Over the years I have had to reinvent what I tell myself about mornings in general. Do any of my "morning resets" sound familiar to you? They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Really? As a night-owl turned morning person I may be up at the wee-hours of the morning but I certainly won't be having more than my carefully crafted cuppa jo before 10 am. But I still get the nutrition I need during the day! They say a calm morning routine will set you up for your day. Really? Raising my girls on my own while building my business meant a typical morning was a frenetic exercise in making sure everyone - including me! - had their books, bags, and sanity in the van before we could head out into the world. But we were still productive and passionate about what we set out to do! AND ... They say early morning meetings bring foggy minds to the table. Really? In all my years of adventure, travel, business, planning, coaching, and motherhood I had to be ready - anytime - to "do the work" and "bring the passion" to a conversation. I'm not a superwoman, and some mornings I feel foggy, frustrated, or flustered with the amount of life to live and work to do. But I've always open to creative conversations and collaboration whenever they happen and - well - they are often better than a shot of caffeine anyway! Are you ready to rethink "morning meetings"? Join us at the next planning peer POP-IN! You'll be in good company. :) PS. Join us for THE PLANNER'S POP-IN every week on Wednesdays at 8:30 - 9:30 AM MST! Now, each week over an early-morning hour, for the cost of a truck-stop bacon 'n egg grand-slam, I've opened the door for planning peers to meet, be introduced to a special pop-in guest, and discuss a relevant event topic for the week. So many aspects of face-to-face gatherings have changed - so we'll have lots to catch up on! Register here : https://theplannerspopin.eventbrite.ca

Not only do we benefit from having extra hands on deck, but the shared suggestions, strategies, and creative input from different people really create a robust pool of assets from which we can draw amazing ideas. Creating a Shared Purpose The main goal when planning events is to capture the attention of the people in the room. Whether it’s a team building session, conference or fund raiser, giving meaning to an event keeps people engaged and willing to participate. Team dynamics play a huge role in building meaning and purpose by using collaborative ideas with the intent of sharing a cohesive idea. Shaping the Future As event planners and promoters of creativity, connections, and shared purposes, our future stands on the idea of sharing the same dreams, values and ideals. Building a plan for growth and longevity is high on the list of the strategic blueprint. Succession planning, team building, and role definition are key inputs into the design of event strategies and will ensure success in the long run to promote a return on investment much more efficiently. Connecting with Others People naturally subscribe to new trends, innovations, and being associated with people of influence. We naturally want to be connected to who and what we love the most. Events have a way of bridging those gaps by bringing like-minded people together and celebrating those connections. Plugging the right team members into the roles that create these experiences is an important way of setting the pace for these relationships to be made. Knowing the strengths of your teammates will enhance your guest experience because you are able to input their skill sets into the plan in order to maximize interactive opportunities. Making It Happen Utilize your team members’ individual skill sets to amplify your reach and impact on your events. Find out who has talent in specific areas and employ those talents to expedite the execution. The best part of this plan is that when you use your team to the best of their abilities, they feel valued and appreciate the work more because they connect with it intrinsically. There will always be room to adjust the details and bring together all of the pieces to make it happen but if you undervalue your team members, you will notice a disconnect and less commitment to excellence. Rome was not built in a day and events take time to create and execute. However, if you have the right people in place, the path to success is paved much more smoothly.

YOU ARE A CURIOUS LEADER When you make a point of exploring new territory, sitting in the presence of something different, or entertaining another’s point of view, you’re learning. And when you’re learning more, you’ll be leading better. YOU ARE A CREATIVE DABBLER When you awaken the curiosity in your team with questions. Trying things that may at first feel new and uncomfortable can lead to lots of questions. Don’t worry about answering them all. YOU ARE A CHANGE AGENT By letting questions flow out of curiosity – free of agenda – your team will get thinking about new ways to approach their own directions, decisions, and creative pursuits. YOU EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED When you open your eyes to each new day. Routine can be necessary or comforting but encourage your team to head into a new project with a sense of expectation. YOU HELP OTHERS EXPORE How does your team know when a spark of inspiration is something to pay attention to? Encourage them to pursue those things that make them feel energized, intrigued, and curious. Go down that rabbit hole – just for a bit – and see where it leads! YOU WELCOME WARMTH Like a kind friend – moments of inspiration that you are meant to pursue will challenge you but they won’t push you past the point of healthy engagement. Be sure you are also challenging your team as a leader, but be careful not to push anyone over the edge of inspiration when they’re not prepared or ready to fly! YOU HAVE LEARNED TO LET GO As we create from our talent, heart, and soul, it can be hard to let go once we’ve had a monumental creative experience. Give your team room to celebrate the moments of inspiration and then be an example of how to also learn from it, let go, and move on. There will be new inspiring moments right around the corner! YOU KNOW THERE IS MORE TO COME Trust that if your current idea – or project – isn’t “working” you can close the file and anticipate another angle or idea will take its place. YOU RELEASE AND EXPERIENCE PEACE When you are a big picture planner at heart it can be hard to let go of big plans and concentrate on the moment. Learn to set plans in place but then move through the day to day with a trust knowing your team can be attentive and responsive to each moment of inspiration.

Because we feel your pain, our team here at Candy, along with beloved Canadian artist Dean Stanton, welcome you to enjoy our The Event Planners Keep Calm Coloring Book for FREE. When you feel you’re at the end of your event planning rope it's time to add yourself - and your wellbeing - to your critical path. As you start a new year, take time to close your laptop, find your colored pencils, settle into a comfy chair, and create some calm in your day. Link through here if you're ready to set YOUR inner artist free! Simply fill in the form below to let us know where to send your FREE copy of this fun and fresh, 16-page, made-for-you coloring book. Always know we are with you on the planning journey and remind you it IS possible to "keep calm and plan on" into 2021 and beyond. May you experience a calm and happy start to your new year!

As an event planning coach, I have the privilege of seeing people gather in so many amazing, fun, and meaningful ways. When an event planning team comes together to support a community building initiative, a business owner’s new product launch, or the birth of a creative project, great things happen – things so much bigger than any one individual could accomplish on their own. It’s easy to say working together is better than going it alone, but how do we learn to show up with our gifts, share our gifts with the community, and support others so – together – we can shine? Here are three steps to making a greater impact.