Let’s face it, life is busy. In a world where social media is more popular than ever, we can often forget the importance of being face-to-face with others from our community. The experience of attending the conference provides learning and career-building opportunities that you just won’t find anywhere else.
In-person contact with people who are active in our line of work can not only help us feel more connected, it can also help us uncover new ways to grow our business and to gain and share knowledge from people we don’t normally have access to.
The NTA’s 13th Annual Conference in March 2020, Thrive, is going to be bigger and better than ever before. We’re back at the same beautiful venue in the heart of Portland, we’ve been listening closely and implementing the feedback attendees have shared with us from previous conferences in order to make Thrive an unforgettable experience!
Here are 10 reasons why you should attend the NTA’s Annual Conference:
1. Educational opportunities
While there is so much information out there for us to consume – from social media, articles, blog posts, books, studies and more, nothing compares to the educational aspect of a conference. The NTA sources some of the smartest, most respected, and knowledgeable experts in the industry to talk about subjects that are relevant and important to our own lives, the lives of the clients we work with, and to the health of our businesses.
2. Meet experts and influencers
Opportunities to meet the people that you look up to most in the health and wellness world don’t often come up. Maybe you’d like to take a selfie with an NTP who’s impacted you, share a business idea with one of the experts in our lineup, or make a connection that can lead you to finding your mentor. Meet the great minds like Dr. Terry Walls, Fred Provenza, Dr. DeAnn Minich (and more!) will all be speaking at the Thrive conference. It isn’t possible to meet them unless you are given the opportunity to be in the same room and this chance doesn’t come up when you are listening to their podcasts or participating in an online summit.
3. Networking with peers
While social media associates many of us, it has its limits. There is nothing like meeting and connecting with others in person. Conferences provide a great networking opportunity and the perfect environment for fostering relationships. The NTA Annual Conference offers the chance to mingle with colleagues, speakers, and vendors, to form new relationships, and to strengthen those that previously exist. Meeting community members from other areas can be a valuable opportunity for sharing best practices, creating a referral network, and generating inspiration. There will be many opportunities throughout the conference to grab a cup of tea, broth, or a meal with others near our new venue in beautiful Portland.
4. Learning in a fresh environment
Most of us don’t take the time to step back and attend conferences very often. But by spending a few days away from your actual “work” to immerse yourself in a conference like Thrive, you sharpen your skills as a practitioner and a business owner and return with new ideas and fresh approaches to make you more efficient and effective in your work. As we know, a dull axe won’t cut down a tree nearly as effectively as a sharp one! Our new venue in downtown Portland is the perfect place to come together and learn.
5. Connect with new vendors and companies
We carefully select each exhibitor that joins us for our annual conference and receive wonderful feedback from our attendees about the companies and vendors they see in our exhibit hall. The annual conference is a great time to mingle with sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors by trying out their products and services, taking home samples, or purchasing products for yourself and your business. We find innovative companies with the highest integrity and quality in the industry to partner with for our conferences. The contacts you make are often some of the best people to speak to if you want to learn more about the current climate in our industry. Plus, discovering innovative products and services for your business is a highly valuable way to stay competitive and current in your own practice. We’ll have some new and exciting companies joining us for Thrive in February including your one-stop shop for AIP goodies, ShopAIP, incredible health professionals like Season Johnson, as well as cutting-edge and ancestrally-based supplement companies like Enviromedica.
6. Enhance your reputation
When you are active in your industry and continue to put yourself out there with your peers and colleagues, you are better able to develop a reputation as an expert to your peers and your clients. Those who are engaged are more often asked to speak at events, write articles for their industry publications, and build broader referral networks. Clients also tend to feel good about doing business with those that are celebrated or admired by their peers and colleagues. When you attend a conference you are providing yourself with an opportunity to see and be seen yourself. Come to the annual to not only expand your own knowledge but to propel your reputation and business forward too.
7. Break out of your comfort zone
It’s easy to read a blog post, listen to a podcast, or watch a video or documentary from the privacy of your home or office, but attending a live event forces you to break out of your comfort zone and experience a more immersive learning environment. While some are born networkers, for many, attending a live event and interacting with other people can be a challenge. Breaking out of our comfort zones is often just what we need to change the ways of thinking that keep us in the ruts we tend to fall into in our businesses and lives.
8. The power of connection with your community
The beauty of coming to a conference like this is that everyone shares like-minded philosophies, values, and affection for good food. There’s no better feeling than spending time with people who get you. You will see your former instructors, your mentors, people who were in your classes, those you met at previous NTA events, and maybe even meet a new friend, mentor or colleague. You will not only walk away from the conference with new knowledge but also lasting relationships and connections for life. Take advantage of all that Portland has to offer with your community– eat at amazing restaurants, drink the best organic coffee of your life, try a workout class, go for a hike, visit the beautiful parks, picturesque riverfront and much, much more!
9. Invest in yourself
Leaving your practice or work for a few days, learning more about your profession, and experiencing the weekend with your community is an investment in yourself, the people you help, and your own business. When you buy your conference ticket and show up to the Hilton in Portland, you are investing in your own growth and your own worth. You will walk away after the conference weekend re-energized and ready to take on your own business with a fresh perspective.
10. Have fun
Being in business should be rewarding and fun. Our work can be challenging and we deserve to take time for ourselves. Besides, we all know how “all work and no play” can impact our health!
Attending a conference with your community can bring empowerment and joy by mixing a social aspect into your learning and business development. The conference itself will provide lots of fun, including banquet dinners featuring healthy local and seasonal foods, lots of socializing, and of course, a dance party! You can even treat your time away from home as a getaway or mini-vacation. Arrive a day early or stay an extra day or two to have some fun and take in all that Portland has to offer. Enjoy the city’s delicious, allergy-friendly food, get lost inside the famous Powell’s City of Books, walk through Portland’s beautiful parks (we recommend checking out the Lan Su Chinese Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden), visit the internationally renowned Portland Art Museum, or admire the breathtaking views of the city from the historic Pittock Mansion.
THRIVE
The concept of Thrive supports the NTA’s inspiring vision of transforming lives and shifting the health outlook to one of hope, equipping graduates with deeper, more applicable knowledge of how to tap into the body’s innate healing abilities and live to their fullest potential in all realms of life.
Our work is life–changing and big changes require us to grow vigorously and to flourish together. We must go beyond mere survival. We must thrive.
To do this, we will focus the conference on these three areas:
Thrive Personally: You will learn powerful new strategies to take your practice to the next level. Speakers involved in holistic nutrition and adjunct therapies will share information to inspire and support your mind, body and spirit.
Thrive Professionally: We will deliver strategies and research on how to make an impact in your community, increase your brand awareness, and grow a sustainable business that brings you greater joy and financial success.
Thrive as a community: Thrive will provide a collaborative forum for you to connect with fellow NTA agents – students, alumni, classmates, instructors, exhibitors, and more. Together, we will unite as a community. Thrive will offer more interactive workshops and networking events than previous years. Whether it’s learning about potential business opportunities, cutting-edge products, latest regenerative farming efforts, or simple advice from your peers, you will leave the conference energized and equipped with new ways to encourage and empower others on their own health journeys.
Additional information:
The NTA will hold its 13th Annual Conference, Thrive, on Feb 28-March 1, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. It’s going to be our best annual conference yet! The conference is 3+ days, complete with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and banquets.
