These days, while many small business owners are dealing with tightened budgets and strained cash flow, heading for the latest conference may seem like an unnecessary luxury. It’s hard to justify taking time away from work, paying for a hotel, food, and travel expenses. Yet, hobnobbing at conferences and tradeshows could infuse your business with fresh ideas and help it thrive.
According to the authors of a new book, “The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion,” conferences are some of the best places to meet those “in the know.” Nowadays, people create business success by tapping into information resources. Finding people who can provide knowledge that’s relevant to your business keeps you current and on top of your game.
At industry conferences, information is available at many levels. The workshops, plenary sessions, and lectures provide the “meat,” updating attendees about new innovations. The hallway conversations and elevator chats yield the juicy tidbits that make chance encounters so sweet.
Serendipity allows you to meet strangers who can give you new contacts and business ideas. You can help serendipity along by attending conferences and sending your employees to conferences. What you learn there can be invaluable to your business.