I had the amazing
opportunity to attend the CFTA conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Sitting in the
Dane County Regional Airport, waiting for my flight home to San Ramon, CA, I
reflected on the week of activities: a tour of Epic, Inc., a local band at
an outdoor bar and grill with delicious food, dancing, and great
conversations. The venue was top notch; hosted by the University ofWisconsin Madison, the Edgewater Hotel provided a relaxing atmosphere. The
views of Lake Mendota were
 |
| Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin |
awe-inspiring, The restaurants - The Statehouse and The Boathouse - and the in-room dining, provided satisfying cuisine. The rooms
were spacious, comfortable, and elegant. But what really made this conference
one of the best I've ever attended was that the sessions were about real-life
experiences concerning successes and challenges. This was a refreshing and
welcoming approach for the conference. Here are the five main reasons as to why
this conference should not have been missed:
1. Communication, goals, and
accountability.
Firstly, the responsive
design of the website and the guidebook allowed each attendee to carry the
conference on their smart phone. Along those lines, the guidebook provided a
schedule that was easy to use, including descriptions of each meeting that were
clear and connected to attendee’s calendars with reminders.
Secondly, the
executive board meeting was efficient and informational; it was concise and
direct. The three executives that were
present delivered facts surrounding the existing state of their role, their future
plans and goals, and a review of past performance highlighting successes and
challenges. All this was completed in
less than 30 minutes.
2. Non-sales Vendor involvement.
This approach is
rare and refreshing. Approximately 20%
of the attendees were vendors, including myself, but I never heard a sales
pitch. We each presented solutions and
observations, then shared experiences. Software
solutions were mentioned in context to problems that were presented, but
everything was collaborative instead of competitive. Each vendor was given a time to give a 6-minute
Spark Talk. We presented our solutions
concisely, some with humor, others with facts, and some with an overview of
their offering. Overall, the collaborative environment ensured that everyone
felt included and had the opportunity to learn and contribute.
3. Friendship.
Our bond was a
simple one. We were all colleges and
universities executing CAD drawing and GIS applications with little resources
and sometimes minimal support. These
commonalities created an instant bond because we understood and had empathy for
each other. Because of this bond, our conversations were not forced or
insincere. They flowed easily. We discussed BIM, GIS, CAD, KPI’s, etc. We
talked sports, families, shared laughter, and shared successes and challenges.
Conscious time
was set aside for these conversations. I personally had many that stood out, but would like to highlight two in particular:
1) I had the opportunity to receive advice on
how to resurrect a neglected piece of technology that had been
disregarded. It is slated to be replaced even though it is still a viable
solution.
2) I also was able to
have a great conversation about BIM: how it is connected to the IWMS industry,
its strengths, and its weaknesses.
4. Sharing Freely.
Every moment of
every session, gathering, and entertainment, I observed sharing: old friends
reuniting and catching up, new acquaintances sharing their life experiences,
vendors providing insights into the future of technology, and universities
sharing successes.
5. Meetings that Broke the Mold.
One example of this was the Unconference. This was a meeting reserved for those who wished to stay after the official CFTA activities. This was the first Unconference I’ve seen. We were each given five topics, which quickly multiplied. The topics were distinct and
appropriate. They ranged from space floor
plans and their security, BIM and its opportunities and constraints, project management,
KPI’s, GIS, and more. As I sat and
listened intently, the openness was refreshing, the struggles were real, the
successes were celebrated, and professional connections were created. These meetings flowed freely without
interruption. When the time was up, the
desire to continue was evident. These
colleagues truly faced familiar problems and were eager to solve them and they
found brothers and sisters in arms.
Additionally, the Spark Talks provided each vendor 5-6 minutes to share who
they were and what they represented.
This shortened sales approach was done in less than 45 minutes. I was impressed at the preparation to make
this run smoothly. Though a small
detail, the combining of all PowerPoint slides into one slide deck provided a
smooth transition between vendors and cut down on time. I found myself drawn to my competitors’
stories and offerings. I enjoyed their
candor and examples and the humor presented was refreshing. I gleaned new perspectives, cataloged improvements,
and relished in mine and everyone’s uniqueness.
I reiterate: this was the best conference I
have ever attended. I recommend this
conference to all Universities and will continue to support the CFTA
organization as they continue to provide disruptive innovation. The challenge of disruptive innovation was given to all Universities in attendance. As a vendor I was inspired to pick up that
challenge. How I will accomplish that is worthy of another article. So, for now, I’ll see you, my new friends,
next year at The Ohio State.
Like what you saw? Subscribe to the blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to keep up to date with the latest news from RSC, LLC.
Thoughts? Questions? Comment below and let us know what you think! We'd love to hear your insights.
Just as finding firewood for the upcoming winter requires one to start looking in April, so does marketing require one to keep a constant search open for new and potential clients. A good marketer is not spotty in when he or she puts all effort into reaching out to potential clients; a good marketer constantly gathers and searches, knowing that consistent effort is a must.
When splitting wood, I have found that it is easiest to put the larger side towards the hammer that will push the wood towards the stationary axe, and the thinner side towards the axe. This allows the splitter to cut with the grain of the wood instead of fighting the grain of the wood. In business, it is important to be aware of climates, situations, and attitudes that, when confronted, would be a difficult struggle, expending more energy than is needed. One can, instead, continue in a current course until the right direction is found, knowing that there will be a time and a place for everything.
Posts
