis, activist and US Representative:

• We must care for the spark of divine in ourselves.
• Love may be a slow process, but it’s always worth it.
• There is power in peace.
• There is a price to be paid for the work of peace. You must decide if you’re willing to pay it.
• Without music, the Civil Rights movement would’ve been like a bird without wings. We’d often sing to each other across our cells, both men and women, because we were separated by both gender and race.
• When you see injustice, make a little noise. Don’t stay silent.
• “Just love the hell out of everybody.” – MLK
• Get into good trouble.

Safia Minney, People Tree clothing:

• Check out her “True Cost” documentary about slavery in the process of making clothes.

Travis Mason, Public Policy and Government Relations at Google X:

• Macro behaviors are derived from micro moments.
• Reverse assumptions.
• Combine domains.
• Invite the novice.
• Its the difference that makes the difference.

Kim Biddle, Saving Innocence project:

• LA County  rescues from child sex trafficking.
• Average age for trafficking victims is 12-14.
• 100K children are trafficked per year in the US.
• We are connected, and deeply affect one another.
• We are all human. Empathy begins at that place.
• Impact is relational.
• Choose to love.
• Know your season. Run the race. Rest when needed.
• Keep yourself seen. Cultivate community. Get professional mentors. Find spiritual mentors. Redesign your failures.