Before the pandemic, one could argue that jobs with life-and-death consequences were surely more stressful than planning an annual conference. But things have changed. According to a study by the World Scholarship Vault, event planner stress levels are hitting a new high — the third-most stressful job in the world for 2023. Meanwhile, nearly every article I read or industry panel I attend is proclaiming that our industry is nearing a full recovery. If this were the case, your stress levels … [Read more...]
Four Smart Savvy Conference Tips For Attendees
It's the start of the fall conference season. Some of my trade association colleagues are making their annual journey to the trade association Mecca. Well, let's not get too carried away with calling ASAE's Annual Meeting and Expo Mecca. Four Tips To Make Your Conference Experience More Successful Whether you're attending ASAE12 or another conference, here are four smart, savvy conference tips to make your experience a success. 1. Take The Path Less Traveled Conference attendees tend to stick … [Read more...]
Cheat Sheet: #ASAE12 Annual Meeting Sessions For Professional Development Staff
ASAE 2012 Annual Meeting and Expo offers a wide variety of education sessions. Here's a cheat sheet of the education opportunities specific for trade association professional development staff. Sunday, August 12, 2012, 1:30 - 2:45 PM Video as an Educational and Communication Tool Dallas Convention Center (DCC): D171 John Cox JD, Jeff Ghannam, David Welch The explosive use of video presents an opportunity for associations to reach their members in new and creative ways. Learn the value of using … [Read more...]
Big Hair, Big Bling, Big Money, Big Boots: Things To Know Before You Go To ASAE 12 In Dallas
Everything is bigger in Texas. Yes, in Texas size matters. At least, that's what most Texans want you to believe! Whether its Texas-sized chicken fried steak smothered in gravy, boot-scottin' country & western bars, Sam Moon's bling and fashion accessories stores, the Texas State Fair, Highland Park mansions or the Dallas' Cowboy's Stadium, it's all bigger than real life. Dallas is serious about its drama! 15 Things To Know Before You Go To Dallas If you're attending ASAE's 2012 … [Read more...]
Enough Of Slow Death Conferences!
"It's like attending a slow death. Once you've been to one conference, you've been to them all. They are boring!" Those words echoed in my ears like a YouTube video continuing to loop. They stung. Resonated. Pricked my brain. They sat on my heart like concrete blocks tied to my feet and sunk in the water. They sucked the life out of our conversation. Yet, my friend's words rang with truth. Recipes Lead To Imitators Recently Chris Brogan wrote about how people want recipes. We want tried and … [Read more...]
Six Research Tactics To Continually Improve Your Annual Meeting
R&D. Those three characters can strike fear in some and dread in others. Your annual meeting is just one touchstone in a portfolio of customer touchpoints. Like any gadget, service, or software, the annual meeting fills a need and provides solutions to customers. Usually it generates revenue for the organizing company. And like any good product or service, a successful annual meeting requires research and development (R&D) to thrive. Yet R&D is often over looked by most meeting … [Read more...]
What Would Happen If? How To Eat Your Own Dogfood
"If you want to be disruptive, don't start with your best practices," says Unmair Haque. "Try instead with your industry's worst practices and take tiny steps--or better yet, giant leaps--towards bettering them." Umair Haque's post, "Why You Should Focus On Your Worst Practices" got me thinking. His statement "Diet on your own dogfood" resonated with me. Haque's Four Ways To Use Your Worst Practices For Improvement Haque provides four ways to discover your worst practices and turn them around … [Read more...]
Four Overlooked Tips To Make Your Conference Experience More Successful
If you're like me, you're probably planning on attending at least one conference during the coming year. How do you prepare for your conference attendance? Do you make a list of goals or people that you want to meet before you attend? Or do you attend with a free spirit attitude and let spontaneity rule? Here Are Four Often Overlooked Tips To Make Your Conference Experience More Successful 1. Take The Path Less Traveled During a conference, attendees tend to travel together in packs. … [Read more...]