Panels, Parties, and Purpose

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Rob and Greg recap their time at Inman San Diego — the first Inman keynote without Brad Inman on stage, new CEO Tom Bohn's mixed reception, and Greg's fan encounter with his own book. From there they dig into a bigger debate: what's the actual purpose of real estate conferences, whether panels count as "education," and how MLS Reset and other events are trying to carve out a clearer mission.

• Greg's second edition of "The Art of the CMA" is out; he's doing speaking engagements and bulk book buys tied to gigs
• This was the first Inman keynote Brad Inman didn't give himself, following the company sale
• New CEO Tom Bond's keynote got mixed reviews from attendees
• Inman has shifted toward more agent/broker-centric content and away from organized real estate coverage
• Complaint of the episode: Inman San Diego had no real central lobby bar
• Rob argues most real estate conferences (outside NAR events) lack a clear purpose or mission
• NAR Midyear and Annual are "working conferences" with real votes and lobbying, unlike most others
• Brand conferences (like Keller Williams' family reunion) succeed because their purpose is obvious
• T3 Summit, Gathering of Eagles, and RISMedia events each target a specific tier of attendee for marketing/networking purposes
• MLS Reset traces its roots back to the Clarity Conference and the MLS executive workshop model
• Rob and Greg disagree on whether panel discussions are ever educational
• Greg pushes back, arguing conferences can also be valuable as a source of inspiration and storytelling
• Rob's pitch for an ideal conference: two content sessions total, everything else built around networking and an open bar

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