Almost 10 years ago, I attended my first business conference designed for the bookkeeping and accounting industry. I was impressed with how much knowledge could be packed into a few short days and I learned a lot from many of the people I met. Because of my experience there, I made it a point to attend another conference the following year and actually wound up attending three the next year. Over the years, I've continued to attend these events—even throughout the pandemic when these events went virtual. And whether these conferences were in person or virtual, the benefits of attending conferences never cease to amaze me.
So, as a fellow entrepreneur, I challenge you to step out of the box and attend a conference at some point over this next year. Here are six reasons why:
You remember the phrase, “like a horse with blinders”? Well, that is often how we run our businesses. We’re so busy that we don’t have time or even the ability to see outside of what’s in front of us. Going to a conference gives you a fresh, often new perspective from other successful business owners.
It’s no secret technology is changing faster than we can even adapt to it. For example, AI is revolutionizing the way business is done in a number of industries—and we need to keep up with it to make the most of it.
The good news is, it's also helping us be more efficient, productive, and profitable than ever before. One of the benefits of attending a conference is that it puts you in front of vendors and suppliers that can help you become more efficient, productive, and profitable.
Here's another article you won't want to miss next: The Importance of Constant, Steady Growth
Conferences always bring in awesome speakers who are speaking for a reason: they’re really good at what they do and are typically very generous with their wisdom and are glad to share their secrets for success with attendees.
Going home and applying their advice to your own small business will make you better at what you do.
This is probably my favorite. The more I go to conferences, the more I realize how small the world is. At a recent conference, I got to hang out with Darren Root, founder of Rootworks. It turns out that we share a favorite restaurant, which is in a small beach town, hidden behind a motel, hundreds of miles from where either of us live.
The conversations I have had with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners at conferences have encouraged me to know we’re heading in the right direction. At some points, they’ve even challenged me to reconsider the way we have been doing things. You never know how the relationships you create from in-person networking can transform your life and business.
But you might find out if you attend a conference!
Not only are you able to learn from the best (#3), you’re also able to take that knowledge to help you grow as a leader. The more time I spend around people who are wiser, more experienced, and sometimes older, the more I realize how much I still have to learn.
You don’t have to go to a conference to become a better leader.
However, I do find leaders tend to go to conferences so you can talk to a lot of them while you’re there.
Along with the benefits of attending conferences, there are also all kinds of benefits of attending business retreats. Read about them here.
2023 is over half-way done! It’s a great time to reflect on the year so far and put plans in place to help you achieve the goals you want to achieve for the rest of the year and beyond.
I find so many valuable nuggets at conferences and I always come away with a fresh perspective on implementing what I've learned.
So, are you ready to reap some of these benefits of attending conferences for yourself?
Here are some great conferences in our profession to consider:
I’d encourage you to search for the best conferences in your profession. If you don’t know where to begin, click here to browse an online directory of conferences you might find interesting.
Is there a conference in your future? Tell me about it!
And as always, if you're searching for bookkeeping services from a team of experts you can trust, turn to Two Roads. Book a call today!
Here are three more posts to read next:
How Automation will Help Small-to-Midsize Businesses Thrive in 2023
Not Running Your Business Like an Entrepreneur May Be Hurting You
This article was updated in 2023 just for you.