It is so strange how conferences always seem to happen when I need an energy pick me up. When inspiration has waned, or when I need to connect with people who “get” what I’m trying to do. In my old job that was the case, in fact, I lasted longer in my old job than I ever expected because I would get re-energized by a well crafted and amazing conference.
FinCon15
Is the conference that re-energizes me as I work towards sustainable self-employment and passive income. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this particular conference, FinCon is a conference for writers, companies, products, and non-profits in the personal finance niche. This will be my fourth year attending this conference. I started attending when I randomly stumbled across this conference a week before it happened in my hometown of Denver, CO. Then, I traveled to: St. Louis, New Orleans, and this week to Charlotte, N.C.
Conferences + Dreams=Dream Life
I love conferences because you typically are surrounded by people who are trying to achieve…something. It could be a work related goal such as growing your clientele, it could be launching a cool new product, or it could be growing your dream life.
For me, I am actively working on creating, nurturing and growing my “dream life.” When looking at conferences to attend I am looking for several components that help me gauge wether or not this is worth my time and energy commitment.
Things I Look At
- Enthusiasm-are the people attending this conference AMPED UP!! Are people freaking out and talking about the conference? Is there a buzz among the attendees?
- Cost-Regardless of enthusiasm, I want to see if the conference is affordable OR that I can build business, connections, or gain information that will create a nice return on investment in terms of time away from home and work.
- The People-Do the attendees sound like they are looking forward to meeting and actively networking with one another? What’s the point of going to a conference where everyone is inwardly focused vs. outwardly focused?
- The City-If I’m going to travel (and I LOVE traveling) I really want to go to towns that I’m excited to visit. I have gone to conferences that are in cities that I’m not that excited about, but when it’s a rock star town it just adds more to the experience.
- Sessions and Panels-Will I learn new information that will help propel me forward personally and professionally? Are the sessions and panels geared towards multiple tracks? Beginning/Intermediate/and Advanced tracks? I have skills in some areas and no skills in others so I look for a range of levels.
- Transportation-Is it easy to get to the city the conference is hosted in? AND, is it easy to take public transit, etc. to get to the conference hotel?
- Fun-What activities are available to attendees so that there is a mix of fun and learning? Are the activities affordable, included in the ticket, easy to get to? Is transportation included in the cost?
- Website Information-Is the information on the website clear and easy to understand? Is information updated often?
- Opportunities to Contribute or Participate-Is there a “call for speakers?” Or for panelists? Can you volunteer or host an event?
Going to conferences if approached strategically can help you grow your business, increase your reach at your job, and present you with numerous opportunities for professional growth. Make sure that you have a strategy and overall goal for the conference that you need to achieve. I have friends who attend FinCon who have a specific monetary goal in terms of business opportunities that they’re trying to attract. Typically, they more than recoup the cost of attending these events with those projects.
Are You Going To a Conference This Year?
How Will It Help You Move Towards Your Goals?
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So…you are going. I’ll miss you terribly and hope to see you next year. Have fun!
Yes-but it helps that my ticket was $11 dollars roundtrip. You had Greece this year!! Will miss you Maria-see you next year.
I can’t believe it’s finally starting tomorrow! I feel like I’ve been thinking about it forever. Plus, I spent a lot of time thinking about my site’s redesign. I’m also going to SocialPro in Las Vegas in November. It’ll be my first social media conference, so I’m pretty stoked.
Safe travels!! I will probably ask you about SocialPro-am not familiar with it and am interested.
I always enjoy conferences. I also look for the topics presented and the presenters! If the speakers are the industry leaders and/ or somebody I admire and respect, you can count me being there. I, too, get amped up being around other energized and like-minded people! Great article!
I am super pumped and I had a phenomenal time at FinCon. I’m currently working on my plan for next year and I think I’ll be going to 3 conferences (one international). Strangely, the international conference hasn’t announced its dates even though it’s pretty big.
For the first time ever, I went to a conference related to personal finance: The Canadian Personal Finance Conference. It had been on my list of goals for quite some time, but I had always missed it for various reasons. I learned a lot, met a lot of people whom I had only known online and it really was inspirational. It was exactly what I needed to get back into the blogging groove. The free swag and meals included is also a bonus! 🙂
I am so glad that you had a chance to check it out!! It’s amazing how much of an energy uptick I get each time I go to a really well run event. I love meeting the people, getting new ideas and information and being around my “tribe!” Free swag and meals always helps too LOL!