It’s been a great start to the in person conference season here at AccountingWEB Live Summit in San Diego and I am enjoying visiting all my friends, colleagues, and learning new strategies, tools, and insights that I can take away to use in my practice. In addition, it’s been so much fun participating in some of the panel discussions with my peers.
The number of a-ha moments and the overall sense of camaraderie has been super inspiring! Yet, I know there’s also a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) that needs to be faced whenever you attend a live accounting conference precisely because there are so many opportunities and a limited amount of time to take advantage of them. To help you make the most of your live accounting conference experience, I suggest the “3P” approach: programs, peers, and partners.
Here is how it works, simply segment your time into the three categories of activities mentioned above, here is what it might look like:
This is the critical component of any live conference. The ability to gain new knowledge and learn what you need to know to keep current in terms of compliance, practice strategy, business opportunities and technology that will keep you ahead of the curve and competitive when it comes to running your firm and serving your clients. Plus, you can obtain your CPE which, of course, all CPAs need each year.
Next to education, the personal connections at any live conference are absolutely essential! Make new friends and keep the old, make sure you take the time to sit with someone new, connect with the people you know, and talk to solution providers. Not only is this type of networking invaluable for you professionally, I believe it is good for you personally because it makes us feel like we are not alone and can help us see things in a different perspective and new ways of dealing with common challenges. Friends are good for your emotional health, and a live conference is one of the best ways to make and keep them!
Another key allocation of your time at a live conference should be spending time in the exhibit hall. This is another opportunity to learn, to research, and to make connections. You can see new apps and services, ask all the questions you want about them, and do it in the here and now. Plus, you can forge relationships with your future and current solution providers who can help you make the right investments in your tech stack as well as offer partner programs, and perhaps even make referrals to you!
The “3 P” strategy for conference attendance is simple, but a great way to maximize your time at the conferences you attend. Thinking about it this way and prioritizing against these categories will ensure you don’t miss the activities, people, or learning that you value most. Maximize the investment of time and money you spend attending a live event in support of your accounting practice.
If you attended AccountingWEB Live Summit 2022, and didn’t get a chance to visit Veem, you don’t have to wait until the next conference to speak with them. Book time with Veem’s specialists today and have all your questions answered.
Dawn W. Brolin, CPA, CFE is the founder of Team Brolin and author of The Designated Motivator, a practical guide for individuals who have the passion for engaging, encouraging and empowering others to reach their full potential in business and their personal lives.
She is CEO of Connecticut-based CPA firm, Powerful Accounting Inc., and the owner of Fight Against Fraud, a training organization dedicated to helping accounting professionals and small businesses optimize their operations and reduce their fraud risks.
Dawn’s extensive accounting expertise and personal entrepreneurial experiences fuel her passion for helping other business owners succeed through the application of smart technology solutions, effective financial management, and comprehensive business continuity and fraud mitigation strategies.
Dawn’s contributions to the accounting profession are continually recognized with many top awards. Most recently, she was named “2020 Top Niche Practice ProAdvisor: Forensics” as well as one of the “2018, 2019 & 2020 Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” ~ by Accounting Today.
Dawn has appeared on the MSNBC show Your Business and has spoken at national conferences including CPA Academy, Cleveland Ohio Society of CPAs, Intuit QuickBooks Connect Conference, Live Your Legacy, Scaling New Heights, AbacusMaximus, Spark & Hustle, TD Bank, and many others.
Dawn’s in-depth knowledge and down-to-earth, entertaining approach make her an in-demand trainer, speaker, and thought leader on the topics of technology, motivation and strategies for building better professional practices and business organizations.
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