Now, I’m going to be very transparent with this, I have been a Deeper Weekend (DW) attender since 2012 and have only missed one DW since I started going. It’s the only conference that I attend all year (in person, sure maybe a virtual conference here and there) and anyone who knows me knows that it’s a priority in my life. Last year I missed it at the request of my spouse who wanted to spend our 25th wedding anniversary together, but other than that there’s never been a reason not to go.

Why?

Here are a number of reasons. I hope if you are on the fence one resonates with you:

1. I’m out of my normal element for a ‘weekend’ and have the time and space to explore new thoughts and ideas to bring back to my firm/practice. (In the beginning of my last partnership, my partners used to ask me what I learned and what I brought back for my practice and the firm. They recognized that I wasn’t just screwing around getting CPE but that I was learning/growing.)
2. In the midwest, Fall is a season of harvest and planning for the next year. October is a good time to celebrate the end of a year and start to plan for the next using what we learned in the last year.
3. I am surrounded by like minded professionals who have goals, dreams and objectives similar to mine. I learn so much by talking to other attendees, sharing experiences and listening to/telling stories.
4. The learning is excellent. There are some years I look at the topic beforehand and say ‘meh’, but once I sit, listen, absorb, I find tons of value in the learning. I never walk away disappointed or without an actionable item(s).
5. DW challenges you to take the next big step in your practice and sends you home with the energy to get things done.
6. I’ve had bad years. When I feel like this business is weighing me down, too challenging or futile. Coming and talking with other like minded people reminds me that this business is so cool/fun/rewarding. Breaks me out of my funk and brings me back to where I need to be to move forward.

I hope I’ve given you some reasons to think about moving forward.

Now I’ll give you the one reason not to go:

You don’t want to or are not in a place to make meaningful changes to your practice that will bring you more time, energy, money and joy.

My success in 2025 stemmed from a big commitment/decision I made about my practice in a breakout session at DW#16. And the setup of the success of my practice in 2026? I can argue it came from the same commitment. 

If you are on the fence and reading this, I hope this post gives you the nudge you need to make the best decision for YOU about DW#25.  Learn more about Deeper Weekend here. 

This blog was a post shared in our Thriveal community by one of our long-time members and Deeper Weekend attenders, Michael Wall, CPA.   (This is not a paid advertisement!)

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