2024W8: KW Family Reunion 2024
7 Pro Tips for a Festive Family Reunion
Keller Williams’ annual convention Family Reunion is an event like no other. It’s 3-4 days of constant motion, excitement, and good vibes. At the end of this month, I’ll attend my 24th Family Reunion and of course I have some ideas for how each of us can make it a stellar experience.
Treat your feet right
If your body is able, the conference conditions will implore you to walk miles and miles each day. You’ll be in one breakout and get a text from someone to meet you someplace else in the convention center, which may be a 15-minute walk away. In the earlier years of FR, many of us decided fashion would win out over comfort, and we suffered and suffered. As the convention got more casual, our footwear got more comfortable, thankfully.
Pack your most comfortable walking shoes and plan your clothing around them. If you are presenting and want to wear dress shoes that aren’t great walking shoes, bring them to change into before your 75 minutes of fame. Then switch back to walking shoes for the walking.
Pack and unpack mindfully each day
There is a short list of items you want to have at the ready each morning, like your name badge. Makes sense if, at the end of each day, you put that name badge in the same place (near your hotel room door, with your hotel room key, maybe).
(My short list includes name badge, hotel room key, water bottle, snacks, phone, iPad, writing implements, portable battery / charging cords, and a scarf / wrap. Make sure your list includes the things you know you will reach for every day you’re there.)
Give yourself that extra couple of minutes to make sure everything gets put away in its rightful place. Future you will thank you.
Travel light at the convention center
It’s tempting to want to pack everything you think you will need. Chances are you won’t use half of it, and you will get tired lugging it around the convention center. Plus, many times we need to go through a security and bag check on our way into the convention, and bringing more stuff means stopping for longer to get checked in.
Keep your on-site gear simple and minimalist. I don’t carry a separate purse / handbag at KWFR — just one bag keeps it all.
Keep a running list of a-ha’s
You are going to hear so much good stuff at this event! You will hear quotes that you want to repeat with the same power and magic to someone else. if only you had written down the actual words…
Keep a document on your phone Notes app with a running list of great quotes, ideas, conversations, etc., and who said each thing so you can attribute correctly later!
Meet new people
It’s tempting to stick with the crowd you run with. Definitely take advantage of this opportunity to deepen relationships with people who are valuable to you, and reconnect with folks you maybe only see a few times a year.
Also introduce yourself to five people each day you have never met. It’s not hard to do — just approach folks who look like they don’t know anyone or might be lost, and say hello. Introduce yourself and ask questions to get to know them. Surprising connections get made this way that can last for your entire career!
Plan your sessions and arrive early
The most popular sessions can fill up before the session begins. And on occasion, monitors are posted at the door to prevent the risk of a dangerously overcrowded breakout room.
Spend time on the plane, heading to FR24, to decide which sessions you plan to attend. Normally you can do this in the KWFR event app on your phone. Once you get to the convention center, pay attention to where groups of breakout rooms are located, in relation to the exhibit hall or main event ballroom. This will allow you to mentally (or you could just literally) map out your routes so that you get to your sessions while there are still great seats available.
Treat your body well
Yes, yes. All of this should be bolded. Go out and have fun and also get enough sleep! Pack your own good snacks and a refillable water bottle so you don’t end up on-site hungry and thirsty and standing in line for Cheetos and a Coke.
Family Reunion is the place to be, and can still be valuable even if you don’t take care of yourself. But you will be much, much happier if you do.
Safe travels and see you there!!!
