Send Torie to INBOUND 2015

Hi, everyone. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Torie Sullivan, and asking for money is terribly uncomfortable for me, but here goes nothing...

For my friends and family, please FORGO ANY GIFTS (Birthday, Christmas, etc) for the next year and put that money toward this cause. It really is the only gift I could want this year.

The Beginning

I graduated from Hood College in 2013 with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, a "custom" major I crafted the curriculum for, that has since been established as a regular offering to all students. I also graduated with crippling student loan debt. (Shocker, I know.)

Getting Started
After struggling to find full time work after graduation, I started working at a marketing agency in December of last year, prior to which I had never even heard the term “inbound marketing” used. (Don’t judge me.) So I made it my business to learn.


In the past 7 months, I can say with the utmost confidence that I am now a skilled inbound marketing strategist and for the first time, I’m truly excited about and proud of the work I do everyday. I’ve even started training newer members of our team with great success. 

My Passion
Work like this is the reason I made my major and I’m incredibly fortunate to enjoy my work as much as I do. It's what keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning. My passion. My drive. Me.

I have an insatiable appetite for growth. I’m also a nice person, just in case you were wondering, and my friends tell me I’m funny… sometimes. 

Anyway, you know where this is going. 

Where I am Today

Since learning so much about inbound methodology in the last 7 months, I’m now looking for more training, more conversation, more brainstorming, and more passionate people like myself to talk to and learn from. This September, HubSpot is hosting their annual week-long intensive inbound marketing conference, INBOUND 2015 in Boston, MA.

Unfortunately, I simply can not afford the ticket, even at the discounted prices that I have hunted to find. 

Humbling Myself

So there you have it, and here I am, hat in hand, tail between my legs and all that, asking, if not begging, for an opportunity to attend INBOUND 2015. I want so badly to better myself, grow professionally and nurture my seedling marketing career.

I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that if I were to attend this conference, I would be able to absorb invaluable knowledge that I would bring back to each and every person that I work with and for, as I have in the past.

To Be Honest

I've never asked for this much money from family, friends or strangers before, and I'm honestly not 100% comfortable with it, because I strongly believe that I should be able to fully support myself.

However, given the unrealistic price of the conference and my millennial/recent-grad financial status, I've committed to humbling myself before the Internet community in the faint hope that this may actually become possible. 

I'll end with a quote from one of my biggest inspirations, who will also coincidentally be speaking at this conference: 

“If you’re frustrated because you’re not getting what you want, stop for a second: Have you actually flat-out asked for it? If you haven’t, stop complaining. You can’t expect the world to read your mind. You have to put it out there, and sometimes putting it out there is as simple as just saying, “Hey, can I have that?” 

― Sophia Amoruso, #GIRLBOSS


So even if I don't raise a single dollar, at least I can say I tried. Thanks for listening, everyone.

I know this story is painfully long, but I had to put it out there: “Hey, can I raise enough money for a ticket to INBOUND 2015?” 

The goal I've listed would cover a full-week pass and the cheapest lodging I could find. I will be covering my own transportation. Every dollar is sincerely appreciated, from the bottom of my heart. 

Thanks for considering my plea.

Warmly, 

Torie Sullivan