Once again I find myself sitting in the Cleveland airport, reflecting on another mind-bending experience at the Content Entrepreneur Expo (CEX). This was my third year, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Year one was magical because it was the first event post-pandemic for most of us. It was simply great to see people in 3D. Last year was when I came up with the idea for After Design, and I was able to pick the brains of many experts. But what would year three bring?
It brought deeper human connections.
As more and more of marketing gets created and distributed through artificial means, the best counter-programming is to be more human. It takes time and effort, but it will pay off because people crave human interactions.
This past week allowed me to really get to know some people I’ve been getting to know over the past few years. Drinks were shared, tears were shed, and lessons were learned. In addition to learning about storytelling, the publishing business, new tools for automation, and the importance of trust, a few of us saw the Cleveland Guardians host the Detroit Tigers.
I originally bought the never-ending ticket for CEX because I trusted the founder, Joe Pulizzi. Through his podcasts, newsletters, and in-person events, he had built up the trust for me to shell out some significant money on his new venture. I’m so glad I did. Based on what I’ve learned and the connections I’ve made with other attendees and speakers, it was worth the money.
Here are some takeaways I picked up from some of the presenters including Jay Clouse, Brian Piper, Robbie Fitzwater, Ann Gynn, Jordache Johnson, Andrew Davis, Matt Briel, Roberto Blake, Jenny Magic, Justin Welsh, Latasha James, Robert Rose, and BJ Novak.
For those who were unable to attend this year, know you were missed and I look forward to seeing you next year!
#CEX24 #LiveEvents #AI #Marketing
