IFAI Tent Convention

Day 1:

Every year the IFAI puts on a conference for its members to convene for discussions about industry trends, recent successes as well as opportunities for the member companies to respond to market challenges. There is also a very important day of golf. 

Any business convention of sorts is anticipated to include a handful of scheduled items. For example, informational sessions in which experts dictate the proper way to analyze business. There are always awards portions of these events where people are recognized for outstanding achievements and projects in the past year. After the daily sessions are over, the hotel bar is usually the final meeting room of the day where each company representative tells tall tales about his year and the jobs he’s worked on.

Taking most of these stories with a grain of salt is important but its important to not tune them out all together. Filtering out the more fantastic and unrealistic of the details can shed light onto the underlying base of work your competitors and peers are working on. Most companies generally tell the truth about who they are working with and what products are installed at events (as these details are generally easy to prove). The matter in which these products are set up and are used is where stories start to get a little out of hand. 

The ability to sift between the bravado and the basics is where the real learning happens. You can easily benchmark yourself against other companies of similar size. Figure out what types of business you need to do to compete with companies twice your size. You can learn what investments must be made in product offerings and employee training.

After I arrive in Tampa and depart my plane, pick up my golf clubs from the baggage check, hit up the rental car counter and make my way to the Tradewinds, you’ll see me cozied up to the bar doing some market research.

Sliante!

Mark