Conference Season Survival Guide: 4 Tips That Actually Work

Hi there,

Conference season is here, which means long days of sessions, miles of walking, and plenty of late-night networking. But here’s the truth: if you don’t show up with a plan, you’ll come home with a notebook full of “stuff” and very little progress toward your actual goals.

Here are four ways to get real ROI from your next event:

1. Show up with problems to solve.
Pick 2–3 specific challenges you’re facing in your business. Then map out which workshops, panels, or breakout sessions align with those challenges. If you don’t narrow your focus, you risk walking away with notes you’ll never use.

2. Network beyond the agenda.
The most valuable conversations usually happen outside the sessions—at dinner, in the hallway, or over a drink at the hotel bar. Don’t skip these moments. They’re where the real magic happens.

3. Talk to the exhibitors.
Vendors and sponsors fund the event, yet often get treated like background noise. Stop by, ask questions, and see what’s new. Worst case—you make a few new connections. Best case—you discover something that actually moves the needle for your business.

4. Speed to implementation is key.
Don’t wait until you’re back home to start acting on what you’ve learned. Each night before you go to bed, implement at least one thing you picked up that day. Yes, you’ll be tired. But you’ll be tired either way—so do it tired. Action creates momentum, and momentum creates results. Get ahead of the curve while everyone else is still “thinking about it.”

At the end of the day, you’re leaving your family and business behind for a few days. Make it worth it. Show up with intention, take massive action, and enjoy yourself while you’re at it.

PS – If you’re ever debating whether or not you need a breath mint, the answer is always yes. 😉

Stay intentional,
Eric

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