General Consultant Discussion

At the February MOTM conference, John Shaver expressed a willingness to conduct a Firm of the Future conference with Ron Baker. After investigating their availability and conference fees, we would like to find out what the level of interest is for the group. At this point, the earliest we would consider have a conference would be late September or October. Any later and we will be in the holiday season. We don't think we can put a two day event on any ealier than September. The $1,500 fee mentioned below is based on 10 participates. If more sign up, this cost would be less. Fee does not cover the meeting room, meals or lodiging. 90Minds would subsidize some of the room and meals fee. Location is undetermined at this time but it would probably be west of the Mississippi. Please indicate your level of enthusiasm below. If the response is positive, we will take it to the next level.

Well, we are halfway to our minimum of 10. We could be there if we counted the maybies. 20 committed brings the Baker fee down to $750. Keep the enthusiasm building......

I do have a client in Aspen that may give us a group discount. However, since single rooms run $385 a night in early October, this may be a budget buster for many........ http://hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com/

There are also several advantages of conducting the symposium as a 90Minds event: 1. The agenda will be custom tailored for 90Minds. You guys let Ron and me know what topics you would like to concentrate on. 2. Having a 90Minds-specific symposium provides a more comfortable (safer?) environment from a competitive stand point. We all get along and don't mind sharing, right? 3. It's less expensive than the Sage-sponsored one.

I want to know who was gutsy enough to say, ""No, I will stick with hourly billing""?? Even though I've already attended, now that I have a bit of experience with it, I could sure use a refresher course. In fact, I talked with @PeterWolf and @AlnoorCassim about it at MOTM. I hope we get at least the other 5 Maybes, if not more.

I think you should open this up to OASIS. Didn't we discuss opening MotM up to OASIS? I thought we were in agreement on that but maybe my old brain is mis-remembering.

Let's move this back up to the top. I don't think we have any issue with opening it up to OASIS if we have to, though I would prefer that we didn't. So far, we have about half the MOTM group responding, I would like to get an up or down vote from every MOTM member before making that call. @JohnShaver - what is an ideal size for this conference - 20, 25, 30? If we get 20 committed, that would put the fee between 750 and $1000. 30 attendees would put it between $500- $750.

I don't see any harm in opening it up to a broader group. If you want to punish the masses for being lowly 90 Minds Associates instead of full 90 Minds Fellows, you can always charge more for them to attend. That will be the first pricing lesson for the class. Participate = 90 Minds Fellow = less costs for events. Hurrah.

Adding to the above: I think we all agreed that more minds usually equals better conversations. To get more from the get togethers, it is beneficial to encourage greater participation.

Opening it up is good. Also, only about half of the 90 Minds full members are in this group.

I agree as well, the more the better. Also, is it not possible to squeeze this in just before/after Summit?

Will check with @JohnShaver to see if this is even a possibility? If we would be able to move this fast, I would like to form a planning committee to help with the heavy lifting.

I'm happy to help. Most of us will already be there, so costs can be reduced and participation should increase.

@JohnShaver will let us know tomorrow whether a Summit session is even feasible. If it is, we need to check on the availablity of a meeting rerom. I'll also move the survey over to the Associates side at that time.

Be sure to revote under the Business of Consulting group. Have opened the meeting to all members and we are targeting Summit.

Why do it at Summit? That's two more days added to what will already be a long week.

And you don't have an option for ""No the dates don't work for me"".

Yes, it will make for a longer week. Several people requested it, John and Ron are available so I thought we would offer it. If enough don't sign up, it will be a no go. The good news is that it will be on the front end and Sage is offering Zilch for sessions. Once we get a committment, we still have a lot of work to do. Regarding the survey, I don't see a way to modify it. So I will quickly blow it away and start over.

OK. I've already made my travel plans and have family plans those days.