Katie posted something like this on X. I liked the idea, so I decided to do it too.

WordCamp, as usual, was full of energy and a lot of networking, and seeing friends. I rarely walk away from these getting a job, or anything that clear. Usually it’s just a lot of connections and a vague sense of potential for the future – something that usually tends to manifest when I least expect it.

This trip cost me about $1500 in-all, and I think would have been considerably less if I had used my credit points to cover hotel and flight.

• Connected, and met about two particularly large client opportunities.
• Did some market validation for the three different services I’m offering to keep my pipeline full.
• Honed my message with Siren. Someone called it “an incentive program builder.” I like that.
• Talked with several people about Siren, and got some great feedback. Particularly from Katie and Zack.
• Had some 1:1 time chatting with Derek at ConversiomBridge, where we talked about our current plugin state and ways we’re working to grow it.
• Discovered there’s some good movement on the mobile app happening, as well as exciting progress related to the fields API. Gives me hope for WP’s mobile future.
• Participated in a marketing meeting and found myself lamenting about the state of the mobile app and how that relates to our future growth.
• Finally got to meet several people in person, many of which I have spoken with on Zoom, or X off and on for years.
• Met with several longtime friends. Got to congratulate many of them on significant changes in their career.
• Made some solid connections that, while they didn’t directly yield work opportunities, may turn into something in the future.
• Played disc golf!
• Found some leads on various APIs and other tech in/around WordPress I intend to research someday.
• Got inspiration for several blog post topics
• Found a few contractors who can help me grow my business, or fulfill the promises made within it.
• Met a surprising number of affiliate program managers eager to share their stories and tactics on the PartnerShip podcast.
• Got some great advice on testing environments and how I can level up beyond my current mock-based approach.
• Had dinner with Chris Badgett and talked about business, and life. He’s always so encouraging and enthusiastic, and I never turn down his company.
• Got to meet several former SkyVerge people and spend some time talking to them. Many of which I had never met in person.
• Asked several people for their take on if I should go freemium with Siren. Discovered it is, in fact, just as controversial for everyone else as it is within my own mind. But I got the context I needed to help me make a decision.
• Got to meet the North Commerce crew and spend some time talking about our place in WordPress and how we can grow together.
• Got to meet a few people in my mastermind group in person, and talk a little about how their projects are progressing, and offer feedback while I was there.
• Connected with the Ninja Forms team, who were happy to connect me to a few different people that were great fits both as customers and contractors to help me grow my business.
• Got to spend time with a former client, catch up on how they’re doing, and get context on how the code I wrote for them is holding up (it’s holding up well!)
• Got to see some Sandhills peeps, and catch up to see where they’re at.
• Was invited to a few podcasts and shows