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What is family?
People say, “You can choose your friends, but not your family” – but I reckon when you find your tribe, that’s when you’ve found your true family.
In May, I went down to Poole for the first time in many years (previously arriving by sea, but that’s another story for another time) to attend a conference called Creator Day. But it’s not a conference like any other I’ve been to.
Here's what I'll be covering:
What Creator Day is all about
The vibe the night before
The big day itself
My top takeaways
And most importantly, how you can get involved in 2026
Once you find your tribe, life becomes easier, calmer even.
Right then – let’s dive into my takeouts!
I’ll admit it – I had major FOMO.
Loads of my connections were raving about YATM and Creator Day. My friend Shelley even spoke there last year, and I caught up with her while she was working with a speaker coach to perfect her talk… So, I booked myself a ticket to find out what all the fuss was about.
You are the media (YATM) was created by Mark Masters, who is difficult to describe, he is warm and welcoming and despite running the conference he came over to check I was ok and having a good time - that’s the kind of guy he is.
The night before the big day?
A pre-party called Failed Nights. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with a name like that, but wow – it was something else.
Three speakers – Alix, Mark, and Beth – shared raw, emotional stories. You could call them failures, but actually, they were all about change and redirection (sometimes not even by choice). It was held in a relaxed co-working space, and there was even a little nook for authors to showcase their books.
Mark Franklin in action
Beth Carter sharing her story
The Day Itself
The big day was a mix of main stage talks and shorter, more casual sessions – not quite fireside chats, but something similar (Mark had a name for them, but I can’t quite remember what it was!).
Each year the event has a theme, in 2025 it was relevance and it started with a striking video that was made by one of the original members of YATM. It even included a clip from Failed Nights.
Phill Agnew
Jess Bruno
My key takeaways
Here are some of the nuggets that really stuck with me, all around the theme of relevance:
Phill Agnew – Love what you do, and share it!
Steve Folland – Start... and don’t stop.
Tamara Howard – Pick your tech on your terms.
Jess Bruno – Give zero f*cks and post your content!
Mel Barfield – Brain to fingers! Skip the corporate fluff. (That one really hit home for me.)
Trevor Young – If you don’t own your voice, your message gets lost.
We even had a singalong – yes, really – with a piano on stage and a full audience duet. Then we broke into small groups and made personal pledges to focus on something that mattered to us. No judgment, just genuine support.
(And of course, me being me – I set up a LinkedIn group for us to keep chatting and share how we’re getting on.)
So, it was something special, it was perfectly formed, not too big and not too small just a new family waiting to meet you with open arms. Thanks to Mark and all of the team who make this possible.
After Party
Sadly, I couldn’t stick around – my diary was jammed with dog-sitting duties, a 50th birthday lunch the next day, and an away rugby trip!
Also, that Friday sea swim tradition? It’s real. Every week, the YATM crew meet at Mark’s beach hut and go swimming. Several Creator Day attendees joined in this time – and the invite’s always open.
How to get involved in 2026
Mark’s taking Creator Day up a level for 2026 – it’s becoming a full week of events! I’ll be there for Failed Nights, the main day, and the after-party.
📅 Creator Day 2026 is on 14th May Book your ticket here
Will I see you there? The theme is Community and I've got a feeling it's going to be something special.
Let's summarise
If you fancy a few days by the sea next May, check it out. Whether you’re local or travelling in, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. I found my tribe – and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yours too.
YATM’s Creator Day is not like any other conference I have been to. There are people I know from other events and communities and they are all part of the YATM family.
There are lunch club events, including one that happens in London.
Many of the community are local to Dorset, hence the sea swim, but don’t let that put you off going as everyone is super friendly.
So if you fancy a few days in Dorset next May then do check it out.
If you want a deeper, post-by-post breakdown, I recommend tracking it in a simple spreadsheet – it’ll give you much better insight over time.
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