Success is NOT an action, it’s a way of life” (Brian Tracey). If you want to be successful you must wake up and say, today I am going to learn something new that will help me develop as an individual. Attending a conference with leaders who can share their successful experiences can greatly impact another leader or a leader in the making in positive ways. It is important to take notes and self-reflect on what you have learned as an individual during that conference. Attending a conference is being a leader yourself, you are taking knowledge from an inspiring leader and passing that information along within work you will contribute to other professionals. 

Joyce Johnson says, “I remember sitting at a conference and listening to Michele Magees’ speech when an idea sparked in my head leading me to write my first book Why Sales For College Students”. It is then Joyce realized that her passion to empower young professionals could be conveyed through a book which was inspired at a conference. 

Conferences can help self-development by allowing an individual to gain:

Fresh Perspective

It is important to go with a clear mind. By allowing yourself to experience something new, you are allowing yourself to improve in ways you could not otherwise. At a conference you have many opportunities to learn how successful individuals have navigated themselves through their career which might help you in your future career endeavors. 

Educational Opportunities

 Attending a conference  is like attending a college course. There will be influential speakers  from top industries who will be able to educate and help you gain deeper insights. When attending a conference, it is important to go with a growth mindset and remind yourself that you are going because you are invested in your self-development. 

Take a pen, a paper and come prepared to educate yourself. Take what you learn and go back and communicate what you have learned with your team members, leaders and colleagues. Create a presentation and pass on the knowledge. If you have a dream of working somewhere, come to a conference where you know that there is a mentor willing to speak and guide you to your desired path. Invest in yourself development by attending a conference, invest in who you want to be, and invest in your future.

Networking Opportunities

There are hundreds of opportunities to interact with leaders growing in the working industry. When sitting at a conference, it’s important to build connections, connect with the person sitting next to you, and exchange contact information because that individual has the same mindset as you. They have come to grow their knowledge just like you, and by connecting with them you might be able to get insight about an idea you might not have been able to elsewhere. Or there might be a skillset you have acquired that might help achieve someone else’s goal.

When attending a conference, there are always opportunities to network with the speakers who inspire you as well. Covid-19 has impacted lives and made them completely virtual. The amazing part about conferences online is that they give you the opportunity to network with professional speakers one-on-one or allow you to interact with professionals in break-out sessions where you can ask questions that you feel will best help you develop as an individual.

Attend a conference, make a difference for yourself and others around you. Success comes from listening to those who have made success, it is being able to learn and take advice from professionals who have thrived in the industry they work for. It is important to invest in your own development so that you in the future can help a family or friend also invest in their self-development. If you hope to be successful, don’t think you’re taking an action step by attending a conference, know that you are attending a conference because you want to make success a way of life for yourself. 

To learn more about Why Sales Network annual conference, visit https://whysalesnetwork.com/.

Written by: Naquia Lokhandwala