I came across this quote today and it made get in my thought box and continue to think about lifelong learning as an meeting and event planner.

“A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.”

~Chinese Proverb

There is a wealth of knowledge among all of us. Many of us can be considered wise beyond our years, just by the experiences that we have been through. This is why industry gatherings and conferences are so important. Industry gatherings empower you to engage with many professionals, network, and converse to gain additional knowledge that you didn’t have walking in the door.

This quote also speaks to the value of personal interaction at events. As event planners, we are a responsible for providing an environment which is the most conducive in providing a return on engagement. This Chinese proverb values one conversation with a wise man to be equal or more to 10 years of study. Placing our attendees in meetings were they can engage with other attendees, especially those that are more knowledgeable, provides an extreme amount of value. That value could be equal to 10 years of school! (or at least that’s the thought)

My takeaway is making sure that I’m always open to connect and converse with meeting and event planners, and to keep looking for ways to increase the engagement level on meetings & events.

What are your thoughts on this Chinese Proverb?