What do you get when you take twenty-five amazing women entrepreneurs in the same industry from around the country and you put them in a hotel for a day and a half to share their best ideas, tips, strategies, and business problems?
Peer Power! Tons of ideas. Genuine help. Lots of laughter. And numerous new business alliances and friends. That’s what happened to me just before Labor Day. The peerless Jill Konrath,author of Snap Selling and a long time advocate for women in business, organized this event which took place at O"hare airport. It was non-stop sharing, teaching, commiserating, applauding and laughing. We all left the meeting with pages and pages of To-Do lists, excited and energized, eager to stay in touch with each other and to implement what we had learned.
Unlike large conferences, which certainly have their place, the small size of our group made for lively, personal and meaningful conversations. The fact that we came from different cities and had different business models guaranteed fresh perspectives for all. Lori Richardson and Nancy Bleeke developed our agenda and the by-invitation-only participant list ensured the “simpatico” of the group.
Beyond Social Media Social media is great and I certainly participate in it, but nothing beats face to face conversation, live brainstorming, immediate feedback, spontaneous humor and real time serendipity. I encourage you to team up with three-five friends in the same industry, have each invite three-five people the others don’t know and then spend a day away from business (and all electronics) and focus on each other’s success. Include topics like: best high pay-off practices; current problems; future goals; sources of new business; quick tips; million dollar ideas; etc. It will be the best boost you can give to your business.
