Last week over 350 reverse mortgage professionals descended upon San Diego for NRMLA’s Annual Meeting and Expo. Whether you attended the conference or not the real value of a conference lies not in the sessions you attended or even those you met in person but in what you do afterward in the weeks that follow.
It boils down to follow-up and implementation. Following up with those you met and implementing the strategies you took home.
Here are 7 ways to maximize the benefits of the NRMLA meeting or any conference for that matter after you’ve returned home.
Do a brain dump. Add some context to the notes you took because lest your short scrawls become indecipherable as time passes and your memories fade.
Follow up with those you met. Conference meetings are often brief and introductory. Don’t stop at a mere introduction. Email or call those you met with to thank them for their time. Even better, schedule a Zoom meeting in the coming weeks. Now you are building on your introduction. You should also connect on LinkedIn. In addition, you should add them to your CRM (Client Relationship Manager) to track conversations and schedule follow-up actions.
Start small. Some of the strategies you took from the conference can be implemented quickly and with little or no cost. This is typically true of sales tips which only require a new approach and disciplined implementation. If you met with a vendor or service provider schedule a demo or sign up for their service and test it.
Share your best take-aways with your team. Discuss what strategies each of your team members may be able to implement or those they don’t feel would be a good fit. Encourage open discussion.
Plug into group(s) that will enhance your knowledge or skill sets. Look for groups that can expand your professional skill set, provide access to other professionals, or improve your sales and communication skills.
Implement your planned post-conference takeaways into your calendar or project manager.
Shannon Hicks
Editor HECMWorld.com
As a prominent commentator and Editor in Chief at HECMWorld.com, Shannon Hicks has played a pivotal role in reshaping the conversation around reverse mortgages. His unique perspectives and deep understanding of the industry have not only educated countless readers but has also contributed to introducing practical strategies utilizing housing wealth with a reverse mortgage.
Shannon’s journey into the world of reverse mortgages began in 2002 as an originator and his prior work in the financial services industry. Shannon has been covering reverse mortgage news stories since 2008 when he launched the podcast HECMWorld Weekly. Later, in 2010 he began producing the weekly video series The Industry Leader Update and Friday’s Food for Thought.
Readers wishing to submit stories or interview requests can reach our team at: info@hecmworld.com.
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