Cleveland, Ohio, April 26, 2013

After a wonderful morning, I was even more energized for what was coming next.

I changed into my lavender dress to match our keynote speaker, Bill Carter, and headed out with him to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

We were greeted warmly by their superb staff and taken to the Green Room where there were refreshments and comfortable chairs waiting for us.

After safely stashing our belongings, we explored the inside of the theater where he’d deliver his keynote lecture and took time to tour the exhibits.

Every time I see Bill, it’s usually for just a few minutes—a quick catch-up, a hug, and then he’s gone. But this time, I actually had him all to myself for over an hour, which was an incredible gift. He has a habit of hopping around the planet to do amazing things, and in no way, shape or form do I expect or want him to slow down. But damn, it was fun to talk with him.

When it was time to send him to the stage, I quickly learned how to use his iPhone as a cash register (I’d be selling DVDs for him after the lecture) and joined my friends in the front to hear him present.

Of course, knowing him since 2006, and being a die-hard U2 fan, I thought that I’d heard everything he was about to say.

Boy, was I wrong.

He told the story of how he came to be friends with U2, and how the famous Sarajevo satellite link-ups happened, and he did so in such a way that those of us who were in the audience felt as if we were re-living every moment right along with him.

He gave anecdotal details about his conversations with the band that I don’t recall seeing anywhere else, and then he took questions from the crowd.

I became so enveloped in his responses that I nearly missed my cue to get up and leave a few minutes early to set up his book signing table out in the hallway.

As I was arranging his Miss Sarajevo DVDs and chatting with the Rock Hall staff about how captivating he was, I heard the crowd roar and began to see fans pour out of the auditorium.

And none of them left.

They all darted right over to our table and began buying books and DVDs for him to sign.

When Bill emerged and took his seat, I tried to focus on selling his DVDs (that was my job, after all), but I did catch glimpses of fans with tears in their eyes, jubilant smiles and kind comments as they approached him. It warmed my heart.

I’m so glad he was able to make it to our conference and touch so many people.