Archangel Summit 2016: A Powerful Combination of Heart and Connection

Caring is the ultimate competitive advantage.” – Jayson Gaignard, Talent Scout, MastermindTalks.com”

The life of a ‘solopreneur’ can sometimes be a lonely one, especially on a farm away from the energy and hustle of the city. While I am surrounded by a wonderful herd of horses and enjoy working with a growing roster of clients, I also value the opportunity to be among like-minded souls for some inspiration and motivation. When a post popped up on Facebook for the Archangel Summit, I was intrigued by what it offered. I was pulled in by the promise of a day driven by and defined by possibility.

So with the intent of treating myself to some much-needed professional self-care, I attended the Archangel Summit in Toronto on September 21, 2016. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in a day defined by motivational speakers and inspirational stories. It was a valuable investment. The event included an impressive roster of speakers including:

Archangel is the expressed vision of Giovanni Marsico, a former condo marketer who left that world to start a movement that is all about “curating and connecting mission-driven entrepreneurs who are making a real impact in the world.” It is founded on his belief that dreamers, innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs are the keys to real social change. Giovanni now serves as a talent scout for these ‘superheroes’ or ‘archangels’.

Robin Sharma at Archangel Summit 2016

Robin Sharma at Archangel Summit 2016

With a history of conference and event planning for many corporate clients, I’ve had an opportunity to experience a variety of motivational speakers. Of all the speakers that shared their stories yesterday, I found Giovanni’s story the most moving. Giovanni shared his life experiences from a place of gratitude and humility with a level of heart and authenticity that sometimes gets lost along the professional speaking circuit. His words moved me and I was able to see my own experiences reflecting back at me as his story unfolded. He is living by example and he is a great example of what a ‘big-hearted’ entrepreneur can achieve when you surround yourself with like-minded souls with a burning desire to help people and gift it forward. Giovanni shares his story here.

Archangel Summit is an annual public gathering to share this dream on a larger scale — AND a fundraiser to support the Archangel Fund to help fund the dreams of people who want to make the world a better place. Yesterday’s event was the first of its kind hosted in Toronto and the intent is to turn it into an annual one.

Throughout the day as I listened to tales told, I received my own affirmation that The Mane Intent is also producing a tapestry of personal stories shaped by our unique experiential learning offering with horses. Our future success story is being defined today by words like ‘profound’, ‘life-changing’, and ‘transformational.’

So much of the work we do at The Mane Intent is about heart and connections. Leaving the Archangel Summit fueled by hope, I returned to the farm with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. It has been incredibly humbling for me to work with a variety of people who have stepped out of their comfort zone to work in partnership with horses without being encumbered by the threat of judgement or an agenda. They arrive here seeking a greater sense of direction, to strengthen relationships at home and work, seeking greater wellness, or simply to find their heart and a greater sense of connection with their life. The magic horses bring to healing and self-awareness is their ability to understand or intuit our emotion. They can evoke a human response that is unexpected, surprising and powerful. It is in that moment that the gate of possibility opens and the path to healing and self-awareness begins.

It is this natural ability to read our energy levels and connect to our emotional intelligence that makes horses powerful teachers and life coaches. Facilitating this unique experience is like watching magic happen. As a recent client noted, “The art of letting go can begin with a horse.”

So a big shout out to Giovanni Marsico for recognizing the value of dreams, making his dream happen and being a great example for others on what it means to connect people to possibility. We’re looking forward to next year’s equally powerful promise of heart and connection at Archangel Summit 2017.

img_2911About the Author: Jennifer Garland is the Owner/Program Director of The Mane Intent, offering Health and Wellness Workshops and Individual and Team Effectiveness Coaching. Jennifer’s intent is to bring horses and humans together to explore new possibilities, getting you out of your comfort zone and giving clarity of voice to your leader within. She has over 25 years of leadership experience in communications, cause-related marketing and change management. As a strategist, facilitator and effectiveness coach, Jennifer has provided counsel and support to senior leaders from all walks of life to build productive relationships, facilitate learning and to embrace change. She is a ‘socialpreneur’ who values the art of living life fully with intent.

The Mane Intent

September 22, 2016

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