5 Steps to NBForum2018

The best business days of the year are only a few weeks away! Nordic Business Forum 2018 is getting closer and preparations are well underway at our HQ. To get the most out of your experience at the event, we suggest that you do a few things before the real action begins:

1. Define your goals

Marketing and leadership guru Seth Godin wisely said: “The thing about goals is that living without them is a lot more fun, in the short run. It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow, and who make an impact… those people have goals.”

So, let’s start with setting some goals for Nordic Business Forum 2018! Get out a piece of paper or open a new document on your nearest device, title it “Goals for NBForum 2018” and write down 1-3 (or more if you wish!) goals.

Think about what you want to achieve by attending our event. Are you a business owner or entrepreneur and want to grow your business? Think of the things you want to improve and/or come up with questions to which you want answers. Are you an executive or manager and want to develop your leadership skills? Think of yourself as a leader and evaluate your development areas. Did your manager send you to the event? Ask your boss about the areas he/she thinks you should develop professionally.

Whatever your goals are, write them down and come to the event ready to focus on getting the tools and answers you really need.

2. Make a plan

With your goals in hand, we want you to make sure you achieve them with a solid plan of attack. If your aim is to develop yourself or get inspired, you probably want to focus on the speakers. If your objective is to find new connections and use them to grow your business, you may want to focus on networking and forming new business relationships throughout the event.

Start by picking a focus for your time at Nordic Business Forum 2018 so that you can dedicate your time and attention to making your goals a reality (and remember to have fun along the way!) Read our speakers’ profiles and interviews to see who you absolutely need to see. Learn about our partners and figure out where you absolutely need to be. Get onto the Brella networking app (see next step) and figure out who you absolutely need to meet. Make a plan and show up, and we’ll handle the rest.

As social psychologist and NBForum Bootcamp 2016 speaker Roy Baumeister said: “Making specific plans as to when and what you will do greatly increases the likelihood of getting things done.”

3. Start booking meetings with Brella

If you’re in the market for a few new business relationships, you’re in good hands with us! One of the most valuable elements of our conferences is the pool of executives, decision-makers, and bright business minds who share the event experience with you.

To help you meet the people you actually want to meet, we offer a great networking tool called Brella. Using the Brella app, you can identify your strengths (offering) and needs (seeking), browse through your fellow attendees, and book 15-minute meetings with people with common interests for high-value conversations.

To access Brella:

• download the app for iOS or Android or navigate to the website
• log in with LinkedIn, Google, or Facebook, or create an account
• enter the code nbforum2018
• create your profile

Follow these steps and you will be presented with a list of people who offer what you are seeking, or seek what you are offering; it’s a handpicked list of NBForum 2018 attendees just for you! Browse through the list and request meetings with the people you wish to meet. Remember, personalized messages are more likely to get a positive response. If the meeting is confirmed, Brella’s scheduling system will automatically assign your meeting a time and location (see the venue map for the Brella area). All that’s left to do is show up!

4. Download the Event app

Our official Nordic Business Forum app is the easiest way to find your way around NBForum 2018. It houses our interactive agenda and all other relevant information on the go. You can use it like an event-only social media channel to share your new ideas and photos, send direct messages to other attendees, engage with speakers during their Q&A sessions by submitting questions, and give us feedback throughout your experience!

This year, you can also forget printed business cards! Our app has a new “vCard scanner” that lets you and your new contact exchange information when you both have it open. Add a personal note to each scan and email yourself your new contacts after the event.

To access the app:

• download it from Google Play or the App Store (search “Nordic Business Forum”)
• enter your email address and select Automatic Login. You will receive a link by email to verify your credentials, connect you to the app, and keep you logged in
• select “Nordic Business Forum 2018”
• start exploring!

5. Do your homework and pack your bags!

One of the best ways to maximize your learning experience is to know your teachers. Take some time to read our speaker bios and Speaker Spotlight interview series on our blog. While you’re at it, take a virtual tour around our event info page to figure out how to get to (and around) the venue.

Find us online and follow us as we go. We will be sharing important information, inspiration, pictures, videos, and articles before, during, and after the event, so we hope you follow along virtually too! Stay in the loop by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

When you’ve done all of that, all that is left to do is to pack your bag! We’ve got you covered with a notebook and pen to take notes, and all food and drinks are included in your ticket – so you don’t have to pack any of that. Instead, try to bring chargers for all your devices and/or a power bank to make it through the day without being shackled to a wall outlet. And, most importantly, wear comfortable shoes — that’ll make a world of difference after two days wandering around the event venue!

Now, all you need to do is arrive on time! We look forward to seeing you soon!!