In praise of the humble conference

It’s that time of year again:  conference season.  Now I know, for those of you who don’t attend conferences, this is a real yawn but, maybe, by talking about them all the time, I might just encourage one or two more of you to take the plunge.  It doesn’t really matter which one you go to - well as long as you are entitled to attend it doesn’t, I am sure you will leave all the richer for the experience.

I have attended three in the last few weeks: FIDI, OMNI and EUROMOVERS.  At each one I learned something useful.  I now know, for example, that I was right to be paranoid about my smart devices being a security risk. More importantly, I know what to do about it. I now have a much better understanding of AI, and even just used it to look out a new recipe for cooking lamb chops for dinner (OK, maybe not the best use of it but hey ho). Perhaps most useful, I now know why planning to sell a business is such an emotional nightmare and that everyone has one. Very comforting.

There was much more, all of which, with the possible exception of the chops, helped give me a better understanding of the industry, of business and of human nature.  Some think that conferences are all about thrusting business cards into each other’s hands or raising points of order with the chairman at the AGM. Others reckon it’s all golf, booze and overly expensive hotels. Well, yes, there is an element of all of those things, but it’s much more.  I defy anyone to attend a trade conference and not come home with something that will benefit their business, a new friend or two, and a world experience that they will treasure forever.

Think about it logically.  Many people travel around the world attending every conference that will have them.  Still more have their favourites and go back year after year.  Are they doing that because they need a drink or are craving the inside of yet another Marriott hotel (JW or otherwise)?  I think not.  They do it because they enjoy it, and they enjoy it because they like the people, they like the experience, they learn lots of useful things and they often get new business.  Of course they do.

If you have not been to an industry conference before, maybe the next one will be for you.       

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