There is something special about being in a room full of your peers. Your guard comes down, the fear of perceived competition fades away, and you just start talking to one another. The information and content presented by speakers is valuable but the real nuggets come from the side conversations that happen organically. Attending industry events can be very valuable but you only get out of it what you put into it.
Looking across the world of residential construction you will find events that range from small, hyper local get togethers to large world wide conferences. Deciding which ones you should attend can be difficult so do some research and pick ones that are relevant to your business and offer ways to interact with the attendees. You should always be looking out over the next 12 months to see what events are coming up and then block out time on your calendar so you're not waiting until the last minute.
Attending any of these events requires an investment of time, money, or both. If you make the committment to attend you need to make the commitment to be engaged. If you just show up and write down pages of notes you are missing out on a huge opportunity. You need to talk to as many people as you can. Depending on the size of the event this can happen in the registration line, during cocktail receptions, at dinner meetings, or any other time where you have the opportunity to interact, face to face, with your peers.
Here are a few events to consider:
- Events and outings hosted by your local HBA, Remodelers Council, NARI, or other business networking groups
- Chamber of commerce events
- Local, state, and regional building shows or expos
- The International Builders Show (IBS)
- Build Exchange
- NARI Build and Remodel Expo
- JLC Live
- The Pinnacle Experience
- TecHome Builder Summit
Do your research, make the commitment to attend events regularly, and start engaging with your peers. You will make new friends, grow your professional network, and expose yourself to new ideas. This is how we elevate ourselves and elevate the industry. It's collaboration over competition.
