As I reflect on CAI’s National Conference just completed, one word jumps out at me – ideas.  I had the privilege of facilitating two sessions of TED-style talks and co-presenting on promoting professionalism for Chapter Executive Directors. In all three sessions, I found myself saying some version of “This is where great ideas happen!”  In the first two instances, I was referring to the conference itself.  The last time it fell out of my mouth, I was referring to local CAI Chapters.  All three were from the gut and unscripted.  By the time I heard CAI’s next president challenge attendees to share at least one thing during the conference I’d already received and shared many.  I’ve learned to come to conferences ready to learn, notepad in hand, scribbling furiously during presentations, and jotting notes during conversations.  After three days in Orlando, I’m energized and reminded of the power of ideas.

Shout Outs

I was primed before I even got to the event thanks to all the session preparation.  The collaboration with all six Ted speakers was electric.  Each of them gave away a piece of themselves and packed a ton of value into their 18 minutes on stage.  Our minds were stretched and challenged, and we walked away with actionable ideas.  I want to recognize all of them here.  Thank you to Neda Nehouray, PCAM, of HOA Organizers, Brandon Page of Specialized Pipe Technologies, Emily Schmidt of Speaki2i, Connor Doyle, PCAM, of Giant Steps, LLC, Justin Davis of AppFolio, and the mystery man, Steve Economou, of Rainscapes Environmental.  The audience and I are grateful for them all.  I’m glad these talks were recorded. I am looking forward to seeing them once they are posted online by CAI.

I am likewise grateful to my co-presented Jessica Towles, CAI Trustee, and Lieberman Management Services.  Our industry is fortunate to have someone in a leadership position who is so incredibly passionate and determined to advance the industry.  The collaboration for our session on promoting professionalism helped sharpen my focus and provided an outlet for some ideas that have been swimming around in my head for a long time.    

Ideas and Eggs

Ideas remind me of eggs waiting for fertilization – potential waiting for a catalyst to become a new creation. We carry around countless impressions, thoughts, and concepts just waiting to be connected and energized into a fully formed idea.  Our existing ideas get connected to new ones and become something completely new.  That’s why it’s so valuable to go where the ideas are. Once you’re there, you never know where it may take you.

Idealand

Conferences can be a treasure trove for ideas.  Presentations are an obvious source.  There is a tendency to get energized by them, but leave all the ideas at the door on the way out of the hotel.  One way to make those ideas stick is the oft-underutilized source of ideas – fellow attendees.  Some of my best notes from last week came from amazing conversations and meetings I had outside of the sessions.  Talking about session content allows you to burn them into your brain.  Listen carefully to how others share their perceptions of the ideas shared.  It will broaden your understanding and the collaboration might generate ideas.

Where Else Can You Go?

• Read and Study:  Take in knowledge from books, blogs, research, or whatever pushes your brain.  Studying the material – highlighting and making notes, pausing, and meditating on the content to let it sink in, is even better for idea fertilization.  Lingering in a new thought can be a powerful thing. Re-reading material you’ve read before can be an eye-opener.  If you are growing, you are a different person than you were the first time.  You’ve changed, things have changed, and you might see things in a different light. If nothing else, you’ll remind yourself of gems from the past.

• Video:  No, not cat videos…. Nothing wrong with that from time to time, but we are looking for ideas here.  There are some great talks captured online.  TED.com is a great place to start. If you are a visual learner, this is a great place to go.  TIP: Take notes!

• Audio Learning:  Podcasts, talks, books, whatever floats your boat. I’ve found an enormous benefit of using my driving time to take advantage of audio learning.  Brandon threw out a terrific line in his talk at CAI National, “Make your vehicle a temple of self-directed learning.”  As a side benefit, I’ve found that I am a more relaxed driver.  Now when I hit a traffic jam, I think, “Cool! I can get another chapter in!  TIP: I find that if I listen to a book or an article first and then read it, my retention increases and the ideas flow.    

• Non-Industry Specific Digital Learning:  Follow interesting people on social media. Hint: Schedule a specific, limited time block for this so as not to get sucked in, only to land on those cat videos after 3 or 4 hours.  You can get a ton of ideas from Udemy.  I am currently enjoying a Seth Godin course now and have another one on tap when I’m done with this one.  The ideas that have come out of it are worth far more than the nominal price I paid.

• Do Industry Learning Face to Face:  Whether you are pursuing industry-specific designations or continuing education credits, avoid the webinars, and go live whenever possible.  It can be like a mini-conference.  Live learning is a fuller experience.  I’ve never taken a class where I didn’t walk away with at least one new idea that was at least in part sparked by participant interaction of some type.

• Talk to People:   Any of the seven people listed in this blog is a great place to start. They are all idea generators and great collaborators.  Look for ideas in day-to-day interactions.  Put the smartphone away for a while.  Texting has limited idea generation capability, and if you are distracted by the phone, you’ll miss opportunities to talk and be fully engaged.  Be interested in others.  Ask questions.  As an introvert in many social situations, I know this can be tough to do.  I sometimes call to mind the words of my mother when she told a story about my Pop-Pop. If he jumped on a Baltimore trolley and no one was speaking, he made it his mission to start conversations and have the whole car buzzing by the time he got off. I’m not nearly as bold. But I figure if he could do that, I can at least strike up a conversation with one new person at a time.  One thing can lead to another.  Ideas may be the result.  Seek out those who are different than you and can stretch you. Go beyond the usual chit-chat when you can, and avoid negative nonsense.  

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt

• Collaborating With Yourself:  If you don’t schedule to invest in quiet, reflective time, it might never happen.  Find things that stir awe inside of you.  Ponder the blessings in your life.  Allow yourself to be filled with gratitude and love, which connects you to something larger outside of yourself.  My grand-daughter and I heard a talk about awe, and we came up with our three-word description of the process: “Whoa! Wow! Thanks!”  The process creates chemical changes in your brain and allow your mind to connect dots that had been obscured in the day-to-day.   

• Write:  There is something about composing that changes your brain.  Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto the paper or screen can also help you to clarify your ideas and trigger new ones.  An idea left unwritten can all to easily become promise unfulfilled.

I Don’t Care Where You Go – Just Go!

Everyone has different learning styles, attention spans, experiences, and inspirations.  Everyone is in a different place in their lives and careers.  Yet, one thing is sure for all of us – ideas create solutions and energy.  Who doesn’t benefit from those?

You may find your ideas in completely different places than I.  Some of the fertilization techniques might be effective for you; others might not.  Find what works for you and keep at it.  The ideas are there for you.  I don’t care where you go, just go and get them.