I walked into Day 1 of Alpha Con hoping to be taught what it really means to be an alpha, and maybe turn out to be an alpha myself.
However on Day 2, Alpha Con kicked me out.
Earlier than stepping into how I turned persona non grata at what would possibly properly be Salt Lake Metropolis’s most notorious conference, let’s unpack the phrase “alpha.”
Alpha, as we’ve come to grasp the time period in 2022, refers not simply to the primary letter of the Greek alphabet, but additionally to any individual dominant in a given area. If the Alpha Con promo picture is to be believed, it’s any white man with facial hair. And a good T-shirt.
I assumed this was a joke however I checked and Alpha Con is actual. Have enjoyable Twitter! pic.twitter.com/BQCOlsBXj8
— Information You Want (@ElizManresa) December 29, 2021
However I knew there needed to be extra to alphadom, and I needed to seek out out what it takes, and if I had it in me. Plus, the advertising and marketing promised to take my enterprise to the following stage. As a small enterprise proprietor, I’m all the time in search of actionable recommendation about hiring and progress.
So, on Day 1, I checked in at registration, obtained my badge, walked previous an armed guard into the Grand America Resort ballroom the place I used to be greeted by a stage emitting fog and glowing pink lights.
A mohawked man in a white swimsuit was introducing the following speaker, Hunter Bellew. Hunter shared his entrepreneurial journey by means of a collection of slides alongside together with his mantra — “Cash-Freedom-Show some extent.”
Nothing too outstanding.
Then a person named Aaron Wagner spoke about his soccer profession and his journey from a lower-income upbringing in Canada to his pursuit of the American dream in the USA.
“You may have something you need,” Aaron informed us. How, precisely, he didn't clarify.
However, then it was Jeremiah “The Bull” Evans’ flip to talk.
The Bull started his remarks claiming he was shocked by how many individuals took offense at the usage of the phrase alpha. He then mentioned (yelled, truly) that the individuals who don’t like alphas — the betas — “are the actual pandemic.”
I ought to say right here, for the sake of journalistic integrity, that the COVID-19 pandemic is the actual pandemic. However The Bull, evidently, didn’t appear to see it that approach.
He then mentioned the USA was based by a bunch of alphas. This conjured up photographs in my thoughts of James Madison with sleeve tattoos and a gold chain. Or Benjamin Franklin in a flat-brimmed hat.
Then he offered a slide in regards to the evils of the world that includes, properly, corn. And that’s after I began tweeting.
Having a traditional one at Alphacon pic.twitter.com/85Ig94attK
— The Meg (@MegMorleyWalter) February 18, 2022
I tweeted a few of The Bull’s extra notable statements together with some common observations and pictures from the conference. I needed to seize essentially the most memorable moments alongside the best way, like when a distinct speaker appeared over the viewers and, inexplicably, proclaimed that somebody within the room would die within the subsequent few months.
Might have been a warning. Might have been a menace. Might have been prophesy.
I missed the primary a part of this presentation however I doubt I'd perceive what’s taking place right here even when I had I heard it. pic.twitter.com/NovrBQdlnP
— The Meg (@MegMorleyWalter) February 18, 2022
After which there was the second when a speaker implored the viewers to rent a cameraman to movie us working so we'd have content material for a YouTube channel — recommendation that felt significantly unfitting for me, a author who spends a lot of the day hunched over a laptop computer. That’s a YouTube channel that will get one subscriber: my mother.
Most audio system, of their distinctive, loud, profanity-laden approach, implored the attendees to disregard the haters and never pay any consideration to the individuals allotting criticism.
“Don’t fear in regards to the individuals speaking (expletive),” mentioned keynote speaker Brad Lea. Based mostly on that, I assumed my tweets and Instagram tales would go ignored by the alphas.
I used to be fallacious.
I ended the day not having muttered a single phrase to anybody other than the waiter at lunch. I spent a lot of the day sitting quietly in a again nook specializing in my cellphone anytime we have been inspired to community. Which, admittedly, is fairly regular social gathering habits for me.
However my tweets and Instagram tales have been being shared throughout the state by the alpha-curious.
Once I awoke the following morning, I debated whether or not I ought to attend the second day of the conference. I used to be feeling like there may not be any hope in my changing into an alpha.
However then I noticed that was beta considering.
So I made my approach downtown and again into the resort. I smiled at a safety guard who gave me a side-eye look in return, and after I entered the ballroom I used to be shocked to see that they had eliminated the again desk the place I had sat the day earlier than.
I walked to the entrance of the room, took a seat and started taking notes. It was then that a girl in a blazer approached me and requested, “Is your title Meg?” I informed her it was, and he or she mentioned, “I’m going to ask you to go away.”
I'm a primary baby, an adamant rule keeper and a persistent individuals pleaser. So after I was informed to go away, I complied and didn’t ask why. I didn’t cite my First Modification rights or pull out my cellphone to movie the interplay like another individual dwelling within the present century would.
Like a beta, I packed my pocket book and pen, grabbed my water bottle and adopted the lady to the lobby the place a circle of safety guards stood, wanting nervous, seemingly anticipating a confrontation. I waved, mentioned thanks, and headed for the exit as resort safety trailed a couple of toes behind.
As I walked away I heard the lady within the blazer instruct the safety personnel, “That one isn't allowed again in.”
I’m 5-foot-5, with massive blue eyes and a imprecise resemblance to an adolescent Disney character. Once I converse, individuals normally ask if I might converse a little bit louder. I as soon as apologized to a chair I ran into.
I’ve by no means been a menace to anybody for any motive.
However, all the sudden, after a couple of tweets and social shares, the alphas had me expelled from their convention. I had unwittingly turn out to be too dominant of their area, they usually weren't about to let me again in.
And it was then that I noticed the alpha was in me all alongside. And all I wanted was in the future and two minutes at Alpha Con to seek out it.
Meg Walter is the editor-in-chief of The Beehive and a Deseret Information contributor.