--- title: "10 Takeaways from The HUGE Convention 2023: Insights and Inspiration" description: Dive into the exciting highlights of The HUGE Convention 2023! Discover game-changing takeaways, epic networking moments, and innovation at its finest. image: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2Tr0wlQSeelDozQy-6BRMbMsnwpVjuhXRZavpsjb-zrxG1zMZa4OpKyp-TBD0MpsUpTzeee5bPfpyn3HZ-yKjXKcX5icpyUuZdkcgfikp5lstKjWkv_duCyBq4sxxtzpwCBRbLVxlSkSi6g2Axna62Y --- [![IssueID Logo](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Issue-ID-Logo.png?width=500&height=89&name=Issue-ID-Logo.png "IssueID Logo")](https://issueid.io) Open main menu Close main menu [Stories](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) # 10 Takeaways from The HUGE Convention 2023: Insights and Inspiration ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/huge-convention-2023) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/huge-convention-2023) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/huge-convention-2023) ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2Tr0wlQSeelDozQy-6BRMbMsnwpVjuhXRZavpsjb-zrxG1zMZa4OpKyp-TBD0MpsUpTzeee5bPfpyn3HZ-yKjXKcX5icpyUuZdkcgfikp5lstKjWkv_duCyBq4sxxtzpwCBRbLVxlSkSi6g2Axna62Y) **Introduction** The time is up on [**The HUGE Convention 2023**](https://www.thehugeconvention.com/), and what an exhilarating experience it has been! This premier event for the home services industry brought together an eclectic mix of vendors, business owners, and key employees under one roof. Located at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, attendees were treated to a whirlwind of education, networking, and inspiration from the trade show floor to the enlightening breakout sessions. Here's our recap of the convention and our top 10 takeaways that are sure to revolutionize your home service business. **Opening Keynotes** Due to our other commitments, we unfortunately missed out on both of the Keynote Speakers this year. [**Michael Bernoff**](https://michaelbernoff.com/), renowned writer and personal/professional development guru, was speaking on "Why You Don’t Get What You Want and What to Do About It". [**Kyle Scheele**](https://kylescheele.com/) was speaking about the belief that some people are inherently creative while others aren't. His argument is that creativity is a skill that can be nurtured and developed by anyone. We’re sad we didn’t get to catch these guys this time but will definitely look for them in some upcoming conventions and speaking events.  **Networking Galore** Beyond the educational aspect, The HUGE Convention provided ample networking opportunities that were nothing short of transformative. The feeling from everyone was extremely positive and supportive of each other's business ventures. From spontaneous coffee conversations to organized networking sessions, the connections we formed will turn into lifelong friendships and business relationships.  Notable company connections were the geniuses behind [**WhoHire**](https://whohire.com/) - Jonathan Porter-Whistman and Dominique Demond Williams, (using AI and digital recruiting to make your hiring process easy breezy) - pretty crazy stuff! - and Martha Woodward from [**Quality Driven Software**](https://qualitydrivensoftware.com/) (an all-in-one software for retaining employees). We also got to pick the brains of Andrew Miller & Jennie Miller from [**Service Ally**](https://www.serviceally.io/) about how they help contractors build recurring revenue into their businesses. We were left inspired after spending some time chatting with [**Libby DeLucien**](https://libbydelucien.com/), founder of WootRecruit, and multiple other companies! One of the highlights of the convention experience has to have been getting to know the lawncare industry & software legend [**Jonathan Pototschnik**](https://www.lawncaremillionaire.com/author/a0sf52hvo2jg/), and his son Riley, who is working on his own software called [**EveryChat**](https://everychat.com/). Learning about Jonathan’s experience in the SAAS world was invaluable for our own software development, he spoke of his learnings and takeaways, including valuation considerations, what to focus on, building a community around the software, etc. Also very humbly, we were able to share some of our best practices and findings on building out a strong development team with Riley Pototschnik. The positive environment surrounding the convention, allowing for this openness to sharing information was profound!  ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nuJfCDThtOacIyzrirO0Z8JQ7KYO0GentqmySOxhzaNUVSnhJ25mVNZN8_mJkdZXzsgQKGUHlubsEKpfwd-gzm0Z_6m-FoVBRCM1spvklcOfSG9urhMVAGNYcamhkCUoqvpEez2d3zvMKoFHOf-hIN8) **Exhibitor Booths** The Huge Convention’s sprawling trade show, hosting over 130 vendors, definitely lives up to the name - from high-tech CRM solutions to innovative equipment, the trade room floor was full of business-enhancing tools and ideas from inspiring companies.  Among the standout booths, [**Service Ally**](https://www.serviceally.io/) left a lasting impression with their fun Capture the Flag game, and the booth at [**CONQUER**](https://www.conquernow.com/) showed a steady flow of entrepreneurs - it was awesome to chat with this team about their coaching and peer group offerings for business owners. We were also able to make stops at the [**NiceJob**](https://get.nicejob.com/?utm_term=nicejob&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=NJ+-+GAD+-+ALL+-+EN+-+Search+-+Branded&utm_content=NiceJob&utm_network=g&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtb7CelZz1SabcQli2qBOSPa3zUdRKikAIjIOrBrpQKiMJi5mBCbFMRoC6aIQAvD_BwE)(helping contractors gain more sales by getting lots of good reviews) and [**CompanyCam**](https://companycam.com/) (photo management tool) booths - we’re big fans and use these tools in our own landscape companies.  ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ei7YqfgQvfB-tK_dU0VwBG4F0V9C4JwJ87g0dJg3NTS1xOglAjvfr4RSM7207D9tLdyQGZEO3tKqHKanFGzPoPYJk1ZVZ3pqVYwXHYLziqmHFC66gqz_eDjfafvqYVPE_uET5cZrR3T5fh2ziA5iwGQ)![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JL4k1ldJAjO9DFxCG1YNjTGjXkc-AdPMxD-Gey3uxWE5TOG-DvbH3ERGo0AXCy9yiytumMO27XTYNqcWiIADsFACk9tTrsFq4JTzaovymhBhjgu5aW659U0JWzdeNdTXOCcittppn3pYzvNJOvJNqqM)![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HGRC5QGS1jjXhUC0chWyO8ESzwxiZ_h3ZmXhiveKM5wBkt3vzxUJLu69_zQn8AT5qRhlQhFRqvWrbEN4ORVP3zsyUDkZy8_Pif3qUBCQ_kl1HaMBECS8LVdGrnAKMh--ZP_x0MHEVV6dBYfXs6mXmes) **Breakout Speakers: Insights and Discussions** The breakout speakers at the convention were a great platform for experts to dissect industry trends and to learn from the masters. There was no way to make it to all of the speakers and classes, but we did attend as many as we could! Here’s some more that we weren’t able to catch but would recommend others to check out for some interesting content. If you were able to catch any of these, let us know what you thought in the comments! - [**Tommy Mello**](https://homeserviceexpert.com/) - Elevate: Build A Business Where Everyone Wins - [**Caleb Winniger**](https://www.conquernow.com/coach/caleb-wininger/) - How winning entrepreneurs make decisions - [**Michelle Myers**](https://www.pinkcallers.com/meet-the-team/) - Control Freak - Perfectionism vs. EOS - [**Anna Koehler**](https://bananastandmarketing.com/) - The Marketing Funnel - [**David Mulcahy**](https://oh-deer.com/) - Create an asset with Recurring Revenue One session, in particular, stood out: **Marvin Salcido & Morgan Knox** on **“A quick and dirty look at Mergers and Acquisitions.”** Their lighthearted and comedic perspectives offered a new view of the trends forming around purchasing companies (such as “The Silver Tsunami” - the baby boomer generation is rapidly heading towards retirement, and the rise of skilled trades which have been historically overlooked as valuable businesses), giving us ideas and tactics to find opportunities to invest in other companies, such as speaking with  CPAs and local marketing companies, who often have insights into businesses facing challenges. **![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Nv4cLzcfMaP0dLGRhx-1b5qI1HLiEzeb_bXgBux4DUt11SE6i1eTZrr58gBy4KwywpDsZmL_JeJQW6HjHPZER0P8dpgFQ8uThej8af21x-N2lr9OziS954JeHXMwx5_WFe1lbano8ldb6BxNmCAaN2E)** Another interesting one was **Martha Woodward**’s, presenting on **“The Art of Accountability”**. Her presentation covered implementing a performance-based incentive system in the workplace. She emphasized the importance of quantifying job roles' key components and setting specific metrics for evaluating employee performance, such as attendance, client satisfaction scores, and productivity. Her presentation highlighted the use of a system that ties rewards and consequences to meeting or exceeding these metrics, providing accountability and removing emotion from evaluations.  ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qZizSHAQnvlhShTHc3pwv4dDX-2SYYi30VFW3HjoD4FmdSoaBhIDQ2h7s0mABJMF22u4j3uP5u7RLNYBvtMfA4IoorDKmGIrvr6V_ssEYO6hsqYC1NFWpDc5Q0_z07LhN1seDTQyMvLEKqHUIYC-YnY) **Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned** 1. **The rise of skilled trades** - often overlooked over the past 40 years, are now emerging as a powerful and essential sector. Electricians, plumbers, window washers, and others in these trades are the new architects of success, witnessing growth and the ability to command their worth. 2. **Confidence is key** - Become more aware of the limiting beliefs we have as a company, and how to achieve more success through increased confidence. 3. **Cost per Acquisition and Lifetime Value** - While it might be tempting to shy away from higher spending in this area, one secret to a successful SAAS company is in looking beyond the immediate and considering the lifetime value of a customer.  4. **Strategies for business acquisition** - new ideas and places to look when thinking about acquiring other businesses, using others in your network who have similar connections for their insights on who is ready to exit. 5. **Embrace innovation** - Promote creativity to solve challenges and encourage it more throughout our organization.  6. **Align roles with client satisfaction** - for better team performance, start by identifying key components needed from each role and how they contribute to client satisfaction. 7. **Make accountability transparent** - Regularly communicate performance data and statistics to employees. Transparency helps employees know where they stand, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment. Metrics should be easily accessible and ideally updated weekly to ensure consistent engagement. 8. **Personalized incentives** - Creating and offering incentives doesn’t always just have to be money. Some individuals just aren’t as excited about a dollar amount as a reward. Find out what motivates people and create incentives based on what would inspire them - for example, a trip to Disney World might be more appealing than an extra $2000, or a paid day off might hold more weight than a $200 bonus.  9. **Plan ahead** - we found that with a convention this big (and with any convention), it is good to strategize beforehand. There are so many things to do, see, people to talk to, that creating a checklist for your goals ahead of time will make sure you can maximize your experience and see as much as possible and not miss out on those valuable opportunities and connections you’re looking for.  10. **Expand your network** - Make as many connections as you can with your peers and competitors, the industry is large enough for many players, and people are overall very generous with their time and support for each other.  **Continuing the Journey** And that’s a wrap! The connections we've made and the knowledge gained will undeniably take us to new heights in our business. We are extremely grateful to every participant, speaker, and sponsor for their contributions to this remarkable event, as well as for the time we had with the newly made friends which extended beyond the convention hours and agenda. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PlmZlarzuzDxDVq9rKkB_Fq6wJl3pde5F0WxyDT2DO_fxIjLFytcjMpDOP27_Fo_FHJpN29uwJFTwsrH2nIkHQ0BTqAE6xivW8mKObw2ur9Ibwg3lFxECXxxo0UH-sbu9Ui8uro1ApmpCXURGWgOkok) To our fellow attendees, how did The HUGE Convention 2023 impact you? We invite you to share your favorite moments and takeaways in the comments below. Let's keep the momentum alive as we await the upcoming shows of the season - see you there! ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/V9SzGRotM3D0MP_l1HFAhvOYF3HgLC2g_qmHiQKWD52ru8iN1CApZ_HI2BFE0Q8PCcsmBcW_wIATCO1b3bVanCCx2jWkRAcfxzcuJ86_p1Imd10KwJDLfKEa52mMSYeKkJjIiJOhm8qpspMwNADl-Zc) ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=150&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) #### Harper Hawkins [Follow me on my website](https://www.issueid.io) [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/issueid) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/issueid) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://twitter.com/issue_id) "Harper Hawkins is an expert landscape contractor with rich industry experience. His journey, marked by maintaining vast swaths of land and managing successful projects, has fueled his passion to empower other business owners in our industry and other trades industries. Harper's insightful strategies and inventive approaches have revolutionized numerous businesses, earning him a revered position in the landscape contracting community. As an industry mentor and thought leader, he continually shares his knowledge and experiences, helping others to level up their game. Harper's belief in sustainable and creative landscaping forms the core of his teachings, inspiring a new generation of contractors to strive for excellence while respecting nature." ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![Property Manager Receiving Magic Link](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/property-manager-receiving-magic-link.jpg)](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/magiclink-the-hassle-free-way-to-share-issueid) [Stories](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) [New Feature](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/new-feature) ### [MagicLink: The Hassle-Free Way to Share IssueID](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/magiclink-the-hassle-free-way-to-share-issueid) We’ve got some fantastic news that’s going to make your life a whole lot easier. 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