One Size Does Not Fit All 4104

One Size Does Not Fit All

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Lessons learned at bbcon 2017 by Community Blogger, Brent Troth.

My bbcon 2017 packet included a t-shirt too small for me. I walked away thinking “one size does not fit all.” This phrase stuck with me over the next three days.

Interactions with my colleagues each year sometimes leave me feeling that I’m doing things wrong because they do them differently. This year, “one size does not fit all” actually helped me not second guess myself.

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My systems and processes work for me and my organization and some of the methods my peers use won’t. That is not to say I’m doing everything in the best way either. My size doesn’t necessarily work for others and I can always be open to new ideas and new data best practices. 

For me, this is the best part of bbcon, access to new ideas helps me assess my own practices and systems and my ideas may benefit others. Regardless, I always go home with new things to try on for size. Some will fit and some won’t and that’s okay. Like that shirt, the ideas that don’t can be shared with others and may fit them perfectly!

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~Brent Troth
News ARCHIVED | bbcon® Blogs 10/23/2017 12:06pm EDT

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10 Comments
Amy Dana Amy Dana Sep '18
I see some awesome peeps in these pics!
Brent, your thoughts about "one size does not fit all" are encouraging to me. It was true last year, and is true today :)
 
2016 was my first year at bbcon. Certainly have learned a lot since then...thanks for this blog post!
Becky Rine Becky Rine Jun '18
Some great insight, Brent. Whether systems and processes, or a t-shirt that isn't quite perfect, we can all add some flair to make them our own. :)
I agree. My shirt was too big so I gave it to my husband. I enjoy hearing new ideas and best practice information. Some i can take home and try on for size and other ideas are simply "too big" for our small foundation. That is truly the beauty of BBCON - there is something for everyone!
No, not the Blogger shirt!  It fits great.  I'm wearing it in the selfie pic on the blog.

No the Be the Social Good Shirt was a L for everyone and I'm a 2x or 3x person depending on the shirt.  However, my large Be the Social Good shirt fits a co-worker who loves it and was thrilled that I brought her something.
Oh no! Was it the blogger shirt that was too small? :( 
I love this Brent. I need to keep this in mind as a community manager too - it's okay if not everything fits me, someone else may be able to use it. Thanks for sharing from bbcon! :)
"Interactions with my colleagues each year sometimes leave me feeling that I’m doing things wrong because they do them differently. This year, “one size does not fit all” actually helped me not second guess myself." Thank you for your post, Brent. That is a helpful thought!
Jon Nelson Jon Nelson Oct '17
Great analogy!  I loved that even if a idea doesn't work for you, you will share it with someone else who it might work for! 

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