Planners on Purpose Podcast Naomi Tucker, CMP, HMCC

Leah Weinberg is a perfect blend of support for event professionals being an author, a recovering event planner, and an attorney. In this episode, we'll discuss the feelings and emotions that come with an event planner's job and how to walk through them. 
Episode Highlights
When you can think through some of the big things that go wrong then you are prepared for the small things that come up.Leah's book, The Wedding Rollercoaster, is all about keeping your relationship intact through the ups and downs.What something seems to be like on the surface, isn't what it is always about. There is always something beneath the surface that underlines someone's behavior.We should be proactive about bringing up any challenges in the planning process first. Asking questions and having a conversation while planning builds trust with customers.What people say as well as what people do not say can help you when identifying how to respond to your clients. Your branding messaging and voice should portray the type of planner you are so that customers are aware of who you are as a planning professional. Everyone is truly different and meant to be working with different people.In situations that are high-touch many times, practice makes perfect. Practice how you respond to customers so that it becomes easier for you to respond to requests.Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy by not having the right systems and processes in place. If you aren't strong in an area, find someone or a tool that is so that you can have a strong front.Leah's 3-step process for handling the stress or emotional responses at an event. 1) Take the emotional response in nicely. 2) Think through it logically. 3) Check in with yourself emotionally to see how you are feeling.Lastly, after moving through this process, we have to either take responsibility or let it go and move forward.Don't isolate yourself when dealing with difficult customers. Have a team, community, or accountability partner to help you get yourself through trying times. Links and Resources:
Color Pop EventsOdubergThe Wedding Rollercoaster (Leah's book)Setting the Table (by Danny Meyer - Leah's other favorite personal development bookQuiet (Leah's favorite personal development book)Thank you so much for tuning into the podcast. Until next time, stay on purpose!
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Today's interview feature is with special guest Mark Herschberg. Mark is the creator of the Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success that No One Taught You and the creator of the Brain Dump App.
Mark has also been recognized on many podcasts, and shows, and has received a plethora of awards for his Career Toolkit book. In this episode, we talk about communication and how if you use communication effectively, it can help boost your career and enhance your leadership.
Episode Highlights
Having the relevant experience for a position before you express interest, can help you to get the role you need.There are many career transitions happening within event planning. Thus, it is important for companies to be transparent and intentional in hiring and have discussions beyond the requirements of the job.If you're looking for some great questions to ask during the interview process, check out Mark's great resource from The Career Toolkit.One mistake we often make when we are onboarding employees into new role is placing them into a box, and telling them to do the job. However, you want someone to understand the full picture of the company, and the larger context off their role.Communication starts with clear guidelines on how to communicate and where resources are within a role.Understand the root "why" of conversations so that you can communicate in a way that relates to their direct "why". When you drill down to the root, there might be different assumptions and goals.The BrainBump App is an app that helps you better retain what you read and what you hear. Download and check out this app and see how it can help you in your professional life.Leadership is changing, we have to be more intentional about our leadership, and be more communicative than before. We have to be more explicit with our leadership and intentional about getting feedback from our employees. More complex and more time-consuming as a leader these days.Events are changing, there is nothing that is changed at an event today that is something that you can't pull up online and get it. So events, need to be more engaging and go beyond what you can get next door.Networking and making meaningful connections is key and needs to be fostered at events.Extending the in-person experience to online before and after an event, can help to leverage the online experiences.Mark recommends the following professional development books: PeopleWare and The Charisma MythLinks and Resources:
The Career Toolkit Websites
The Career Toolkit Twitter
The Career Toolkit Instagram
The Career Toolkit Facebook
Thank you so much for tuning into the podcast. Until next time, stay on purpose!
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Today's interview feature is with special guest Jordan Kentris. Jordan is the owner of A Good Day, a boutique design firm, born to serve planners and their eclectic tastes and styles within events. Jordan has also been recognized as the Most Innovative People in 2020 for his creative, holistic approach to virtual events. In this episode, we talk about how you can turn criticism to positivity as a planner as Jordan shares more about himself and helpful tips.  
Episode Highlights
Jordan talks about how the pandemic affected his business and how he was able to merge two parts of his business to create a unique brand.Listen to the voice of the customer to get insight into service offerings and how things may need to be repackaged or unique solutions that need to be provided to meet the customer's need.Don't be afraid to ask and be vocal in your aspirations so that you can be supported in the goals and visions that you have for your business.When it comes to communicating with clients, it is important to be honest and transparent so that they are aware of how industry changes  (staffing, resources) are impacting their event. We discuss the demands of the client in a world in which the event industry is ramping up.Jordan shares that sometimes communicating with clients in tough times is about being human, letting them know what you are working through, and what you are doing in the background.  Jordan offered a great tip that we should go through and explain the work so that the client can see what you can do, and everything that you've done to complete their request.Having weekly status meetings with your client to help keep them in the loop is beneficial so they aren't in the dark about the progress that is happening on their project.When taking criticism from clients it is important to remove the emotion from the situation so that you can see the facts of the situation.Criticism is often not you but it is because of the person giving the criticism is going through a situation that might need to be unpacked to find the real root of the feedback.Know when it is healthy to remove toxic relationships between planner and client. Realizing this can save lots of time and wasted efforts in the future. Done is better than perfect.  Links and Resources:
A Good Day Website
A Good Day Instagram
Jordan's Fav Book Suggestion 
Thank you so much for tuning into the podcast. Until next time, stay on purpose!
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Today's interview feature is with special guest Deanna Nwosu. Deanna is a leader in the meeting and event industry as well as an event emcee, moderator, and speaker that believes that the power of memories is overlooked. We will talk a bit about the power of memories and how important they are, especially with the events that we plan.
Episode Highlights
Don't allow fear to prevent you from going after what you want.You can't be your barrier to reaching the things you want to get. There will be plenty of external barriers that get in your way, but don't let yourself get in your own way of doing the things you want. Be okay with letting business go that isn't for you. Embrace what's for you and don't be stressed about what's not.The great reshuffling was a once and a lifetime moment to switch up how and in most cases where you work.Gig work and contract work can be seen as an up-and-coming trend in the industry.Diverse income streams are seemingly an aspiring trend too for many post-pandemic. We have to do better with taking care of our physical bodies, our sleep, our eating, and our exercise.You have to protect your boundaries and stand up for yourself. When you do this, you can reduce your stress.Moments and planning events can be so powerful if we just take the time to pay attention.Pay attention to the present moment when planning, and ask yourself a key question: What do we want our attendees to feel or know when they walk away from our event?Links and Resources:
Deanna Camille Website
Deanna Instagram
Deanna LinkedIn
Deanna Twitter
Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Banish Burnout Challenge 
Thank you so much for tuning into the podcast. Until next time, stay on purpose!
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Have you ever struggled to meet the goals that you've set? In this episode, I will share six strategies that I've used to stay focused on my goals. Hopefully, these strategies will help you succeed in all that you are looking to accomplish for this year.

Episode Highlights
I've had opportunities in my lifetime to take on big projects,  and lead teams, and although the journey seemed overwhelming at first, the strategies have always helped me to succeed.

Find your Drive
I talked about the importance of finding what drives you so that you have the fuel that you need in order to accomplish your goals.
Seek Out Accountability
Accountability is something I frequently discuss. It is very important for you to have a measure of accountability with someone in your life checking in and making sure that you are staying true to what you said out to do.
Write it Out
It's always helpful to write down your goals. I find that when I write things down it opens up additional opportunities to get detailed how my goals will be met.
Measure It with Deadlines/Milestones
Taking account of the deadlines and milestones that you will meet as you complete your goals is key to staying on point throughout the year.
Do Goal Sprints
Sometimes you can find quick and easy tasks to complete to give you a little bit of a Headstart towards your goal. I called these goal sprints. Identify where they are and go for it!
Midpoint checks (July/Aug)
I'm sure you had many goals that you were tracking towards. Setting aside some time to reflect on how you've done and where are you still have yet to go is very helpful for you to do in the middle of the year. Set some time in your calendar to do a midpoint check.
Links and Resources
Vision Board Email Challenge
Planner Power-Up Kit
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In this episode, I sit down with Jodi Goldbeck, CMP,  a  full-time instructor at Madison College since 2009. Jodi has been studying mindset, grit, and well-being since 2015 after experiencing a series of unexpected challenges in her life.  

Based on Jodi's studies and the unwavering belief that individuals can change the trajectory of their lives,  she developed a curriculum called Mastering Mindfulness, which is a series of one-credit courses that focus on topics such as gratitude, resilience, habit building, listening and many other topics related to living a happier life. 
Episode Highlights
Madison College is one of the first in the country to have a degree in Meeting Management.Madison College teaches students to graduate and get into the real world and really start working. If you are looking to get into the industry, Madison College gives an option of an online global student body.Industry colleagues ensure that the curriculum is updated to the standards of what is happening in the industry.Jodi shares a personal story of hardship how it led to her developing a curriculum called Mastering Mindfulness.If you are struggling, paying attention to your body, and practicing self-care is key.Savoring is one of the best things that you can do to appreciate your present moment."If we can savor more, we live a more abundant like, we become more present and more aware and more appreciative of life in general." - Jodi Goldbeck Links and Resources 
Handshake App (For employers and students)
Madison College (For Meetings & Event Management and Mastering Mindfulness Course)
Jodi Goldbeck LinkedIn
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