The Birth of the UnConference and UnConference 2025 Reflections

I’ve been sitting with a full heart these past few days. (and finding the space and time to re-energize after being very, very exhausted emotionally)

The Land Unconference meant more to me than I can really put into words. What started as an idea—a loose vision for creating something different in the land investing world—turned into something I never expected.

Initially all it started out with was 6 or 7 land investors in a room holding a mastermind 1x a year that I hosted in the office for the first time in 2019. From the very beginning, people flew from literally all over the country to attend. I felt such a weight of responsibility to hold an amazing event for them.

We did it again virtually in 2020 during Covid. And in person again in 2021 for 2 days rather than 1 day and again in 2022. Some people were super skeptical and asked me, "What do you want out of this?"

I don't need the money for doing these (but I do like to get paid for my hard work and enjoy the reward and I want to ensure that we do have a profit). There are many other activities that pay me far far more. My truthful answer is I get paid with friendships, connections, and community --- and if I'm honest with myself, I enjoy being respected and admired and appreciated. It probably feeds my ego some. Ok, maybe a lot.

But what really brings me joy--- I love seeing people connecting. I love seeing the smiles, the "ah ha" moments, people who live 10 minutes from each other and yet never met before who get together. New masterminds that pop up after the event.

In the small 2022 version--- where I sat on a hot seat and asked, "What do you want Dave? How can we help you?"

My answer was simple--- I love doing these small events. How can I help scale this into something bigger?

Where we get 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 people --- dare I say 100 people or 200 people all set up in separate rooms holding multiple masterminds at 1x.

That day in May 2022--- the Land UnConference was born.

We did it for the first time in May 2023. Sold out 5 or 6 months ahead of the event. It was easy, it was fun, it was joyful. The moderators came to my house for dinner the night before we started. They met my family, hung out with my kids. I personally made them dinner and served them.

And of course we had to do it all over again in May 2024. It got a little harder, but still was absolutely amazing. It was still relatively easy and fun and joyful. I didn't have to work too hard to get people to come.

Right after the event, we started to sell August 2025 tickets and already out the gate, it wasn't as easy. We didn't sell out like we did in prior years. I had this incredible vision of doubling and tripling the event, holding it in 2 or 3 different spaces. I had hoped to have 2 other partners who would help me double the size of the event and help me fill the thing. They dropped out by October 2024. My heart sank a little.

The land market was clearly slowly and land operators were starting to hurt. I also wanted to make a little more money so I could pay moderators more and have affiliates and pocket hopefully a little more. I spent significant money on advertising. Never did that before and I wanted to give it a shot.

I promoted the UnConference on 5 billion podcasts (ok, far less, but it felt like that). I was giving it everything I got and ticket sales were slow, slow, slow. What the heck else could I do??

I asked my moderators to push, push, push and help promote it. They embraced helping me and gave it a go.

I felt like I was grinding. It was no longer fun. It was a job. A job I really didn't like.

I was stressing. I felt the pressure piling up.

Then, people started dropping like flies who had paid and they wanted to be reimbursed. I didn't want people mad at me, but I also now had a ton of fixed costs. I was stressing over room block for the hotel. I could be on the hook for 30 rooms x $150/night x 2 nights.

First 2 or 3 people. No big deal. Then 5 people. Then 10 people. Then 20 people. A total of about 30 people had paid and registered and now couldn't make it.

Which of course, I totally understand and I wanted to take care of them.

Somehow, someway with God's grace, we ended up getting every single person replaced and refunded. And a good handful were in the last week.

I was scrambling with adjusting the mastermind rooms and the coaching schedule for 1 on 1's and trying to handle every request that I could--- personally.

And oh, by the way --- my executive assistant quit about a month before the UnConference. Really horrible timing and I couldn't put more on my other staff. They were already maxxed out. Many, many details fell on my shoulders that shouldn't have.

However--- we got there. We made it to the finish line.

We got 65 people to the event, the room block was sold out. We made it!!!!

The halls were filled with conversation. Joy and laughter and conversations and connections. I sat sometimes by myself, taking in the noise. Watching other people. Smiling to myself and soaking in seeing other people connecting.

The moderators were on-point. They led so, so well.

What happened in those 6 rooms in 2025 was more than strategy or systems or deal flow. It was people showing up fully. It was honesty. Vulnerability. Laughter. Challenges shared. Encouragement given. Relationships formed that I know will last far beyond one event.

I’ve been looking back over some of the emails and messages that many of you sent after the event. I’m going to share a few of those in the comments below because I think it says more about what we created together than anything I could write here. And for those of you who weren’t able to be there this time—my hope is that you’ll feel how real this community is, and know there’s a seat waiting for you when you’re ready.

To every person who came, participated, listened, and gave—I’m deeply grateful.

And to

@Seth Williams

, Justin, Drew, Ajay, and

@Chris Duff

—thank you for stepping up as moderators and showing leadership that wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about being present, thoughtful, and honest. You made the Unconference what it was.

The VIP Day (i think) was a big hit. It was a brand new addition that

@Cameron Schulz

and I really opened up about how we are using leadership principles and AI in some really powerful ways. Kuddos to Cameron for being brave to step up and lead land investors to understand how we are applying AI in our business!!

Thank you all for making space for each other. Thank you for trusting me to host it. And thank you for reminding me why we do this work.

I was absolutely drained. Done. Finished.

I literally had nothing more left to give. I poured out my heart, my soul, my mind, and my energy into this event.

And this is why we aren't holding the big UnConference in 2026. I need to take a break from hosting a big mastermind event.

Next time, I'll probably hire an event planner to assist. But guess what--- at the end of the day, they will never care as much as I do.

However--- I am not done. I will be back this year and next year hosting small events.

Next month, Seth and I are stoked to have a very small group going to the Tetons.

In April 2026,

@Andy Rouse

and I have the hog hunt mastermind in TX going on where I am asking for help with logistics so that he and I don't have to carry the load.

I am considering a "UnConference Meet Up" for next summer which if I do hold it will be very, very casual and not super structured. Don't hold me to it though. I might change my mind.

I do know that I will hold a 2027 version of the UnConference and I hope each and every one of you can make it. Spread the word and get your friends to apply and come and hang out with us.

I may be beaten. I may be tired, but I ain't done yet.

—Dave

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