Special Event Creative “Soreness”

You know that great feeling you get when you work out and you are sore afterward? It makes you feel like you really did something! That soreness comes from working a muscle group past the point of it’s’ comfort zone. It’s where the real change in your body starts to happen.

In a recent moment when I felt like everything in my body hurt (great workout!), I started thinking about how often we push our minds and our creative energy to the point of exhaustion where we can actually change or grow. For industry veterans, keeping it fresh is just as important for your clients as it is for your mental happiness. No one likes being in a rut and feeling uninspired. Operating the exact same way year after year is the biggest contributor to lead you down that dangerous path.

Open your attitude and your mind to new things and magic starts to happen! Here are a few ideas to stretch you outside of your comfort zone and create a little creative “soreness”:

• Start a new networking group with new rules for engagement – make it fun, keep it lively! Invite influential people within and outside of our industry.
• Attend meetings and industry events you wouldn’t normally attend – interact with people you do not know.
• Discover an industry alliance with whom you can create a strategic partnership – take advantage of each other’s strengths to satisfy a specific niche in the industry.
• Create an actual social media strategy! Yes, it can be fun, but is it really helping your business? Consult with a social media expert to help you strategize the perfect communication platform for you. Social media is a great vehicle for dropping hints of wonderful holiday ideas/menus or products that you are excited about, new décor packages that are perfect for the holidays, party theme ideas for social and corporate events, inspirational wedding ideas, etc. Just remember to keep it social! Nothing is more irritating than constant promotion on Twitter or Face Book when it is supposed to be about fun, idea sharing, education, relationship building and getting to know the person behind the business.
• Target a brand new market (or a niche within an existing market) – new markets mean new revenue streams!
• Do what makes you happy! Keeping your passion and your zeal for the special events industry benefits both you and your client, so indulge in what makes you happy – trade shows, wine tastings, reading thank you notes from happy clients, attending a design class. . . Personal development keeps you moving forward in more ways than one!

So what do you have to lose? Nothing! Try something new today and tomorrow you can revel in the “soreness” of that great “creativity workout”. Ah, it will feel like you really did something!