In this piece, I explain a simple equation you can use to decide whether going to ETHDenver, or any other event, is worth your time, money, and energy.
This article really hit home for me because I'm always in two minds about whether to go to conferences or not. The whole "Net Value" equation you talk about is like a lightbulb moment.
I mean, we often get hung up on the immediate costs, but your article reminds me that it's about the big picture. The connections you make, the ideas you get, and the funding opportunities might not show up right away, but they can be game-changers down the line. My life has felt magical in a big part because of the YES I've said to opportunities to gather with value aligned people creating meaningfully in the world. Most of the time, I haven't known where it would go, just that I needed to go. The outcomes our immeasurable. (thats the challenge here isn't it) Impact (in all its forms) can be difficult to quantify or capture. Sometimes it takes years for the dots that connect to tell the whole story of the value created.
Your advice about picking the right conference, it's spot on. Reputation, content, networking, diversity, and what you get after the conference – these are all things to consider. It's not just about showing up; it's about finding the right fit for your goals and values.
p.s. still have regret about not heading to Montenegro with you.
100% - your comment reminds me that I think event producers should encourage participants to reflect on all that they got in value from participating in their events - also got me thinking about impact measurements and retro pgf
Super helpful! Will make sure to use this formula for every conference/wedding I plan to go to this year — great one G!
❤️❤️❤️!
Great breakdown, can be applied for just about any conference
Great breakdown of how to approach the ever present dilemma builders face when the opportunity presents itself to attend a conference!
This article really hit home for me because I'm always in two minds about whether to go to conferences or not. The whole "Net Value" equation you talk about is like a lightbulb moment.
I mean, we often get hung up on the immediate costs, but your article reminds me that it's about the big picture. The connections you make, the ideas you get, and the funding opportunities might not show up right away, but they can be game-changers down the line. My life has felt magical in a big part because of the YES I've said to opportunities to gather with value aligned people creating meaningfully in the world. Most of the time, I haven't known where it would go, just that I needed to go. The outcomes our immeasurable. (thats the challenge here isn't it) Impact (in all its forms) can be difficult to quantify or capture. Sometimes it takes years for the dots that connect to tell the whole story of the value created.
Your advice about picking the right conference, it's spot on. Reputation, content, networking, diversity, and what you get after the conference – these are all things to consider. It's not just about showing up; it's about finding the right fit for your goals and values.
p.s. still have regret about not heading to Montenegro with you.
100% - your comment reminds me that I think event producers should encourage participants to reflect on all that they got in value from participating in their events - also got me thinking about impact measurements and retro pgf