President’s Message

By Michael Deo, CLVLT, COLD

The more you put in, the more you get out.

A long time ago when I was much younger and aggressive about getting ahead in business, I was a member of an entrepreneurs’ organization that regularly offered speakers at our meetings. One evening I sat down next to David, a guy about my age back when we were in our 30s, who later became my friend.

He pulled a pen and three index cards from his jacket pocket, laying them on the table. I don’t remember if I asked verbally, “Why three index cards?” or my facial expression did the asking, but I’ll never forget his response. David had a simple goal—to go home with three ideas he could implement. He explained that the speakers almost always gave far more information than he could possibly act upon. Therefore, his goal was to choose three actionable nuggets that would make his time worthwhile.

Almost 20 years later, I still attend seminars, symposiums and conferences with that very goal in mind—except I do it a bit differently. I don’t try to sort out the keepers during the event; I just write them as they strike me. Then I sort and prioritize later, when my brain has had a chance to rest.

My experience at Illuminate ’19 proved true to form. Filling page after page of notes and ideas in real time allows me to re-read and absorb in the following days. Then, with a clear head and some quiet, I can prioritize my three actionable items. Honestly, after our conference, there is always more than three, but I’ll break them into categories. For example, I have three pieces of software or apps that I want to check out (see the notes on the conference app), three ideas for social marketing content and at least three for future video production. Sidebar: My No. 1 idea regarding video? JUST DO IT!

I hope that all of you who attended Illuminate ’19 in Scottsdale had no problem leaving with plenty of take-away value. Whether it was the sessions themselves, the peer networking, exploring new equipment at Expo or the tour of Taliesin West, there was plenty to choose from, and I hope something lit you up!

As you know and have heard before, putting together our annual gathering takes a ton of work. After years of working on the committee, I must tell you it really is a team effort—a combination of volunteers and staff working together towards a common goal. And, we have already begun to plan for 2020 in Orlando. So, this is your chance to be heard! Tell us what you want! What do you want to learn? Less time talking about what? More time to do what? Your feedback and input help us set the tone of the content.

The survey is a good place to start, but not necessarily the only way to grab an ear. Send an email to me or staff. Either way, it’ll get to the right committee. Whether it concerns the awards program, certifications or general conference, we all welcome the input.

As I look forward to serving on the board and contributing to committee work for the coming year, I look back on my involvement with our little association and I feel blessed. I’m grateful for having the opportunity to contribute and hope I’ve made a positive impact along the way.

And here’s my pitch – the more you put into something the more you’ll get out. So, jump in. Choose one that interests you from the several committees that do the work of the association. It is OK to start slowly; each has its own chair and an existing team. Learn as you go. Help shape the future of the association. Help it grow, both in numbers and in value. Who knows… in a few years you could be writing this letter!

Best wishes for an illuminating spring season,

Michael