Cool Things My Friends Do: Richard Bagdonas - Operation Turkey

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Richard Bagdonas is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, family guy and all around good person.  I have known Richard for several years, and I fondly call him "the hugger", as his friendly nature is his calling card.  He greeted me with a big hug the second time I ever met him.

In addition to a successful career in the technology community (he has founded several companies including one of Austin's hottest start-ups - SubtleData), Richard founded Operation Turkey in 2000.  Operation Turkey is an Austin non-profit that feeds and clothes the homeless and less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day.  It all began with one person and some left-overs.  He plated up the extra Thanksgiving feast and gave it to a few homeless people on Austin's 6th Street.

This year in Austin 2,200 volunteers fed over 4,600 in Austin's homeless community.  Think about how cool that is.... 4,600 people with no place to go for the holiday meal were able to eat a traditional Thanksgiving feast.  Wow.

Operation Turkey has grown beyond Austin and even Texas.  Both Dallas and San Marcos have joined in the Operation Turkey goodness and last week volunteers in each city handed out 1,000 meals.  There were 30 other participating cities around the country.

The purpose is to provide a warm meal, clothing and toiletries to the most vulnerable members of our communities.  Richard is most pleased that this program has captured the hearts of so many people in the community.  The Travis County Sheriff's Department, Austin's Police Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and countless other organizations have adopted Operation Turkey.

If you would like to support this cause you can visit the website at www.operationturkey.com.  From there you can donate your time, financial resources or food and clothing donations.

In keeping with the weekly tradition of "Cool Things My Friends Do"... this is really cool that one man's idea can have such impact on many people near and far.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Association and Corporate Staff As The Secret Weapon For Conference Success

If your organization is hosting a conference or trade show you need to ensure that your staff members are fully participating.  If your people are corralled in the back of the room or in a side office, then you are missing out on the real value long-term the event can bring.

Sure, someone has to work the check-in table and take care of other house-keeping issues (and emergencies), but too often the association staff or company employees are not part of the community that is created when we bring people together.  Worse, sometimes the executives or sales staff get to mingle with the attendees, while everyone else has their face pressed to the window looking inward.  Meanwhile others are back at the office and not even present.  These official lines of demarcation can not only alienate team members, but also is opportunity lost to make connections and gain feedback.

Often I see staffs that do not feel "equal" to the VIP's who are attending your event.  It is clear in how they behave that they see themselves as many rungs down the ladder.  Why do they feel this way?  Because that is the message that the management and board are sending.  While wearing matching logoed shirts is a good idea to help attendees identify who works for the organization, those colorful polos and oxfords should not come with a label of second class status.  In fact, it should be just the opposite.

But why should your team be engaged and mingling side by side with your clients and vendors?  Because their participation brings stronger relationships to the overall organization and a boat load of first hand data on how people are experiencing the conference.  People cannot have a relationship with a company or association, they have those feelings for people.  But knowing someone by an email address is not the same as personal interactions.  When your constituency knows your staff personally they feel a stronger connections to the whole group.

And never forget: conference, trade show, convention or seminar is not really as much about the content as many mistakenly believe.  Oh yes, I know ... your "CONTENT IS KING" mantra is ringing in your head... but the reality is that if content were the real purpose then sending a White Paper would be a more cost effective delivery mechanism.

Bringing dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people together for a meeting is expensive.  But that does not mean there is not value (quick, someone tell the US Government this, as they are trying to pass laws that will hurt the $263 Billion industry that employs over 1.7 million people!).  No online webinar can replace the meaningful human-to-human connections and the powerful learning that happens in a face-to-face environment.  People are experiential beings and meetings have the power to anchor their feelings to the experience.

Sending your team into the crowd as an equal participant in the meeting is invaluable.  I have facilitated round-table conversation sessions at major conferences for companies and associations.   Those that have their properly trained staff at all the tables get the most value from these interactive sessions.  Those who do not get their people engaged miss out on the give and take in conversations that lead to meaningful connections.  Do not waste the chance to create bonds.

On occasion a hosting organization will worry if their team is professionally experienced enough to mingle with their members or clients.  YIKES.  You should not hire anyone who cannot converse with your target audience.  Besides, if given the opportunity and the right level of briefing, your team do great.  Do not sell them short!

I witnessed one association who recently had their people embedded in the crowd at one of their annual  conferences and the feedback from the staff and the attendees was all positive.  They had never tried this before because their previous leader had seemingly looked down on the staff.  The new CEO had a different opinion and the results were strong.  Give your people a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with your VIP's and everyone will benefit from the interactions.

Your staff can be the secret weapon that makes your event spectacular.  Both the experience for all involved and the information you can collect will bring long-term rewards.

Is your staff involved in your event or are they standing off on the side?

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Zig Ziglar 1926 - 2012

I heard online this morning that legendary speaker and author Zig Ziglar has passed away.  It would be difficult to be in the speaking business and not have been inspired by Mr. Ziglar.  I first saw him present in the early 1990s, and the way he touched the audience at the level of their soul was impressive.  It was the great orators like this man that made me want to be a speaker.

I had only met him once, and I am not one who feels worthy of writing a long honorarium about his life, career, etc...  I just did not feel that you can be active in any industry and not take pause when one of the legends passes away.

I take this moment on my blog to tip my hat (if I was wearing a hat) to Zig Ziglar.  Thank you for the information you shared in your books, tapes and live presentations.  And more importantly, thank you for helping shape the speaking industry.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

thom singer

*Photo linked from Mr. Ziglar's Facebook page.

Be Thankful For The People In Your Life

For the past few years I have used the Thanksgiving weekend as a trigger to remember those that I am thankful for in my life.

I am not sure where I got the idea, but each year I make a list of the 25 people I am most thankful are along for the ride in my journey. The list includes those who have been influential in my whole life and those that made a specific impact in the current year.  I do not publish this list, as it is not a brag sheet, but instead I use it to contemplate on those who make a difference in my world.  I then try to make sure that I let them know in some way that I appreciate their presence.

There is some poetic license uses in my list making.  I give a single slot to groups, couples and families that together contribute in some ways.  This might include the whole group of people I am actively engaged with in a business organization, or a family (husband, wife and kids, etc....) that are all part of my circle.  Yes, this means the list is bigger than 25 people, but it also allows me to think about the big picture and not worry about the numbers on the list.

My own immediate family gets individual lines, as I like to think of my wife, kids, brothers, parents, etc... with a highlight on the individual joy they bring.

With each person (or group) added to the list I contemplate the how and why I appreciate having them in my life and how they make me a better person. Some reasons are clear, some are broad, but all leave a mark in my heart.

I am thankful for the people in my life.  I know who they are, and I hope that I find ways to give back to their lives.  By taking the time to write down a list it ensures that I am not taking them for granted.

Who is special in your world?

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do: Melissa Lombard - The 5 Year Project

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

I met Melissa Lombard at the Blogathon ATX event in September 2012.  However, I already knew about her because of an interesting project that she had begun on her blog.  When Melissa moved to Austin earlier this year she started writing about the cool new people she was meeting in town.  Many of the people she had profiled were friends of mine, and the project had crossed my path.  I immediately found it to be a great idea, as connecting with new people in a strange city can be difficult.  By intentionally interviewing people in the community one can quickly get a better feel for the personality of a town, while making new friends along the way.

She formalized her networking coffee chats into what she calls "The 5-Year Project".  Her goal is to meet one new person each week for coffee and blog about what she learns about their life and career.  While a busy life does not allow her to do it every week, she has reached "17 Cups" since June (which is ALMOST every week!!!).  -- Oh, and I was number seventeen.

Melissa is onto something very cool, thus why she featured in this week's "Cool Things My Friends Do" post.  Imagine the treasure that her blog will be at the end of five years.  That will get her to around 250 interviews with an eclectic group of people.  Her unique style of diving into what makes a person "tick" will make the collection of posts into a more that a "Whose Who", but instead a tapestry of personalities that keep Austin weird.

Whether you live in the Central Texas region or not, take the time to scroll through the posts on her blog.  She has had coffee with some very interesting Austinites, and it is a good way to realize who lives in our city.... as we often forget it is not just the people who live and work in our own silos.

If you ever relocate to a new city, I suggest you take this idea and repeat it in your own style.  It is a cool way to get to know folks anywhere.  Kudos to Melissa for a great idea!!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Facilitated Networking

Conference planners are looking for unique ways to encourage attendee engagement at corporate and association events.  I am seeing more interest in the discovery of distinct ways to cultivate the personality of meetings.

When I first started speaking about the power of business relationships the topic was viewed as a "nice to have" on an agenda.  Now having meaningful networking at a conference, trade show, convention, seminar and other gathering is necessary for an event to be considered a top tier conference attendee experience.  Facilitating connections is a "must have" if an event is to reach its full potential.

While everyone wants to people to engage, nobody wants hokey networking games. There is a desire to help foster connections among attendees (and vendors, too), but there is also a pervasive fear of silly ice breakers that alienate part of the crowd and make senior executives to roll their eyes at the activities.

"The Conference Catalyst" program is not a facilitated ice breaker in the traditional sense.  When included as part of an event I set the tone for the audience interaction. The presentation is more than a keynote or a breakout session, but is weaved into the schedule to encourage people to take the initiative to get beyond the idle chit-chat and have more fun getting to know each other.

Here is a link to an article written by a technology journalist who was present at a conference where I served as the Conference Catalyst:

http://www.informationweek.in/blogs/editorsblog/12-11-12/Relationships_matter_but_meet_at_least_once.aspx

He did a great job of telling the story of what can happen when people at an event are open to making real connections.  (If you have an interest in "The Conference Catalyst", please feel free to give me a call so we can discover if it is the right fit for your event).

The atmosphere for networking at a conference does not happen by accident.  Some still believe that an open bar and a good band will help create the bonds that people seek when they participate in the networking events.  But without the understanding that a conference is a "mini-society", too many people fall into bad habits that stifle the desired human-to-human conversations.

Many sit with co-workers the whole time or pass the breaks tapping on their smart phones.  This does not allow the event's culture to blossom.  Introducing a catalyst that transforms traditional networking into something that is experiential is key to having the event become legendary.

There are many ways to facilitate networking without being hokey (you do not need to hire me!)..... but leaving it all to chance is an invitation for the mundane.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections. http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

Cool Things My Friends Do: Bryan Menell Named CEO of SubtleData

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Bryan Menell has recently taken the reigns as CEO of a new software company in Austin, Texas.  SubtleData was officially launched in August 2011, but has recently come out of the gate with a "bang", garnering a lot of attention in tech funding circles taking the top spot on AngelList for several days.  It's Point of Sales app platform already has over 200 companies building upon its architecture, and I am sure the company will continue to have great results with Bryan in the chief executive officer role.

I have known Bryan since 1978.  Yes, we were 12 years old.  We attended Jr. High and High School together in California.  And while we had over 800 students in our graduating class, we ran in the same circle of friends. Coincidentally we both landed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s, and have remained friends for most of our lives.  In today's transient world (especially before Facebook) it is not always common to have regular contact with childhood friends.

Bryan was always an achiever, and his career has been a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit.  He has founded several companies, including taking Perficient, Inc public in 1999.  He has a natural ability to seek ways of creating and growing new businesses in the fast paced technology world.  He sees opportunity and takes action.

Along with his wife, Angie, he founded the "Austin Tech Happy Hour" five years ago, and is a catalyst that brings people together in the local tech community.  The monthly gathering of those who work in and around the technology community has been a top networking event for over five years (and is still going strong).

Congratulations to Bryan on his new company.  I predict big things from SublteData in the next few years!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Meetings Industry Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs look for ways to change the world, improve situations, invest in the future and create something new and more progressive.  They seek fresh ideas and retool how businesses runs.  They want to grow something where there had been nothing. Entrepreneurs are who will save the future and lead us out of the economic uncertainty we have all lived through the past few years.

Many businesses are undergoing changes... and it is great to see the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well.  As one who proudly works in and around the "Meetings Industry" I regularly encounter those who host and plan conferences, trade shows, conventions, seminars, etc.... that are excited to try something new in the execution of their gathering. They are focused on creating a conference attendee experience that is unique and meaningful.  The future of the meetings business is unknown, but I assure you there will be changes in the months and years ahead.  The new face of events will come from those who are entrepreneurs at heart.

Dictionary.com defines and entrepreneur as:

“a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.”

In June 2012 Forbes compared this definition to the one from Merriam-Webster:

“one who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.”

Do you see the difference?  It is in the subtle use of the word "any".  An entrepreneur does not need to be running a business.... it can be any enterprise.  

I also believe that the spirit of entrepreneurs can live inside larger organizations.  One does not need to be the leader of the company or association to be an entrepreneur.  Sometimes the word intrapreneur is used to describe those inside who have this same drive.  To be a leader does not require the job title as much as it does the desire to create something more and the willingness to take action.

In my travels I see many entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs.  But there are also those who are the exact opposite.  Being timid and fearful of change  and risk is the nemesis of progress.   In industries that are undergoing massive changes those who cling to the old ways are not the ones who will blaze the new trails toward success.  

Both definitions  of what it is to be an "entrepreneur" mention "risk".  A true entrepreneur will have to take chances.   However, risk means there can be bumps in the road, and those who fear any turbulence will cling to their check lists and try to continue to keep the status quo.  

The "Meetings Industry" (and other businesses) are at a crossroads.  Now is the time to celebrate the entrepreneurs in our midst and encourage those who are willing to take risks to identify the new paths.  In addition to taking risks, entrepreneurs need an incentive.  If we do not champion the planners, hoteliers, speakers, caterers, association executives, transportation providers, AV companies, entertainers, airlines, and other meeting service professionals who have the entrepreneurial spirit, then they may not show their faces. 

What are you seeing in the meetings you attend that lead you to believe the future looks bright?  Or what problems are staring us in the face?

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

What I Enjoy About Being A Professional Speaker and Trainer -- EVERYTHING!

In the past several weeks I have been asked the same question by three different people:  "what do you hate about being a speaker?"

The question seemed to center around the parts being a professional speaker and trainer that some may not enjoy - such as travel hassles, going through TSA security, uncertainty of work, parties a ton of strangers, unfamiliar hotels, demanding clients, etc....

It was interesting to me that I could not think of a single thing I hate about being a speaker.  I love all of it.  Seriously, it still thrills me that I can earn a living doing something I enjoy.

Yes, a long line at an airport or a flight snafu is not a joy, but I know it is part of the whole experience and I plan for delays and take it all in stride.  Being away from my wife and kids is not ideal, but when I am not on the road I have more free time than I did when I worked in a corporate job, so there are decent trade offs.

There is nothing in my role that I hate, or even strongly dislike.  I am honored to be part of the meetings and speaking industries and still get excited with each new client and every new project.  I have delivered 56 presentations in 2012 (from small local talks to major international conferences) and I have not had a single experience that would make me question my career choice.

That being said, not every talk goes just how I would want it, and not everyday is filled with birds chirping in sunny skies.  Yet, I smile knowing that this is my job, and I like to believe that the audiences I serve can tell that I am thrilled to be with them each and every time.

I love being a speaker and trainer.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Spirit of NSA Day 2012

As a member of the National Speakers Association and a supporter of the meetings and speaking industries, I wanted to share that November 14th is "Spirit of NSA Day".  The purpose of the day is to honor NSA founder Cavett Robert.  Mr. Robert was famous for believing there is enough business for everyone, and that speakers should help and support each other, rather than always compete.  He believed that we could "build a bigger pie" so that everyone could have a piece.

In a world where many people are self-focused, the most successful speakers that I know are always willing to invest time to assist other speakers who are looking to learn more about how to grow in the business.  I am always surprised when I meet a speaker who is not supportive or open to sharing best practices, as my exposure to the business through NSA has always been one of giving.

As an active board member for both the Austin Chapter and the NSA XY Group I believe I would not have a successful business without my connections in NSA (XY, Austin, and the whole of NSA).  The people with whom I have met and now call my friends have been both an inspiration and my teachers.  Together my closest friends in the organization push each other to achieve more.  Without this web of support it would be a very lonely business.

To all those who are speakers (NSA members and non-members).... I wish you a very happy "Spirit of NSA Day".

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

From the NSA Website:

SPIRIT OF NSA DAY

November 14 has been designated a national day of advocacy for the National Speakers Association
To honor NSA Founder Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE, and continue NSA’s legacy of sharing and giving, November 14, 2012 will be our 6th Annual Spirit of NSA Day, a national day of advocacy encouraging NSA members to support one another. Every November 14 serves as a reminder to NSA members to:

• Focus on giving back
• Provide genuine support to speaking colleagues
• Take time to connect, help, mentor or refer business to other members without any expectation of reciprocation

Many members already follow Cavett’s role model. However, imagine the strength of spirit and growth of our profession if all of our members focus on unconditionally giving of themselves to our community on this day. The NSA community is known for the concept of removing competition by building a bigger market for all speakers. The strength of NSA is in the education we provide and the strong community we have built. As a member, you are asked to support the Spirit of NSA by introducing colleagues to clients, referring business or mentoring emerging speakers.

Help the legacy continue and build a bigger NSA pie by participating in Spirit of NSA Day on November 14, 2012!

How you can participate in Spirit of NSA Day:

• Provide peer to peer encouragement
• Introduce a colleague to a potential client
• Refer business to a colleague
• Mentor an emerging speaker

My Experience Speaking In Macua, China

I had the honor to be a speaker and "The Conference Catalyst" at the 2012 Dell India IT Executive Summit in Macau, China.  This annual event gathers together India's top CIO's for three days of education and networking.

The conference was fantastic for all in attendance.  The high-level learning included keynote addresses from Dell executives, industry analysts, and international CIO's from companies and governments.  The evening social events were all great fun: a banquet at the Macau Tower, a city tour, and a high energy party which was full of interactive entertainment.

Before the trip I had spent time researching how my message of "Connecting With People in a Social Media Crazy World" could resonate with an audience of executives from India. While I speak regularly to audiences in the US that have international attendees, it was important to me that I understood the Indian business culture. I discovered that we spend a lot of time focusing on differences in our world cultures, but in the end we are more alike than we are different. Subtle variances exist, but having long-term and meaningful business relationships matters everywhere. Belonging to a communities of people is important to everyone.

Actively participating in the summit for three days reminded me that IT executives face a career of constant change.  More than most professionals, the tools for CIO's and their teams are changing almost daily.  New hardware and software options are constantly being released, and employees are demanding the latest and greatest options. When change happens this fast we most need the human-to-human relationships side of business more than ever before. While Dell began as a provider of computers, it is now a leading edge enterprise solutions company. There commitment to helping their customers succeed was evident in all aspects of how they organized the conference -- and they placed a huge emphasis on people!

This event was my 56th presentation of 2012 (including conference keynotes, breakout sessions, and internal corporate training classes).  I have had the pleasure this year to speak at a variety of conferences, trade shows, conventions, seminars, sales meeting, and other internal and external events for companies and associations.  While all have been wonderful, going to China to speak for this gathering of Indian business executives was one of the highlights of my professional speaking career (while I have spoken internationally several times, this was the farthest I had ever traveled).

I had never been to Macau.  The event was held at the Venetian Hotel and Casino, which is the largest hotel in Asia and the largest casino in the world.  It is over three times larger than the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Macau was a Portuguese colony from 1840 (although was a Portuguese trading post from the 1500s) until 1999 when it was returned to China.  Macau, along with Hong Kong, remains a "Special Administrative Region" (SAR) within the People's Republic of China.  This gives it economic freedom from the communist system... and along with much of China, the place is booming!

I look forward to working with more international clients in the future.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

***Here is a link to a write up about the Dell India event on the InformationWeek - India website:  (http://www.informationweek.in/blogs/editorsblog/12-11-12/Relationships_matter_but_meet_at_least_once.aspx)

Cool Things My Friends Do - Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insight Strategy

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Sometimes you must travel 8200 miles to meet your neighbor.  While speaking (I delivered an Opening Keynote and "The Conference Catalyst" program) at an IT conference in China, one of the other speakers was also from Austin, Texas.  I had never met Patrick Moorhead before landing in Hong Kong, but we continued on our trip to Macau, China together and became fast friends.

Pat is is one of the most cited technology analysts in the world. Moor Insights and Strategy is recognized by clients and cited in the press as experts in the high tech hardware, software, services, technology, and usage models for smartphones, tablets, PCs, living room devices, social media, and games.

He has been recognized in publications like the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barron’s, Marketwatch, VentureBeat, PCMag, ZDNet, Computerworld, PC World, and many more.  Plus he is a regular contributor to Forbes and Forbes.com.

Pat is a great speaker, too.  His industry insights and natural communication style made him a popular presenter at the event of 200+ CIO's.  I can see why clients bring him all over the world to speak at their technology events!

Although I have only known Pat a few days, he was a natural fit for my "Cool Things My Friend's Do" post this week, as he has created a cool career.  He took an extensive tech marketing background and a love of all things gadget, and coupled them into an advisory that helps enterprise companies tackle problems at the ecosystem intersections inside and between the phone, tablet, computer and consumer appliance markets. Ecosystems include the hardware, software, content, and services required to deliver a customer solution.

For more information on Patrick Moorhead you can see him company website (http://www.moorinsightsstrategy.com/) or read his Forbes blog (http://blogs.forbes.com/patrickmoorhead/).

I look forward to seeing Pat around Austin in the future.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Are Your Customers Experiencing "Delta" or "Cathay Pacific" When Working With You?

Do I need to explain?

Have A Great Day!

thom singer

Careful About Jumping To Conclusions

When you are on your journey through life, sometime things will go astray.  Occasionally you will make a mistake, other times there will be things that happen out of your control.  And then there are the situations where you are working hard to do the right thing and another person interprets your actions in a way different from you intentions.  Bummer. But people do jump to conclusions without facts.

The older I get the more I understand how quickly we form strong opinions from our own vantage points.  I do it.  So do most other people.  Yet the more I witness the jumping to conclusions the more I am perplexed by our human race.  We are an interesting species and I wonder how we have survived for thousands of years!

If you screw up (we all do from time to time), and it is your fault, learning from the experience and striving not to make the same mistakes each time is paramount to your future success.  The cliche expression "to error is human..." is based in the fact that everyone makes mistakes... but we quickly seem to forget that when it is another who biffs.

When a problem is instigated beyond your actions there is still wisdom that comes from reviewing how you handle the aftermath.  There is always a back story to gain from and what happens in the end is where we can find the area for personal growth.

But if it is all a misunderstanding it can be especially painful.  When you work hard to do the right thing and another is convinced you were out of line.... it can leave you wreathing.  I have been on both sides of this.  I have held strong opinions of a situation only to later learn I was wrong, and I have had others falsely assume ideas about my motivation while being totally off base.  When this happens both people usually lose in some way.

The lesson I have taken to heart learned is that when angry (or filled with other emotions) people become clairvoyant.  I now attempt not to fill in the blanks in my mind without facts.  Yet I have to accept that others will make things up from time to time and to radically work to change their mind will often fall on deaf ears.  It hurts when conclusions are assumed and are wrong (or partially wrong).

When something goes astray (you screw up, it is an act of God, or a misunderstanding), the best thing to do is move on to what is next.  Apologizing goes a long way when appropriate, although an acceptance of that apology depends on the other person's character.

Those with experience know that moving forward and not wallowing in your own self pity is the best way to get back on track.  This is just a reminder... as I am sure that my readers never jump to conclusions!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do - Craig Price: Conference Recaps

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

My friend Craig Price is a speaker who has launched a new product offering of "Conference Recaps" for business and association events.  

Many conventions have a plethora of breakout options, and that leaves attendees with a dilemma... they have to choose where to be, but often never know what they missed.  What if there was a way to increase your attendees Return on Attendance? A way they can get important action items from all the presentations, even the ones they couldn't attend? What if it was fun and engaging to boot!?

Craig Price delivers entertaining and informative event-recaps that gives everyone at an event the ability to bring home vital information….even from sessions they did not attend.

Craig will:

Interview all of your speakers and presenters before the event, gleaning important information about each topic.

Get to the heart of the presentation by looking for the information your attendees can implement immediately

Attend all the sessions to get the up to the minute information and interact with attendees for “real-time” results

Deliver a completely customized presentation for your event the way only Craig can…with humor and energy

Create helpful follow-up materials to ensure your attendees keep learning long after your event is over

With so many options to choose from, attendees can network and go to any session they want knowing they can still get value from any sessions they miss. More importantly they look forward to coming to the next event convinced of the value they have received at YOUR event.

In a world where meeting organizers are seeking something new and different.... Craig Price might just be an option to provide a unique Conference Attendee Experience!

Have A Great Day

thom singer