Sunday, May 18, 2014

Conferences: More than ROI

Measuring successes and failures...

Biggest Fail?

Not having this blog post written yesterday, as I'd planned. Along with several other urgent documents people are waiting for from me. Instead I'm mildly hungover, typing this in the New Orleans airport, waiting to fly home from the RT Booklovers convention and hoping to get it posted before I have to board.

Success?

What an amazing week! Starting with the lovely ladies above, Anne Calhoun and Megan Mulry, who shared close quarters, a courtyard and an ongoing conversation that ran over days. I learned so much from these two intelligent, awesome and insightful women. It was like the best industry/craft/marketing panel ever, one that lasted eight days. More, we connected on a deep level that has left me feeling truly loved and appreciated. I almost can't express it.

There's lots of discussion about conferences and the return on investment (ROI). They're expensive on many levels: money, energy, time. Many people try to weigh the result in book sales - do they make that money back?

I truly believe you can't measure it that way. For many reasons.

Most of all, because the way I feel right now, the excitement with which I'm returning to my writing work, is a pearl beyond price.

Thank you, ladies, for the incredible gift of your company.

Total win.

6 comments:

  1. I'm so happy your RT visit was a success. I hope to visit an RT con myself some day

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  2. Success is all in how you measure it. And with your hang over and refreshed zest I believe you can count this week as a success. The pics you shared said it all, fun! :)

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  3. I feel exactly the same way, Jeffe, right down to not being able to express it. That kind of connection is so remarkable and precious! I read this great quote from William Bruce Cameron: "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." RT ROI can't be quantified, only savored and hopefully recreated in new places!

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    1. What a terrific quote. I'm totally on board for recreating! :D

      ~sends all the love~

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