Do you have an insatiable lust to learn? I know I do! By surrounding ourselves by people smarter, more experienced, and willing to share a wealth of knowledge we add to the value of ourselves, and our business. Why wouldn’t anyone want to attend a conference that showcases powerful tools and people that can help us grow our business? And in northern Nevada, the landscape and recreation are breathtaking year-round.

We learn in numerous ways and environments, but the bottom line is that we learn from the ideas, experiences and innovations of others.  You will frequently hear me tell an audience member who claims to be self-taught, “You are only as smart as your teacher.”

I want to learn from the best whenever possible. I want to have many platforms in which to learn. The Internet is the most practical, but when I can go to see and hear powerful people live on stage, and be invited to engage in a live conversation, that’s where I want to be! I am open to influence from those who have proven themselves as experts. This will make me smarter, and maybe I can influence others to work smarter on their business. I am thrilled to be registered to see Gary Vaynerchuk live at the Tahoe Tech Talk 2010 on September 30th , and the SM@RT (Social Media @ Reno-Tahoe) conference coming to Reno, NV December 8-10 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

Social media has evolved into an industry so large and powerful that universities across the globe offer post and undergraduate degrees in this field of study and practice. If you look at some of the highly successful practitioners of social media, you will find high-end entrepreneurs. These people, who got on board years ago with social media, saw the Internet as an unprecedented tool to grow their business.  My favorite entrepreneur who breathes in social media like we do air, hands down, is Gary Vaynerchuk. His latest 2-minute video blog provides a potent statement, “It’s not the platform, it’s always the message.” Gary embraces social media as always, but reminds us we cannot ignore or dismiss other platforms such as radio, television and print in marketing our business. In another of his countless video blogs Gary talks about his company’s evolution referencing a single thought after seeing someone else attempting to gain a larger market in the wine industry. Gary said to himself, “I can do that. The wine world needs an advocate. They need me. They need someone who won’t be a jerk about it.” And what did he do? He became the wine advocate, he reeks of customer service, he appeals to all wine consumers, he pulls from his personal strengths, he identifies the tools, he masters the use of his tools and he implements a plan where he and his business become the epitome of success. And he continues to influence the way we do business. I LOVE this guy!

Though we don’t have Gary Vaynerchuk, the SM@RT conference gathers a solid list of smart people who are using social media as a strategic management and marketing tool for their business. Why would anyone attend a social media conference? To continue the journey of learning, to connect with one another, and to come together and collectively make our platforms work effectively and our messages purposeful. Hope to see you in northern Nevada at one or both of these remarkable Social Media gatherings!