I arrived in Orlando Monday for the LMA, or Legal Marketing Association, board of directors meeting and international conference. Over 1100 of us are in the midst of arriving for our 3-day conference. Am I excited? You bet.

Pre-conference programs start today, followed by the opening reception this evening, as well as numerous LMA new member, chapter and committee receptions​, all held with the goal of facilitating that which we crave...the ability to be together to share what we know, and learn what we need to know, as well as to spend physical time with those we call friends. 

What strikes me the most about this conference every year is that over 1,000 of us, and many more at home who are joining us virtually, are here because we are interested in doing what we do better than we did it before this week started.

Whether in-house legal marketer, consultant, service provider or conference planner, we exist in our careers to help our attorneys and law firms do what they do. We care passionately about helping them become better when they need or want to do so, to help identify a course of action for our firms that will benefit clients, and then to work at every level to help make that happen.

We are here to learn from those we look up to in our industry and profession, and several who aren't​ even related to legal  but who have experience to share that we can then translate so that it benefits our firms and clients.

We're also here to learn about what we don't know. I met many new people yesterday. I'm thankful that I enjoy the networking part of this because I have met many unbelievably giving and kind people who have gone out of their way to be helpful over the years. Having come from a B2C (business-to-consumer) background before I started in legal in 1997, I had no idea what I was in for, but soon learned because of the amount of sharing and advice this group of people is known for. 

The content of the sessions rises at least a level every year. We listen. We study. We become better. We take an energy and enthusiasm back home that is critical to continue to do our jobs to the best of our ability so that our firms thrive under our marketing leadership. ​

We meet. We hug. We share. We form the glue that helps us continue to reach out to those we trust and care about during the long 12 months in between conferences. When marketing professionals work as hard as I see our members work, it is critical to have this time to learn, yes, but possibly more so to develop these relationships that then serve to stretch our minds and hearts throughout the year.

Of course it benefits us to be here, but it also benefits our firms to have us perform at the top of our games. That's what this is all about. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the next 3 days, and to meeting those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting before today.

Stop me. Trip me. Say hello. I want to know you, and the forever-curious part of me wants to know more about what you do, and to learn from you. The most important part is what I know I don't tell you enough, fellow members, and that is that I am thankful for you. 

Let's get started, #LMA14!​