“Think of one person you met. Don't just follow up. Find one concrete thing you can build together.” We could not of said it better ourselves, Kevin.
A convening is not collaboration. A room full of people is a starting point, not an outcome. I am returning from the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa full of energy and excitement as our team at ZeroMils puts the finishing touches on our Military Thriving Regional Change Forums in Nashville on 10/13 and Charlotte on 10/27. Going to MIC is about “showing up” for our community alongside a few thousand other veterans and military spouses — all in one place, committed to working together to create greater change. That’s special. Over the years, we’ve seen a pattern repeat itself. People gather. They share ideas; exchange business cards; and promise to follow up. Then they fly home, return to their own organizations, and keep doing the same work, in parallel. That is a convening — it rarely changes anything Collaboration is different. Collaboration means shared goals, shared accountability, and a willingness to give up a little control for the sake of something bigger. It means measuring progress together and being honest when it isn't happening. It's harder, slower, and far less glamorous than a big convening or summit. It's also the only thing I've seen actually move the needle. There’s one other thing that makes a convening different from collaboration. At convenings, one or two of the biggest organizations not only decide who gets a seat at the table, they dictate what’s best for our community — and that often aligns with what’s best for them. Collaboration means everyone gets a seat at the table. It means your voice matters. That’s what I saw in crowded rooms at MIC last week and that’s what you will see if you to our Change Forums Nashville or Charlotte in October. So here's my ask if you did go to MIC last week or you do join us next month in TN or NC: think of one person you met. Don't just follow up. Find one concrete thing you can build together. That's how convenings become collaboration and how they create greater change. Photos: 25 of the Mightiest Collaborators in the Military and Veteran Connected Community. PS. Mighty doesn’t necessarily mean the biggest. #MilitaryThriving #MIC2026 #Veterans #MilitarySpouses #Collaboration #ZeroMils
