Many people tend to consider the respect – perhaps even deference – that’s given to them as part of their job to be attributable to them personally, rather than connected to their role within a business. That belief often only lasts until they leave their position, perhaps due to a layoff or a decision to take a different position. At that point, they may find that the status they previously enjoyed has disappeared or is a mere fraction of what it was.
The Event Mechanic! has a Rough Start
I found this to be true when I started The Event Mechanic!, having left my prior role at IDG World Expo. I had believed that all I needed was to put up my shingle and the phone would ring off the hook with consulting gigs. After all, I had run one of the world’s most famous tradeshow brands – Macworld among others.
The reality was that when I left behind my Group VP title most of the status went with it. This was an extremely rude awakening as I began to build my new business and make a living as an independent consultant. As has been mentioned in a past article, the next three years were extremely hard slogging in trying to ‘catch up’ to where I was before. It required that I become an expert business developer, as in “if you don’t catch something, you don’t eat dinner” kind of business developer. I am doing fine now, but for a while it was somewhat frightening and enlightening.
The Opportunity for You
Why bring this up? Because I see significant opportunity for all of us For those who know their event stakeholders personally, as was previously written), the benefits could be huge.
How? Imagine hiring the former VP of Sales of your top exhibitor to sell your show. Or bringing in one of your conference speakers to build the content of your program. Or have them join your advisory board and take a hands-on approach to help make your program better.
All of us know people who are in transition for instance. They are no longer their former titles. But you can use foresight to ensure that you keep in touch with those who have innate value and consider how they can help you create better events. In many cases, they may know your event market better than you!
A lesson to the wise: Learn to leverage the resources which may be under your very nose! It will certainly pay off….