Been at another IT conference today. Third in four weeks. Exhibiting, and participating. This particular one was for the third year on the trot, and being a reflective person.........
Been at another IT conference today. Third in four weeks. Exhibiting, and participating. This particular one was for the third year on the trot, and being a reflective person, I'm now just looking back over the day and asking myself (a) "was it value for money..?" and (b) "am I part of the problem, or part of the solution..?"
If you want to get value, they're not a easy day out. It can be emotionally taxing, swapping in and out of roles all day - sometimes you're being the smiling envoy for your organisation - sometimes you're being the cynical, quizical interrogator of potential service providers and merchants - sometimes you're being the ally or the devil's advocate in open discussions and debates - sometimes you're being the genial host - sometimes you're being the roadie, loading up, knocking down, ferrying back and forth.
On the whole, I'm pleased - today we cemented some good relationships; we measured ourselves against our peers; we checked out our closeness-to-the-edge; we said some of the right things in some of the right places.
I've been home now; sat in the armchair; eaten my supper; walked the dog. And it was whilst walking the dog that the penny finally dropped about why today's third-year-on-the-trot conference had felt good... I twigged that what was really going on (metaphorically) is that today we were walking round our territory p**sing on the lamposts, staking our claim to be there running with the pack. We're here, we've got a good hand, and we're playing the game.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Almost assimilated by the Borg...
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2 comments:
Roger - I don't know whether you are old enough to remember the Mods and Rockers - but maybe what you are talking about there is being 'a face' as the Mods would have said. First you have to be a 'ticket' and if you are good enough and most imporantly, are seen enough times, you might graduate to being a 'face'. It's expensive in time - and money so you either have to be dedicated for the sake of it - or getting some sort of return on the investments.
You are indeed correct. This is all part of being a "face". Many years ago in another life, my partner and I used to breed horses (Welsh ponies and cobs). The first year we entered all the breed society shows, and got nowhere. Very disheartening; weekend after weekend; we drove hundreds of miles, competing. The following year we entered the same livestock in the same shows - and eventually the rosettes started coming in. You'd get a smile from the judges; you'd rub shoulders and exchange banter with the other competitors. It was easier to win when you were a face. Indeed, after a few years, you built up so much momentum that it became quite hard to stop!
My hat's now gathering dust on the hallstand, and the face is just there in the albums. But the warm glow inside isn't far away.
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