(But are you studying that way?)
There was a time when using a calculator on a math test felt like cheating.
Now we laugh at the idea.
Imagine telling an engineer, “Real professionals do long division in their heads.”
Ridiculous.
Yet every day I hear future CMPs say things like:
“I don’t want AI to do the work for me.”
Neither do I.
That’s like saying you don’t want Google Maps because real drivers use paper atlases.
Or refusing spellcheck because Shakespeare didn’t have it.
Or insisting you should churn your own butter because that’s how pioneers did it.
The goal isn’t to make studying easier.
The goal is to make learning more effective.
The Secret Isn’t AI
After helping more than 2,000 meeting professionals prepare for the CMP exam, I’ve noticed something.
The students who pass aren’t necessarily the ones who study the most.
They’re the ones who think differently.
They ask better questions.
They look for patterns.
They challenge their own assumptions.
They explain concepts out loud.
They practice applying ideas instead of memorizing them.
Interestingly, those are exactly the things AI can help you do.
Notice I didn’t say AI gives you the answers.
That’s actually one of the worst ways to use it.
The best use of AI is having a study partner who never gets tired of your questions.
“Explain this another way.”
“Give me an example from a conference.”
“Why is this answer wrong?”
“Create another scenario.”
“Quiz me again.”
It’s available at 2:00 a.m.
It never rolls its eyes.
And it doesn’t judge you when you ask the same question five times.
But Wait…AI Gets Things Wrong
Absolutely.
So do instructors.
So do textbooks.
So do coworkers.
So do students who confidently explain things at the study table.
The difference is that good learners verify information.
One of the biggest skills you’ll need—not just for the CMP exam but throughout your career—is knowing how to question information rather than blindly accepting it.
Ironically, learning to work with AI makes you a better critical thinker.
Here’s the Problem
Most people open ChatGPT and ask something like:
“Teach me risk management.”
The response is…fine.
Helpful.
Forgettable.
Then they decide AI isn’t very useful.
That’s a little like buying a grand piano, pressing one key, and announcing,
“Music isn’t for me.”
The magic isn’t the tool.
It’s knowing how to use it.
That’s why I created The Smart CMP Candidate’s Guide to AI.
It’s a practical course designed specifically for CMP candidates.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build a realistic study schedule.
- Turn confusing concepts into plain English.
- Create practice scenarios.
- Compare answer choices.
- Discover why an answer is wrong—not just which answer is right.
- Use AI to think more like a CMP instead of memorizing like a trivia contestant.
In about an hour, you’ll completely change the way you study.
And When You’re Ready…
AI is an incredible study partner.
But it isn’t a complete CMP preparation program.
It doesn’t know exactly how the CMP exam is written.
It doesn’t organize a curriculum.
It doesn’t coach you through difficult concepts over months.
That’s where the Event Solutions Academy comes in.
Our comprehensive preparation program combines expert instruction, structured lessons, practice questions, coaching, accountability, and a community of professionals working toward the same goal.
Think of it this way:
The AI course teaches you how to use the world’s smartest study tool.
The Event Solutions Academy teaches you how to pass one of the meeting industry’s most respected certification exams.
Together?
That’s a pretty powerful combination.
Ready to Study Smarter?
If you’ve been curious about AI but weren’t sure where to start, begin with The Smart CMP Candidate’s Guide to AI. You’ll gain practical skills you can use immediately, and if you decide to continue with the Event Solutions Academy, the cost of the AI course can be applied toward your enrollment.
Because the goal isn’t to replace learning.
It’s to become the kind of meeting professional who knows how to learn faster, think deeper, and stay ahead in a profession that’s changing every day.
And no…you still don’t have to churn your own butter.
Ready to Study Smarter?
If you’ve been curious about AI but weren’t sure where to start, this is your opportunity.
The Smart CMP Candidate’s Guide to AI is a practical, one-hour course designed specifically for CMP candidates. You’ll learn how to use AI to create study plans, generate practice scenarios, understand difficult concepts, and become a more effective learner—not just a better prompt writer.
👉 Start here: https://solutions-institute.thinkific.com/courses/guide_to_AI
Even better, if you decide to continue your CMP journey with the Event Solutions Academy, the full purchase price of the AI course can be applied toward your enrollment.
The Event Solutions Academy combines expert instruction, live coaching, structured lessons, practice exams, accountability, and a supportive community to help you earn your CMP with confidence.
👉 Learn more about the Event Solutions Academy: https://www.eventsolutionsacademy.com
The meeting profession is changing rapidly.
Your study strategy should, too.
Study smarter.
Think deeper.
Earn your CMP.
We’ll help you every step of the way.
About the Author
Ellen Maiara, CMP, CED, has spent more than 25 years designing meetings and educational experiences and has helped more than 2,000 meeting professionals prepare for the CMP exam. Through the Event Solutions Academy, she combines proven preparation strategies with practical AI techniques to help meeting professionals earn their certification and build stronger careers.
