Mike Kim

Live Your Message. Love Your Work. Leave Your Mark On The World.

Platform Conference Review – Michael Hyatt Notes & First Impressions

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UPDATE: Here is my full review of Platform Conference, including speakers, content, networking, facilities, and pricing.

Michael Hyatt - Platform ConferenceGreetings from Dallas, TX! I’m attending Michael Hyatt’s Platform Conference. Michael is a best-selling author, public speaker, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, and one of the business world’s most influential bloggers and podcasters. His work is centered on helping others build their platform. The Platform Conference is a 3 day event that Michael and his team facilitate to “help you get noticed in a noisy world.” To follow the conference on Twitter, check #Platform13.

How I’ll Do This Review

PlatformU Crowd

I’m going to break it into two parts. The most helpful way is to assess first impressions, then takeaways. This post will be on first impressions and include quotes from the first keynote. I’ll share quotes from the other keynotes when I get a chance. I’ll write up a final post on takeaways once the conference is done.

First Impressions

Exceed Expectations

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But Platform’s impressions were made way before I came to Dallas. They started as soon as I registered in September. Platform Conference has been speaking the entire two months between my payment and arrival. How?

  • website – so easy an 8-year old could navigate it.
  • registration process – simple, quick, and no-hassle
  • payment – I signed up with a discount code not knowing I was available for a bigger discount because I’m a member of Platform University. I emailed Michael’s assistant about it. She granted me the larger discount…with no questions asked and total joy!
  • communication – clear, timely, and thoughtful communication
  • accommodations – great hotel rates just minutes from the airport that prevents me from having to rent a car

Let’s say Michael’s assistant gave me flak about my discount. I would have arrived with a bad taste in my mouth. It wouldn’t have been a dealbreaker–Platform Conference is worth the full $1,397 price. But no matter how great a conference it turned out to be, my whole experience would have had an asterisk next to it. It would be:  *Platform Conference, the great conference that refused to give me the discount I should have gotten.

The Wow is in the Details

Details are what make an event stand out. Little things result in little wows. Those little wows become one big WOW by the end of the event. To do this requires thoughtfulness. Michael or someone on his team had to be intentional:

  • putting the conference weather forecast in emails
  • lanyards that have my name on both sides (I’ve done a ton of conferences, and the lanyards always seems to face the wrong way no matter what I do)
  • useful freebies:  they gave me a legit hoodie! Now I don’t have to buy one for winter which starts in just a few weeks. That’s above and beyond the wristbands, mousepads, or t-shirts other conferences giveaway.

Platform SwagThe little things–even if they can’t be recalled or articulated–create an impression, persona, and culture about that event and more importantly, that brand.

My experience here so far has been amazing. The networking alone is worth the trip, but I’ll save that for a post once the event is done. For now, here are a few quotes from the first keynote with Michael Hyatt:

Quotes:  The Platform Framework | Michael Hyatt
  • If you’ve got something to say or sell, you’re onstage.
  • “All the world is a stage.” – Shakespeare
  • A personal platform has 3 benefits:  visibility, control, options
  • Having a platform allows you to slip past the gatekeepers.
  • Don’t let the medium get in the way. Use whatever’s most comfortable: blogs, vlogs, podcasts.
  • All the good stuff happens outside the comfort zone. The people who accomplish great things go out of their comfort zone intentionally.
  • Your blog must be authentic and solve real problems.
  • What if marketing was simply…sharing your passion?
  • Once you accept responsibility, anything is possible. If you’re a victim, you can’t fix anything.
  • Everyday you wake up: “What do I need to do TODAY to move the ball further down the field?”
  • You can’t be so obsessed with WOW that you fail to ship the product.
  • What’s the most mission critical thing? START. You’ll figure it out on the way.

Question:  What little details do you do to make a big first impression?