Fitness, Business, Fitness Business, & Achieving Life Goals

Spring is the biggest season for health/fitness conferences. Do you attend any? What is it that you’re hoping to achieve by attending? Do you get you’re money’s worth? My agenda with this post is to not only get you to attend conferences, but also to squeeze every bit of benefit you can out of the conference.

A personal note: I attended my first conference back in 1980. I was still in college and I presented at the state AAHPERD conference (topic? “Hands-On Weight Training” I think). I learned a lot from the presentations that I attended and from presenting myself. I have been attending and presenting at conferences ever since.

At least once a year I end up in Las Vegas. I’m not really a fan of Vegas, but it’s a very popular place to hold a conference. I think that’s because people “go to the conference” and skip sessions, meetings, etc. and sitesee, gamble, and go to shows. They may have a great time but they’re missing out on all of the important aspects of going to a conference.

At Conferences you can:

Get new information that can help you in your business. Whether it’s training information or business, information is power. Always come away with one thing (action item) you’re going implement right away.

Reaffirm information you already have (also very important).

Reconnect with industry friends. There are industry friends that I see every year that I look forward to socializing and discussing ideas with.

Introduce yourself to people that impress you. I’ve become friends with many people that I sought to meet because they either really knew their stuff or just seemed very interesting. These new connections can enrich your work and/or your life.

Introduce others when you think they’re a good match. Being a “connector” can be very satisfying.

Give back by getting involved in the organization. I’ve volunteered my time and services for many organizations. This can help you understand the runnings of the organization better, have a say in it’s direction, meet a lot of new people, and, dare I say, it can also be fun.

Meet Trade Show Vendors Find out about the latest equipment and getting to know the vendors can come in handy when it comes time to make a purchase.

Networking master Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone and Who’s Got Your Back has a great tips article called 15 Tips from Keith Ferrazzi: Conference Commando

How are you approaching you conference attendance? Are you getting the most out of the experience?

PS – I try to immediately “friend” and/or “follow” new people I meet at the event on Facebook and Twitter. It allows an easy way to follow up with them and stay in touch.

Please let me know if you have any tips or tricks for conference or clinic attendance.

The new marketing and branding medium is the web. Remember, it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. The internet offers the opportunities to get your name out there faster and farther than any other means. Become a provider of content, a resource to others, offer a positive message, be entertaining, or be controversial. Whatever is consistent with the brand you want people to associate with you.  

Do you need the world to know you? Well, maybe not, but if you have or will have a product to market, the more people you connect with the better. Not only are you able to let them know what you’re offering, but they can easily let others know about you and what you’re doing. Here’s a blatant example: A friend of mine, Gina Lombardi, is coming out with a new book available Jan. 5th, Deadline Fitness: Tone Up and Slim Down When Every Minute Counts. Gina’s specialty is getting celebrities in shape in a very short amount of time(hence the book). I found out her release date via a Facebook announcement (She should’ve called me. I’ll tease her later.) In one fell swoop she let all of her connections know about the release and here I am telling you. According to LinkedIn my 277 connections links me to 3,105,000+ professionals. What a web we weave. Currently I’m also building connections through my website/blog, Twitter, a mini-blog (follow me on Twitter), Keith Ferrazzi’s Greenlight Community, and various other blogs and forums.

What if you’re just doing the local thing, trying to build business in your neighborhood? The rules still apply. Get your own website or blog (blogger.com or blogspot.comin example) Also, within many of the larger networking entities, there are the opportunities to narrow your focus and join local groups. (In Facebook, I’m part of a Portland, ME group.) Some local papers give you the chance to blog on their site. (I blog on Portland, ME-based MaineBusiness.com). Find those local online communities and get involved.

The web can become your greatest marketing tool if you get your name, your brand, recognized by the public and then, of course, get them to act. (for another post)