Think about this for awhile

The one thing I got sold on very early when we committed to build this business was the importance of regular meetings, conferences and attending anything where I could hear successful people tell their story and learn about this business. 

The following is an excerpt from the book Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.   I agree 100% with his comments.  If we didn't do meetings of all kinds over the years we would not have much of a business.

I hope you will read the following short paragraphs a couple times and think about what he is saying.

"It seems to stir controversy when I talk about the fact that no matter how great social media is, it is not as effective for building strong bonds of trust as real human contact is.   Social media fans will tell me about all those close friends they've made online.  But if social media is the end-all-be-all,  then why do over thirty thousand bloggers and podcasters descend on Las Vegas every year for a huge conference called BlogWorld? 

Why don't they meet online?  Because nothing can replace face-to-face meetings for social animals like us. 

A live concert is better than the DVD and going to a ball game feels different from watching on TV, even though the view is better on television.  We like to actually be around people who are like us.  It makes us feel like we belong.  It is also the reason a video conference can never replace a business trip.  Trust is not formed through a screen, it is formed across a table.  It takes a handshake to bind humans.....and no technology yet can replace that......But what do we do in hard times when we need good ideas most?  We cut back on conferences and business trips because video conferencing and webinars are cheaper."

Why does Shaklee have a conference in Long Beach, CA in August instead of just doing it online?   Why do people travel hundreds of miles to attend a seminar or conference on this business when they could probably get a recording?    Why are in-home events so effective?  It's something to think about.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke