True life: do I plan events or do they plan me? 🥳 Everyone in the event industry knows the highs and lows affect not only your work load, but your personal life as you work through the mile long to do list. No matter how prepared you are, your fait and stress levels are often resting in the hands of others. You are always waiting on something: people to register, money to come in, that logo from a sponsor, a liquor license, a site map, a check to be cut, that quote to make sure you can swing the lamb pops instead of the shrimp and the list goes on. Today was an event first for me: we fully planned a grand opening celebration complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, cycling parade, even a world record attempt, and it was cancelled 12 hours prior due to inclement weather. Although I am disappointed, and still trying to wrap my head around the amount of time spent planning this event, I somehow find myself still proud of it and feeling like it was a huge success. Part of me even feels the post event blues today when the packed vehicles never made it out of the lot. This got me thinking, how much of an event is truly executed before anyone steps foot in the venue? In a weird way, I felt like we checked all the boxes when the reality is, the event didn’t even see the light of day and probably never will. Yes we hope to celebrate this milestone for the org in a different capacity, but this exact event was over before it began. I’ve learned that so much of planning events is identifying what makes them successful and how event success is measured differently to every person at the table. Sometimes it’s the guest experience, or overall energy, sometimes its the approval of supervisors, colleagues, and board members, sometimes it’s financial, and usually it’s a combo of all that and more. So much of that success is determined in the months leading up to the event that by the time it’s show time, you have already scored yourself on how you did and identified ways to improve for next year. In any case, I have come to the conclusion event success for me is truly knowing you did everything in your power to figure out what could go wrong, and agonize and analyze every possible detail and outcome to ensure they go right. Unfortunately for me, the weather in Seattle had other ideas today. The good news is, in addition to the work being done for the event, the most important work has been done and will continue to be done at Outdoors for All thanks to my passionate coworkers and our volunteers: lives will continue to transform. Regardless of a party, we are expanding to the Eastside and more folks with disabilities will enjoy adaptive recreation because of that expansion. Although the official Grand Opening of Outdoors for All Lake Sammamish didn’t happen today-the team and I threw one hell of an event…or at least we would have. 🙃
Ed Bronsdon
1mo
I love everything about this post - well, except for the fact that the event couldn’t take place! excellent perspective, Marissa!
Experienced EVP, CEO, Regional Manager with Entrepreneurial Background
1moI’ve firmly believed we learn more from mistakes than successes..sounds too simplistic I know. In this case I don’t see a mistake..just a battle with nature.. Your reaction here though is inspiring. If this is how you react when life throws a curveball-well its only strike one. Your AB is still in tact. Good work