The Unexpected Dilemma for Event Professionals: Balancing Success with Satisfaction

In the world of events, success is often measured by flawless executions and the rave reviews of your clients. Rarely do we measure success by how well a business is run. However, when both parts come together, then that is when anything is possible. Over the past two decades, we have seen plenty of examples of this.

But what happens when you seemingly 'have it all' and still find something lacking? This intriguing conundrum came into focus during a recent discussion with a well-accomplished entrepreneur in the events industry.

The Burden of "Having It All"

We recently had an enlightening call with an event professional who had quite an impressive business and an even more impressive track record. As a conference planner, his events were beautifully organised and well attended. His clients were happy because the level of engagement was extremely high. His reputation was building, he was definitely acknowledged as an expert, he had a brilliant team around him, and yet, he shared a startling sentiment:

"I'm really not enjoying myself that much anymore."

After a deeper conversation, it became clear that the sheer weight of running the business along with planning the events, coordinating his team, and exceeding client expectations was overwhelming him. The pressures of maintaining a high level of success were taking a toll, and he was beginning to question his leadership.

Inevitably, he was beginning to wonder whether the vision and goals that he had for his business were still the right ones, and the potential consequences for the business were that his highly accomplished team could lose focus too. Once that happens in an event business, it becomes increasingly difficult to take your team along with you, and the culture of a successful business can begin to crumble.

The Illusion of the "It’ll be alright when…"

Event professionals often fall into the illusion of, "If I can just do THIS successfully, everything else will fall into place." But let's be honest—this is a mirage. Every part of your business represents a challenge, whether it's your team, your company infrastructure, your marketing and lead generation, your financial management, your operational systems, or just what the future holds for you personally. These are things that event business owners have to worry about every day.

Add to these challenges the issues that arise with every new event and every client, and it is little wonder that you can sometimes feel overwhelmed. But that's not a drawback; it’s part and parcel of what makes this industry so dynamic and exciting.

Rekindling the Joy in the Chaos

No matter how seasoned you are, the events industry will always present you with challenges. The key is to find joy amid the chaos. Our conference planner was clearly not finding much joy, and as a consequence, his enthusiasm for the tasks ahead was diminished.

We told him of a client we had worked with who ran an AV business, who we persuaded to take a step back from his day-to-day routine and to focus instead on the rewarding aspects of his job: the creative collaboration with clients, the innovation in the event experiences, the camaraderie among a team of passionate event professionals, and above all the reason he set up the business in the first place and what he wanted to achieve.

This shift in his perspective was transformative. Not only did he start enjoying the work more, but this change also led to better leadership, heightened creativity, better teamwork, and, ultimately, more successful events for his clients.

A Ripple Effect of Positivity

It’s almost magical how a change in mindset can impact an entire organisation. When you, as the leader, start to embrace the everyday complexities and challenges, this energy resonates throughout the team. Solutions come more naturally, events go more smoothly, and your business enters a natural cycle of growth.

The events industry is not for the faint of heart; it's a high-pressure, fast-paced world where the stakes are always high. But that's also what makes it incredibly fulfilling. But if you're feeling overwhelmed, or it’s no fun or you're doubting yourself… give yourself a break, get a coffee or a gin, or both and take a time out to reflect on what you have achieved, the fun bits along the way, and what might come next! Then remember you are the leader … it’s your story, your vision, and the team will follow - just show them the way.

So to our fellow event professionals, here’s to enjoying the whirlwind of planning, execution, and everything in between. After all, isn’t that why we got into this exhilarating industry in the first place?