Things I'm Glad I Did At #bbcon 2016
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Now that I have my third #bbcon under my belt, I feel like an old pro. Here are the things that worked well for me this year (hopefully, I’ll remember all of them in 2017…).
None of us can ever stop learning and each of you shared different things about how you use your software, what challenges you face, different tips/tricks that help you and your passion for those you serve. I hope to take what you taught me and better serve my clients as they use their software to achieve their goals.
To those who contributed to my personal “Knowledgebase,” I’m grateful. May we continue to learn together next year!
- I bought a new purse for #bbcon (yes – my husband asked how necessary this purchase was as well). But, this bag was large enough to hold my tablet, business cards, pen, paper, etc. and I could carry across my shoulders so I had everything I needed with me and less back pain than I did with a tote that I had to keep on one shoulder. Though a bag is especially essential for me (as a one handed attendee), I think a good bag would make a difference for every attendee.
- Before I left home for #bbcon, I created a list of questions and saved it on my phone. During the conference, I regularly checked my list to make sure I’d found someone to talk to regarding each question.
- I spent one whole session in the Expo Hall. I choose one time slot and planned to walk through the Expo hall when it would be less crowded. Doing so meant that I had the undivided attention of those at the booths and I was able to get several questions answered. As an added bonus, it was also quieter and I found it much easier to have meaningful conversations.
- I attended (most of) the receptions I was invited to. I’m glad that I attended the receptions that I did. It was a great chance to network and to just enjoy #bbcon. I’m also glad that I skipped out of a reception and enjoyed my book. I needed a little me time to recharge for the rest of the conference.
- With the exception of our Wist team meetings, I ate every meal with different people. By doing this, I got to meet a wide range of people – from Blackbaud staff to organizations all over the US and Canada. I love hearing from so many different organizations!
- I used the #bbcon app to “hear” what others were thinking during sessions. While I must admit that I found some posts to be clutter, I really did enjoy the ones that shared content from the different sessions. They helped me process what I was hearing and it made it possible to have “conversations” about the ideas in the moment. Content based posts also allowed me to “eavesdrop” on sessions I wasn’t able to attend!
- I attended as many roadmaps as possible. Knowing what’s coming for the different products helps me better serve my clients because I know if an issue they’re facing has already been addressed or if they need to do a cleanup project before a change happens.
None of us can ever stop learning and each of you shared different things about how you use your software, what challenges you face, different tips/tricks that help you and your passion for those you serve. I hope to take what you taught me and better serve my clients as they use their software to achieve their goals.
To those who contributed to my personal “Knowledgebase,” I’m grateful. May we continue to learn together next year!
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11/04/2016 11:41am EDT
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