I am currently sitting in the mountains of North Carolina awaiting the festivities and celebrations associated with a niece’s wedding, answering emails.

I just read an email trail regarding the Grow!, our national conference in October. Please allow me two minutes and into your home or office to share a couple thoughts about it, please.

The email trail started with an active member expressing surprise at the registration cost, $750* (early registration until the end of July) especially, as the individual noted, that it might stretch the budget for training. Then I read the subsequent email in the trail, from an IMC USA Board member, and it said, in part, "… I appreciate the challenges of cash flow and expense of the conference. We made a very conscious decision – supported by the Board – to build a program and conference that was high in quality in a different venue and that we would do our best to keep costs in line with other quality events.” [Emphasis added]

I thought I'd address this, from my perspective.

Grow! Is different from Confab.

First, as is obvious, the venue is different. IMC has moved the conference to another facility (note: I’ve seen the Buena Vista Palace at Orlando myself), and the organizing team has negotiated excellent room rates for our registrants ($99/night). Being on the Disney grounds, you also have access to all the amenities/events by being registered at the hotel. Bring your family, if you can; could be quite an experience [See: http://www.buenavistapalace.com/photo_gallery/photo_gallery.cfm?LinkToGo=hotel1]

Second, Orlando is different; it is truly a destination that is (1) easy to get to, typically with non-stop flights, and, since it is a destination location, (2) very affordable in airfare costs.

Third, the audience (profession of management consultants) is different this year, for two reasons:

(1) ICMCI (our "parent”) has decided to hold their annual conference (which this year is their 25^th anniversary celebration) in conjunction with Grow! Consultants from around the world (remembering that there are 48 constituent Institutes around the world) will be in attendance, bringing a totally global feel to this event.

(2) All management consultants, whether they practice in very small firms (of one consultant, like me), boutiques, or large regional, national and international firms.

Fourth, the speakers and workshops will be different. Grow! has been designed, from the beginning, to be different -- a conference for the profession of management consulting. [Note: a previous blog had a list of speakers, but the full schedule can be found at: http://www.imcusa.org/?GROW_Intro

You can do your own math in two ways:

One way is to estimate your total, all-in cost as compared to previous years (conference + hotel + airfare [all of which the organizing committee took into serious consideration]); and, the other way is adding up the differences: venue + city location + audience + speakers and workshops. The sum of both (costs + experience) is an outstanding value for your personal and professional growth.

We strongly believe that the nature of this conference will far outweigh any perceived out-of-pocket cost difference (unless, of course, you live in vicinity of Reno). * BTW, the early bird registration of $750 is only $145 more than Confab last year and you get so much more, especially considering the differences.

Register now, please. The room block (at $99) at the Buena Vista Palace is already approaching 50%.

Register now for Grow! and be part of a national conference for the profession of management consulting.

Thank you for your two minutes and into your life.

Stay tuned,

My best,

David