I have been involved with and teaching at the NAMS Event in Atlanta twice a year since the very first event in early 2009.
This past February I chose not to speak, and at the most recent event earlier this month I chose not to attend at all.
NAMS stands for "Niche Affiliate Marketing Systems" and was originally a hands-on workshop for learning niche affiliate marketing. They are currently going through some major transitions, and have been slowly expanding to cover a number of Internet Marketing topics.
One of the things I've always enjoyed most about this event is the opportunity to work hands-on with people who need help getting started online. And of course hanging out with my peers and members, like Traci Knoppe in the photo above. The social aspect of this event alone is worth attendance!
For six straight events, I gave NAMS my all. I'm not what you would call a "speaker" but I really enjoyed teaching what I know and hosting workshops where I could actually help people implement what they learned on the spot.
I picked up sessions when other speakers couldn't make it, worked with people between sessions, and really invested myself wholeheartedly into the event. Including recommending and promoting it heavily from the very beginning.
For the record, I was not paid for teaching at this event. I never "pitched" either. And I paid for my own travel & meal expenses just like the attendees. That said, I was an affiliate - and I was the top affiliate on many occasions.
In the beginning only instructors/speakers were affiliates, which helped to cover the personal expenses and 3-5 days of solid working.
That is no longer the case as the affiliate program has been opened to the public, but most instructors invest their own time and money anyway because they enjoy helping people with their online business. Myself included.
I believe I can speak for most of the instructors that I know personally (those that don't pitch, at least), in saying that we would all earn much more money from our home office in the same amount of time... than we do working at NAMS. That's the case for me at least, and I have been the top affiliate for many of the NAMS events.
If it were only about money, I would have stepped down long ago.
As I said, the event is changing and evolving. There are simply some points that I am not overly happy with. While the feedback from attendees is overwhelmingly positive, as an instructor my personal experience took a turn in the other direction.
I am also making changes in my own business, and focusing heavily on some new goals. During the time that I was not at NAMS last weekend, I was busy organizing some big projects - and enjoyed that time investing in my own business very much.
While it's not like me to cancel at the last minute, and I do apologize for that - for those that attended and expected to see me there - this was a personal decision for personal reasons. And it was the best decision for me.
I may or may not choose to attend NAMS events in the future. I'll make that decision one event at a time, based on how it fits in with my personal objectives. But I will no longer be taking on a working role at the event.
I did genuinely miss getting to see and hang out with everyone, but I trust we'll have other opportunities. 🙂 Let's make a point of it! 😉
Best,
About Lynn Terry
Hey Lynn
I miss the old NAMS too. 🙂 A year or so ago, I was scheduled to speak at NAMS myself - after having attended a couple and enjoying every minute of it! But, had to cancel several weeks before due to illness in my family. Then before the next NAMS rolled around I was personally dealing with health issues, then my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer earlier this year. It seems one thing after another was popping up and preventing me from going.
But I still missed the networking and the people!
Like you, I'm making changes in my business. Those changes need me to be here. Until my real-life, offline world settles down, I won't be traveling to any events.
All that to say: I understand; and I can't wait to see what changes you're working on! 🙂
Miss you my friend. We really need to find time to chat. {{{hugs}}}
Traci
Sorry to hear that Lynn. You were very instrumental in getting me to the first NAMS. I credit the training and especially the contacts I made at every NAMS since with much of my online success. I am excited about the future of NAMS as it looks like we are getting back to the hands-on training which I also really love.
You will certainly be missed.
Boo Hoo, Lynn. I was finally able to join NAMS and sign up for February. One of the main reasons I went ahead with this was to get to meet you in person and attend your workshops. Hopefully, by February, things will lighten up for you and you will be there after all.
Well Lynn I sure missed you. I found NAMS in the first place thanks to you. I had to debate long and hard before deciding whether to go or not this year and wound up going at the last minute. I'm happy that I did. But you were definitely missed and it wasn't the same without you!
Melissa
I also connected to NAMS thanks to you, Lynn, and I attended my first NAMS in August 2011. One of the best parts was meeting you and hanging out with others from your Brainstorming group. Hopefully we can find other opportunities/events to connect at in the future.
As a new member of your Elite Group it saddens me that as I start to work toward my goals that you won't be at a function you have obviously grown synonymous with, however I totally understand.
I used to teach and "lecture" ( I preferred the term "talk") all over the country at various functions that brought large groups of artists together and it was always hard when one morphed into something it wasn't in prior years. It's never the same.
That being said, I hope that we get the opportunity to meet at some function, someday... and in the meantime you need to do what suits you best, and feel comfortable with.
I believe you are the reason I first went to NAMS in 2009, too. That's yet another thing I can credit you for. 🙂
Your presence was definitely missed this time around. I hope I don't have to wait too long to see you.
Hi Lynn, I only went to one NAMS, and that was because of you!
Here are my Flickr photos from NAMS January 2010 http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianawalker/sets/72157623180302943/
It truly was wonderful meeting you in person, as well as so many others who had been online friends for several years, and to get to meet in person was amazing!
I think that you were instrumental in bringing maybe even one-third of the attendees that season?... I think about 60 of us of the 180 attendees were in your Elite Group (maybe I'm exaggerating, but it certainly seemed that many, many, many of us had learned about NAMS because of you). Thank you, Lynn!
I also have so much going on in my own life that I've had to prioritize so I have not been back to NAMS since that time.
Thanks for sharing your reasons.
Diana
Very well said Lynn! My first NAMS (7) was 'timid and overwhelmed' compared to my NAMS8 experience. NAMS8 was awesome for me personally but I'm not sure it was because I learned that many new techniques. The biggest benefit I got out of NAMS8 was motivation, inspiration and emotional support from the instructors I forced myself to connect with and with friends from your Elite group.
I grew personally from NAMS8 even though it was a difficult leaving my husband, who is ill. He pushed me to go ahead and attend, so I forced myself this time around to step out of my comfort zone - try to meet new friends and particularly to take the first step to approach the instructors and leaders myself. I gained confidence from NAMS8, even though I still have much to learn about working online in general.
As everyone here has already voiced, you were very, very missed - it's like the event was 'off' because you weren't there. But I hope you know how much you are loved and supported, and we respect your decision as being right for you and Annie at this particular time in your business and personal life.
Lynn,
You introduced me to NAMS and I will be forever grateful to you for that.
This was my 4th NAMS but my first time working as an aide and that put an entirely different dynamic on the event for me. Angie Newton and I were able to work directly with attendees in the Get 'Er Done session and as you say, it is exciting and so rewarding to be able to help attendees by sharing your knowledge and experience to help them achieve significant advances with their business right there during the event.
I was in Christine Cobb's session at NAMS8 and can attest there was real hands-on instruction happening in that session (as with many others I was in). Chris shared great tips and showed us "how to" with time built into the session that allowed us to try it ourselves right then and there.
The event seems to be ever evolving but is definitely driven by feedback from attendees and as Chris says above seems to be heading back to more of the hands on workshop style of training you favor and prefer. It was very clear in the wrap up session that there is going to be a return to focusing on the 'how to's' of Affiliate Marketing in NAMS9 and teaching how to get things done.
Although NAMS is always a fantastic few days, we learn a lot and it's great to meet people in person and be social our businesses are what supports us and our families 24/7/365. So no matter who you are, that's where your primary focus needs to be first and foremost.
I so hope we'll see you at NAMS again sometime though, but you should know your 'Tribe' definitely missed you!
Cheers,
Deb
Lynn as in our discussion on intentional choices.. you have to make the best ones for your life, and where you are headed. There are so many people and places in this world for you to go to, speak, and enjoy the company of others.
I never made it to that event. I live in the NYC area, and don't get out much. But I'm always looking for other great events to attend and learn from.
I hope I can meet you in person at one of them!
If you don't make a choice to change and see new things, then you never really know what choices you have!
I should probably have posted this on Lynnterry.tv 🙂
You were a real factor in getting me to the first NAMS, Lynn. Sorry it did not work out for you at such short notice, and hope things work out successfully in your business and personal life. We all have to make choices, and yours are more visible than some of ours.
I always come away from NAMS inspired. David Perdew has put together something of integrity that really benefits the attendees. Although health issues prevented my attendance this year, I hope to make it again in the future.
So the rumor was true. Everyone has to do what is best and right for them and NAMS loss will be a gain for something else. Frankly I think it is cheap and tacky that not even the expenses of speakers aren't reimbursed( espically since it it a for profit event)
Hi Robert
Just popped onto your post through CommentLuv and the social media buttons and calendar are spilling into the words (at least on my Chrome screen). Thought you'd want to know my friend.
🙂
Ditto to what everyone else said re: their association with you and NAMS. I also feel that NAMS has changed and is moving towards Internet Marketing. As I am not sure that is the direction I'm going, I am rethinking whether or not I want to attend. (Fortunately, since I live in Atlanta, I can swing by for all the networking fun!) Good thing you have the Elite forum, allowing me(us) to continue to reap the rewards of your knowledge and insight. :}
As everyone has already said, you were certainly missed. I too learned about NAMS existence through your blog and NAMS 6 was my 1st, NAMS 8 my 2nd. Your teaching is always so enthusiastic and thorough that the event seemed to have a hole in it without you. Had looked forward to meeting with your brainstorming members too. But we alll understand that changes don't always work for everyone and you have to listen to your heart and go with what it tells you.
Since I like a good road trip, and enjoyed my trip to NAMS 6, decided to do the same this year too, but not being any younger and with more grumpy joints, I may have to decide to tolerate the whole TSA thing and fly in the future. Uggg!
Hope to see you at future events and will continue to enjoy brainstorming sessions.
Lynn,
You were instrumental in my decision to go to NAMS back in 2009. I have never been sorry for going. I met some really great people like you, Nicole Dean, Susanne Myers, and Traci Knoppe, among others. I also learned a lot.
I haven't been able to get there since January 2010, so I'm not sure of the changes, but like you, I loved the personal interaction and the hands on learning. If I make it back to another NAMS, I will certainly miss "hanging out" with you.
Can't wait to see what your big changes are in your business! Maybe a weekend business get-together of the Clicknewz Forum kind?? 🙂 Would definately come to that!
Thanks for sharing Lynn, I like to hear your thoughts about the world of online, and especially educational events, where I'd got the flavour of NAMS and it's difference back in the early days, and was so keen to get there.
By the sounds it is changing and I guess that's what happens when things go from being new (and different) but very often the thing that made something popular, it's essence if you like, is the very thing that get's lost.
I'll be interested to see how it develops now, as someone who would be travelling from the UK (having missed both events this year due to circumstances beyond my control) and I'll be extra vigilant before committing to another.
Maybe it's a case of Wait & See!
Thanks for the article.
Lynn, I have read a lot about your NAMS journey and definitely will be missed by many even though I never been any one.
There will be definitely a special event by you or opportunity to learn from you.
Hoping one day I can meet in person to have some great advice or ideas.
Best wishes
Hi Lynn -I have been going to NAMS since NAMS5 and have seen the evolution as it has stared to unfold since then.Change is inevitable when a group is evolving like this. I have heard how you were instrumental in the beginning and how much you have contributed. Thank you for paving the way!I was looking forward to seeing you a few weeks ago, but that did not happen. I am sure we will cross paths again in the future.You have made the right decision for yourself, and I look forward to hearing about the BIG Projects you have been organizing!You Rock!Be Well.Paul.
When I put together the first NAMS, Lynn contacted me about being involved. I didn't know her. I asked Willie Crawford about Lynn and he said that she had incredible integrity and a loyal following.
That was an understatement.
Lynn is awesome. She's one of my favorite people and an incredible instructor. I hope she will always be at NAMS. We have a special place for her. But I understand changing priorities too.
NAMS is becoming much more about building businesses - affiliate marketing (or finding affiliates if you're a product owner) is a big part of that.
I can't thank Lynn enough for her contributions and can't wait for her to come back to NAMS in any capacity. She's just awesome in my book.
dp
I had one goal attending my first NAMS and that was to meet you Lynn. Not sure I ever told you that? LOL I knew we would hit it off and find many things in common to talk about being that we had similar businesses. Little did I know though that it would be a start to a wonderful, long term friendship as well. Hugs!
I always enjoyed my time attending and speaking at NAMS over the last few years. I even took my daughter with me one year. NAMS was a pivotal point in my daughter's success as an online marketer in enticing and motivating her to get rolling with an online business.
I wish NAMS was on the west coast as it is quite an investment to travel across North America from Canada to attend which is why I've not attended the last couple. But if you live on the east coast, its definitely an event to attend.
I'm glad you took the time to explain your absence. I'm sure you just had to with all of us contacting you to make sure you where okay. I hope you felt the love and you were definitely missed!
I think that I remember David first asking me about Lynn. We've been around
about the same number of years.
I can't remember whether that was before of after an incident where she flew out
to meet the founders of SN because she disagreed with something that they did.
Absolute integrity and putting the customers' best interest first, will always be things
where I see you setting the standard Lynn.
Things do change over time, and we have to decide which of those changes fit us
as we also evolve.
I have and continue to learn an aweful lot from you!
Willie