4 reasons to attend a trade conference

On the fence about attending a trade conference? Here are 4 reasons you should book your flight now.

  1. Networking: Conferences are the perfect opportunity to meet people who can help advance your career. While attending a writer’s conference many years ago, I met and hung out with a New York Times bestselling author. Imagine my delight when I learned the writer had the exact agent I wanted. Because we’d met in person, the writer agreed to pass my manuscript along to the agent. The agent and I didn’t reach a deal, but I had the opportunity to put my work in front of someone who would otherwise have never seen it.
  2. Compare notes: Conferences are a great place to learn from your peers, discuss with others what is (or isn’t) working at your financial institution, get tips on difficult leadership issues or even commiserate about the poor quality of lighting in your break room. Whatever you’d like to improve in your work life, chances are good that someone at the conference has a tip that will help you.
  3. Celebrate your industry: Unless you’re a Hollywood celebrity or a supermodel, chances are excellent that your career isn’t considered “sexy.” That’s okay, you can love your chosen profession even without all that annoying paparazzi. But for a few days out of the calendar year, live like a superstar. Join with others who appreciate the finer details of moving numbers around a spreadsheet. Celebrate your professional prowess with others who recognize the skill it takes to do your job.
  4. The food! If you’ve been attending conferences with crummy food, you’re doing it wrong! Sure the ticket is $500, but when you realize that includes two meals a day plus enough dessert to make you regret revoking your gym membership, you realize it’s not all bloat, financially speaking. Besides, until you’ve drunk straight from a chocolate fountain, you’ve never really lived!

Ready to sign up for a conference? Below is a list of upcoming events to consider. Book your flight, order a new batch of business cards and pack elastic-waisted pants! You’re gonna need them!