Note: This is a guest blog post from Marisa Smith, President and Founder of the Whole Brain Group.
I always feel guilty when I leave for a conference – is it going to be worth the expense and the time away from the office? Should I really be spending time and money “working on the business” when there are so many other pressing concerns in my inbox?
I recently attend the Inc Magazine’s GrowCo 2011 Conference in Las Vegas with the usual worries running through my head. However, as I sat in our conference room after I returned, surrounded by my team engaged in lively discussion about customer service and company culture, I realized the worrying was the true waste of time.
The next time you question whether or not a conference is worth it, ask yourself four questions:
- Will the office really fall apart without you?
- Is your company where you want it to be?
- Is there anything left for you to learn?
- Is there anyone left for you know?
A stagnant company is a dead company – don’t let your worry about missing something at the office keep you from being inspired by the people and ideas we encounter at conferences like GrowCo or the WXW May Forum.