Conferences: Turning Great Ideas into Action
Hey everyone, it’s Leah here from Blue Gypsy Inc.! I wanted to take a moment to talk about something that’s been on my mind since I got back from the Women in Residential and Commercial Construction conference in Arizona. I had the honor of leading a roundtable on Creating the Ultimate Customer Experience, and let me tell you—it was an incredible experience engaging with builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals who are as passionate about this business as I am.
There were so many amazing speakers and thought-provoking ideas shared over those few days. It was one of those events where you leave on a high, feeling completely inspired and ready to tackle the world.
But—and here’s the kicker—what happens when you get back home? The reality is, as soon as we return to our desks, real life swoops in with its deadlines and demands, and all those brilliant insights start to fade. We open our notebooks and realize that all those aha moments we scribbled down have been sitting there untouched for days (or weeks). Or worse… we toss that notebook somewhere in our office and forget to open it back up. Sound familiar?
The thing is, conferences like these are designed to help us break free from our usual ways of doing things. They push us to improve through creativity, new ideas, and fresh technology. But the challenge isn’t just being at the event—it’s in actually putting those ideas into practice.
So, how do we make sure we don’t lose all that inspiration once we’re back to our routine? Here are a few actionable steps to ensure those lessons don’t stay locked in a notebook on your desk:
- Identify 1-3 Key Takeaways
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information coming at you during a conference. Instead of trying to remember everything, focus on one to three actionable ideas that will have the biggest impact on your business. These are the ideas that really resonated with you. Write them down on a separate sheet and commit to exploring them.
- Create a Plan
After you’ve identified your key takeaways, make a plan. Set aside specific time in your schedule to dive deeper into each idea. Maybe it’s blocking off two hours on a Friday afternoon to research a new tool or create a rough outline of how to implement that new customer engagement technique. Whatever it is, treat it like any other critical business task.
- Share with Your Team
Don’t keep all that great information to yourself! Whether it’s during a team meeting or in a casual conversation with a colleague, share what you learned. Bringing new ideas to the team encourages collaboration, and others might help brainstorm ways to put these ideas into action.
- Take Small Steps
You don’t need to revolutionize your entire business overnight. Start small. Implement one idea at a time and see what works. Trial and error are part of the process, so don’t be afraid to make tweaks along the way.
- Follow Up
Accountability is key! Set reminders to revisit your notes or plan every couple of weeks. Keep yourself in check to make sure you’re making progress on implementing those ideas.
Speaking of opportunities to learn and grow, I’ve got another conference on the horizon—the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit in Raleigh, NC, this October 23rd -24th. I’ll be there teaching and organizing the OSC break-out track for two days. This is going to be a fantastic chance for Online Sales Counselors and industry leaders to gain fresh insights and level up their OSC programs.
We’re going to dive into everything from how to streamline processes, improve customer engagement, and use digital tools more effectively to how to build stronger connections with buyers. These rare learning opportunities for OSCs don’t come around often, and it’s an invaluable chance to gain new perspectives, exchange ideas, and learn from experts in the field, while meeting other people across the country who do what you do.
I know firsthand how game-changing conferences can be when you take the time to implement what you’ve learned. If you’re in the home building industry—especially if you’re an OSC or manage an OSC team—I encourage you to attend. It’s not too late to sign up, and I promise you won’t regret it.
Remember: When you invest in your people, the return is tenfold.
So, don’t let those lightbulb moments fade. Take what you learn, turn it into action, and watch your business soar.
See you in Raleigh!
— Leah