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Ask the #Eventprofs: Learning from Mistakes

In keeping with our “Ask the #Eventprofs” series, here is a question coming from ME that I would love your input on! Got a question you’d like answered? Email it today!

We all make mistakes, but we don’t have to all make the same ones. Are you willing to share one mistake you made and what we can all learn from it?

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Liz

Liz King is a social media-integrated event planner and award winning blogger. As the owner of Liz King Events, she runs an innovative firm that creates dynamic branding events integrating the use of social media. Planning events from soup to nuts, she works with her team to create and sustain your event brand and enhance attendee engagement. Liz is also a co-founder of the Event Technology Showcase PlannerTech. As the owner of Liz King Events, she has been featured as a speaker at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, National Association of Colleges and Employers, ExpoWest/Supply Expo and several other events as an expert on the topic of social media and events. She has also been featured in Connect Meetings Intelligence and Convene Magazine, among others.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 at 4:39 pm and is filed under Event Professionals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Lindsey Rosenthal (@eventsforgood)

    One mistake I’ve made, that I’m sure others have as well, is trying to take on too much myself and not delegating when necessary. It’s important for our own sanity to realize that we can’t handle everything and we need others for help. Also, don’t ever forget packing tape.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      Thanks for sharing! I am in the same boat on this one too! (Ahh!) :) Sounds like Lindsay Fultz agrees too! Great point about the packing tape! I would also add scissors and sharpies!!

  • Robert Meisnere (@meisnereCMP)

    Mistakes I’ve made are not writing down my mistakes so I won’t make them again. Because I usually realize the mistake on-site, I am working on solving the problem first then on to the next issue. And before I know it, I have forgetten to file it away when I get back.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      This is a GREAT thing to note. You’re right, Robert – we need to keep track of all the little bumps in the road so that we can better prepare for them in the future. I’ve totally been in that place where you are focused on answers, but then there must be a way for us to track these things. Thanks for pointing this out!!

  • http://www.grosh.com Lindsay Fultz

    Definitely not delegating enough. In the past my to-do lists have gotten out of control and once I started delegating more of the admin/asst tasks, I was so reluctant to let go of, I started accomplishing a lot more. I learned to trust my colleagues and staff fully. By giving them more tasks and projects and by teaching/coaching them higher skill sets, they became more empowered and felt more valued. It was a win/win.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      This is a great lesson that I still need to learn :) I try to remind myself of the benefits of having more than one person who can do everything!

  • Jenna Kellam (@JennaKellam)

    One of the worst mistakes is not timing things properly. I’ll start new projects or take on extra tasks without giving myself enough time for my current projects. After a few 60+ hour work weeks, I’ve corrected that mistake. Quality > Quantity.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      I absolutely agree that Quality > Quantity. It takes a good amount of experience to learn not only the tasks associated with each project, but the flow of the work as well. So many things must be left until the end of the planning stage which can make things a little crazy! Thanks for sharing!!

  • Joyce Ma (@joyce_ma)

    One mistake was forgetting to triple-check a pack list. You don’t want to find out on-site that you are missing something crucial, or something is not functioning. Sometimes its as easy as reading it aloud together pre & post pack, to ensure nothing is passed over. Always run through the list even after the trucks are loaded!

    And yes, sharpies are a must!

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      Joyce –

      Do you keep a master checklist for all events? I have been known to forget a thing or two when packing and have been thinking I should have an “event kit” or master checklist instead of packing per event only. Would love your thoughts on this one!

  • http://www.icon-presentations.com/blog/ Jenise Fryatt

    My biggest mistake is being afraid to make mistakes. I’m happy to say that as I get older, I’m getting better at letting go of trying to appear infallible. But when I was younger this kept me from doing lots of things and from improving. You can’t improve if you don’t accept where you are first.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      Jenise – This is a great point and a trap that I think many of us fall into. It’s important to learn how to admit that we aren’t sure how to do something or that we are capable of making mistakes.

  • http://www.justinlocke.com/author.htm justin locke

    My biggest mistake has always been what i call the “Wizard of Oz Syndrome,” i.e., thinking that my problems are bigger than they are, and that someone else is better able to solve my problems.

    • http://www.lizkingevents.com Liz

      Justin – Thanks for sharing! Sometimes other people ARE more equpped to solve our problems :) but it’s also important that we have faith in ourselves. You are capable of more than you give yourself credit for. We all are!

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