My WHY... Thanks to You All!

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about WHY the Inside Sales community engages with AA-ISP and participates in our webinars, conferences, mentor program, Inside Sales Academy, etc.… and I have landed on the simplest answer.

THE COMMUNITY.

First, here is a little back ground on me. I have been with AA-ISP since December 1st, 2014. I first learned of the association through my previous position and had the opportunity to attend a 1-day conference in Minneapolis. For me this was a pivotal shift in my thinking of WHAT Inside Sales means. It legitimized what that my organization was doing, helped me to see the future of the profession, and gave me the inspiration to take my own career to the next level.

The other thing that this conference set in motion was the immediate sense of being in a community. The first community member I engaged with was Steve Richard, he took us to dinner and I was blown away by his knowledge, his respect for AA-ISP, and his drive to push this profession to the next level. Thank you, Steve, for taking your precious time to be a champion for all sales professionals!

From there, I spent the next day attending sessions on a variety of topics and took more notes that I even thought possible. When returning to the office the next Monday, myself and my co-workers who attended presented our “lessons learned” company-wide. It was truly a humbling experience (this was my first offsite conference and I had some serious knowledge to throw down)!

Fast forward to today, four years later. I have attended 26 AA-ISP conferences, had the opportunity to learn and explore countless other industry events, and have met many of the top thought leaders helping to amplify our profession. I also have the privilege of working remotely, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and connect daily with leaders and my AA-ISP team around the globe!

Where this all comes together is the COMMUNITY. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of AA-ISP Founders, Bob Perkins and Larry Reeves and the rest of the AA-ISP rock star team including Ashley Gagliano, Jen Gergen, Jess Farmer, Brooke Niesen, Jessica Gill, Brian Smith, Adam Flury, and Andrew Schwandt. The community is what grows our membership base, fuels our content, provides networking opportunities, and ultimately builds lifelong friendships and professional relationships.

Last week was our Fall Executive Retreat and when these leaders greet each other it isn’t with a handshake, it is with a hug. They are invested in the community, each other, and the advancement of the profession. I strongly encourage any and all sales leaders to think about investing time in a Retreat. You won't regret it.

Over the next few weeks I plan to share with you all the ins and outs of AA-ISP.

• What is our mission?
• What we offer this community of sales professionals and leaders.
• Who should be involved?
• What it means to be a member?
• How you and your team getting involved will set you up for success.
• How to pick the right conference for your own development as well as the development of your team.
• Why seeing the latest tools and technology is critical.
• And the list goes on....

But before any of that, this is a thank you to the you all, our community that grows each day.

Thank you for putting the development of you and your teams at the forefront, for being champions of the profession, and for accepting me into this COMMUNITY!

Have a great week!