3 Tips to Maximize Your Spring Summit Experience

AMY SLABAUGH, RDN

NE MEMBER

Last spring I launched my new business on March 1st and Spring Summit started two days later. It was both the best and the worst timing. Being so new to entrepreneurship, the Summit was a treasure trove of the information I was seeking. At the same time, having just launched my business, I now felt compelled to revisit some aspects that had already felt “finished” (e.g. my website). Overall, Spring Summit was key in getting my business off to a good start. I loved the experience of attending as well as the connections I made. Here are a few of my tips for getting the most out of your Summit experience this year:

1 MAKE A PLAN AND ATTEND LIVE (IF POSSIBLE).

Before Spring Summit starts, get on Whova and get familiar with the app and the specific offerings of the Summit. If you’re a first-timer it can be a little overwhelming, so preparation will really help you make the most of the conference. Take some time to review the agenda and mark which events you want to attend. Be sure to look at the Expo as well to see what special presentations you may want to join.

Once you have your list, do what you can to block time in your calendar and attend live. Attending live is a great way to feel more connected with the other attendees and more a part of Spring Summit as a whole. It’s also great to be able to ask questions during Q&As. Additionally, when we invest our time to go all in we get more out of it. If attending live just isn’t possible, you can always watch the recordings later. To prevent it from becoming part of an I’ll-getto-it-one-day list, schedule your own calendar events for when you’ll watch the sessions.

2 EARN THOSE POINTS!

Check out the Leaderboard Contest and see what you can do to earn points, since the Leaderboard is also a great guide to figuring out how to be active and get the most out of your conference experience. Aim to do at least one thing in each category (e.g. say “hi” to someone, post a topic or comment in the community board, answer a poll, etc.). From there you can see what types of interactions you enjoy and focus on those.

3 USE WHAT YOU LEARN.

Spring Summit will be packed with interesting and useful information and resources. Some things will be useful to your business right now and some might be better to revisit down the line. Knowing the difference might be especially tough for anyone new to entrepreneurship. To help you get the most out of Spring Summit for the long term (as well as the short term) make a “now” list and an “in six months” list. As you go through the conference add different topics, resources, books, courses, etc. to one of those two lists. Having a plan for using your newfound knowledge can help to prevent you from feeling overloaded and overwhelmed.

See you at Spring Summit!

Amy Slabaugh, RDN, is the owner of a private practice specializing in providing weight-neutral nutrition care. One of Amy’s top passions is helping patients improve their relationship with food. Amy is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and loves walking along the Bay as well as up in the redwood forests. Outside of her nutrition practice, you’ll often find Amy enjoying time with her husband and three kids, baking, and learning the names of local birds and plants.