Business
seminars are everywhere, whether you are asked to attend one or you seek one out. These seminars or
conferences can be about anything from general business strategies (how to
increase monthly sales) to industry specific topics (IT training). With so many
options, it may seem like you have to attend one of these seminars. But are
they really worth the time and money, and do you really need them? Well, that depends.
Many companies offer seminars--for some, that’s all they do. These
events can build on your current skills, allow you to network with other people
in your industry, and give you the motivation you need to make changes. You
might gain spin-off ideas as in ideas based off your original idea but with
something slightly different. It can help you work on your business without having to be in your business. You might expand your social network and get
public recognition for your company. If you attend a conference or seminar
abroad, you can be immersed in a new culture, companies, and people. You can
use it as a tax write off. If you do decide to attend one, be sure that you
prepare for the event and decide how to implement what you learned afterward to
make it worthwhile. You also have to register early due to limited space.
Some of these events can be very long (a
seminar abroad lasting three weeks) and you need to decide if you can spare that much
time away. While some offer a money-back guarantee, the fees can be very
expensive and the only defense the host has against this is that it will be
worth the money. Beware of investment seminars because often they try to get
you to put up a high amount of money in unstable investment markets or they try
to “sell” you one-on-one meetings with them. You may find that the information
covered is too basic for what you were looking for and that you know most of
what is presented. Some may even be a scam—it’s rare, but be sure you know
exactly what you are getting and for how much. There are a few reasons not to attend a seminar. If it’s not the right time (you are
overwhelmed with your workload or the subject matter is not relevant at the
time), don’t go. Self-doubt can make you think you need more training in a
certain area, but sometimes if you wait it out, you can find practical
solutions on your own. If you are interested in a subject but would rather hire
someone to do that thing for you, you are better off leaving it to whomever you
bring on (for example, if you want to improve your website, you may decide it’s
best to hire a company with professionals who can do that for you so you have
time to do other things). There are times when you feel as though you just
can’t absorb another new thing, so maybe you don’t need to right now. Finally,
don’t feel obligated to go to a seminar on a subject that you don’t need more
information on just because you’ve been invited.
The average recommendation is to attend two to four
seminar or conference events per year—you don’t need more than that. Use your
better judgment when deciding if it’s worth the time and money away from your
business. Make it happen!
©
2012 eMarketing 4 Business LLC
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