You know those sayings that are so ingrained in your brain that you can’t even remember how or when you first heard them — the ones you hated when your mom would use them for comfort or a life lesson but you now find yourself counseling others with? Two wrongs don’t make a right. The early bird gets the worm. You know the ones I’m talking about.
Well, turns out, there’s actually some truth to them. As I started to write this post about Technica’s most recent trip to Singapore, these adages just kept instinctively pouring out of me. So I figured why not put them to use to show what I’ve learned:
“It’s all in who you know.”
In the publishing world, as with many other fields, networking is a key, if not the key, to success. The owners of Technica, Jack Nestor and Arlene Furman, have been doing this a long time and it seems everyone in our industry knows them. (I feel like one of the popular kids when I walk into a room with them!) Many of the opportunities my coworkers and I have been afforded here have come from their contacts, previous clients, and new friends they have made along the way. So how does one go about achieving this rock star status?
“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
Here at Technica we have taken strides to get involved with many groups and societies (both national and local) who focus on and are passionate about publishing like we are. These groups include the International Society of Managing & Technical Editors (ISMTE), the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), the Council of Science Editors (CSE), and more. Most associations like these have annual national (and sometime international) conferences, which are the perfect way to get your name out there and get to know others in your field. We had the pleasure of traveling to Singapore for ISMTE’s first ever Asian Conference earlier this month. Which brings me to my next point…
“You have to spend money to make money.”
While sometimes this can be easier said than done, it can also be very accurate. The initial financial investment in traveling to these conferences may seem daunting (not to mention any sponsorship and exhibiting fees), but we have found the experience to be invaluable on many levels. From a business aspect, making the annual rounds at these conferences has increased our brand awareness many times over. As a startup company from North Carolina, it’s mind-blowing to have an attendee at a conference in Singapore walk up to your exhibitor table and say, “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of you guys at Technica.” From a personal standpoint, nothing brings about coworker bonding quite like a 14-hour plane ride together. While I value all of my coworkers, I feel a certain extra level of trust and camaraderie with those who have seen me at my pillow-drooling worst. So not only are you investing in your brand by traveling to these conferences, but you are also investing in your employees.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
Except at these conferences, there totally is! And they are always delicious. This perk pretty much explains itself.
“Practice makes perfect.”
I am several years in now to regularly attending many of these conferences, and trust me when I say, it gets easier. Those first few are awkward; no one likes being the new kid. Yet, real relationships are built at these conferences. You start to recognize faces and people start to recognize you. I even had the opportunity to be a speaker at this year’s ISMTE Asia Conference, which came about from being a regular attendee, getting to know the people who put the conferences together, and learning how I could contribute to the conversations being had. And there’s no telling what doors that may open in the future.
“Fortune favors the bold.”
The key here is you can’t know what opportunities are awaiting until you put yourself out there. Find your people, find their conference, and find out how you can get involved! And I apologize for one last adage, but remember that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
