I just got back from CPC. It was great by the way to see the other two guys on this blog live and not in cyber-space. I love CPC especially San Diego. But I’ve never met a conference I didn’t like. Why? Is it the general sessions? No, unless I’m speaking I don’t always attend them all. Is it the workshops? No, I don’t always attend those either. Is it the resource area? I do like to shop but I never got a chance to walk the entire room in San Diego. It comes down to 3 things…
1. To meet people I need to know (Most of my dearest ministry friends that cause me to grow I’ve met at a conference.) There is more to it than just meeting them, I want to make a connection so an on going relationship can be forged. I want to come home with key cell phone numbers, email addresses and a personal connection. I set a goal for how many based on the size of the conference. Sometimes I know who I want to meet before hand other times I ask let my helper (the Holy Spirit) set it up.
2. Find key churches, I need to know about. I’m always looking for excellence. When I hear of or see excellence in any area, that’s my cue to explore and find out more and see if it’s a church to benchmark with. I then bookmark their website and keep watching and growing long after the conference is over.
3. To find answers to my questions. Every event I attend I make a list of questions I want to find answers to.
Many times the people I want to connect with in #1 I have specific questions for. I am always on the lookout for young leaders who seek me out with specific questions at an event I’m speaking at. When I see a hunger and zeal to learn I turn my heart to those leaders. It disappoints me when I see people not take advantage of opportunities to learn.
This is how I judge an event. This is why San Diego CPC was a better conference for me than Orlando. Monday I’ll be attending another conference and I’ll rate it by these 3 things rather it’s a success for me.
If you don’t identify why you are attending, why go?
Just curious. Would you mind sharing some of the questions you were asking at CPC San Diego? Did you get the answers you were looking for?
1. who are the young “up and comers”?
2. Is there someone of any age I need to know?
3. Because of my new position I’m on the lookout for huge churches in small towns to network with.
4. I whated to hear from others about which they like better “media shout” or “propresenter.”
5. I was looking for a cool checkin module that would work with ACS church management system. (I found it)
Yancy had an idea to increase my pricepoint and change and simplify my product line in Orlando, we tried it out in San Diego and it made a huge difference and was recieved very well. We were both pleased.
Very good. Thanks. I have used Propresenter… it’s fantastic. We got it for the CM at our Denton campus and then after 6 months or so the entire church made the switch. It’ makes transition between video and slides seamless, and it’s so easy to use!