This post should relate to most of us who are in sales and have attended a sales related seminar. Earlier today I was involved in a conference call with several of my colleagues. We all had one thing in common, we all attended a mortgage planning conference in Las Vegas this last June. The gentlemen who produces and directs this seminar is a great guy. Has fantastic idea's, and I've become one of his fans. But if I have one complaint about these "industry seminars", is the constant pressure to "SELL ME", "SELL ME", "SELL ME".
I know...I know...reality baby, you can't have a seminar that doesn't ask you to rip out your credit card. It wouldn't be the American way if we didn't expect that at these events. However, how many times is to many? Often I see colleagues purchase "thousands" of dollars of these seminar "tapes", "video's", "mentoring programs", "Marketing programs", "marketing aids", etc..etc..
I guess my real complaint is that often the push to sell more product over shadows the opportunity to really "teach" the attendee something that he'll really incorporate into his business. Most of these events are almost like a religious revival. The formula works like this, Invite popular figure from the business world to speak, then invite a really good motivational speaker ( but you may have to agree to sell his products at your seminar), then sprinkle with actual content, then of course push your own product for the rest of the event!
So you often get, 25% content, 60% sales pitch, and 15% entertainment. The other issue I have is then they tell you, "well this is only an introduction to the real material...pay your $1500, and you can go to the 3 day seminar where we teach the real material 24/7"..... Wait a second, I think I hear another sales pitch coming!!! Yep, sorry folks, you get 40% content, 20% entertainment and 40% sales pitch at the "advanced seminar" as well.
The only one I've found that keeps their word about content has been Joe Stumpf. I've been generally impressed with his content and the fact he actually keeps his word! Now I just wish that some of these others will do the same, and focus on content or substance.
One last impression from these seminars. If your new to the business, or your "stuck" as some would call it. Don't think throwing $3-5k will solve all your problems. These seminars are chalk full of people wanting to sell $2500 dollar marketing programs. The problem is that your going to have to implement these programs when you go home. So are you the type that is good at implementing, and are the programs really congruent with your current marketing plan? Don't catch the FEVER, because if you do it can cost you big!
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