We are hard-wired to be like the Fraggles. But we are better off being like the the Doozers. Be A Doozer Not A Fraggle If you’ve ever watched the 80s tv show Fraggle Rock, you know the Fraggles and Doozers. The colorful, fur tuft tipped tail Fraggles only have a 30-minute work week. They dedicated their time to carefree enjoyment and play. They don’t like to think or work. The small green ant like Doozers spend all their time building things. They are dedicated to work and their … [Read more...]
Four Objections To Changing Conference Education And Experiences
Change freaks many of us out! We fear it. We ignore it. We refuse to accept it. It’s really not change that freaks us out. It’s the unknown of the outcome. It’s so much easier to keep things the same because we know the results. Defining Change According to psychologist and therapist Roger S. Gil, change is “…A modification to a person's environment, situation, or physical/mental condition that results in circumstances that challenge their existing paradigms. …It implies that humans … [Read more...]
Conference Improvement Starts With A Focus On The Attendee Experience
Improving attendee experiences is a top priority for the majority of conference planners. Yet few of us plan the attendee experience correctly. We approach conference planning from the inside-out. Considering the attendee experience is an afterthought. Most conference improvement plans look something like this: Systems & Resources → Procedures → Touchpoints → Interactions → Experiences. Although we don't usually use those words. We look at logistics and tools, operations, methods of … [Read more...]
Can Your Conference Really Be Personalized?
It seems to be a regular part of our normal life today -- the personalization of content, programs, products and services. Yet, our conferences still serve up generic content for the masses. We Notice When Personalization Is Absent Recently I observed an annual conference committee meeting of a major association. Staff and volunteer leaders were present. Graying male baby boomer veterans made up the majority of the committee. Three millennials (two males and one female) also served on the … [Read more...]
How Predictable Is Your Annual Conference?
Has your annual conference become predictable? Do attendees show up to the general session late because they know it starts with business for 20-30 minutes before the keynote? Predictable Meetings, Routine Conferences Predictable: behaving in a way that is expected and can be predicted; can be prophesied; can be foretold; to declare or indicate in advance; especially: foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason. It starts with an Opening General Session (OGS), where … [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...]
What Dr. Seuss, Horton The Elephant, Oprah And Conferences Have In Common
"We are here. We are here. We are here," cried the Whos of Who-ville. "Boil that dust speck! Boil that dust speck! Boil! Boil! Boil!" chanted the Wickersham brothers. Horton The Elephant Most people know the story of Horton the Elephant. Horton hears a small speck of dust talking to him. Amazingly, that small speck of dust is a tiny planet called Who-ville, home to the Whos. Horton can't see the Whos but can hear them because of his big ears. The Whos ask Horton to help protect them from … [Read more...]
14 Conference And Event Trends That Will Shape The Next Decade
What do the next ten years have in store for conference and event organizers? Plenty. 14 Conference And Event Trends That Will Shape The Next Decade As 2010 comes to a close, many conference and event professionals have been looking ahead to the 2011. Here's a look into 2011 and the next decade. 1. Increased complexity and volatility as change is the constant and uncertainty its response. The successful will be able to navigate rapidly changing times with increased flexibility. The ability to … [Read more...]
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