Sanity in Event Planning, is it Possible?

9 days to go and counting…until Touchpoint. I can hardly believe it. It’s been an intense few months of coordination but we’re almost there! I’ve slept little in the last couple weeks and I’ve sat at my computer for hours on end answering emails, spent a lot of time on the phone trying to make last minute arrangements, making requests, and directing everything from the caterered menu to the sponsored giveaways…it’s all coming together, bit by bit. Hurray. The celebration will be wonderful…thank you all for cheering us on and supporting us.

But many an event planner will say, that the last month before a big event is stressful, terrifying, and down-right insane! So this post is about what makes an event WORK…succeed, and in the end, we hope be so victorious you’ll all be begging us for a 3rd event next year.

First of all, if Sanity in event planning IS possible, it’s possible because of great support and I surely have that. A royal thank you to Jeremy Roberts our freelance event planner who has been available 24/7 to assist every little detail from media giveaways to negotiating our facility, it’s been a pleasure. Many, many wishes have been granted by Fairy Godmother newcomer, Michelle McCullough who has come on board as a VOLUNTEER and given us her heart… handled signage, agendas, sponsors, invoices, and so much more…thank you, kind friend. Carrie Dunn of XO Marketing is our Premiere Sponsor for the event and has done a fabulous job helping us reach new audiences. Leslie Smoot helped me brainstorm and do initial planning and encouraged me to plan our second event when the task seemed daunting and overwhelming…thank you!!

There’s also been so many incredible friends of Startup Princess (too many to name specifically) who’ve set us up with sponsors, prizes, media giveaways, emailed, passed out fliers, blogged, and created a local buzz about this event, thank you, thank you!!!!!!

On a personal note, I want to thank Liz Rosenbaum (who I’ve trained with for the past 9 months) for caring about my well-being. She has been emailing me often to kindly remind me to eat my veggies, get rest, drink my water, get out and get some exercise, etc. Even though I’ve struggled to take care of myself in the madness, I know that I can only go so far on empty…thanks Liz.

Now, here’s a few thoughts I’ve been considering today about faith and entrepreneurship…a subject that’s been on my mind for a few months. One day I will write a book on it, not because I’m an expert, but because I only know entrepreneurship because of my FAITH. Because I’ve never succeeded in business but I know God will walk beside me and help me create it with His guidance.

Touchpoint has brought me to my knees a few times because I want it to be perfect, for you… (and I hope you all come)

Last night around 12:30am I was beat, dead, and frustrated. I set very high expectations for myself and things weren’t looking how I expected them to look 10 days out. So I cried in my prayers..I prayed and told God how I was feeling then I opened my scriptures to a random page to read a little before bed, I read:

“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along…” D&C 78:18

Those words hit me deeply and I knew it was the perfect message for me in that moment of fear and doubt, frustration and exhaustion…what a gift and comfort. It took the pressure off and I could go to bed. I am more at peace today as I reflect on those words.

True sanity, I am convinced, especially in event planning comes only by surrendering and trusting God in the details…the process will work, the people will come, the menu will be perfect, the presenters will be awesome, the boutique will be impressive…affirming the positive, trusting and allowing the event to BE what it was created to be and when there’s hiccups, mistakes, challenges…no worries, it’s all good, there will be a solution, a new opportunity for creative problem solving, not alone, no, never alone…there’s always help from above (and a great support team too).

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SIDE NOTE: As we move forward in the next several days, I just want to remind you that we are closing applications for the elevator pitch on Saturday night. I’d like to see a lot more entries coming in!! You CAN do this. You WILL get coaching. You DESERVE the prizes. You WILL have a great experience, promise. We love to cheer! To apply, upload a 1 page pitch with your registration or you can email it to me, my email is on the website here http://www.regonline.com/startupprincess

Also, we are also closing applications for the boutique on Sat night as well…it’s only $25 extra to show and tell…and perhaps SELL. You could possibly pay for your Touchpoint ticket. Consider it.