BLOG.TRADESHOWMAVEN.COM

Where do you start? Changing careers.

2011-04-01T01:53:00Z

I just returned from my annual trip to the EXHIBITOR2 Conference fro trade show and event professionals.

Many of my colleagues are struggling with whether or not to stay in the profession, not because they don't love it, but because they don't see their options.

My advice to them is to spend the time to get to know themselves, start figuring out what they value, and unearth the transferable skills they have to offer. How do they start?

Get Richard Nelson Bolles' book, What Color Is Your Parachute? and work through the exercises.
Write every day. Start exploring your thoughts - any thoughts - just do it every day.

I don't know everything about career change, but I do know that if you don't know who you are and what you love, you'll be hard pressed to find the right job or career.

Change or Die: New Hope, New Skills, New Thinking

2010-07-22T13:25:00Z

I just landed a new job, and I've been trying to figure out how I did it so that I can pass on the trick to you. I think it comes down to what Alan Deutshman calls: new hope, new skills, and new thinking.

In Alan's book titled, Change or Die , he talks about the essential elements of accepting or bringing about change, and it has nothing to do with presenting the facts. It's about having hope, attaining new skills, and seeing situations in a new way. The book was a real eye opener and a partial confirmation that I seem to be on track. How so you ask?

New Hope: Life is not static. To make the most of it, I try to be on the lookout for opportunities in every moment of evey day. I knew that someday the job I wanted would become available, and I needed to be open to the possibility.

New Skills: My mission over the last few years has been to learn how to do desktop publishing, become a better writer, and do a better job of presenting my concepts. In other words, I had to learn new skills to keep current and marketable. Without the new skills I've developed over the last three years, I wouldn't have been offered this job.

New Thoughts: I've been doing trade show marketing for over 25 years, but the job market and the skills required have changed. Once I embraced that fact and started to be open to new ways of doing business, I made myself a much stronger job candidate. I wasn't afraid to take a risk of rejection and act on new concepts that apply to today's way of doing business.

And, I trusted my instincts, knowing they would lead me to success. What's holding you back? Hopelessness, stale skills, and old thoughts? Push them aside and trust me, trust yourself, you can bring about wonderful change in your life, just start with a little hope.

Trade Show Jobs: The Good News & The Bad News

2010-02-21T21:30:00Z

I'm always looking for a job. Not that I'm not happy with the one I have, but I think it's important to always be looking--in case something happens.

That "something" has happened to me three times in my career, and each time I was prepared because I had been "looking" all along. I've always found jobs and been laid off during "bad" times; and I always found employment. It wasn't easy; people didn't respond when I sent my resume, and sometimes it took months of searching, but everything worked out in the end.

So, what's happeing in today's job market for trade show and event managers?

Good News: There are plenty of trade show jobs today; more than there were 25 years ago. And thanks to certification programs like the university-affiliated CTSM program offered by EXHIBITOR, employers are beginning to understand the value we, and the events we manage, bring to the bottom line. So, take heart, there ARE jobs out there.

Bad News: Everyone thinks they can manage trade shows & events, so the competition is fierce.

So what do you do now that you know what the market is like? I have a suggestion: stop moaning about the lack of opportunity and employer response and get moving, get creative, and get celebrating! There's never been a better time to be a trade show or event manager.

The Best Thing to Hit the Trade Show Industry Since Velcro(tm)

2009-02-06T04:05:00Z

A trainer from Integrated Alliances came to my work a few weeks ago and showed us how to use LinkedIn effectively. I'm convinced!

As trade show specialists (and I am one), we tend to feel isolated and are often the only person in our company managing the trade show function. We crave connecting with other trade show and event specialists. With LinkedIn, we're now able to connect with other 24/7, 365 days a year so quickly and easily it's not even funny. I love the fact that you can set up your profile and send out a request for help in about 10-15 minutes. Sure, your profile isn't complete, but if you can access a LinkedIn group or find a discussion group like Event Marketing, you're set!

Imagine using TripIt to see where colleagues are travelling to and then realizing you'll be in that city, too, during the same dates. You might be able to share a cab or have dinner with that same friend. Need something for your trade show set up and just can't seem to find it ? Get on LinkedIn and see if someone in your LinkedIn Group or discussion area can help. The possibilities are endless! If you haven't tried it, do it now, you won't regret it. Visit my profile at www.linkedin.com/in/tradeshowmaven

Welcome to Maven Matters - A Blog About Trade Show Marketing

2008-10-25T23:52:56Z

Welcome to my blog. I'm The Trade Show Maven. I help trade show and exhibit managers start their own consulting firms.

The purpose of my blog is to get the word out about my new coaching practice. My April coaching group will be focused on helping other trade show marketers like myself launch their own trade show consulting business or get much needed encouragement and advice from the experts in the trade show industry.

I've been around a long time--25 years--and have managed over 500 exhibits for Fortune 500 companies and start ups, managing anywhere from 5 to 75 shows a year, and I'm still passionate about what I do.

So, now is the time to give back in a big way to the industry. I'm pulling together the experts I know, adding my own insights and wisdom, and launching, The Trade Show Maven. Since I still work full-time, and so do my prospective clients, I'll be blogging and coaching in the evenings - so stay tuned.

Gail Hernandez, CTSM (aka The Trade Show Maven)
maven@tradeshowmaven.com