Affiliate Summit East 2009 Resolutions

They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  So if I didn’t learn from my experience at this last affiliate summit, I’d be crazy.  I’ve had some time to think long and hard about my experience in Las Vegas and I’m resolved to learn from these experiences.  I wouldn’t say they’re mistakes, per se, but definitely opportunities for learning.  Here’s some things I’ve figured out for myself that might just help you too (see, this isn’t my being selfish!)

• Make sure to secure internet for the trip!  I had SO many problems this time around, I’m going to make sure the hotel I’m staying at has either wired or wifi connections, and bring my own Ethernet cable that I know for SURE works just in case.  Being without internet for 5 days is killer!
• Don’t get sick!  I’m going to finally try out Airborne and hopefully avoid catching germs from people.  Maybe I’ll even go semi-germaphobe and carry around some PocketBac to help reduce the chance of germs jumping on board after shaking so many hands.  I have some awesome peppermint sceneted stuff from Bath & Body Works in a tiny and manageable 1 fl. oz. size.  I can’t afford to come back sick from a conference AGAIN!
• Lighten my load.  My big backpack was too big – I didn’t need to cart around that much space.  Luckily the Buy.at backpack I won is just right to carry my laptop & the essentials (business cards, beverage, wallet, antibacterial hand gel, that kind of thing).
• Get more information from my mentee!  I don’t want to be a sourpuss and not do the mentor program again because I have even MORE stuff to tell a AS newbie, but this time I’ll be sure to find out when they’re coming to the summit, if they’ll be there all three days, and try to find out what they look like so I can spot them in a crowd to say hi!
• Attend “Ask the Experts”!  I jokingly said that I’d never attend this unless I was one of the experts, but since I don’t see that happening I need to not be lazy that second day and get up and attend.  Somehow sleep always seems to take precedent that second morning…
• EAT!  I managed to go all day Sunday having eaten just a few snacks and no real meals until a 2am bowl of cereal (thank you Las Vegas for being a 24/7 town).  This was not good.  Since the provided Continental Breakfast and Luncheons don’t kick in until Monday & Tuesday, I need to remember that Sunday isn’t just the Meet Market anymore – it’s a full fledged day of sessions, so get up and get energy!
• Get a smaller camera.  Or bring the smaller one I gave my husband, because I don’t take nearly enough photos and end up relying on the power of Flickr and Facebook tags to find photos of me at the show.  My camera that I take most my pics with is kinda bulky and not really friendly “on the fly”.  Next time I’ll have my Flip Mino (thank you MarketLeverage!) and will be sure to get video of some of the general events (not the sessions, that’s a no-no) and random people I encounter.  I’ll be video happy!
• Pimp myself out.  It’s nice to look professional, yes, but being branded like a cow gets noticed.  I had my own business cards of course, but no cards for any other departments, no nifty swag to hand people, no visible affiliation with them other than the name on my badge, not even a postcard with the equivalent of a 30 second elevator pitch.  Next time, you’ll know who I rep when you see me coming!