By Debbie Thompson

In writing this article, I am assuming that you are taking your team to the Summit (very wise on your part) and that they have earned their way (again, very wise on your part). I am also assuming that you have signed up with EFC, booked your flights, and have your hotel reservations. Now, how do you insure that your money and time will pay you back ten-fold?

Let’s go through the list of things to do for your team and to tell your team to set them up for success.

To Do: Prepare in advance what you would like your team to wear each day so that they look professional (most people act more professional when they look the part). Remember this convention is a business convention. For our Team at Tristar we require school shirts and nice dress pants or khakis. We do not allow tennis shoes or T-shirts and absolutely no rips, tears, stains etc.

To Say: “Team, we are a professional organization and it is important to act like one wherever we go and so I am giving you a list of the items that you should wear each day of the Summit . I am also giving you a list of items to bring with you so, for those of you who are new to traveling, will not forget necessary items or over pack.”

To Do: Get the Team a set of notebooks and pens (remember, if they are doing their job, they will be taking lots of notes). Arming them with the right tools is necessary.

To Say: “Team, we expect you to take lots of notes for us. We will be asking you to write up these notes and present them to us during our return home or at our first Team meeting when we return.”

To Do: Get your team some dojo business cards. This is the easiest way for them to give someone their information or to get someone else’s information. Business cards provide the team with a feeling of belonging and importance. You do want them to hear a great idea and to be able to network later with that person to see how it will work for them. It is not always easy to get a “one on one” at the Summit .

To Say: “Team, please make sure you get someone’s business card when you hear or see something you think would be valuable to our school. In this way, you can jot the idea on the back of their card and communicate with them later.”

To Do: Make sure you check the EFC online web site to find out what topics are being discussed at the Summit and start dividing up your Team to attend the sessions you want to know about but cannot attend yourself. At Tristar, we take enough team members that we try to send them in teams of two. We will have them go alone depending on the number of sessions we need to have covered with the exception of team members who have not attended a Summit . We always team our “First Timers” with a seasoned Team Member.

To Say: “Team, you are our ears and eyes and are representing our school. Please remember this every day of the Summit and make sure you are extremely respectful at all times!”

The following points should be discussed with your team in advance of the convention and again when you reach the convention.

1) You represent our school and, while we want you to have fun, this is not a vacation and all eyes will be on you.

2) The speakers at the Summit are not paid. They have come here at their own expense and are not attending sessions to help grow their businesses because they want to help you grow yours so …

a. Know where your sessions are ahead of time. (Tristar Team is given their assignments and sent to find their session areas the night before) Do not be late; it is rude and unnecessary.

b. Get a good nights’ sleep and set your alarm so you can be showered, looking sharp, prepared, and have eaten breakfast in ample time to be early for session one.

c. Remember Hygiene (believe it or not we have sat next to the smelly martial artist in sessions and it ain’t pretty). Remember showering (with soap), and use deodorant (extra cologne doesn’t work!).

3) Show your staff how to take notes if they are not good note takers. Make sure they go over their notes at the end of the day to fill in any gaps that are fresh in their memories.

4) Remember that the audience in each of these sessions came to listen to the speakers, not someone in the audience just wanting to put in their two cents or brag about what they are doing. Remember your purpose and the reason you spent the money and time to go to the Summit is to listen, learn, and take back.

Everyone has something to give that would benefit someone else, no matter how big a school or how much gross they make but keep in mind your purpose at the Summit is to listen, write notes, tell your team members about your session and get excited!

What should you do when you get back from convention? Hold on tight because it’s going to be a wild month or two. Team members will be pumped up on and off the floor. Make sure to sit with them as quickly as possible (Tristar actually does this at the airport on our way home) and go over their sessions. Write a list of all the ideas and then put them in order of their importance and ability to adapt to your school. Then work the plan to incorporate each item into your school and watch your numbers grow.

HAVEN’T YET DECIDED TO GO TO THE CONVENTION? Quick, call EFC and beg for spots. Then make your reservations and if the hotel is booked, quickly call any hotel in the area and get there; unless, of course, you think next year would be a better time to start making more money.