The thing about conferences is, oftentimes, it’s what you make of them. Come distracted and close-minded and you’ll likely have just a few takeaways. Go all in and you might leave with life-changing insights.

Amplify, Hoboken Grace’s one-day growth conference, is already designed to propel you forward. Each breakout track is an opportunity to target a specific area, zero in on it and learn from others. But the same standard holds true: The more you put into the experience, the more you’re likely to get out of it.

If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll want to do that ASAP. The cost goes up $10 at the door. So what are you waiting for? Pick from one of seven growth tracks and sign up today. Lunch from Chick-fil-A will be provided, and child care is available.

As the countdown continues, here are five ways you can make this your best Amplify yet:

1). Go all in

More often than not, growth doesn’t happen automatically. It helps to have a mindset of intentionality. Commit to being fully engaged – a participant instead of an observer. That might mean doing things that make you feel a bit awkward – asking questions in a group setting, introducing yourself to new people, giving your all during a worship set. Stretching yourself is how transformation happens.

That energy is also contagious. When you bring your A-game, it encourages those around you to do the same.

2). Silence distractions – and your inner critic

“Amplify” means to get louder. But to get loud, you have to start quiet. The same is true about listening. A big component of this conference is listening to what others have to teach us and what God is trying to tell us. To amplify those voices, we have to start quiet. We have to silence all of our distractions.

Those distractions might include mental to-do lists, or even your cellphone. Whatever they might be, leave them at the door and come ready to listen and engage. Take notes if that helps you stay focused.

Another distraction might be your inner critic – that dude in the back of your head who thinks he knows way more than the instructor. He’s an expert at serving, storytelling, the entire book of Ecclesiastes, etc. And if you keep listening to him, you’ll likely learn nothing.

3). Make new friends!

Amplify might be a personal-growth event, but it’s also a great way to grow as a community. Strike up a conversation with those around you between sessions or during lunch. Learning from others and what they’re getting out of the conference is a great way to build on your own experience.

4). Reflect

Schedule time afterwards to reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll implement it. Journal about the experience, pray about it and share with your dinner group. Spend time looking over your notes (ie., don’t tuck them in a drawer, never to be found again), and think about your biggest takeaways from the day.

5). Take action

A good experience at any conference has the potential to change your thinking, your habits and perhaps even the trajectory of your life. A conference can leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated and motivated. But those feelings are of course temporary. How often do you leave a conference with great takeaways, but don’t act on them?

After Amplify, think about how you can implement what you’ve learned. Where do you go from here? What’s your next step? That might mean taking a Story Study, joining a team, taking the step of baptism, sharing your story or changing up the way you spend time with God. Whatever your next step is, share it with your dinner group and ask others to hold you accountable.

Amplify starts at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday at 301 Garden. See you then!