by: Martha McBride
It’s that time again. You’re probably receiving enthusiastic emails encouraging you to register for your company’s annual conference. You’re probably reading these emails as you finish up your taxes and you may even think, “That’s *all* I made last year? Is it even worth the time and money to go to this thing?”
I’ll admit: with my many, many years in the direct sales industry, I’ve been there, done that, and would even say I’ve seen it all at annual convention.
Breakout sessions. Team building exercises. Motivational speakers. Product unveilings. Trip incentive announcements. Trainers. Tearful testimonials. Executives dancing to Kanye West’s Gold Digger. There are no real surprises left.
Even with that history, I would implore you, “Get thee to your company’s annual meeting.”
Why? Because it’s not just boas and tiaras! (As nice as those can be…)
Need to charge it and make up the difference with extra sales in the fall?
Need to bunk up 6 people to a room?
Need to drive 10 hours in the car?
Doesn’t matter. Just do what it takes to get there. If you’re not committed enough to attend convention, I’ll go out on a limb and say you should probably just go ahead and resign. It’s that important to your business.
The energy of the annual meeting is something that you absolutely cannot replicate. Miss it and you’ve missed a chance to get pumped up, learn what you need to know, and stoke the fire burning within you.
In fact, I’d like to share with you a Top 10 list I developed on the way home from the recent annual conference of the company with whom I currently have a field organization.
If I can feel this way about an opportunity and a company, while working as a full-time, on-site consultant for yet another company, and after DOZENS of similar meetings, just imagine what attending conference can do for YOU and for YOUR team.
Signs you’ve just left an exceptionally inspiring conference.
- You have to remind yourself not to stand up, clap and yell “Whoooo hoooo!!!” every time the pilot makes an announcement.
- Your broad perma-smile seems normal to you, but appears to startle some of your fellow travelers.
- Your arms twitch – almost visibly! – with the desire to hug everyone you talk to.
- When people around you hesitate in their movement, speech, or decisions, you’re tempted to ask them, “Are you in? Or are you IN?!??”
- When someone asks you what you do, you find yourself saying, “I’m a loooooooove magnet.” (That’s for YOU, Jon Gordon!)
- You find yourself scrawling warm & HOT lead lists on napkins and air sickness bags, because the wait to get to cruising altitude so you can retrieve your carry on seems way. too. long.
- You get carried away and flood Facebook with “too many pictures” which prompts old boyfriends to come out of the woodwork and start messaging you.
- You’re so busy taking orders, calling your contacts, and fielding inquiries that you don’t really have time to get on Facebook! (*gasp* I know!!)
- You’re due in late at night and find yourself segmenting your contact list by timezone
so you can start calling your friends as soon as you land. (Sleep? Who needs sleep?!?)
- Blowing up barriers, overcoming obstacles, and crushing challenges feels like child’s play. You’re back in touch with your “why” and you’re UNSTOPPABLE.