Day 30 - The Power of Presence

With our Extreme Business Makeovers Experience beginning 7 weeks from today, my venture partner and co-host, Bob Burg and I find myself in a good number of conversations about it every day.


One question I know that I repeatedly get is often a variation of this ... "It sounds incredible, but can't I get as much just from buying the DVDs?" Fair question, so I'll do my best to answer it briefly.


In a word ... Yes - IF all you're looking for is information about a specific strategy, tool or tactic. Hey, I market speakers, authors, coaches and consultants for a living, so it goes without saying that I LOVE information products and find them very helpful.


However, the true power of attending a seminar or conference goes way beyond just the information you'll receive.


The 3 "Super-Powers" of Attending Events


1) The Power of Focus -
Yes, the information is vital to a great event. And, you can get all the information in DVDs after the event. But, there is something magical that happens to that information when you attend live. Rather than having a volume of information and no idea where to begin - like walking into a library and getting inundated with wisdom and experience from all directions - when you're there in person, one or two things a speaker says will just 'hit' you. It's something that immediately jumps out at you begging to be applied and you'll have that feeling inside like, "Aha .. THIS is why I was here."





2) The Power of Momentum -
Lets face it, information isn't power, it's just potential power. Applied information is power.  And, corporations and organizations have reams of research to show that those who attend events are more likely to apply new information. That's why they often have annual events and perhaps even smaller training times throughout the year.


Have you ever tried to take a vacation in your own home? There's just too many distractions and the momentum is with the status quo of your normal daily routine.


When you attend an event, you are able to detach from your daily routine and focus on something new ... and then take that focus and leave with a momentum for change.


NOTE: One thing I'm particularly proud of with Extreme Business Makeovers is the emphasis on using our Event Action Planner throughout the weekend to help our awesome participants develop a focused plan from all the incredible information. So, we all leave knowing what we're doing to begin applying what we've learned beginning on Monday (and with a hit list for implementation for 6 months to follow).


3) The Power of Connection -
Of course, in my opinion, the most vital ingredient of a live event is the people. Even though I'm considered a social media expert (whatever that means), there is simply no substitute for the connection you can make with someone in person. Relationships begin and grow very rapidly. And, because everyone is there with similar motives and expectations, powerful joint venture plans and referral relationships often happen literally overnight.


I've always said that the participants we get at Extreme Business Makeovers are as dynamic and powerful as the speakers. Some are speakers and authors themselves, who choose to attend because they want to continually learn and build their network. Others have one or more successful businesses, but choose to participate because they believe in "constant and never ending improvement." Others still have had various successes in their lives, but they find themselves in a time of transition and they are looking for some new ideas and direction for the next stage of their personal and professional growth.


It's amazing - having people at different stages and with different gifts and experiences, but the same spirit of teamwork and selflessness creates an incredible environment for connection. 


With this being our 4th annual Extreme Business Makeovers Experience, we have a huge number that choose to participate every year. One even told me that it was kind of like the summer camp that they went to every year and couldn't wait to go back, but these days it was even better because they could use the internet to stay in touch and work together throughout the year.


So, do I think information DVDs are great? Of course, but there's nothing like attending a live event to make new and exciting things happen in your business and personal life!


What do you think? Have you ever had a seminar experience that helped you grow or change in a significant way?