I recently entered a contest from MileHighMamas to attend the ChicksWhoClicks 2010 (#cwc10) conference. I never thought I’d win, even though I really wanted to go. A place where women learn about the Power of You? Heck yeah! So, I entered. And believe it or not, I won.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this group of women be intense and shrewd? Would I feel overwhelmed by all the techie language? And, would anyone care what I would have to say? I quickly learned that not only was I welcomed in as if I was a long-lost family member, but I also was going to laugh harder than I had in a long time. I met some of the coolest and smartest women I had ever met in a setting like this.

Through learning my personality “shape,” appreciating the f-bomb in a presentation and showing off my true dorkyness while signing 80s sitcom tunes, I came out of #cwc10 with new inspiration for building the brand of me and in my ability to make it happen. Since the event, I’ve gained more confidence, new friends and savvy social media tools.

Here are some memorable quotes from #cwc10 panelists and prolific Twitter personalities:

• Melanie Mills, aka @MelanieMMills: “It’s not about emasculating men. It’s about taking our power and using it in the work place.”

• Shelly Kramer, aka @ShellyKramer: “Balance is an oxymoron. Quit striving for it! Handling it is just fine.”

• Misty Montano, aka @MistyMontano: “People are information whores so we need to be better at providing the news you want.”

• Erika Napoletano, aka @RedHeadWriting: “I’m going to offend some of you in this room and I really don’t care. This is me, this is my brand.”

• Olivia Omega, aka @oliviaomega: “Think of your hand as pieces of your business, your palm is your core business, your thumb is your blog and the other fingers represent Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.”

• Aimee Giese, aka @greeblemonkey: “I recently turned down an opportunity to work with a diaper community for a giveaway. Why? Because my son is seven years old. It’s important to represent the real you.”

• Amber Johnson, aka @crazycanuckblog:  “If you want to include giveaways on your blog, don’t be afraid to take initiative and pitch brands and their products.”

• Tara Anderson, aka @tarable: “Lesson from ‘Growing Pains’: be nice to the newbies because you never know who tomorrow’s superstars will be (i.e. Leonardo DiCaprio).”

If you attend one conference this year, go to #cwc10 in a city near you. Or, wait until next year’s event here in Denver. Not only will you learn a lot, you’ll laugh your ass off and learn a thing or two about yourself.

Thanks, Denise Smith (@deetells) for putting on such a great event. And thank you MileHighMamas for seeing the value of this type of gathering.

Guest Blogger Dana Stone can be found at www.danalstone.wordpress.com and www.twitter.com/danalstone.