| Article from March/April 2007 Illinois Builders Journal |
| What's your excuse for missing IBS? |
By Scott Eckstein
HBAI Senior Vice President |
Here we are with yet another
International Builders Show behind us.
Attendance was down, as this was
our third year in Orlando, and expected
to drop further next year. I agreed with
the forecast until I realized the
tremendous benefits offered by the
smaller crowd.
The exhibits were great as always
and the educational line-up was endless.
The problem was not finding a seminar
of interest but finding too many at the
same time.
If you attended, what I have to say
will sound obvious. If you did not
attend, which of these reasons did you
use?
Top ten reasons to miss the
International Builder's Show (and my
responses).
10. I am afraid to fly.
Rent a car and drive. There are so
many sights to see along the way.
Remember the Griswolds? The world's
largest ball of twine, etc.?
9. My boss wouldn't let me go.
It's time to educate your boss. The
networking opportunities are huge.
8. I can't afford the time away
from work.
Seriously, you're going to use this
one? Cut the computer solitaire out of
every week and you will find the time.
We can all find the time.
7. I'm not a builder. Why should I
go?
I meet with more bankers, title
companies and so forth on this trip than I
meet during the year. If you sell
anything for the housing industry, you
should take advantage of having the
attention of the hundreds of builders at
your finger tips.
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6. My clients will be mad if I am
away.
This can happen, but explain that
you are going for personal and
professional growth. If that doesn't
work, tell them to get over it.
5. It's all just a big party.
True, there are a few parties to
attend, but there are ten times the educational
and networking opportunities
available to you.
4. I don't know anybody.
That's because you don't go to
anything. Here is your chance to meet
these people that wonder who you are,
and more importantly, where you are.
3. I'm shy.
Me, too.
2. I'm not looking for products.
Then come to attend some of the best
seminars around. You can learn so
much, from basic to advanced and from
sales to service. They have a class for
everyone and everything. They even
offer courses on how to manage a nutty
customer. (They call it something nicer,
but you get the idea.)
1. My spouse won't let me.
Let me just say, the stories you hear
are greatly exaggerated. It's a very lowkey
business setting with nothing but the
finest business people in our industry
behaving appropriately at every moment.
So if we missed you this year, be
sure to join us next year. You will be
glad you did. I almost forgot, the average
day-time temperature was 73
degrees (above zero).
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