TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Our Experience for Your Use
This website was created created and co-founded by us – Sarah Breymeier and Ann Dosen.
Both of us have spent nearly ten years in the podiatry industry, attending dozens upon dozens of podiatric meetings and trade shows.
Therefore, we want to put our experience to good use!
Below are some helpful “tricks of the trade” from us to you… enjoy!
GOOD ADVICE – PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
No matter if you work in the podiatric profession as physician, vendor, or meeting organizer/planner, utilizing the tips and resources supplied below will serve you well!
Increase your Productivity and Without Getting Overwhelmed.
I read this book cover to cover in just a couple of days. It’s been a few years since I read it, but it always stands out as one that I recommend to anyone that wants to continue to achieve. Whether you own a small business (like a podiatry practice or a device company), it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the things you should be doing.
The Slight Edge provides practical/doable advice to help you set your goals and break down the activities that must take place to achieve those goals – step by step. By doing a little bit every single day, you will see big changes over time. There’s no need to do everything in one day, one week, one month, or even one year.
Do one action item every single day and the result will show itself!
-SARAH
Every day I listen to at least one podcast episode while I’m driving or working out to give me inspiration for the day. There are days when I wake up and don’t want to do a single thing other than catch up on episodes of Outlander, but after listening to one of these podcasts, I know I can take over the world! No matter what your daily life brings you, every single person on the planet will get something out of listening to these individuals.
John Maxwell Leadership Podcast – a weekly podcast from the leadership authority John Maxwell. This podcast focuses on the principles, practices, and process of becoming a transformational leader. Even if leadership is not one of your primary goals, the principles translate to any project or position you are in. I always come away with new motivation or a fresh outlook on a current project. Each episode comes with a downloadable resource to work through.
Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield – Amy Porterfield is considered the GIANT in the online marketing space. She is so inspiring to listen to. Her episodes include expert interviews, mini execution plans, and secrets from her product and service launches; all tied together by her mission to make each episode as actionable and profitable as possible. Every episode I listen to of hers gets me thinking about the next big thing I want us to tackle. Her advice is tangible and for real life.
Rise Podcast with Rachel Hollis – hosted by the best-selling author of “Girl, Wash Your Face”, this podcast is a series of conversations with business powerhouses and personal development leaders where each episode provides listeners with tactical, valuable takeaways.
-ANN
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Tips for DPMs
CHECK OUT OUR LIBRARY OF DPM DOWNLOADS – CLICK HERE!
Making Meetings Social
Sarah Breymeier I recently did a presentation for the American College of Podiatric Medicine regarding you can utilize social media channels like Facebook and LinkedIn to advance your career. One of the hardest parts about keeping up with social media is creating new, original content on a consistent basis. One of my recommendations was to make sure you take as many notes and pictures at meetings as you possibly can because if you didn't notice... you're immersed in an environment that is spewing out excuses for you to post on social media. When you begin posting more on social media [...]
Room Blocks
Ann Dosen Have you ever wondered why conferences ask you to book in the room block at the conference hotel? When a conference is held at a hotel, their contract is mostly based around the number of rooms they will book for the event - that's how the hotel makes their money. Conference planners have to pay for any rooms in the block that are unsold, resulting in unexpected out-of-pocket costs for the organization. Guess what that means? Higher registration costs for you. Help keep prices from increasing by staying at the host hotel and booking in the room block. [...]
You Don’t Know Who You Don’t Know
Sarah Breymeier So many times' Ann and I have asked you to "step outside your comfort zone" in one way or another when it comes to your meeting participation. It's not about making you UNcomfortable; it's more about discovering that there are people and experiences you didn't even realize existed which could benefit you. You know the saying, "you don't know what you don't know".... well, you also don't know who you don't know. You may feel you have made connections with all the individuals you need to continue your path of success; but how can you really know? Until [...]
Divide and Conquer | Get it Down While it’s Fresh
Sarah Breymeier In a previous newsletter, I made a strong case for bringing a "study buddy" to your next educational conference. There were multiple reasons why... check out that article here for a refresher.... BUT here's another tip if you're lucky enough to have your friend/colleague join you on the road. First - divide and conquer. Many meetings have multiple tracks and it's physically impossible to go to every session; you may even have to make the hard choice of selecting one while sacrificing another you really wanted to attend if they are running at the same time. So, go [...]
New PressureOFF™ Insoles from PediFix® Advance the Standard of Care for DFUs
A 4th generation family of foot specialists since 1885, The PediFix Footcare Company is committed to advancing the standard of care for the management of diabetic foot ulcers and common plantar pathologies. The firm is introducing a new offloading insole that fits and functions in patient’s everyday footwear, with the proven pressure and shear reduction benefits of the ‘removable bottom pegs’ offloading system clinicians are familiar with. PressureOFF™ Customizable Offloading Insoles reduce pressure and friction to relieve pain and speed healing -- without the need for walking boots, post-op, or orthopedic shoes patients frequently reject. “They provide discrete, convenient, targeted [...]
I just found out “Imposter Syndrome” is a real thing.
Written by Ann Dosen According to Harvard Business Review, "imposter syndrome" is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. Normally, I’m a pretty confident person. I’m laid back; I assume everything will work itself out. I don’t concern myself with what other people think. I just do my own thing - in my personal and professional life. If you know me, you probably agree. However, last weekend, while on vacation, I texted Sarah the following message. “I’ve never experienced this before, but the [...]
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Ideas for Meeting Planners
Bigger is Not Showing to be Better
Ann and I have been to a lot of meetings... we've really taken on the Sampler Platter; meaning, lots of different shapes and sizes to choose from! One thing we've noticed that really came to a head during our Experienced Exhibitor Mastermind focus groups, is that the meetings that take place in smaller spaces typically seem to result in happier exhibitors. After really reflecting on it some more, it makes total sense. Here are some reasons why you should consider downsizing your conference space... Smaller Spaces (typically) Equal Loser Costs When you don't have as much overhead in the hotel/conference [...]
Stand Your Ground
Ann and I have had the opportunity to speak to a LOT of meeting planners and organizers over the last several years. One of our favorite aspects to discuss are the sponsorship packages for vendors. On the same token, one of the things we hate to see are companies who have "deep pockets" using and abusing the meeting staff. Ick. Look, we know how vital it is to have strong relationships with companies that continue to support meetings. It. Is. Crucial. What is not crucial, and is fact a poison, is when a company begins to bully the meeting organizers [...]
Have You Really Tried Knowing Them?
Over the last couple of years, Ann and I have had the awesome opportunity to work with more of you - the planners behind the scenes! We've also been able to get a closer look at those who are going the extra mile to truly get to know their audiences - both DPMs/attendees and the exhibitors. While every meeting is going to have DPMs complete evaluations, I challenge you to reflect on what you're actually doing with those evaluations. Are you just sifting through them and getting a general idea of common remarks, or are you really taking them into [...]
Making Meaningful Changes
If you have read the DPM Tip and the Exhibitor Tip above, you have probably caught on to my theme this month. And now it's your turn! Ann sent over an awesome quote from the November 2022 issue of Convene Magazine, which actually inspired this entire newsletter.... “The event organizers who will be successful going forward are the ones who recognize that they shouldn’t throw away the traditional apple pie recipe we all loved - but they also need to make room for experimentation and iteration. When you make small changes to the method, substitute a new ingredient, or try [...]
How to Conquer Imposter Syndrome
Earlier this year I wrote an article about experiencing imposter syndrome. If you missed it, you can check it out by clicking here. The article was great, if I do say so myself (and I do!); however, it lacked a solution to overcoming this inevitable feeling. Now that I am on the other side of all the projects that had me spiraling into an imposter syndrome black hole, I was reflecting on how I came through it and if there was a secret that I could pass along. The good news is, I did find a particular action to be [...]
The #1 Leading Cause of Disgruntled Exhibitors
I know we have said this before but we are saying it again because it is, by far, the #1 leading cause of disgruntled exhibitors. No, it’s not the food (although that’s important!). Please, I beg of you, do not inflate your attendee numbers by adding staff and speakers to the attendee list. It leads to “negative nancy” conversations on the show floor. If your exhibitors arrive at a conference expecting to see a lecture hall and exhibit hall filled with 600+ attendees but they only see about 200, they are going to be upset. Not because there are only [...]