Many readers may not know this, but CGK President Jason Dorsey slept on the floor for two years when he first started his speaking business. It’s one of his most enduring entrepreneurial memories. Jason had just written his first book and could only afford the garage apartment, not a bed or furniture. Sleeping on the floor taught him a lot, but one insight was unexpected: floors are important. We all start somewhere. This is why he was thrilled to share his story of starting out sleeping on a floor with over 1,000 flooring leaders who are driving innovation across the industry at the CCA Global Partners’ Global Connextion Conference!
To make an already great experience even better, this was his third time speaking for this great organization. Jason loves returning to organizations where he’s spoken before because it feels like coming home to him—and he says that the energy of being back is always palpable! Attendees stopped him throughout the hotel to share their excitement about his return and share a favorite joke or quote from one of his previous talks there. Jason loves that sense of connection.
In fact, CCA Global is all about connection. They are the driving force to help flooring entrepreneurs and leaders drive innovation, new technology, growth, and bridging from generations. Two of their innovations, in particular, align with our research and speaking:
1. Retail2.0 – CCA has reinvented the in-person customer experience and created a seamless physical and digital buying experience. This breakthrough has been transformative for their members and for the customers, who now represent five different generations. We love seeing such bold innovation in traditional businesses!
2. NEX40 – CCA’s team created a group specifically for the next generation of leaders in their members’ companies. This is a big deal because many of these flooring businesses are now in their second and even their third(!) generation of ownership. In addition, they employ four different generations of team members. NEX40 created an instant community for emerging generations to get to know each other, learn, grow, and have a voice in the industry’s future. Jason was even more honored to meet with the CCA NEX40 leaders and dive deep into their initiative and how it has grown from an idea to hundreds(!) of members.
Huge congrats to the entire team CCA Global leadership team and events team on organizing such a meaningful, inspiring event. We can see why you are influencing the industry!
