Hey, thanks for tuning in today! Yesterday I shared my crazy little experiment with youâwhat would happen if I gave myself just 12 hours to see if a brand-new event idea had legs? No venue, no speakers, no fancy marketingâjust a vision, a date, a location, and a cap of 50 people.
Hereâs what went down:
⢠I put the idea out quietlyâvia a Substack PS, a couple of LinkedIn + Insta posts, and a waitlist (78 people).
⢠At 8:00 AM tickets opened. By 8:21 AM, weâd hit the threshold of 15. Game on.
⢠By 2:10 PM, 31 tickets had sold. Thatâs for an event happening 292 days away. People are flying in from New Zealand and Perth for it.
⢠I didnât send it to my full list. No chasing. Just: idea â test â result.
Why I did this:
đ To validate the idea properly (likes â commitment, credit cards = commitment).
đ To share the risk of running an event (why should hosts carry 100%?).
đ To use real scarcity to create actionâonly 50 seats, only 12 hours, and no expansion.
I also share behind-the-scenes lessons:
⢠Why I used Luma and Tally instead of freebie tools like Google Forms.
⢠How scarcity, mystery, and bold-action language shaped the vibe.
⢠Why this approach attracts the kind of people I want to work withâthose who thrive in ambiguity and act fast.
The result? Con Con 2026 is ON. đ
19 tickets remain. And Iâm honestly a little scared (in the best way possible).
Big thanks to everyone who jumped in earlyâyouâre the bold action-takers. Tonight Iâll go live to debrief the experiment and share whatâs next.
*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame. (https://www.workfa.me/)
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:
1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel:Â Let's energise your next event. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9RyOeXZfW4)
2. Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint (https://2hourwork.shop/) .Â
Let's connect on all the channels:
Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannehughes/)
Leanne Hughes on Instagram (https://instagram.com/leannehughes)
Visit my website: leannehughes.com (https://www.leannehughes.com)
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
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