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My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Mat Newman  January 15 2014 18:15:33
For the past few years, the trek to IBM Connect (Lotusphere) has become a pilgrimage for me.  

It was in the late 90's that I first heard of a conference dedicated to Lotus software held in the USA at the Swan and Dolphin in Orlando.  I immediately added it to my Bucket List of "Must Do" things to achieve in my lifetime.  Watching the Videos for the first couple of years (yep, I mean VHS cassettes) provided to us by our local IBM/Lotus reps I became very excited at the depth and breadth of content and information that came out of the conference.  

When I finally made it to Lotusphere (as it was then called) my expectations were exceeded.  I never truly comprehended that the "gods" of the Lotus community - many found on planetlotus.org and the Lotus forums on notes.net - were actually super friendly and more than willing to share their experience and expertise once one introduced themselves and asked them a question (along with the obligatory refreshing beverage, which is the only "payment" any of them asked for sharing a solution with you).

Many of those people I am now privileged enough to call my friends.

So what are my top 5 reasons for attending IBM Connect?

1. Targeted Learning


Can't find a scheduled training course in your area that addresses your specific concerns and requirements? How about this:

Over 400 sessions, covering everything from installation, deployment, management, development, integration and adoption, where you can pick and choose exactly the sessions that you need to solve your immediate problems.  You won't find this breadth of choices anywhere else on the planet, presented by the experts in their field.  Often the hardest thing to do during your 5 days at IBM Connect (don't forget the "Jump Starts" and "Master Classes" on Sunday!) is to choose which session you will actually attend.


2. The UX (User Experience) Lab


There is no-where else that you have such easy access to the people who design and develop the products utilised or planned to be deployed within your environment!

Reason number 2, go and meet the folks in the UX Lab

Designers: Available for the past few years at Connect/Lotusphere is the UX Lab, where you can meet the people responsible for designing the next version of IBM's products.  They're there to listen to your feedback and get your suggestions on how IBM's software can be improved.  They're awesome people and there's nothing like the HUGE buzz one gets to see a feature included in an IBM product that you personally suggested to one of the Designers in the UX lab.


3. The Developer Lab


Similar (but different) to #2, how about the opportunity to talk with the developers!

Developers: In the Development Lab you can meet the people who write the code that creates the products you use.  Again, it's an amazing experience to ask your questions directly to one of the folks who actually wrote the code behind a feature that you need more information about.  I've gained some amazing insight into IBM's products from my chats with the developers, why they implemented a feature the way they did, and why it works in a particular way.  Similar to #2, these guys are more than willing to listen to your suggestions on how a feature should work, it's amazing to see them pull up some code and make changes in front of you.


4. The Roadmap, Keynote, "Ask the ..." and Gurupalooza sessions


Due to the expansion of focus at IBM Connect in the past couple of years, the OGS (Opening General Session) simply hasn't had enough time to cover all the fantastic news, developments and new features in each of the individual products IBM produce.  What you will get out of the OGS is a high level overview of IBM's strategy and direction.

Want even more detail regarding a specific product? Simple!

Attend the "ROADMAP" and "WHAT'S NEW IN ..." sessions that you will see peppered throughout the conference agenda.

And on Thursday don't miss the "Ask the Product Manager" or "Ask the Developer" sessions where you can ask questions to the expanded group of Product Managers and Developers, you're sure to get an answer from someone on stage.

Finally, if you want an answer to a particular query you have, don't miss the Gurupalooza session.  These are the people in the Community that are the experts in their field, who work with, deploy, manage and develop on IBM software day in and day out.  If one of these people don't have the answer, it probably doesn't exist!


5. GET SOCIAL


No, I don't mean "Social Business", I mean that there will be thousands of people - just like YOU! - who are there for exactly the same reasons.  

Don't sit by yourself at Breakfast or Lunch, choose a table, introduce yourself and open a conversation.  You will be amazed at who you might be sitting with and talking to, and how often they have similar experiences to your own.  Chatting with someone in this environment can provide some fantastic insight into how someone else is using or deploying IBM solutions within their environment.


And finally: If you see a face you recognise - no matter how you might have encountered them - say HELLO! Don't be shy, don't be backward, Get Social and CONNECT.

It was one of the hardest things that I did at my first Connect/Lotusphere, to overcome my feeling of awe as I introduced myself to my "hero's" in the #Yellowverse.

They're just people.  And now many of them are my friends.  Lotusphere isn't just a conference, it's my Happy Place.  It's where I get to reunite with my yellow "Family" every year.

I look forward to seeing you there!

(hug)
Comments

1Olufsphere  01/15/2014 20:22:06  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Re.: #5

This, in my opinion, is the very essense!

MEET PEOPLE. They want to meet YOU!

Only 9 more sleeps. :-)

2Shean McManus  01/16/2014 0:37:23  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Wish I could make it this year, but some cost-cutting measures with my company have taken away these sorts of expenses. It will be a sad week for me to follow the happenings from snowy Minnesota.

3Keith Brooks  01/16/2014 1:24:52  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

UX lab +1000

People for sure and there is never a shortage of ideas about how to do anything. We all learn from each other.

4Stuart McIntyre  01/16/2014 1:55:10  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Great list, Mat!

5Karl-Henry Martinsson  01/16/2014 2:43:52  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Can't wait to see you in Orlando, my friend! Already have your session in my schedule. See you at BALD!

6Denny  01/16/2014 3:23:14  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Hope to see you at the Sunday Pre-Party. I really want to See if Andy can catch you again!!

{ Link }

7Mat Newman

01/16/2014 3:44:25  My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

@1, Lars; Tru Dat mate!

@2, Shean: Who will ever forget 07:00 User BOF's the day after the Aussie party before presenting at 08:00 am. You'll be missed mate!

@3, Keith: We need to start a BOF mate :-)

@4, Stu: Thanks! Um ... Maybe we could TWiX about that ;-)

@5: Count on it @TexasSwede! (hug)

@6: Only if Denise is there to protect him Denny ;-)

Mat Newman IBM Champion

8Vaughan Rivett   01/16/2014 7:56:13  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Is there a master class on migrating from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Exchange 2013? I have just migrated 3,000 people and can quite confidently say that Microsoft Exchange / Outlook lacks basic features which Notes users have come to expect and is riddled with bugs.

9Mat Newman

01/16/2014 13:32:16  My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

@8, Vaughan: have you put together a blog post with your findings?

Mat Newman IBM Champion

10Steve Mullen  01/16/2014 13:55:53  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

Great and accurate list Mat. See you soon ...

11Vitor Pereira  01/21/2014 0:31:15  
My Top 5 reasons to get to IBM Connect 2014

What??? The Aussie party is not on that list?

Mat Newman

THE Notes (formerly IBM/Lotus Notes) Guy. Productivity Guru. Evangelist. IBM Champion for IBM Collaboration Solutions, 2011/2012/2013. Former IBMer. HCLite. Views are my own.

#GetProductive #GetHCLNotes

Mat Newman




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