5 Mistakes Creative Event Pros Make & How to Avoid Them
Are you feeling overwhelmed in your business? Unable to grow? Not sure how to move forward? Are you afraid of getting left behind in the New Year?
As the year 2020 rounds out, it’s time to buckle down. Right NOW.
Now is the time to ensure the business side of your creative profession is running smoothly. As creatives, we tend to love focusing on the creative side and forget (or totally ignore) the important business aspects.
Today I’m covering the 5 Common Mistakes Event Pros Make & How to Avoid Them. Let’s dive into it.
Mistake #1: Not having a routine
Are you someone who checks their email before even getting out of bed? And before you know, you’ve been scrolling through Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest/Facebook for an hour before you even notice?
If you’re someone who once had the monotony of a typical 9-5 job, the first thing you probably thought when you started your business was FREEDOM(!) Your time was now yours; no longer were you answering to someone else’s agenda.
But there’s a downside to that.
Self-discipline is difficult. It’s very typical for solopreneurs to not have a routine, yet establishing a routine that works for you is necessary for creating a strong foundation for your business.
Take a moment to jot down your ideal day. When do you feel most productive? When do you feel you do your best’ big thinking?’ And what time of day do you feel like you’re best at those smaller, menial tasks? Do you like to meditate? Journal. Enjoy a cup of coffee, undistracted?
Having a routine doesn’t mean you have to chain yourself to your desk from 9-5 every day, but it does mean that you need to find a routine that works well for your lifestyle and business; otherwise, you’ll meander through your days without accomplishing much.
Mistake #2: Being Reactive
Being reactive takes you away from the bigger picture. Instead of being reactive, you want to be proactive. I’ll show you what I mean…
Let’s say you’ve determined through your routine that the best time for your ‘big thinking’ is early in the morning when you first wake up. Your ideas seem to really flow then, unencumbered by the day that lies ahead.
BUT, even knowing this about yourself, you still check your email as soon as you wake up. You’ve now got 10 emails to sort through and answer. If you answer them now, you’re just being reactive to a task and not looking at the bigger picture. You might temporarily feel that you’ve been productive, but you didn’t dedicate time to thinking about your business on a bigger level. Even if you push the emails off until later, knowing that they’re there will tug at the back of your mind, and you’ve already broken your creative flow.
Mistake #3: Not Dedicating Enough Time to the Business Side
As creatives, we love creating things. This should come as no surprise to anyone. But the business side of our profession? Most of us aren’t big fans of the actual running of the business.
Yet, for the creative side to work, i.e., for clients to find and hire you, you need to set aside time to work on the business aspects.
This looks like setting business goals, looking at analytics/statistics, understanding your finances.
To be clear, this isn’t the same thing as spending time with your clients or putting on the actual event. This is separate time set aside to understand your business’s inner workings and understand where you want to grow, improve or change.
Having a business without a plan is like showing up to the airport without knowing where you’re going. You wouldn’t do that in real life, so don’t do it in your business.
Mistake #4: Not Finding the Right Balance
In order to have a successful business in which your clients keep coming back or referring you to others, you need to have the right balance between your financial goals and your clients.
If you focus too much on the money side alone, you likely aren’t dedicating the right amount of time and attention to your clients and ensuring they’re happy. If you’re focusing too much on your clients’ satisfaction without insisting on a rate you’re comfortable with, you’re going to be spending a lot of unpaid hours pleasing them and burn yourself out.
The key is finding the balance—charging what you’re worth and a price you’re comfortable with so you can focus (and actually enjoy!) making the client satisfied with their event.
Mistake #5: Wearing Too Many Hats
Nobody ever said solopreneurs had to do it all. Sure, you’re probably the head of your own business, but that doesn’t mean you’re a silo that has to take everything on board.
Don’t understand analytics for your website? Hire someone to help you dive deep. Spend hours and hours fretting over taxes? Schedule a meeting with a financial adviser. Hate writing? Hire a writer who can weave your tangled thoughts into cohesive language. Struggle with motivation and staying on track? Invest in a business coach.
As a creative professional, sometimes your time is better spent elsewhere. And in the end, both your business and stress levels will be better for it.
How many of these mistakes do you struggle with…1? 2? All 5?
These 5 common mistakes are going to keep your business from moving forward. Make sure you tackle these topics or else risk feeling uninspired, unprepared, overwhelmed, and totally left in the dust.
In order to help you through these, I’ve just opened up a few more spots for client calls, so schedule yours now before they close again.
