Countdown to National Conference

[raebates]

Today is April 26. There are 77 days until the start of National Conference.Always double-check. It's easy to get used to relying on your director, your recruiter, your clustermates, or your friends here at CS for information. We're good, but we're not perfect. The best source of information is the HO. Make sure you're reading what they send and what's posted on CC.

 

[raebates]

Today is April 27. There are 76 days until the start of National Conference.I like to look my best at NC. Since I have colored hair in a fairly short style, that means making sure that my cut and color are reasonably fresh. I've already set my appointments for the next couple of months so I can make sure I'm feeling cute for NC.If this is a concern for you as well, you might want to make your appointment now. Make sure your stylist will be available when you need him/her.

 

[ChefMary412]

I did the same Rae.. I actually booked this next hair and eyebrow appt a little later than I usually would so I will be on track to get it done on July 9th!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Today is April 27. There are 76 days until the start of National Conference.

I like to look my best at NC. Since I have colored hair in a fairly short style, that means making sure that my cut and color are reasonably fresh. I've already set my appointments for the next couple of months so I can make sure I'm feeling cute for NC.

If this is a concern for you as well, you might want to make your appointment now. Make sure your stylist will be available when you need him/her.

I did this too! It was a little tricky, because of my vacation, and her vacation...but we worked it out! I have to look good walking across that stage!

 

[raebates]

Today is April 28. There are 75 days until the start of National Conference.Yesterday I talked about looking good. Today I want to remind you to do what you can to make sure you feel good. NC is physically and mentally stressful. It's good stress, but it's still stress. You have just over 10 weeks to prepare yourself. Here are my suggestions:Make getting rest a priority. If you're not well rested when you arrive, you're likely to struggle. After all, there are lots of things to do, so you might be staying up late and getting up early. Most people don't sleep as well in a strange bed. Most of us will be sharing a room with others, which can impair your sleep. These won't be as much of an issue if your sleep bank is full to begin with. Start walking. There is a lot of walking at NC. Get moving now so you won't feel like you've been hit by a truck on day 2.Eat well. Fueling your body with good food in the weeks ahead is a good way to make sure you're healthy and energetic when you arrive at NC. You know what that means. Eat your veggies. Go for lean proteins and whole grains. Avoid overly processed foods. Avoid empty calories. Who knows? It's possible that these will become good habits that will become part of a healthy lifestyle that lasts long after this NC.

 

[cookinfletch]

Rae, you rock!! Thanks for all the info!

 

[raebates]

Aw, thanks.

 

[angel7581]

you like it? I have been looking into EverNote.. I want something that goes to and from my blackberry, too.

I am loving OneNote. It is helping me to organize things and with my ADHD that is really important!

 

[raebates]

Today is April 29. There are 74 days until the start of National Conference.

Ken Davis shared these ideas on a blog. He was talking about how to get the most out of the conferences he does, but I think they translate well to NC.
Make these resolutions to help you maximize your experiences:

1. Resolve to Relax
So many times we go into new situations tense and defensive, fearful of change and concerned about what people will think. We assume a negative posture that stifles creativity and inhibits learning.

Anticipate a great experience
Believe that you will learn something helpful
Don’t set yourself up to compete. You have nothing to prove. Learning is not competition it is absorption. Become a happy Sponge Bob Square Pants. Soak it up!​

2. Resolve to Disarm
We put it this way, “Leave your guns at the door.” All those little tricks and stories and shortcuts that you usually use when the pressure is on; the candy stick, shoot from the hip easy way out solutions that keep you from trying new things, leave them at the door.

Open yourself up to learn new techniques. Risk by exploring new ideas. When you leave the conference you can pick up your guns and take them with you. You may not need them anymore. OR you may find them more affective with the new material you have learned. By leaving them at the door you will resist the temptation to depend on them and miss out on learning something new.

3. Resolve to connect
Dive in. Introduce yourself to instructors and other attendees. Ask questions, offer insight. Eat and talk and laugh with other people. TURN YOUR PHONE OFF!

In twenty years of doing workshops I can count on one hand and half of one foot the number of people who said they got nothing out of it. ALL OF THEM remained isolated and refused to get involved with the people around them. Some felt they knew it all. Usually those were sent by someone who knew they didn’t. Others never disconnected from phone - computer - business, so even though they were physically at the conference, mentally they never left the office.

4. Resolve to commit
I ask our students to commit to what we are teaching just for the length of the conference. Long enough to try the principles, get past the discomfort of doing something NEW, and experience the difference it will make in their performance. Once they leave, I give them permission to dump the whole thing and shoot me with the guns they left at the door, BUT BY THEN THEY ARE HOOKED.

The new grip suggested by a golf pro seems intolerable until you commit to practice it until it becomes natural. Only then will you hit the 250 yard drive or sink the 15 foot putt.

Try these resolutions the next time you are at a conference.

 

[williamsdf]

Which hotels are nearby?

 

[raebates]

Check the thread below. Several people are staying at hotels near the conference hotels. I always stay at conference hotels, so I'm no help. http://www.chefsuccess.com/f104/where-you-staying-61086/?highlight=where+are+you+staying

 

[pampered1224]

Rae that is awesome advice! I am a people person so it is very easy for me to open my mouth. However, I distinctly remember last year sitting near a lady in not one but two of my classes. She was so shy it hurt me! When we were asked to discuss something, she automatically dropped her head into her notes and never spoke to anyone. I can not imagine that she learned much as when I peaked at her notes, she had written stuff the presenter had said but none of the ideas we were hashing out, she was not writing anything! How do you learn without interacting? Oh and ladies and gentlemen with laptops, on a side note, I got the e-mail address of a lady who uses her laptop at NC to take notes. Funny how when she sent me her notes, mine were more complete and she actually had missed three key points that were made! Doing two things at once is not always good. If you are paying attention to what you are typing, how do you pay attention to what is being said? Her notes were a car wreck.

 

[wadesgirl]

Rae that is awesome advice! I am a people person so it is very easy for me to open my mouth. However, I distinctly remember last year sitting near a lady in not one but two of my classes. She was so shy it hurt me! When we were asked to discuss something, she automatically dropped her head into her notes and never spoke to anyone. I can not imagine that she learned much as when I peaked at her notes, she had written stuff the presenter had said but none of the ideas we were hashing out, she was not writing anything! How do you learn without interacting? Oh and ladies and gentlemen with laptops, on a side note, I got the e-mail address of a lady who uses her laptop at NC to take notes. Funny how when she sent me her notes, mine were more complete and she actually had missed three key points that were made! Doing two things at once is not always good. If you are paying attention to what you are typing, how do you pay attention to what is being said? Her notes were a car wreck.

Plus it's slightly annoying to sit next to someone while they are typing! If you insist on using your computer to take notes, try sitting away from everyone else.

 

[esavvymom]

Rae that is awesome advice! I am a people person so it is very easy for me to open my mouth. However, I distinctly remember last year sitting near a lady in not one but two of my classes. She was so shy it hurt me! When we were asked to discuss something, she automatically dropped her head into her notes and never spoke to anyone. I can not imagine that she learned much as when I peaked at her notes, she had written stuff the presenter had said but none of the ideas we were hashing out, she was not writing anything! How do you learn without interacting? Oh and ladies and gentlemen with laptops, on a side note, I got the e-mail address of a lady who uses her laptop at NC to take notes. Funny how when she sent me her notes, mine were more complete and she actually had missed three key points that were made! Doing two things at once is not always good. If you are paying attention to what you are typing, how do you pay attention to what is being said? Her notes were a car wreck.

I would have said maybe that was me! But I did at least take notes and LISTEN to interactions, maybe contribute a teensy weensy bit? I get anxiety attacks with "role playing" or anything close to that! I always have to make a mad dash to SOMEWHERE (bathroom, ANYWHERE) when those happen. LOL I'm trying to get better!

 

[raebates]

Sit near one of us, Bobbi. We'll bring you out of your shell. Ken Davis is a Christian comedian. He's hysterical. He's also a motivational speaker and runs workshops for Christian speakers. I subscribe to his newsletter and blog. This came to my inbox last year during the NC countdown. It's such good advice for anyone attending a conference or workshop. Heck, it's good advice for when you attend a team meeting.

 

[raebates]

Today is April 30. There are 73 days until the start of National Conference.

Are your hotel reservations set? If you're staying at a conference hotel, make sure you have all of your roommates listed (with consultant numbers). This really will make things easier in the long run.

Be sure to read through all of the rules and guidelines for conference hotels. You'll want to know your rights and responsibilities just in case.

 

[Karen]

Rae, you are awesome. I had the joys of having breakfast with you two years ago and maybe this year we can spend quality time people watching outside the Hilton in the early mornings (that's where I'm staying too!).

We always leave NC with many ideas and tips to start incorporating into our business that it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed. The first year that I attended NC my director gave us a "care package" and in that package were stickers. The stickers are an excellent tool to use to put next to the "tips" that you want to work on or try.

Stickers are not heavy, do not take up a lot of space. It is a wonderful way to bring NC to a close when you are on the plane coming home and can go through your notes refreshing yourself on everything that you saw and heard and can "sticker" items as you go along.

 

[raebates]

I remember you, Karen. The stickers are a good idea.

 

[raebates]

Just a little additional info about the conference hotels. I called late in the day yesterday to request a non-smoking room and check on a few other details. The hotel told me that I wasn't listed. It was too late to call Experient, so I had to wait until today.When I called Experient today I spoke with a very nice woman. Seems that a bit of my information didn't make it through the process, even though I received a confirmation. We cleared up those details, then she told me that they don't give the names to the hotel until about 2 weeks before the conference. Right now the hotel should just see a block of rooms reserved for Experient (or maybe PCNC). It would have been helpful if the hotel had told me that, although I'm almost certain that I did that last year about this time.She made note of my requests in my reservation and sent me an amended confirmation. She suggested I contact the hotel a week or so before NC in order to confirm that they're able to honor my requests. I've set a reminder on my phone to do that.So, if you have any special requests, you might want to contact the hotel directly a week or so before NC.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Just a little additional info about the conference hotels. I called late in the day yesterday to request a non-smoking room and check on a few other details. The hotel told me that I wasn't listed. It was too late to call Experient, so I had to wait until today.

When I called Experient today I spoke with a very nice woman. Seems that a bit of my information didn't make it through the process, even though I received a confirmation. We cleared up those details, then she told me that they don't give the names to the hotel until about 2 weeks before the conference. Right now the hotel should just see a block of rooms reserved for Experient (or maybe PCNC). It would have been helpful if the hotel had told me that, although I'm almost certain that I did that last year about this time.

She made note of my requests in my reservation and sent me an amended confirmation. She suggested I contact the hotel a week or so before NC in order to confirm that they're able to honor my requests. I've set a reminder on my phone to do that.

So, if you have any special requests, you might want to contact the hotel directly a week or so before NC.

I thought for sure I checked a box requesting a non-smoking room when I made my reservation.....were you doing this to make double-sure?

 

[raebates]

Yes. Well, that and my roommate and I have an additional request or two.

 

[MHPampered]

I wanna go sooo bad but I just don't see being able to afford it... I am trying to figure out everything I can... I am going to be so bummed if I can't go..

 

[williamsdf]

Has anyone stayed at the Embassy Suites in Chicago, Lakefront? Can I still get to the conference if it is not one of the suggested hotels by PC?

 

[raebates]

You can still get to the conference. If you're near one of the conference hotels you can just walk to the conference hotel and catch the shuttle. If you're not near one, you can always take a cab to McCormick Place.

 

[esavvymom]

Has anyone stayed at the Embassy Suites in Chicago, Lakefront? Can I still get to the conference if it is not one of the suggested hotels by PC?

I am staying there this year. It's only one block up from the Sheraton, so I plan on walking to catch the shuttle from the Sheraton.

 

[raebates]

Today is May 1. There are 72 days until the start of National Conference.

We have just over 2 months before NC. You'll probably have several shows in that time. You'll do host coaching. You'll make lots of calls. Start taking a critical look at what you're doing, why you're doing it, and how it's working.

Here are a few reasons I can think of for taking a close look at your business before NC.

1. You'll know what areas to target when you're asking questions and taking workshop notes.

2. You'll know what's working well. You're likely to be asked for tips and advice while at NC. By really studying your business, you'll know what to tell those who ask.

3. You'll have a chance to make your business better before you even go. You may discover areas where you can change or streamline to make your business what you want it to be.
​

 

[raebates]

Today is May 2. There are 71 days until the start of National Conference.Make sure you have your roommates' and clustermates' numbers programmed into your phone. That will help you keep track of one another and adjust plans if necessary.

 

[pampered1224]

Good point Rae. While traveling, most cell phone providers have an extended plan you can sign up for for a minimal fee for only those days you need it. we did that when we went to Las Vegas. It was a heck of a lot cheaper than using in hotel phones! So if Chicago is not on your plan, check to see how much it would be to add it for that week. Especially if you know you will calling home or customers a lot! Could you imagine the phone bill otherwise? YIKES! My first year at NC it cost me almost $6 for a two minute call home to Milwaukee! And I could not make calls to my guests or even in an emergency without paying at least that much!
And Bobbi - you and I have a session together. You sort of know me so we should seek each other out and sit together. I would hate for you to be left out!

 

[raebates]

Today is May 3. There are 70 days until the start of National Conference.Many of us Cheffers will share numbers. On my old phone I programmed these under "Cheffer - pampered chef consultant," now I have them categorized as a group. Either way makes it easier for my brain to find the person I'm looking for.

 

[raebates]

John, good point. I have a nation-wide plan, so I'm not charged roaming fees of any kind. It never occurred to me that someone might be able to add the Chicago area to their plan for a specified length of time. Cool. I can tell you that hotels can charge an arm and a leg for even local calls. You aren't going to want to use those phones unless you have to.