Good afternoon, lords and ladies! It’s another beautiful day here in Noo Joi-Zee and I have been chained to my desk all morning. I was attacked by a swarm of emails, mostly good, and mostly about squeezing in some VO work before I leave for FaffCon on Thursday.
Wuzzat? FaffCon, you say? That’s right!
It’s FaffCon 4, the UN-Conference (not like United Nations, like 7-UP the UN-Cola or Doug Turkel the UN-nouncer). I can’t even tell you how geeked up I am for this. Why? Allow me to illustrate…
First off, I’ve never been to California. I know, right? You think that would have happened by now. I have made arrangements to hang out with some of my LA friends so that’s gonna be fun, too. If you wanna get together, drop me a line!
I LOVE flying! I haven’t been on a plane since 2007 when I narrated that Danielle Steele audiobook. I can’t believe it’s been over four years since I was on a plane. Well, that’s what happens when you sit in a closet all day talking to yourself…
I love hotels! Two words: continental breakfast.
We’re going whale-watching! That in itself makes the whole trip worth it.
Hangin’ with my homies! It was a blast spending time with old friends and making new ones.
The conference itself. FaffCon3 was a life-changing experience for me. I learned so much about the industry and my place in it. I also enjoyed facilitating my friend’s seminars. My personal highlight was giving a lecture on Goals and Action Plans. I can’t even begin to tell you how fulfilling it was to contribute to the conference in that way. And yes, I will be speaking again this year. My topic? It’s gonna be a surprise…!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I love going to conferences and networking events! Here are some tips to set yourself up for success:
Pick the right event. Sometimes an event is too “advanced” for you. It’s a disservice to both yourself and everyone else involved because of your lack of experience. The opposite is true, too. If you’re a veteran in your industry, don’t go to an event designed for less experienced folk. That is, unless you’re an instructor or you have product to sell.
Dress to impress! Be aware of the culture of the event and dress accordingly.
Know when to learn, when to share, and when to network.
To quote the great Dan Duckworth, don’t complain and don’t explain! In a recent seminar series I attended, the same person kept challenging the speakers’ teachings without a strong knowledge or experience base to call upon. It was like he was arguing with the speakers just to hear himself talk!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius
STUFF!: A fellow Faffer posted the Ventura weather forecast on Facebook so I thought that would be worth repeating. It’s gonna be Partly Cloudy with highs in the low 60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Pack accordingly!
From Tom Dheere’s apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News…