Why I shy away from the National Achievers Congress 2013

By Laura Lee
For the 21st National Achievers Congress (NAC) 2013 to have been conducted annually since 1993, I found the level of organisational skill and professionalism displayed by its event organiser Success Resources to be sadly lacking from the outset.

I was elated when I received an invitation from one of the publishers that I had worked with before that I would be given two complimentary tickets to attend NAC 2013.

All I had to do was to submit my details such as name, email and mobile number (no.).

When I encountered some technical difficulties in my online registration and alerted the organiser via email, SR sales and marketing executive David Tan called me and took down the details of the complimentary ticket for the second person over the phone.

If I thought the whole registration exercise was resolved, it was not so as they got the email address of my friend wrong. Thus, he did not receive any email notification of his registration being confirmed.

I received my ticket no. via email and alerted David about the non-receipt of the ticket no. for my friend. He assured me it would be sent in due time.

The email also provided a layout plan of the seating arrangement. Since our tickets are complimentary, we were given the general seats, which are the furthermost seats from the stage.

On 29 April, I received an SMS of my ticket no. which I am supposed to show the organiser in case I do not print my e-ticket. The ticket no. was different from the one that was emailed to me while for my friend, both his ticket numbers tally. The tickets are non-transferable.

I called David the next day over the confusion of my ticket numbers. He informed me they are facing challenges and assured me that since I am registered, I should have no problems gaining admittance despite the different ticket numbers that has been issue to me.

Although the dates of NAC 2013 were changed to 1-3 May from 3-5 May because of the 13th general election (GE) which has now been fixed on 5 May, it was not an issue with me.

When I told David that I could not check the NAC’s programme on its website, he told me they would be announced during the event. I think it is very poor show when you do not know the itinerary before you go for an event.

When I asked about one of the speakers whom I know, Groupon Malaysia’s founder and chief executive officer Joel Neoh, David informed me he would be speaking the next day (1 May) at 9.30am and reminded me that registration starts at 7.30 am and to be there early if I want to collect my goody bag as it is one a first come first served basis. The door gifts were the least of my concerns.

On 30 April, I received another SMS which reads, “Gender Reminder: NAC 2013 … Hall C Level 1. CEO” The word “gender” caught my attention. I thought it was one of the SMSes on the GE.

If this SMS is coming from SR CEO as indicated by the last word of its SMS message, I am now having more doubts as to the standard of this annual congress. I was, however, thankful that the SMS told me where to go when you are at the venue.

Making my way to The MINES Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor was a breeze that morning as it was a public holiday.

I was told to go the registration room where I could hear the speaker in the next hall. I was given a form to fill in my details. I asked the event crew, “Why am I given a form to fill in my details all over again when I had done my online registration earlier?” The reply was, “It is a waiver clause that I have to sign.”

To cut down the jargon used in its form on the legal notices, as a participant of the NAC 2013, you are asked to sign away your rights to take any photos and do any audio visual recording of the sessions, which is the exclusive right of its organiser only.

You grant SR to use you for their advertising, trade, promotion, exhibition and other lawful purpose.

The organiser does not guarantee the “completeness, reliability and current accuracy of the materials” and clears itself of making any “promises or representation of income”.

SR also has to right to make changes, including the speakers’ line up.

The form states that “If you are unwilling to agree to these terms, you do have to participate in this event” and reiterates that SR assumes “NO RESPONSIBILITY or liability whatsoever on behalf of any participant with the information and materials provided through this event.” (The caps aren’t mine.)

The form ends by saying the participant’s “only representation, guarantee, and recourse is a refund of your purchase price”.

Except for the signature, date and ticket number and mailing address, you are required to provide in the form details you had earlier given when you register online. I did that just to get the process over with and was given a wrist band to wear which would allow me entrance to the NAC 2013 for the three days’ duration.

The wrist band was glued loosely so that I could slip it off when I’m taking my bath at home. How thoughtful of the organiser but what came to mind was something else.

With SR so particular about the non-transferability of the ticket for admission to the congress, this was just the loophole the participants needed.

I entered hall C past 10am. It was filled with people. The event crew was still waiting for the extra chairs to arrive to accommodate late comers like me.

Meanwhile, they tried to slot us to the empty seats in front, which to me defeated their efforts that people like me are supposed be seated at the back rows.

The sound was so loud in front that I refused the empty seat shown to me. I found one in the middle of the hall. The speaker Cheri Tree’s voice was booming away as she shares with the audience on how to “crack” or decipher the different personality codes to help you achieve your sales.

She was talking about the characteristics of the nurturing personality type when I left the hall, which was not conducive. Also, I did not feel good with my friend still waiting for a seat and being told that later his ear was suffering from the piercing loudness of the sound system.

I left also because it was not Joel who was supposed to be speaking and nowhere in the booklet that was given to me when I registered was there any information on the programme for this congress for the next three days.

The booklet features 17 pictures of the speakers on its front cover and repeated the pictures of the speakers followed by a brief profile on them. Nowhere in the venue did the organiser attempt to put up a tentative programme either on who will be speaking at a certain time.

The booklet given contains a message from SR chief executive officer, advertisements, a page on the organiser’s upcoming events for this year and 40 blank pages where you are supposed to write your notes.

At the bottom of these blank pages with carry the heading “NAC 2013: Step Into Your Greatness”, there is a line which says these pages are copyright and all rights reserved if you thinking of reproducing it in any form without SR’s written consent.

I could not help but laugh at all these legalities. Who in the world would want to reproduce these blank notes?

On my way out, I received another SMS asking me to come early the next day to avoid the traffic and a reminder that “multi-billionaire from China will be on stage” the next day and a special one-hour session with KC See from 7.30am although the door opens at 8am.

What the organiser fails to realise that high achievers like to be in control of their lives and want to plan ahead, and not subject themselves to an organiser who likes to keep the information to themselves and release it when it suits them.

I am glad I am not a paying participant. Otherwise, I would have fumed much more at such treatment.