There is always a reason to not attend a conference, even if you know it will be valuable. Your schedule will always be busy. Booking flights and hotels is far from fun. But the rewards of live events vastly outweigh the opportunity cost, especially nowadays. Here’s a quick primer on how to minimize the logistical hassle of attending a conference while maximizing the value. Set yourself up for success in these ways.
Handle the Details Immediately
Attending a conference like Exchange is useful because it shakes up what you are doing and opens you up to new perspectives, ideas, and contacts. But routine has an almost inescapable gravity. There is always more to do and you will always feel behind on the day-to-day. Accordingly, to break out of the orbit of the mundane requires effort and energy. Complacency won’t serve you.
Once you make the decision to attend an event and register, push through and book your hotel and flight. Generally, these don’t have to be perfect. You can change later, if you need to, but locking in a lower price and clearing that organizational effort off your plate is well worth it.
Set Goals to Achieve Success
Many professionals attend conferences with an open mind, but without a concrete plan. A game time decision is appealing, because it lets you remain open to opportunities as they arise and allow you to follow your instincts. This is all well and good, but setting some goals in advance is always useful. Is there a particular speaker you want to see? Are you looking to make new professional connections? Are you trying to grow your AUM? Setting a goal, even a general one, can set you up for success once you are on the ground.
Conferences Are Work, But Leave Other Work Behind
Attending a professional conference can be fun, but they remain work. That said, to get the most out of them, it is important to leave the rest of your work at the door. Close the loop on whatever you can and set yourself up for success by finishing tasks in advance so that you can engage with the live event without anything distracting you.
Challenge Yourself and Find Success
Because you are already breaking routine, conferences are a terrific opportunity to push yourself and grow. Challenge yourself to break out of your other habits and hang-ups. Shy in a crowd? Give yourself permission to engage in happy hours or coffee meet-ups like an extrovert. Trouble engaging with the fundamentals of a particular type of investment tool? Seek out a panel that might touch on it.
Update Your Socials
You are about to meet a host of new people. Make sure your social media accounts like LinkedIn are up to date and accurately reflect who you are and what you do.
Have Fun
Conferences are about stretching yourself, learning new things, and expanding your business, but they are also fun. Give yourself permission to enjoy your trip, tack a vacation on either side if you can, and set yourself up to come back with new ideas and plenty of energy.
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