Goddamn it!

[Toby]

Originally Posted by rhetorical

Someone I am sure will disagree, but bring it on and tell us how you improved your bottom line and not your fat ass by going to these shows.

There may be a few that can say specifically that they signed x number of deals worth x dollars during the show, but that's not the way it works most of the time. You make contacts at shows. Some lead to new deals very soon thereafter, some perhaps after a few months, and still other deals with someone you've never met that gets referred by someone you spent a half hour chatting with in the bar after dinner.

Making contacts and deals is also not the only business related reason I go to shows. I always come home with some fresh ideas on things I want to try, some reminders about things I should have been doing but haven't been for whatever reason, and in general a chance to recharge the batteries. How would suggest I measure the financial effect of the above on my bottom line? How much are ideas and inspiration worth?