Aside from Facebook or watching Homeland, one of my biggest procrastination ‘strategies’ is to research something to death. I feel like I’m actually working as long as I’m gathering more event planning information.
Can you relate?
Endless event planning research may be masking your procrastination but it won’t grow your business, help you find clients or plan an event.
Event planning research may take the form of looking at endless websites or spending countless hours in online groups or forums. It gives you the illusion that you’re making progress with your event or business because you’re gathering information.
But, procrastination is a time and energy killer and at some point, you have to realize that you’re not getting anything done because you haven’t created a strategy nor taken any (real) action to move your event or business forward.
Event Planning Research
Gathering all the information in the world won’t get you anywhere until you start taking action.
That’s why I’m sharing a simple strategy you can start using today to get over those time when you find yourself procrastinating and unsure of what steps to take next.
For the next 30 days set aside 30mins (or more if you can) each day to develop a plan.
With a plan, you’ll get clear on the type of events you want to plan and the client you want to work with — it’s easier to find clients when you know exactly who you’re looking for.
In your plan, include the following information:
- Define your business (or event) objective
- Create an event planning budget that you can use over and over again
- Determine what to look for on a venue site visit
- Create diagrams for various room layouts that suit any occasion and event
- Decide what food to choose for the perfect menu
- Learn how to create a contingency (back up) plan
- Decide on a pricing strategy so you know how to charge for your services
When I started my event planning business in 2004, I was overwhelmed and flying by the seat of my pants – often making it up as I went. So, if you’re tired spinning your wheels and creating ‘busy work’ , use the outline above to create a strategic plan to help you identify what steps you need to get started and stop procrastinating.
Have you fallen into the trap of endless event planning research? How did you get yourself out of that pattern and move forward? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.
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P.S. Are you struggling to show off your event planning talents? Whether you’re brand new to event planning or established, these strategies will help you sell your event services effectively.
I signed up months ago but have been feeling so insecure I’ve questioned why I’d want to do this, even though I greatly love this work. I quit a full time managerial job of 11 years to dedicate myself to event planning. But faced with the fact that I now had to make this work and be successful at it left me feeling frozen with doubt and fear. Embarrassed to admit but I would move all your e-mails to an assigned folder to read “later”. Well, today I began “reading” and I want to say THANK YOU so much for the great, relatable advice you’re providing. Made me feel so much better to know “you’ve been where I am” in so many ways…. I feel hopeful, motivated, excited and weirdly “not alone” on this path I’ve decided to take. Thank you, thank you, thank you Melanie.
Ok, seriously, Melanie, have you been peeking in my windows? 🙂