“Everyone knows something you don’t…

learn from them.”

It’s a simple phrase, but one that’s resonated with me for decades. I’m not even sure where I first heard it, but it’s become part of who I am and how I approach life. Long before Blue Gypsy. Long before I was speaking at conferences or teaching classes. Before I ever became an Online Sales Counselor.

It’s a mindset I’ve carried with me from experience to experience…country to country. I learned it years ago while traveling the world. Every place I visited and every person I met had something to teach me if I was willing to listen. It didn’t matter if they were a tour operator in Turkey, a dive instructor in Zanzibar, or someone I happened to strike up a conversation with on a chicken bus in Guatemala. Everyone had a different perspective, a different experience, and a different way of solving problems.

That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I love industry conferences.

As I get ready for the Builder Marketing Summit, I find myself looking forward to much more than the opportunity to speak and teach a two-day training track on online sales. Don’t get me wrong, I love being on stage. I love sharing ideas, challenging the way people think, and hopefully giving attendees something they can take back and put into practice. But speaking is only part of the experience.

The learning doesn’t stop when the presentation ends.

Some of the most valuable moments happen between sessions, over coffee, during lunch, or while waiting for the next presentation to begin. I’ve had conversations that completely changed the way I looked at a challenge. I’ve picked up ideas that never appeared on a conference agenda. Sometimes all it takes is hearing how another builder, marketer, or Online Sales Counselor approached a problem to make you think, “Why haven’t we tried that?”

I also believe speakers have just as much to gain as attendees.

People often assume that because I’m standing in front of the room, I’m there to do all the teaching. The truth is, every event makes me a better consultant. The questions people ask, the conversations after a session, and the stories they share help me understand what’s really happening across the industry. Those insights shape my coaching, my training, and even the way I think about the future of online sales and marketing.

That was certainly true at PCBC just a few weeks ago.

I had the opportunity to present alongside Greg Bray from Blue Tangerine, who also happens to be one of the hosts of the Builder Marketing Summit. Greg has always been someone I respect, not just because of what he knows, but because he genuinely wants to move the industry forward. He’s also one of the kindest people I know. So when PCBC asked if we could combine our submissions and speak together, it was a no-brainer.

But PCBC wasn’t just about speaking. I also got to spend time with several friends in the industry, including Cory Charles. Cory has a way of making every event more enjoyable. He just brightens the energy in the room. That’s why I’m excited he’ll also be joining us at the summit! We all have people in this industry who energize us, challenge us, and remind us why we love what we do. Reconnecting with those people is every bit as valuable as attending another breakout session.

Conferences aren’t just about collecting ideas. They’re about building relationships, reconnecting with people you haven’t seen in months, meeting people you’ve admired from afar, and having conversations that simply wouldn’t happen over Zoom. Those relationships often turn into friendships, partnerships, referrals, mentors, or trusted colleagues you can call when you’re working through a challenge.

After twenty years in this industry, I certainly don’t attend events because I think I know it all. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Every conference reminds me how much there is still to learn. Our industry continues to evolve. Technology changes. Buyer expectations change. Marketing changes. The moment we believe we’ve figured everything out is probably the moment we stop growing.

If you haven’t registered yet, now’s a great time. The Builder Marketing Summit is shaping up to be one of the best chances this year to learn from builders, marketers, and OSCs who are figuring things out in real time, right alongside the rest of us.

So, if you’re attending the Builder Marketing Summit this year, I hope you’ll come ready to learn. Attend the sessions, absolutely. But don’t stop there. Introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met. Ask questions. Share your own experiences. Listen to other people’s stories.

You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn. After all, everyone knows something you don’t…learn from them.