Thinking about attending a workshop or conference? How to figure out if it’s going to be “worth it” for you to attend.

Like many entrepreneurs, I live a fairly solitary existence. Not in a sad-panda miserable-hermit kind of way, of course. I have my husband, my kids, and a small handful of face-to-face clients that I see throughout my day. But generally speaking, I spend quite a lot of time alone. It’s just me and my phone and computer screen, doin’ what we do best.

I love my introverted lifestyle. It’s chillaxed and it really suits me. That being said, I recognize that it’s valuable for me to leave my Milwaukee-based happy-bubble from time to time, expose myself to fresh ideas, get energized, see new sights, and meet new people from other walks of life.

That’s why I make sure to attend at least one workshop, conference, seminar, or retreat — outside of my hometown — every year. I view it as a mandatory part of my professional & personal development, not a ritzy “indulgence.”

I’ve had very few “bad experiences” at conferences… although, uh, there have been a few bleak moments here and there. (Case in point: Fishgate.)

Fishgate aside, I’ve had very positive experiences at pretty much every event I’ve attended in recent years.

That’s because — before purchasing a ticket and investing in my airfare, hotel, and everything that comes along with it — I take some time to do my homework, consider my options carefully, and check in with my intuition before hitting “enroll.”

If you are thinking about attending a workshop or conference in the near-ish future, don’t click “purchase” too hastily and wind up in the middle of an event that is just… ugh. Oh so wrong for you. (That’s the worst!)

Here’s my advice on how to figure out if it’s going to be “worth it” for you to attend…

– Don’t get glamoured by marketing hype. Do your homework.

A glitzy website and a snazzy promotional video with dramatic music can be dazzling and make your heart pound faster… but hold your horses.

Before you whip out your credit card, do your homework. Read through the event website slowly. Check out the cancellation / refund policy. Google the event producer and speakers to see if they are as credible as they seem. Read their blogs and watch their videos. Do you dig their teaching style?

Google the venue and see where it’s located in relation to the airport and nearby hotels (if it’s way out in the boonies, will that be an issue for you?). If possible, reach out to people who have attended in the past and ask for their (honest, unfiltered) thoughts.

Give the entire event a thorough walk-through before you leap to the payment screen.

This is just basic common sense, but often, in a whirlwind of exciting graphics and music, we forget to do our “due diligence.”

– Tabulate the total cost of the experience.

Your “ticket” is one thing. But what about your airfare or gas mileage, overnight accommodation, a rental car, parking costs, meals at restaurants, and so on?

And what about the time-investment — time away from your family, time away from your computer, having to decline client bookings while you’re away, and so forth?

Try to tabulate a “grand total” of what you’ll be investing, both financially and time-wise, so that you can make a more educated choice about attending or not.

– Look for your personal “red flags.”

We all have our personal “deal breakers” when it comes to people, projects, and experiences. Workshops and conferences are no exception!

For me, personally, if I read the event description and there’s zero mention of food, that’s a red flag. I love to eat, I get cranky if I’m under-fed, and I don’t want to be rustling around a crowded conference venue hunting down a stale, over-priced sandwich in between info-packed seminars. I appreciate event producers who provide meals and snacks as part of the dealio, and when I see delicious food descriptions and photos on the event website, I’m more likely to sign up!

A rural area with no wifi? Sorry..roughing it ain’t cutting it. Urban locations only, please.

I also HATE being over-heated so if I notice that the event is happening in Texas in July at a venue with questionable air conditioning, that’s a NO for me. Even if Lil Wayne and Jay-Z are going to be doing a private rap-writing seminar accompanied by cocktails and charcuterie plates. OK. MAYBE for that I would be willing to swelter a little.

Point is: know thyself. What are your personal red flags or deal breakers? Maybe you loathe big crowds. Or maybe you’re uncomfortable in super-intimate settings where you feel “on display.” Maybe you get stressed out trying to navigate unfamiliar terrain in a rental car, so a far-flung venue — miles away from the nearest hotel — is not going to be fun for you. Maybe you’re lactose intolerant (cheese festival: out!). Maybe you prefer a female-only space. Maybe you don’t want to attend an event that’s going to be filmed or broadcasted online.

Whatever preferences you’ve got, honor them. This is your money, your time, your life, and your education experience. You’ve got plenty of options, so choose something you’re really going to love!

If your intuition says “YES” and you decide to attend…

– Set yourself up for success.

For me, this means setting “reasonable expectations” for the event. I’m not going into a writing workshop thinking, “This is it! This weekend… I will bang out my entire book!” I try to set a sane, simple intention, like, “I’d like to enjoy a few beautiful conversations with new people, come up with some fresh ideas, outline my new book, and maybe work on chapter one. I want to leave feeling energized, not drained.”

I also try to schedule a “decompression day” after the event — a day where I can settle back into life at home, unpack my suitcase, do laundry, hug my husband, and mentally “digest” everything I’ve seen, heard, and learned. I find that leaping right back into my usual grind immediately after a workshop or conference is jarring. Like a good pot of coffee, I need a little time to percolate!

Another pro tip: if you plan to attend an event, arrive bearing business cards… or even better, come bearing gifts! One woman who attended my Soulful Proprietor Retreat back in 2014 brought adorable knitted cases for every single teacher and student in the room. (She knitted her cases by hand with soft colored yarn, and they were the perfect size to hold a Tarot deck or a smartphone!) One of the teachers was so charmed, she immediately ordered seven custom cases on the spot! Proof that attending an event can be a great way to connect with new clients and customers. If you arrive prepared, ready to chat and dole out treats, insights, advice, cards, and so on, the surge of business you get from attending an event could pay for your entire trip, and then some!

A handful of events that I whole-heartedly recommend…

The Blogcademy. I left this “mini-conference” buzzing with a billion ideas, totally amped to take my blogging to the next level. I attended with my daughter, and while we’re in totally different stages of our lives and careers, we both walked out of the room with plenty of nuggets to think about it. Fun times.

The World Domination Summit. Most people in the business & blogging world know about WDS, one of the most jam-packed and highly-attended events of the year, with thousands of creative entrepreneurs (and aspiring entrepreneurs) in attendance.

Those big crowds can be overwhelming for some people (uh, like me!). But here’s an insider tip: you can attend small, WDS-sponsored workshops (about 30 – 70 people per session) that are scheduled throughout the WDS weekend even if you don’t purchase a ticket to the main conference. I taught one of these mini-workshops at this year’s WDS and I loved it! Definitely a more “introvert-friendly” way to experience a small slice of the WDS electricity, without all the crowds.

The Soulful Proprietor Retreat. Shameless plug? You know it! This year, I’m leading a cozy, intimate business retreat in my hometown of Milwaukee — right at the height of red & orange autumn leaf splendor.

Chocolate. Yoga breaks. Gourmet meals (obviously). Guidance to help you create a happy, sane, productive (and profitable) business plan for 2016, using Tarot and astrology to choose the ideal dates for everything you want to do.

Tickets for this beautiful gathering are on sale now. Read the details here. And if you have any questions about the event, feel free to give me a holler. Pop an email to theresa@thetarotlady.com and put “RETREAT” in your subject line. Or put “Lil Wayne Wants To Meet You.” That’ll get my attention, too! 🙂

Whether it’s a one-day gathering just outside of your hometown, or an exotic experience halfway across the world, breaking out of your usual routine is good for the soul — and very good for business. Safe & happy travels!

Theresa

PS. If you feel like chatting me up on social media today, head over to Twitter (I’m at @thetarotlady) and tell me the name of the best workshop, seminar or conference you ever attended. I’d love to know which events are a “HELL YES!” in your book!

image from stock photography