Why I'm Delivering An Event Next May

When you intentionally create conversations and connections, you heighten the occasion.

By hearing the experiences of others helps to guide the discussion.

It has been an ambition to deliver a business event rooted by the support and kindness of people around me. Someone challenged me by saying, “If you hold one, Gordon, it’ll be packed.” That stuck with me.

I attend many events aimed at businesses owner, many out of interest of the content, some out of pure support for the organisers, and the rest to just be at and be around good people I know.

Yet, I often feel we need more realism about business—the struggles, the beginnings, and even the challenges. Too often, events can feel overly polished, which motivated me to create one that’s genuine and relatable.

I haven’t held big events before. I did do a couple at Bournemouth University before around cyber security awareness and even with an element that invited parents to bring children along to hear about a career in it. This will be bigger and one of those things where I know to say yes, before my imposter mind talks me out of it. We tell each other that we need to do things outside of our comfort zone, right?

One of the reasons to do this, was that I have made very good relationships in business, by being around each other, and I’m hoping this is a conduit for others to meet and have deeper conversations from the topics and experiences of the speakers.

It’s also an opportunity to include the next generation of entrepreneurs, whether they’re fresh out of education or leaving jobs to pursue their passions. And it’s a chance to celebrate long-running, successful businesses that often go unacknowledged.

Speakers will be relatable, not focused on unattainable goals like “10x growth” or multi-million-pound exits. Their shared experiences will provide actionable insights that attendees can adapt to their own journeys.

For people to take time out of their day, success would mean they leave with inspiration, information and satisfaction. To expand on that, the people and their stories will inspire others with confidence and energy to achieve their goals. The information from the speakers should lead to real conversations and questions that need to be done, to prepare and protect your business. Take those learnings from others that have been through it. Finally, a little bit of pride and self-congratulations in what we have achieved is warranted.

One important thing for me when it comes to events, is having speakers that you can relate to. Too much 10x your business, gloss, and how I sold for ￡100m is not for everyone. If they were just around the corner, or you’ve met, or heard of them in your work circles before, that makes me want to listen more intently.

There will be ideas that the audience will take away for themselves, to adapt to their own personal nuances. Even with all the books and peer groups, you still need to take what you need and make it work for you.

Aside from the shared knowledge of the day, one piece of big picture thinking is that of collective action.

We don’t have to be more like Bristol and Brighton, we can really move on from that rhetoric. We can see businesses are doing very well here, in the main, with caveats to some sectors. We’ve done many rounds of skills shortage surveys, all the meet-the-council tell us what your issues are meeting, all the government funded groups, and business membership groups.

Together we must get things done for ourselves and not wait. To the bodies who asked for our input, what have you done with it?

When you have the right message, to the right people, in the right place, for the right reason, it doesn’t feel so daunting. I look forward to delivering this event for you, it’s to coincide with YATM Creator Day, so it means we’re now creating YATM Creator Week. I’ll keep you posted.