Acronym

In gearing up for what is my first Great Ideas Conference, I wanted to be ready for when that great idea hits. I bought some brand new pens, a notepad for my thought-provoking notes that are sure to come of the meeting, highlighters to mark around as well as decorate around the great idea that will surely come as a result of this conference, even a brand new thinking cap (aka excuse to buy a new baseball cap).

However, the more I thought about what makes a “Great Idea” the more I realized I may be putting a bit too much pressure on myself before even arriving in Miami. A great idea can come in the shape of any size; I don’t need to walk away from Miami having discovered a new fuel source or the newest cooking appliance for a late-night infomercial. Even a small cost-saving idea can become a great idea, especially in these times. Conferences like the Great Ideas Conference are so vital; they are an important avenue to engage with peers about how they are handling the economic downturn and how they feel they’ll come out after the smoke clears. The Great Ideas Conference just might be able to provide some tools that will help our associations continue to weather this storm.

One thing I am looking forward to is being able to network and connect with fellow association professionals to not only to engage in learning at the various sessions but getting a chance to connect on a personal level to understand how things are going in the rest of our industry and outside of my own backyard. What new initiatives are associations doing as a response to the difficult times that are lay ahead? What OLD initiatives have weathered the test of time and continue to work today?

A great idea doesn’t have to be a BIG idea or even a new one and I look forward to walking away with mine, big or small, new or old…but most certainly incredibly decorated on my new notepad.