Getting to the right events, not the comfortable ones

Getting out to business events was one of those things that sat on my mind. I knew I needed to do it, and it too often got pushed to the side by more pressing priorities. Weeks and months would pass, and I’d look back and ask myself why I didn’t get out to this event or that one.

For the past 3 months, my AI working partner has been lining them up for me. I now consistently have events planned in the calendar 2 months out. And when I pick the ones that feel comfortable over the ones that will move the needle, it pushes back.

From basic results to dialed in

Setting up a process like this doesn’t take long. The difference is making it specific and valuable to you.

My AI working partner is a version of AI set up with my goals, my priorities, and where I’m heading. Ask a general AI tool to find events and you get basic results. Point the same request at the AI working partner, and the results come back dialed in to my specific direction and goals.

Scheduled for the 15th of every month, I’m delivered an executive summary of events that line up with my interests, along with recommendations, dates, costs, and the expected audience. I can quickly book in the events I want to attend, and spend my time attending them, not planning them.

The pushback

Recommendations that align with my goals are what I expected. The pushback is the proof that it’s working.

Here’s a real one. I’d told it what I’d registered for:

Thanks, I’ve registered for AI Agents × Company OS and AI Power Hours. I might have registered for Cambridge Small Businesses Community Mixer too if it wasn’t 3 nights in a row for those.

And it came back with this:

Good call. Two applied-AI evenings back to back is plenty, and the Cambridge mixer is easy to catch next time.

One thing to watch: neither of those two events puts you in front of many SMB owners, and that’s the room the consultancy needs right now. Some ways to get an owner-heavy event in without a third straight night:

Business Exchange (Fri Oct 23, RIM Park, free): This would technically be night 3. It’s drop-in from 4 to 9 p.m., so you could show up at 4, work the room for 90 minutes and be home for dinner. It’s still the best client-finding event of the month.

KW Chamber Small Business Awards (Tue Oct 27): This is a stand-alone night with a room full of owners and sponsors. Confirm the venue and price first.

Guelph Chamber Local Leaders Luncheon (Thu Oct 29): A midday slot that costs you no evenings.

It agreed with my call first. Then it named what was missing: neither event I’d picked puts me in a room with many business owners. Then it worked around the one limit I’d given it, no third night in a row, and offered 3 different shapes: a drop-in, a stand-alone night, and a lunch that costs no evenings at all.

That’s the pattern every time. Those options are good. These other options over here are better, and here’s why.

I kind of find it funny when it happens. It’s telling me what I need to hear, whether it’s comfortable or not. Like having a coach in my corner, looking out for me and encouraging me to get outside my comfort zone.

And yes, I am now attending the Business Exchange too.

Why the foundation matters

This is a simple example, and I think a powerful one. When the foundational layers are in place, your goals, your priorities, where you’re going, things like this get easier to do. They also get much more valuable. Without them, I’d get basic results. With them, it knows which room I need to be in, and says so.

What previously felt like a chore, now feels almost effortless!

If there’s a task like this sitting on your list, one you know you need to do and keep pushing aside, it may take less setting up than you think, especially once the AI you hand it to knows where you’re going.

The free tools to build your own AI working partner are on the Tools page of this site.

What’s the thing that keeps sitting on your mind, waiting for its turn?