Top 5 Lessons Learned From the Pandemic
To say the least, this year has not gone as we planned. Any plan, goal, or event we had on our 2020 vision board got flipped on its head with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course being an event planner through these times of separation and social distancing has not been ideal. However, 8 months into this global pandemic, we have done some reflecting and realized all of the valuable lessons we were forced to learn. BLME wanted to share these lessons with the world, in hopes of helping our fellow entrepreneurs. Check out our top 5 lessons learned from the pandemic below.
Top 5 Lessons Learned From the Pandemic
1. Taking care of yourself as a leader should always be a priority.
There is a reason flight attendants tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before helping anyone else with theirs. It’s the same reason a captain never abandons their ship. Times of crises call for leadership. If you, the leader of your business, are no longer functioning, how are you supposed to be able to lead the rest of your team to calm and safety? Making sure your mental, physical, and spiritual health is taken care of is an absolute must when it comes to being an entrepreneur, especially in times of uncertainty.
2. Your value is not based on how productive you are.
While you probably haven’t gotten an actual gold star since elementary school, if you’re anything like us, the metaphorical gold star still exists in your life on a self-inflicted basis. Booked more clients than last year? Gold star. Surpassed your monthly revenue goal? Gold star. Helped all of your clients reach their event goals? Double gold star. While this self-imposed reward system can definitely motivate us to work hard, it also always leads to a crash when the star isn’t received. This year, our (and much of the rest of the world’s) productivity was undermined by forces out of our control. Given this, it made us take a step back and realize that we are more than the amount of gold stars we receive. Instead, we are adaptable, resourceful, and scrappy humans who persevere despite the challenges in our way.
3. Networking, connections, and partnerships are more important than ever.
If you are like us, prior to 2020, you had never heard the term “social distancing.” Now, physically distancing ourselves from others is not only a way of life, but can be a matter of life and death. While our physical distance from others has never been greater, our connections with our professional contacts have never been stronger. With an entire new event landscape to navigate, it is essential to cultivate a solid network of professionals to join you to collaborate, brainstorm, partner, and consult with. Do not be afraid to reach out to people via online platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram, as everyone is in the same boat and wants to form these relationships more than ever.
4. Virtual components of events are here to stay.
Of course, we long for the days of in-person events. We deeply miss the buzz in the room right before an event kicks off or a room breaking out in applause after a powerful speaker. Just because we can’t wait until we can safely get back to in-person events, does not mean we will be kicking virtual events to the curb. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the benefits and possibilities that virtual events can provide. Examples of said benefits include expanding our geographical reach and being more accessible to the masses. Now as we look at the future of our events, we see every in-person event as an opportunity for a hybrid event - that is, a live event with a virtual component - to expand the reach of our clients. In other words, don’t cancel your Zoom account just yet.
5. Teamwork is essential to tackling big projects - both internal and external teams.
With revenue and profits down amongst the pandemic, it can be a business owner’s knee-jerk reaction to condense their team and try to take on more work themselves. This is a major reason that the unemployment rate is at an extreme high. While of course we understand wanting to cut operation costs in tough times, BLME has learned that a major key to success is creating and working with a team. Often, what leads to innovation and breakthroughs is collaboration and multiple points of view. In this COVID era, we have not only partnered with more businesses than ever before, we have also expanded our own team. With the right people on your side, teamwork really will make the dream work.
Though no one ever wants to be put through a challenging time, these periods are when you learn the most. Through this era of discomfort and change, we have learned invaluable lessons and for that, we are extremely grateful.