The internet is flooded with AI-generated content right now, and that makes real human connection worth more than ever. In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, I break down the value I’ve seen from showing up at in-person events and how strategic networking and learning have shaped my own career. I share how I approach getting ROI from a conference and why the payoff from those rooms keeps showing up for years afterward.
Key Takeaways and Insights:
1. The Unseen ROI of Conferences
- I treat events as a long-term investment in my career, my relationships, and the growth of the business.
- Some of the biggest opportunities I’ve had came years after the first conversation.
- If you want to get luckier in business, put yourself in more rooms where genuine connection can happen.
2. Building Your Network from Scratch
- When I started out with no industry connections, online forums and social media chats were how I built my network.
- Standing out online is much harder today because feeds are full of low-value AI comments, what I call “LLM copypasta.”
- The way to cut through is to bring your own experience and point of view into every online interaction.
3. The Power of In-Person Connection
- In-person events get you out of the digital noise and into real, unfiltered conversations.
- Talking face to face about challenges, goals, and ideas builds relationships people actually remember.
- I’ve found the trust you build in person is something you can’t replicate over a screen.
4. How Events Reshape Your Thinking
- Every good conference I attend gives me new mental models for solving problems.
- Hearing how other experts think changes the way I approach challenges in my own work.
- I walk out with faster, sharper solutions than I had when I walked in.
5. What Separates Great Events from Bad Ones
- The worst events I’ve been to lean on big-name “celebrity” speakers who give generic platitudes and nothing you can use.
- The best ones mix inspiring keynotes with practitioners who are in the trenches doing the work every day.
- I look for events that build in both structured and unstructured time to network.
6. The Ultimate Event Strategy: Add Value
- My number one goal at any event is to add as much value as I can to every interaction.
- If I’m speaking, I want to deliver an exceptional presentation. If I’m attending, I’m looking for ways to help people with their problems.
- I want people to leave remembering me as someone who brought good energy and useful advice.
Resources & Tools:
🔗 Foundation’s Citation Conference - https://citationconference.com/
🔗 ExitFive’s DRIVE 2027 - https://exitfive.com/drive-2027/
🔗 HubSpot’s UNBOUND 2027 - https://unbound.hubspot.com/
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