TL;DR: Booked & Balanced brought Atlanta Creators together for an intimate Stan Session centered on reflection, alignment, and sustainable growth. The event reinforced the heart of Dare To Dream, showing what’s possible when Creators are given the space to think bigger and build businesses that truly support their lives.
This January, Atlanta Creator-Entrepreneurs gathered for something deeper than a typical networking event—an experience built for clarity, connection, and sustainable growth.
Hosted by Stan Ambassador, business strategist, and coach, Jewels, Booked & Balanced was a sold‑out Stan Session designed to be a two‑hour clarity and connection experience—and that’s exactly what it delivered.
At its core, Stan Sessions exist to fill a massive gap—they’re intentionally small, Creator-led gatherings designed to prioritize real conversation over surface-level networking.
And last month, Atlanta showed exactly why this movement is growing.
A Room Full of Alignment
Jewels welcomed 12 Creators across industries. While they might have all been in different niches, they still shared many common challenges.
From the start, it was clear this wasn’t a sit-back-and-listen kind of event. Attendees were encouraged to move around, interact in real time, and make meaningful connections throughout the session.
As Jewels later shared, “the greatest impact comes from expressing yourself, sharing, connecting with someone new, and sticking around after an event. Sometimes I’m still learning that sticking around afterwards is the heart of where you can really build those intentional connections.”
That intention showed up throughout the room. One attendee noted the value of simply being surrounded by others building in similar ways, sharing that it made a difference to be able to talk to people who are on the same wavelength business-wise.
Reflection Before Expansion
The session began with reflection. Not as an icebreaker, but as a foundation for everything that followed. Attendees were guided to look back on 2025, naming what they overcame, what they were proud of, and choosing a single word for 2026.
Jewels shared her own reflection, explaining that her most successful year wasn’t defined by income or virality, but by direction. Her word was refinement—a reminder that clarity creates momentum.
Paired conversations, fortune‑cookie prompts, and intentional introductions helped attendees slow down, and express where they’ve been before rushing toward what’s next.
As one attendee shared, “This gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into reflection questions I’d typically journal. When you’re just by yourself, you don’t have the same chance to have these deeper group discussions we have here.”
That shared reflection became a powerful foundation for everything that followed.
The 3 Phases of Business
From there, the session shifted from reflection to practical alignment. One of the core moments of the Stan Session was Jewels’ 3 Phases of Business framework:
- Building: Establishing your services, clients, and brand identity while focusing on stability and proof of concept.
- Bridging the Gaps: Refining systems, strategy, and structure using analytics and data before attempting to scale.
- Branching Out: Creating new income streams, delegating, and stepping into true CEO‑level decision making.
Attendees grouped themselves by business phase, discussed where their energy had been misaligned, and identified what needed to shift in order to move forward sustainably.
Attendees left with a key takeaway that echoed throughout the room: not every season is meant for growth.
Balance Is a Business Strategy
The final portion of the session focused on balance—not as a buzzword, but as a business requirement.
Jewels provided actionable tips that encouraged attendees to intentionally separate their time as service providers from dedicated CEO days focused on planning, reviewing performance, and making strategic decisions.
This prompted attendees to reflect on what they need in order to fully show up year‑round, the support they’re currently missing, and the beliefs that no longer align with their 2026 word.
As Creators shared their reflections, the room’s energy became noticeably more grounded and connected. One attendee shared, “The curated crowd of Creators allowed the space to feel full without the pressure of being performative.”
Why This Stan Session Mattered: Creating Space for What Creators Actually Need
What stood out most was how strongly the experience resonated with Creators.
Attendees described the experience as safe, brave, grounding, inspiring, and non‑performative. They valued the small, curated group, the vulnerability in the room, and the chance to be fully seen.
And they agreed that sustainable growth, long‑term vision, and the right mentorship matter far more than chasing virality. Building a profitable business should never come at the expense of well‑being.
Every attendee left with:
- A clear word for 2026
- A deeper understanding of their current business phase
- New, aligned connections
- Clarity on what opportunities Dare To Dream could support
The Bigger Picture
Creators are craving real connection. They want spaces that prioritize clarity over clout, sustainability over virality, and community over competition. Creators have also been clear that in this new era of the industry, there’s a need for tools and support to help them build their own businesses.
This session with Jewels showed what’s possible when Creators are given room to slow down, connect meaningfully, and lead with long-term vision, not pressure or performance.
Stan Sessions are a growing movement across North America, led by Creators for Creators—and Atlanta is just getting started.
Interested in hosting a Stan Session in your city? Let us know here. In the meantime, continue to check this space for highlights on our Stan Sessions in cities around North America!
