You might think that attending a conference or networking event will be a waste of time and sometimes they almost certainly can be save for the fact that you can treat it as a day out or some time out!  If you choose the right event you’re likely to experience some of the following:

i) Learn valuable information that helps you.  This can include new and more effective ways of doing things.

ii) Meet new contacts and suppliers.

iii) Exchange ideas and share experiences.

iv) Ask important questions and receive answers which can be discussed and sticking points ironed out.

v) Discuss different perspectives as most of the time “one answer doesn’t fit all” – it may need for you to look at the whole picture, your individual objectives and of course the figures to establish if the outcome you are after is commercially viable.

vi) Have fun it shouldn’t all be serious.

vii) Don’t expect to be able to know everything in your field.  Learning is a continual journey that develops over time.

viii) Focus on the most important points.  Follow the 80/20 priniciple.  Focus on those important things the 20% that will yield the best output the 80% for you.

Attend with a positive, enquiring mindset because you should be able to take away at least one of the above if not more away with you which I always feel pleased with.  It charges me up and gives me the momentum I’m looking for.

Do you have a positive experience that you would like to share with us or indeed useful points to add to the above list?

All the best

Selchouk Sami