I went to my second Type A Conference last weekend here in Atlanta. I’ve been to a lot of conferences. Especially in the last few years. I admit that I had become….jaded. I had come to the point of thinking that all of the conferences were teaching the same thing, with the same people. That there was nothing left for me to learn that I couldn’t learn from friends or on Google University.
I was…as usual..wrong.
When you have been blogging as long as I have you start thinking( even if you don’t USE everything you know) that there is nothing left to learn. Or no new way to learn it.
BUT.
Conferences like Type A have a way of sneaking up on you and showing you what you DONT know.
When I won my ticket to Type A Conference, a part of me decided to just see it as a networking opportunity. I didn’t expect much else.
But as I got closer, I decided to stop being so jaded and to..learn something new.
I went to sessions on things I had no clue about: Podcasting, Video, Periscope….
And I learned A LOT and got new ideas for new ways of delivering content.
I sat next to people I didn’t know and had random conversations…..
Ate great meatballs and learn about cooking light..southern style…
I spoke to sponsors that I normally wouldn’t have and made contacts that I didn’t expect.
I found out how much I have in common with a blogger that THOUGHT I already knew, and reconnected with my internet boos in person…
I thought I was getting to a place where conferences didn’t do anything for me anymore. But I was wrong. In my day job as a Registered Nurse, we have to get CEUs ( continuing education hours) every year in order to renew our license. We have a continue to learn even though we are practicing every day.
Blogging is the same. Even though it is something I try to do often, even though I am on social media everyday, even though I am constantly looking and working for new opportunities, there is still so much to learn. Conferences help me to do that.
And I thank Type A Conference for reminding me.
Christine @MomsNCharge
Thursday 29th of October 2015
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I had heard of this conference but hadn't put it on my radar for many of the same reasons you mentioned. But I believe with any profession, and anything you're trying to be great at or an expert in, we have to always be in learning mode...and then learn when to implement what we've learned :)
Nellie
Monday 26th of October 2015
Oh girl I'm so happy you got so much out of the conference!! I totally agree that the learning never ever stops especially on these internets where things seem so zoom at 100 miles an hour!
LaShawn
Monday 26th of October 2015
Yes it does!!
Alisha
Monday 26th of October 2015
I'm so mad I missed this year but hubby was not about to be like yea go to two conferences in one month. And it's where I met you and so many other fabulous ladies too!!! I know what you mean about getting jaded and I've made it a point to only attend conferences now that I will grow from.
LaShawn
Monday 26th of October 2015
yes, next year, I think i will only go to one. I'm going to be very very picky
Chrystal, ChryssVI
Friday 23rd of October 2015
Glad you enjoyed yourself. I can't wait to attend a conference better yet speak at one!
Aisha Adams Johnson
Tuesday 20th of October 2015
I have only been blogging a year. I am haven't gone to a conference yet. I really need to align with the bloggers in my area and find out more about the conferences. Thanks for sharing you expierence. This post is inspiring because until now it wasn't a priority.