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TAMPA BAY • FEBRUARY 23-24 2026

This FINAL encore experience will be unlike any other. Because like everything we do, it's been "reimagined" from beginning to end. It's not a virtual or hybrid event. It's not a conference. It's not a seminar, a workshop, a meeting, or a symposium. And it's not your typical run-of-the-mill everyday event crammed with stages, keynote speeches, team-building exercises, PowerPoint presentations, and all the other conventional humdrum. Because it's up close & personal by design. Where conversation trumps presentation. And where authentic connection runs deep.

Time to Shine

The general vibe for Time to Shine is a call to action to use our innate abilities and positive energy to overcome our fears and create a better future for ourselves and others. Lighting up the sky is the metaphor used to visualize this energy and it further talks about how this light allows us to see others and infect others with this positive energy and set them free. Free from the fears that we all have in our lives and which manifest in so many ways but all have the same effect: They hold us back!. So the song cries for “There is nothing holding me back, I can clearly see”.

Because darkness represents fear and by using our positive energy to light up the sky, we can now clearly see and we overcome our fears as darkness is no more.

The song title “Time to Shine” is the call for action to do this NOW. The music for this song had to be positive, upbeat and as infectious as the positive energy described in the song as the light that is infecting others to be set free. So the tempo is fairly quick (125 BPM) and the Chorus and lyrics invite the listener to sing along. The hope is that the listener by singing the chorus is inspired to overcome their fears while the verse and bridge are more of an introspection.

Don Vans
Don Vans
Don Vans was originally born in the Netherlands and after living in Belgium, Curacao, and Venezuela, he moved to the US 22 years ago. He started playing guitar at 15 and played in several bands before formally studying guitar at Fontys College in the Netherlands after which he continued to play in bands and doing studio work. Additionally, Don has a Bachelor's in Science in Electronics Engineering and Masters in Business Administration and has a career as a Global Telecom executive.

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8 CONVERSATIONS

  1. Hello Don,

    Positivity is gaining ‘popularity’. In fact it is an essential part of the human spirit. Your essay and music/ Wonderful, uplifting, generating good vibes. Good vibes prompted by good, up-beat music generate endorphins. Thank you for sharing!

  2. I am so happy our paths crossed Don! We need more people and especially musicians like yourself! Music and words carry such a strong energy that create worlds. When I became more conscious of how that works, I started to look at my music and thought: If thoughts can do that to a human body, or create an entire life built on a believe like “not good enough”, imagine what I create when I sing night after night songs about suffering and pain? 😳 Not only for myself, but what will I pass on to others as well? I am very happy and grateful to see more artists are becoming aware. Your song “Time to Shine” and the story behind it are amazing! Thank you for creating it and sharing it with the world!

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