Today’s guest post comes from Tara Alemany, author of The Best is Yet to Come, which was released on November 8, 2013, and is available on Amazon. Congratulations, Tara! Like what you read today? Follow her on Twitter, visit her website, and don’t forget to buy her book.

It’s All About Community

For me, it started in 2009. I’d just lost my job and had to figure out “what came next” in a time where jobs were scarce. I was concerned that staying home all of the time would isolate me.

What was I going to do without a job or work?

I’d worked from home before, so that wasn’t so much the issue. My real concern was losing my community. The people I had spent the past 6 years of my life with were either losing their jobs too, or still going to work every day.

So, where was my new community going to come from?

Little did I know at that time, that social media would deeply connect me to a whole new network of people. Or that my presence there would open doors, create connections, and generate opportunities I had never even imagined before.

Or how those new connections I’d made would spider-web outward, introducing me to even more people.

Meeting Arvee Robinson at SANG (the Speakers and Authors Networking Group) last year led me to meeting Sheli Gartman, Lori Whaley and Terilee Harrison; three incredibly gifted speakers who are part of the Christian Women Speakers Movement that Arvee founded. From there, Terilee introduced me to Kate Wedell at an Embrace Real workshop Sheli was holding.

Social media also enabled me to keep up with the progress my friend, Barry Spilchuk, was making as he completed the publication of his newest book, THE cANCER DANCE.

And it enabled me to strengthen a chance, in-person meeting with Croix Sather, The Marathon Man, who ran 100 marathons in 100 days and gave a keynote speech every single one of those days.

Add to the mix my own personal friend (like in real life, without social media!), Carol Barnier, and I’m surrounded by people who have incredible, inspirational stories.

As I considered the launch of my new book, The Best is Yet to Come, I knew I wanted to be lining up as many speaking engagements as I possibly could. But my greatest hope for my book is that it touches the lives of as many people as possible.

I want to reach those who are struggling with a significant loss in their life. Through my own story, I hope to show them how to take any painful experience and change their perspective of it. It doesn’t need to be an anchor that holds them back. It can be a beautiful gift that enables them to live life knowing that the best is yet to come.

Thankfully, I am one of many people who have chosen to use past hardships in their lives in ways that will change the world.

So rather than simply tell you how to make that shift in perception, we’re going to show you how at The Survivors Summit.

The Survivors Summit is a 3-day virtual conference taking place November 19-21. All you need is access to a computer or phone line.

Whether or not you attend live, you’ll receive the complete set of replays with your conference registration. Or, you can purchase the replay to a single talk if that’s all you’re interested in.

Social media has taught me that the power of a community can change the world. I invite you to let this community of speakers change yours.