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Have you ever been to a conference, convention or training event? Do you remember how excited you were to learn new things and meet new people? Did you walk away with about 800 new ideas? How long did that last and how many ideas did you actually implement?

If you’re anything like me, chances are you came back to office with a ton of handouts and great ideas, put them in a pile… and promptly forgot about everything you learned!

After doing this too many times, I’ve developed a few key steps for keeping the momentum going after an event.

1. Book a spot at the conference next year. If you feel energized by attending the event this year, chances are you’ll get the same motivational boost next year. Sign up as soon as you can so you have something to work toward.
2. Subscribe to the newsletter or email list. Most organizations that hold conferences have a mailing list of some sort. Keep connected to the group and the source of new ideas by subscribing.
3. Read all those handouts. Do it ASAP - on the plane ride home, if possible. Take lots of notes and pull out any action items that you would like to pursue.
4. Follow up with contacts ASAP. If you read this before you go to a conference - remember to make notes on business cards! Write down something to remind you of who the person is and what you talked about. Back at the office, send an email follow-up. Include any information you promised to exchange and give them at least one action item for their own follow-up.
5. Choose one thing to work on. I often feel overwhelmed with the amount of ideas I can generate over a 2 or 3 day conference. The key to moving forward is to find one project you can take concrete action on. It can be as simple as doing some follow-up reading or as complex as changing your career! Just pick the thing you most want to work on.
6. Share with others. The best way to learn is to teach, so find a way to share your learnings with your co-workers or supervisor. I’ve done short presentations at staff meetings and found that it helped me sort through all my material and get it straight in my head.
7. Slow and steady wins the race. Just because you learned a lot in a short period of time doesn’t mean that you have to act on it all at the same time. Try to plan out the changes that you can implement over a reasonable time period, then stick to your project plan. I aim to implement one small idea per week.

Conferences and conventions can be a great motivator over the short term. Keeping the buzz going takes some planning and work, but it’s a great way to keep your career moving forward.

If you have other suggestions for taking the next step after a conference, please tell us all about it in the comments.

A couple of weekends ago I decided to devote my whole weekend to relaxation and personal development. I was feeling quite burnt out and tired and rather than continuing to drag myself down, I chose to be proactive and take a “time out.” It’s easier and more affordable than you might think to have a weekend like this. In this post, I’ll show you how.

Ingredients for a Personal Development Weekend

• 1 Part Standard Issue Hotel Room. Substitutions are allowed and encouraged. The only requirement is that a PD weekend should happen in a place where you can find peace and quiet. You may find this in a secluded campground, or a cute Bed & Breakfast, or even your own home. Let your comfort level and budget be your guide.
• 1 Part Place with Something to Look At. This is for taking breaks, getting something to eat, and walking around. I chose a town relatively near my home that has a lot of old buildings.
• Something to Write In. Your Something to Write In doesn’t have to be fancy, but I find that having a nice journal makes the reflecting process more fun.
• Music. My recommendation is something relaxing and some guided meditations. My tool of choice for this is my Sony Walkman mp3 Player
• Liberal Dose of Nature. Part of the renewal process for me involves lots of quiet outdoors time and walking around. This may not be your thing, but I encourage you to think about your need for natural light and fresh air.
• A Pinch of Personal Development Products. Try not to go overboard here. One or two systems are about all anyone can digest in a weekend. I decided to focus on some Neuro-Linguistic programming experiments and some journaling exercises.
• Tea. I guess you could choose a different beverage, but I don’t know why you’d want to!
• Be Sure to Omit: Television, alcohol, and attention stealers like email, IM, and text messages.

Directions - Friday
Take the back way to your destination and use the drive time to unwind. Listen to some good music, or maybe a guided meditation. Enjoy the scenery.

After you’ve checked into your Standard Issue Hotel room, go into the little town for dinner. Enjoy dinner and leave the waitress a large tip to cultivate the spirit of generosity.

Go back to the hotel room and take a hot bath. Do a little yoga, listen to a meditation, and SLEEP.

Directions - Saturday
Wake up when your body tells you to. Meditate using a guided meditation, listen to some music, or just observe your own breath. Remember to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door, unless you’d like to meet the housekeeping staff

Spend a little time on your personal development systems or exercises - maybe do a little journaling or write a letter to someone you love. Make some tea and walk around town for a while.

After lunch, head out into nature and walk some more. Take photos if you’re inclined. Be silent and listen to the world for at least 5 minutes.

Pick up some dinner, drive back to the hotel, and take advantage of the empty pool and hot tub. Shower, stretch, meditate and SLEEP.

Directions - Sunday
Wake up when your body tells you to. Meditate using a guided meditation, listen to some music, or just observe your own breath. Go out to breakfast, or linger over the complimentary continental breakfast at your hotel. Read a book or chat with other customers. Take another short walk and prepare to head home refreshed and feeling great.

I hope you’ve all had the chance to have a Personal Development Weekend. If you have, please tell us about it in the comments.