Yesterday I read Leesa Barnes blog post titled, “Why I Regret Going to Ali Brown’s Shine, Part 1” and it made me decide to write about something that’s been troubling me about these types of spectacular, super social, totally fun, exhausting, days-long training events. Here’s my question: how much training and educational value are you really getting for the time, money, and energy you’re spending at these events?
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been to two of these sorts of things since I started my business, and I came home from both inspired and motivated to take action. And I did, repeatedly. But here’s the thing: I didn’t make a ton of money right away- hardly any at all at first. What has happened is that I’ve worked on implementing what I learned at the events, and I’m getting some results, but I probably need a little more feedback or tweaking from the instructors on implementing their teachings to get the fantastic results they insist are possible, and none whatsoever is available– unless I want to spend thousands of dollars more on private coaching, or a mastermind group, after already spending thousands for travel, tuition, and accommodations on the original event itself. For me, that kind of stinks.
Having worked as an educator for 10 years, here’s how teaching basically works: the teacher instructs, the student does the exercises given to learn the concepts, the teacher reviews the student’s progress and gives feedback for improvement. This cycle continues until the student achieves a basic comptetancy or mastery of the concept. The teacher’s regular feedback during the student’s learning is invaluable, perhaps the most valuable aspect of the entire learning process. And that’s a value that simply is never offered at these big live spectacular training events. Not at all, as far as I know. So then what is the real value of these giant multi-day shindigs? Major networking opportunities with a few tips on business success? Are the promoters of these events being truly honest about what they’re offering?
In any case, as a customer, I’ve found that I’ve developed a much stronger connection and loyalty to those business teachers and mentors who make themselves or their trained support staff regularly available to answer my questions. I regularly rely on Pete, Sandra Martini’s social networking assistant of her Social Networking Done 4 You program to answer all of my odd questions on how Twitter works. My original business coach, Lynn Scheurell, the Creative Catalyst, still acknowledges and answers my random occasional questions on online business mechanics as well, even during periods when I’m not her paying client. I love these service providers! I rely on them, and I’ll remain loyal to them.
Unfortunately it appears that many service providers who are becoming super successful multi-millionaires are increasingly distancing themselves from their average customer, further diluting the quality of the education and training that they originally offered. Isn’t there a way to strike a balance here? I think it’s possible to get rich and still be accessible to your clients. Why not offer a really cheap continuity program for event attendees or infoproduct purchasers who’s sole purpose is to answer their questions, and give feedback when something’s not working just right? These folks do “hot seats” at their events, why not do it on the phone?
Eben Pagan has lately been promoting a business building program just like that, with a whole continuity segment featuring live “implementation coaching.” Now that sounds like something people could really connect to and stay connected to, and I’ve signed up for his trial run. Not only that, but Mike Michalowicz, aka The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, offers live monthly q&a at a very low price calls and he’s actually replied personally to emails I’ve sent with questions about programs he’s offering. Now that’s what I call accessibility and relationship building! From what I’ve read, he’s also a multi-millionaire, who is about to start his own t.v. reality show on helping entrepreneurs, and he’s regularly invited to travel around the world to speak about his work. Essentially, I’m gushing about this guy because he’ll talk to me and I’ve barely paid him a thing! How refreshing is that?
I’m starting to suspect that I’ll get a lot more value for my money in the future by signing up for programs where I get some form of direct access to the instructor along with opportunities to get feedback from them. I’m an expert at my service, but as an unseasoned entrepreneur, I think these big old live extravaganzas are definitely NOT the best financial investment in my business development.
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