“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
— Seneca
Affiliate Summit West is right around the corner.
In two weeks, thousands of people will land in Las Vegas with packed calendars, big expectations, and the same goal: get value. I’ll be there! (Let’s meet up if it makes sense)
Most will measure success by how busy they were.
The smartest ones will measure it by what actually moved the needle.
This issue is about making Affiliate Summit worth your time, your energy, and your follow-ups — not just surviving it.
What You’ll Get in Chaos to Grow
• How to prepare before you ever step into the venue
• Why quality beats quantity every single time
• How to avoid pointless meetings
• Why learning mode beats selling mode
• How to leave Vegas with momentum, not just business cards
First: Decide Why You’re Going
Before you book another meeting, answer this honestly:
Why are you going to Affiliate Summit?
To recruit partners
To evaluate agencies
To meet platforms
To learn what’s changing
To reset your strategy
One clear reason beats ten vague ones.
If you don’t define your purpose, the conference will decide it for you.
Quality Beats Quantity (And Everyone Knows It)
Affiliate Summit is not a math problem.
More meetings do not equal more ROI.
Over the years, I’ve walked into plenty of meetings where it was obvious the other person was there because someone told them they had to get ROI out of the conference.
They were tired.
Hungover.
Half-present.
And they had nothing meaningful to say.
That’s not networking.
That’s a calendar obligation.
One thoughtful conversation with the right person will outperform ten rushed meetings with people checking the clock.
Quality beats quantity.
Every single time.
Do Your Homework Before You Book the Meeting
One of the fastest ways to waste time at a conference is meeting with the wrong people.
Before you send or accept a meeting invite, take a few minutes to look at what the other person actually does.
Not their title.
Not their company name.
Their role. Their focus. Their relevance.
Ask yourself:
Is there real overlap here
Is this a good use of my time
Is this a good use of their time
Intentional networking leads to better conversations and better outcomes.
Respect your time.
Respect theirs.
Don’t Skip the Sessions
Another common mistake is treating Affiliate Summit like a nonstop sales floor.
Back-to-back meetings.
No sessions.
No learning.
That’s a miss.
The sessions are where you hear what’s actually changing in the industry.
What’s working right now.
What’s quietly breaking.
And what smart operators are already adapting to.
If you spend the entire conference pitching, you might leave with meetings.
If you spend part of it learning, you leave with insight.
And insight compounds long after the conference ends.
Show Up in Learning Mode, Not Selling Mode
Affiliate Summit isn’t just a marketplace.
It’s a classroom.
Make room to listen.
Ask better questions.
Pressure-test your assumptions.
The best conversations often happen after a session, when people are energized by ideas instead of rushing to the next pitch.
Curiosity creates better conversations.
Better conversations create better partnerships.
A Simple Rule for Success
Measure your success at Affiliate Summit 30 days after you get home.
Did you:
Build real relationships
Gain new perspective
Make smarter decisions
Create momentum
That’s the real scoreboard.
A Quick Word on Community
Conferences are powerful, but they’re temporary.
Community is where learning compounds.
That’s why we’re building The School of Chaos — a place for affiliate and growth marketers to stay connected, share what’s actually working, and learn from one another long after the conference lights turn off.
If you want to start the year surrounded by people who take this seriously, you can join the waitlist here:
Founding members will help shape what this becomes.
Your Chaos Challenge Before Vegas
Before you arrive, answer this:
What would make Affiliate Summit a win for me?
Write it down.
Carry it with you.
Let it guide every conversation.
Final Thought
Affiliate Summit West can be energizing, overwhelming, and incredibly valuable — or it can be exhausting noise.
The difference is intention.
Show up prepared.
Optimize for quality.
Stay in learning mode.
And make this conference actually count.
See you in Vegas.
—Matt Frary
Chief of Chaos
