Ongoing Learning

Ongoing Learning

What have you learned so far today? Every day, I try to learn something new. At the end of each day, I push myself to ask what I learned that I did not know before or that I understand better. Typically, I can cite at least two or three things.

For instance, yesterday I learned about some great activation ideas around airport partnerships. This came when I was researching online for my upcoming presentation at the WSC – Alberta Forum. Also, yesterday I came to better understand some metrics around clients’ valuations. It gave me further insight into how to address part of their overall issues with the values of their assets. I also learned about some big issues I have with the newly-proposed tax reforms for small business owners and entrepreneurs. I had been following this because it affects me, and also because I am concerned it will hurt the overall economy as small business is such a driver of the Canadian economic engine! I spent time on some research there and am glad I came away with additional knowledge in order to discuss with my investment advisor and accountant!

So, where do I get my learning? Here are three key areas where I look daily to gain more knowledge.

  1. Reading

Some people read books. I read periodicals—newspapers, magazines, and online articles. This helps me stay up to date. Some of my hard copy subscriptions include The Rotarian, Costco Update, Municipal World, Business in BC, Grapevine, BCAA Magazine, Progress Magazine, Business in Calgary, and Atlantic Business. I try to read each issue from front to back. I get a great deal from these. Online, I read articles on Twitter and LinkedIn each morning. I watch what is trending and also read articles associated specifically with marketing, the sponsorship industry, or locales where we are doing work, such as Calgary, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Summerside, Toronto, and Fredericton. In addition to those two social streams, I have Google Alerts for several topics and they stream in to me each morning for review. Of these, I read the topics that are of interest. Finally, like you who are getting this TMC by email, I subscribe to a few similar posts which I read each day, week, or month as they are published.

  1. Face to Face

For me, this is a critical form of learning. Of course, I learn a great deal about each of our clients and their partners as we do their work, but I go beyond that. I make a point of spending time both with people I know and those I don’t. I meet with past clients, co-workers, and friends on a regular basis to check in, see what is new and what I can learn. Likewise, I get a great many requests for coffee from folks I don’t know. I try to make time for these people. In fact, next week in Edmonton and Calgary, I am meeting with three people I have never met before. I should come away with a great deal of learning from those experiences. (Note that a large majority of these “new” people are young people under 30. They are either starting in the industry, seeking to make a move, or thinking about setting out as an entrepreneur. I love connecting with these people. They think they are doing all the learning during our “coffee conversations,” but I always come away with a wealth of knowledge as well.)

  1. Professional Development

For me, this is very important. I make sure I attend three to five professional development opportunities each year. I speak at some, but stay for the learning as well. For others, I register and pay like everyone else. These “best practices,” and emerging trends and ideas,” “case studies,” panels, keynotes, and “thought forums” are critical to my learning and staying on top of our industry. There are a few I would highly recommend that are coming up in the next little while.

  • I am excited to be speaking at the AFP Edmonton Chapter breakfast on Wednesday, October 4 (find more details here) talking about whether sponsorship is integration or disruption. That is followed by a morning workshop on the “How and Why of Sponsorship Activation.”
  • There are two full-day workshops in New Brunswick that I am delivering for Recreation NB and Sport NB on proposal development, activation, fulfilment, and summits. These are open to all!
  • The WSC (Western Sponsorship Congress) – Alberta Forum is a must attend event. It has been operating for 13 years and is a truly amazing event I look forward to every year! This year, it has registered delegates from Vancouver Island to PEI and every province in between! There are over 20 different presenters and topics ranging from sponsorship in the arts, municipalities, causes, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, and more. It is for both brands and selling properties!
  • This is a great one. The Relevant Conference!  I attended this in 2016. The week after, I signed up for 2017! It is in Montreal and is small, and inclusive as well as exclusive. Registration is limited to 75 people and has amazing local, regional, and international speakers. It is also a ton of fun! And you don’t have to speak French to attend!

I hope this helps you to be an ongoing learner. As the world changes so rapidly, and as our own industry morphs on a continual basis, it is important that we constantly seek new and updated knowledge and information.

© 2017. All rights reserved.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 
Share This