Episode #162- Top 4 Reasons to attend an Industry Conference

Episode Notes: 

If you are part of this rapidly changing, constantly-challenging but extremely exciting & rewarding collision industry… shop owner, equipment manufacturer, vendor, technician or industry resource… you know exactly what season it is now, right?... the “conference & tradeshow season”.

Follow along on a transformative journey as I recount the game-changing insights gained from industry conferences and trade shows that are revolutionizing the collision industry. Picture yourself walking through the bustling halls of SEMA or sitting in on a panel session at CIC, where the latest innovations in tools and technologies aren't just on display but are dissected and demystified to ensure the safety and success of your business. This episode isn't simply about what's new in the world of ADAS and electric vehicle repairs; it's an invitation to step up and become an integral part of our industry's evolution.

I’ll share how a single keynote speech reshaped my outlook on personal growth, and learn why rubbing elbows at these conferences can skyrocket your operations and bottom line. I'll share tales of networking magic that can only happen in these collaborative spaces, where strategies and insider knowledge flow as freely as the coffee! 

Networking, is the magic that occurs within the conference halls. It's where strategies are exchanged, partnerships are forged, and one's operations can experience exponential growth. The narrative weaves through tales of networking success, offering a compelling case for why rubbing elbows with industry peers is more than a social exercise—it's a business imperative.

These events are not just showcases for the latest gadgets; they serve as pivotal forums for demystifying complex technologies, such as Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle repairs. The message is clear: to thrive in the collision industry, one must be proactive in seeking knowledge and embracing change.

Join me as I commit to an ongoing quest for excellence and keep an eye on my social media for a roadmap to the most anticipated 2024 industry events—it's time we all raise the bar, together.

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Transcript

Rick: 0:00

So if you're part of this rapidly changing, constantly challenging but extremely exciting and rewarding collision industry and my guess is, if you're listening to this, you probably are with our shop owner, equipment manufacturer, vendor, technician you know damn well what season it is right now. Right, we're at the start of conference and trade show season. I mean, I can't believe it's already been four months since SEMA in Vegas Seems like I was just there. The collision industry conference has already had its first quarterly event in Palm Springs. Oklahoma Autobody Association hits first inaugural trade show event at the start of February, and the conferences are stacking up.

Rick: 0:43

Welcome to the MindWrench podcast with your host, rick Selover, where minor adjustments produce major improvements and mindset Personal growth and success. This is the place to be every Monday, where we make small improvements and take positive actions in our business and personal lives that will make a major impact in our success. Next level growth and quality of life.

Rick: 1:12

Hey, what's up everybody. Welcome to the MindWrench podcast. I'm your host, rick Selover. Thanks so much for stopping in. If you're a returning listener and haven't done so already, please take a minute and click the follow or subscribe button, and then rate and review the show. When you rate and review the show, the algorithms for Apple, spotify, google podcasts, iheart radio, amazon music and all the other Platforms will see that it's valuable and show it to more people that have never seen it before, and hopefully it can help them too. I would really, really really appreciate your help Sharing this word with your friends and family as well. If you're a brand new listener, welcome. I hope you find something of value here that helps you in your personal or professional life as well. Please make sure to click the subscribe or follow button so you never miss another episode this week.

Rick: 1:57

I wanted to share a quick message with all of you about something that's been on my mind the last several weeks. Just a brief something I wanted to share as the days are getting a little longer, springs right around the corner and our schedules start filling up with those important things that we want to accomplish this year, as well as planning maybe a little PTO and possibly a little travel right? So if you're part of this rapidly changing, constantly challenging but extremely exciting and rewarding collision industry and my guess is, if you're listening to this, you probably are whether a shop owner, equipment manufacturer, vendor, technician, you know damn well what season it is right now, right, we're at the start of conference and trade show season. I mean, I can't believe it's already been four months since SEMA in Vegas Seems like I was just there. The collision industry conference has already had its first quarterly event in Palm Springs. Oklahoma Automotive Association hits first inaugural trade show event at the start of February, and the conferences are stacking up. All the popular industry speakers like Mike Anderson, dave Lauer, john Shoemaker, jake Rodenroth and Danny Gredenberg, just to name a few, already have a booked schedule for appearances this year, as well as a host of new speakers and industry leaders Looking to share their knowledge with the rest of the collision world. Now, if you have not ever attended one of these events yet and you are interested in the future of our industry, my best advice is to get your ass out there this year and start attending some of these conferences and trust me on this, you have no idea what you're missing out on. Really all it takes is one experience Visiting a couple vendor booths and getting the skinny and the latest equipment, or listening to the wisdom of one of those top speakers I mentioned, making contact with some of your peers and sharing the stories and tactics that make other shops and your shop special, or just getting out of your shop for a day or two and seeing what's possible for you and your business you will get hooked.

Rick: 3:51

As someone that spent his old entire career in the collision business, I worked for decades never really engaging our industry outside my normal everyday work life, except for an occasional trade show and back of the 90s they used to have trade shows. All the time I just kind of stayed in my comfort zone, you know, kept my head down, just worked my ass off and sure. I went to an occasional paint company meeting where I listened to some great keynote speakers, as I've spent the last 30 years on the distribution side, so I had a little taste of what they're all about. But it wasn't till our country was just coming out of the pandemic when I really started embracing the concept of just getting out there and checking out some of what collision conferences had to offer, no matter how far away they were from my hometown and man. All I could think was why the hell did I wait so long? So I thought I would take a few minutes and not only help you understand some of the key benefits Of making the commitment to attend a few of these events this year, to start getting engaged in this business that supports your way of life, to start playing your part in becoming part of the solution in an industry that really needs everyone rowing in the same direction, but also to provide a guide of some of the upcoming shows to attend in 2024. Here's just a few of the top reasons to attend.

Rick: 5:06

Number one what's new? Getting out and seeing the new products, new tools and equipment available is probably the most important thing you could do for yourself and your business. These are the keys to your success in repairing today's and tomorrow's vehicles safely and correctly. As the complexity of vehicles keeps advancing, the repair methods as well as the tools and equipment needed to perform those repairs, also is advancing. Staying on top of these changes is not only critical to the functionality of today's automobiles, but to the safety of your most valuable asset, that's right, your customers. Keeping up with the new technologies, like ADAS and the other safety systems now on almost every single new vehicle produced, as well as what's involved for you, the repairer, when an EV shows up at your shop for repairs after an accident, is almost impossible to do without actually attending a trade show floor and talking with the vendors from these providers and seeing the latest options available. Listen, although your job or may bring in a flyer for the latest new primer, adhesive or polisher that's available, nobody is bringing what's new to properly repair today's vehicles right to your shop. Right Attending a collision conference is the best way for you to see all that's on the market. Talk to the manufacturers yourself, see the demonstrations live or get your hands on the latest gear yourself.

Rick: 6:24

Number two opportunities to grow. Another one of the game changing benefits of attending these conferences is the vast number of educational classes or workshops available, as well as the latest trainings from the industry leaders and consultants, manufacturers and vendors on a wide variety of subjects. Whether you're looking for some tactical advice on process improvements or production tips for your back shop, the latest trends in repair planning. Detailed looks at what it takes to open an ADAS center or what to do or not do when an EV or hybrid ends up in your shop. There is plenty of top talent to help guide you in the right direction.

Rick: 7:02

Some of the education is included with the cost of registration for the conference, and sometimes there's a reasonable fee. This is where you need to make that mental shift from thinking of that amount is a cost to the more correct term of investment in your shop. When you take the time to learn about better processes and practices, how to correctly charge and collect for your services rendered, improve your paint shop profitability or how to create a better culture within your shop, you absolutely will make more money. Education is an investment and one that pays great dividends. If you're looking for a competitive edge for your business or a more effective jumpstart to your personal development in 2024, I'll make your first step super simple.

Rick: 7:47

It is a fact that an incredible number of the most successful business owners, nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies, top-running professional athletes, entertainers and industry leaders like Microsoft's Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton, richard Branson, amazon's Jeff Bezos and Salesforce's Mark Benioff all have one thing in common they all have at least one coach and some have several that they work with on a consistent basis, someone that helps, guide, mentor and support them, challenge them, help them set and achieve goals that move them forward and then hold them accountable to follow through driving personal and professional growth. Working with a coach has many substantial benefits. Just for an example, 80% of coaching clients report improved self-esteem or self-confidence thanks to coaching, 99% of individuals and companies at higher coach report being very satisfied and 96% would do it again If, deep down, you know it's time to make those improvements in your business, your personal life, that you've kicked down the road year after year. If you're tired of knowing there's a better version of you waiting to shine, but unsure of how to bring that version to light. If you're tired of wanting to enjoy a more successful business but not sure how to start. And if you don't want to go another 12 months without better results but you don't want to go it alone, then take the first step. It's super simple. Sometimes talking to the right person can make all the difference. Go to wwwricksellovercom, slash contact and I'll set you up with a free consultation. Call with me to see if one-on-one coaching is right for you.

Rick: 9:19

Number three keynote speakers. One thing I learned early on in my career, working for a jobber, while attending one of those paint company conferences, was the value of listening to a great keynote speaker. I still remember my first experience attending a keynote. I was listening to speaker Hall of Fame member Dr Alan Zimmerman. He actually made such an impact. His message changed the direction of my life and started me down a path of self-improvement a path I'm still on almost 20 years later. This is one advantage of attending a conference that I can't stress enough. If you've ever listened to someone like Mike Anderson from Collision Advice or Dave Luer from Body Shop Solutions, or maybe CIC Chairman Frank Turlop deliver a message, you know what I mean. If you've never had that opportunity in the past, then make a commitment to do it this year. Not all conferences or trade shows will have a keynote speaker, but many of the educational classes are led by folks like Mike Anderson or Dave Luer and many others. There are some great industry leaders that have a passion for sharing their wisdom with others. Be sure to take advantage of it.

Rick: 10:23

Number four networking. Have you ever heard the saying your network equals your net worth? Well, there's a lot of truth to that statement if you think about it. If you're a shop owner and your network includes larger, more successful shop owners, by spending time around them, don't you think that you may discover some additional ways to increase your RO market penetration, learn some productivity tips or profitability or even tax moves that increase your income? Hell yes, you would. And likewise you, being part of someone else's network, may provide them with some unique insights from your business that helps their bottom line.

Rick: 10:59

The quickest way to a better running facility, a stronger business, increased income, a beneficial list of industry resources and a powerful network is to spend some time in a room with your peers like minded shop owners willing to share their strategies with each other. Collision conferences and trade shows are the perfect place to accomplish this. In fact, one of my clients I've worked with for the last couple years had realized this after attending a paint company conference, where he witnessed that massive advantage of attending these types of events and has now started attending a local association near him where he made some great new shop owner connections and has applied some of their concepts to increase his shop's business. The potential is endless. When you're a shop owner, equipment vendor, tech salesperson or just the average Joe or Joan looking to expand your possibilities, everything is a vehicle that gets you there.

Rick: 11:53

And then, lastly, you don't know what you don't know, right? I've heard that plenty of times. Well, one way to learn what you don't know is by immersing yourself in a room with people that may know more than you Listen. Be sure to check your ego at the door first, and the more you learn as an owner, the more you can develop your employees and, more importantly, your clients. It's been said over and over before that an educated consumer is your best customer, and today, in our industry, we are doing a much better job with that education.

Rick: 12:27

If starting the process of giving yourself that competitive edge in your marketplace is as simple as attending an upcoming collision conference, whether it's a small, local one or something big like CIC or SEMA and exposing yourself to what's out there the new tools, the equipment, the products and technology what possible reason would you have for not wanting to do that. I've been to several over the last couple of years and I will continue to attend as many as possible going forward. So just to help you along a little bit, I put together a list of this year's events, at least as far as I can find locations, dates and training schedules if available. But here's a couple of my favorites. Cic, or otherwise known as the Collision Industry Conference. This conference happens every quarter and has grown to record attendance just over this past year. And these are the folks doing this for free that actively work on making this industry better. Every single meeting. There's plenty of committees made up of volunteers and industry leaders. Frank Turlip is the current chairman and will finish his two-year term at CEMA this year. So if you're a shop owner, I would highly recommend attending one of these meetings. Be part of positive change for all of us. Or just attend and meet the true movers and shakers in collision. I guarantee you wouldn't regret it.

Rick: 13:47

Then there's CEMA. What can I say? It is the ultimate in automotive get-togethers. It's always in Vegas around the start of November and has grown massively over the past two years and has much to offer. If you want more info, listen to my CEMA wrap-up, episode 148.

Rick: 14:04

And then there's the Southeast Collision Conference, put together by both Carolinas Collision Association and Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association. This conference has much to offer Lots of trade show floor space, great lineup of speakers and educators, and full of some great down-home operators with their Southern hospitality. If you have never attended one of these before or one of the other several others held in metro markets across this great country, make it a point to put one or two on your must list this year. I promise you won't regret it. And hey, if you see me wandering around at one, come on over and say hi, I hope to see you. Then I'll post a PDF of that lineup of shows coming up for 2024 on my Collision Mastermind Group on Facebook and my Collision Cocktail Hour page on Facebook as well. Well, that's all I had for you today. Thanks again for tuning in. I really appreciate your support and I hope you have a great week. I can always be reached at wwwricksellovercom, where you can find all my social media links podcast episodes, blog posts and much more.