Are you heading to Keller Williams Mega Camp 2014? This can be a scary few days with so much going on.
If you don't know me, my name is Chad Hyams, and I have had the opportunity to attend Keller Williams Mega Camp for many years in many different roles...
- Agent
- Team Leader
- Trainer and vendor with IMSD
- MAPS Coach
- Presenter
- Growth and Productivity Director
Congratulations to you on making the wise business choice to attend Keller Williams Mega Camp 2014.
Mega Camp Survival Guide!
If you are reading this and you have not yet registered, stop reading and register now!
No hotel rooms left in Austin? Don't worry about it. Just find someone to bunk up with or watch on Facebook as people start posting that they have an extra room. Still no luck? Get creative and look at renting a house with a few others.
No money? Put it on the credit card, as it will pay dividends forever! Yes, we believe in being debt free and leading with revenue at Keller Williams. There is an exception to every rule and this is one of the two exceptions (Keller Williams Family Reunion is the other.)
No flights? If you start driving now you can still make it on time and have a great story to share about your cross-country journey
If you are choosing not to go, make sure you still check out what you are missing so you can start planning for next year's event.
Keller Williams Mega Camp 2014
Now that we have the travel plans covered let’s jump into what to expect from a Keller Williams Mega Camp event.
The first thing to know about the event is that there are actually three conferences that make up Keller Williams Mega Camp 2014.
Mega Leadership Camp
Mega Technology Camp
Mega Agent Camp
Which conferences should you attend? All three!! That’s right, if possible and applicable you should plan to attend all three of these events.
Mega Leadership Camp (Sept 15-16)
The Keller Williams Mega Camp week starts with Keller Williams Mega Leadership Camp. If you are a leader in the company you don’t want to miss this event. If you are interested in becoming a team leader in the company, you don’t want to miss this event. If you are a leader in your life (hint hint - you are!) then you don't want to miss this event.
Mega Tech Camp (Sept 17)
The next event in the Mega Camp lineup is Mega Tech Camp. This event has grown in popularity each year as more and more agents understand the power of and the need for technology skills. You'll want to take a lot of notes and enjoy drinking from the fire hose of information that will be shared.
Mega Agent Camp (Sept 18-19)
Finishing up the lineup is the highest attended session (more on how to deal with that later on) Keller Williams Mega Agent Camp. Led by Gary Keller this is where the best in the business reveal the specific systems and strategies that are bringing their results in today's market.
- Finding and succeeding with your ONE Thing
- Expired/FSBO success
- Expansion into New Markets
- Social Media
- Open Houses
- And so much more
These panels and speakers are changed each year depending on what topics MAPS, Dianna Kokoszka and Gary Keller feel the agents need to learn more about.
Mega Camp Speakers
The stage will be filled with Keller Williams Realty International Leadership such as Gary Keller, Mo Anderson, Mark Willis, Mary Tennant, John Davis, Chris Heller, Cary Sylvester, Jay Papasan and Dianna Kokoszka. There will also be the opportunity to hear from top agents and leadership from around the country.
This year we also have 3 keynote speakers including Ben Kinney, Tony Giordano and according to the Wall Street Journal, one of the most sought after business speakers in America, author Patrick Lencioni
Now that you know what you are getting into, what should you do when you get there?
Make The Most Of Your Time at Mega Camp
Plan on some organized chaos. There will be in the area of 10,000 real estate agents running around the Austin Convention Center with all of the events in one space.
In the morning, you'll make your way through the maze of exhibitors (more on them later) and head for the main room. Stake out your seat and make sure you are comfortable as you will be there awhile. Arrange in advance where you are meeting your office, your friends or anyone you want to sit with.
Unlike Family Reunion where you move around all day, Keller Williams Mega Camp will have you in one space and the panelist come to you. Each and every panel is worth its weight in gold as these are top producers speaking and sharing with you.
To get the most out of the sessions at Keller Williams Mega Camp you must have an open mind. The agents that walk away with their notes and saying things like “I can’t wait to give this a shot” are the ones that will grow their business. The agents that walk out with their notes saying, “this will never work in my city” are the ones that should have just stayed home. Open your mind and be ready to learn from those that are making it happen.
The biggest challenge that many attendees have is that they get so many notes and ideas that they just don’t know where to start. Come to Keller Williams Mega Camp with your question in mind already. What is it you want to learn?
- How to use open houses to grow your business?
- How to lead other people and yourself better?
- How to move to the next level of your business?
Figure your question in advance and ask EVERYONE you meet. Collect the answers you are given with the information coming from the stage and you will walk away from the event with focus!
***Need to visit the restroom...if someone is on stage that is not answering your specific question, take that moment and run! You want to be back in time to hear the next speaker!
Mega Camp Exhibit Hall
This is a tough one as unlike Family Reunion (held in February) there is not as much time for the Keller Williams Mega Camp exhibit hall.
As soon as you get to the exhibit hall, do the quick trick or treat walk. What is the trick or treat walk? That is when you zip up and down the aisles to each booth and grab whatever they are giving away (anything from pens to magnets to candy) and make sure you grab their information handouts. Just like on Halloween you always remember the house with the big candy bar to tell the other kids to visit! Make notes on which vendors you want to visit later. Don’t forget to say hello to the companies you’re already using!
The best times to meet with vendors are early in the morning (exhibit hall open between 7AM and 8AM based on the day), over the lunch break since everyone else will run to eat (more on that below), or where there is a panel that just isn’t something you click with. If you don’t plan to work with banks, then hit the exhibit hall when the REO speakers are talking.
Decide what your budget is for new services BEFORE YOU ARRIVE! From software to marketing and other items at the show and have a plan as to what you are looking to take home with you.
- Are you needing KW branded clothing? Leave room in your suitcase
- Are you wanting some great reading? Hit the KW bookstore
- Are you looking for some way to expand your marketing efforts? Say hello to our friends at BombBomb and Contactually (as well as others)
Realtors are all looking for the new magic bullet. Listen the experts invited to speak on panels and you will recognize that there are no magic bullets. The principle is work, work, work and you should keep that in mind as you shop, shop, shop. Find things that work and generate more business for you... those are the things to invest in on the exhibit floor.
When Sessions Are Out
Lunch break at is a madhouse! The best thing to do is bring a power bar and take advantage of the quiet time on the exhibit floor instead of waiting 45 minutes for a table when you only have an hour lunch break.
The event never ends as Keller Williams Mega Camp just turns into a 6th Street Pub Crawl. Remember that while you are out, you still have more to learn the next morning and anything that happens on 6th Street probably ends up on Facebook before the night is over! Be smart and be safe. If you want to avoid the crazy scene at Pete’s Piano Bar or any of the other popular spots on 6th Street, just stop by the Hilton hotel lobby as the place to hang out.
A Few More Tips
One of the things that Keller Williams promotes is sharing and Mega Camp is no different. Use the power of Twitter and remember the hashtag #KWMC. Share with each other, find each other and share with those that were unable to join the event in person.
Make the most of this event by setting goals for Keller Williams Mega Camp.
- What do you want to learn about?
- Who are you hoping to meet and get a moment to talk with?
- What do you need to find out about in the exhibit hall and what should you avoid spending money on?
Bring business cards, hand out business cards and remember the lessons that Gary Keller has been teaching us since Keller Williams began…it is all about collecting business cards to add to your database! You'll also want cards to enter all of the iPad drawings on the exhibit floor.
Please Share This Blog and Add Your Comments
If you found this blog helpful, please share it with your Market Center, share it on Facebook and Twitter, or email it on to other Keller Williams agents.
We know that you've got some veteran conference tips, too, so please be sure to add your advice in the comments in below for Keller Williams agents who have never attended Mega Camp.
I can’t wait to see you all at Keller Williams Mega Camp 2014 and hope you will come find me to say hello!
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