Hey everyone! I have some exciting news to share and some good news specifically for YOU. Starting April 24th, this community is officially becoming a paid membership. This means new members will pay $27 to join, which will allow me to invest even more into the content, resources, and support I bring to this space. But here's the thing: because you were here from the beginning, you're getting in FREE — for life (or as long as you stay a member). No charges, no catch. This is my way of saying thank you for believing in this community early on. One important note: please don't leave and rejoin the community, as you'd lose your free access and be prompted to pay like any new member. I'm grateful to have you here, and I can't wait to share with you what's coming next. — Teresa

Hey everyone! Welcome back to this week's deep dive. Last week we talked about the big picture: Why understanding AI is becoming a competitive edge in our industry. A few of you messaged me privately to say it resonated, but also that AI still feels a little overwhelming or out of reach. That response told me exactly what we need to talk about this week. This post is for anyone who's thought: "I'm not a tech person. I wouldn't even know where to start." You're in the right place. Let's go slowly, practically, and without any jargon. 1. FIRST — LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING REAL Admin is quietly stealing your career. Not dramatically. Not all at once. But hour by hour, the emails, the proposals, the briefing documents, the follow-up messages, the checklists, they suck up your time. Many hospitality and events professionals spend more time on documentation than they do on actual creative or strategic work. That's not a personal failing. It's a structural problem with how our industry has always operated. AI is the first tool that genuinely addresses it; not by replacing your judgment, but by handling the mechanical parts of the job so you can focus on the parts that actually need you. 2. WHAT "USING AI" ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE Forget the sci-fi images. Forget the robots. In practice, using AI for admin looks like this: you open a browser tab, type a description of what you need, and get back a solid first draft in under 30 seconds. You read it. You adjust the tone. You add the specific details only you know. You send it or save it as a template. That's it. That's the workflow. It's less complicated than learning a new piece of event software, and the payoff is immediate. You don't need to understand how it works. You just need to know what to ask it for. 3. THE ADMIN TASKS AI HANDLES BRILLIANTLY (RIGHT NOW, TODAY) Here are the things AI is genuinely great at for our industry: • Client emails: first contact, follow-ups, difficult conversations, thank-you notes

This week I want to talk about something that I believe is the single most important mindset shift happening in our industry right now. And I want to be transparent with you: it's also the reason I'm evolving what I do and what this community is becoming. Let's get into it. 1. THE STATEMENT THAT SHOULD WAKE EVERY HOSPITALITY PRO UP "AI won't take your job — but someone who understands AI will." This isn't a threat. It's an invitation. The people who will lead the hospitality and events industry in the next 5 years are the ones learning AI right now. Not the technology itself, but how to apply it to real work, client experiences, event logistics, team communications, vendor management, and more. The gap between those who lean in and those who wait is widening every single day. 2. WHY I'M PIVOTING AND WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOU After years building my expertise in the events industry, I've made a decision: I'm combining everything I know about hospitality and events with the AI skills I've been developing and I'm bringing it here, to this community, first. This isn't about becoming a tech person. It's about being an events and hospitality professional who uses the most powerful tools available. I want to be the guide I wish I'd had. And this community is where I'll be sharing it all. 3. AI IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL AND HOSPITALITY IS UNIQUE The events and hospitality industry has nuances that generic AI advice doesn't address. Our timelines are unpredictable. Our clients are emotional. Our teams are stretched thin. Our logistics are complex. That's exactly why industry-specific AI education matters. I'm not here to teach you ChatGPT for the sake of it, I'm here to show you how it applies to YOUR work: run-of-show documents, supplier briefs, post-event reports, team onboarding, and so much more. 4. THE SKILLS GAP IS REAL AND IT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY Right now, the majority of professionals in our industry are not using AI in any meaningful way. That means the learning curve is still accessible and the competitive advantage is still up for grabs.

Let’s talk truth: Building your own event planning business is a wild ride. One month you feel unstoppable.The next, you’re questioning every decision you’ve made. Sound familiar? Here are 7 key reminders to help you stay focused, resilient, and committed, even when it gets hard: 1. Vision Over Vibes. Your feelings will fluctuate but your vision shouldn’t. Tip: Revisit your why regularly and write it where you can see it. 2. Progress Isn’t Always Loud. Just because it’s not viral doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. Tip: Track small wins such as client feedback, new leads, improved systems. They compound. 3. Choose Consistency Over Hustle. You don’t need to burn out to “make it.” Tip: Set a weekly rhythm you can sustain. Show up when it’s boring. That’s where growth happens. 4. Surround Yourself with Builders. Motivation dies in isolation. Tip: Post in this group weekly. Connect. Be seen. Share struggles and celebrate wins. 5. Don’t Compare Your Chapter 2 to Someone’s Chapter 20. This is a big one! Your journey is unique. Tip: Use others for inspiration, not as a measuring stick. 6. Build Systems, Not Just Momentum. Systems create stability when motivation fades. Tip: Automate outreach, prep checklists, templates, anything that saves mental bandwidth. 7. Expect the Dip and Push Through It Every business has slow seasons, quiet launches, and dry leads. Tip: Stay curious. Adjust what isn’t working, but don’t quit the whole game. What’s one strategy that helps you stay focused when things get tough?

Let’s be honest… Flights get delayed. Speakers cancel. AV fails. Weather changes. Roads close. I have had all of these happen, plus 75% of my group getting food poisoning, my team getting sick, charter flight engines catching on fire, getting threatened by a vendor to leave my group if I don't pay them additional funds right then and there, the beach for an event was gone due to a storm, a main venue closed 30 days prior to our event. No event goes exactly as planned. And in those moments, everyone looks to one person: You Here are 7 ways to lead, pivot, and protect your event when things go wrong: 1. Control Your Energy First Before you solve anything, control your reaction. If you panic, your team panics. If you stay calm, your team stays focused. You are the emotional tone of the event. 2. Get the Right Information Fast Don’t react on assumptions. Ask: What exactly happened? What are the options? How much time do we have? Clarity creates better decisions. 3. Make a Decision Quickly Indecision creates more damage than the problem itself. Even if it’s not perfect, forward motion matters. 4. Redirect Your Team With Clear Instructions Your team doesn’t need a discussion, they need direction. Be specific: Who is doing what. By when. What is the priority? Be crystal clear with what you expect from each team member. Some people handle stress and uncertainty much better than others. Recognize who can handle the more challenging tasks or harder decisions. 5. Communicate With Confidence, Even If It’s Not Perfect Attendees don’t need every detail. They need: Clear updates. Confidence and Reassurance. How you say it matters as much as what you say. 6. Protect the Attendee Experience Most attendees won’t remember the issue, hopefully. They’ll remember how it was handled. Shift focus to: Keeping things moving. Maintaining energy. Creating an alternative experience. 7. Always Have a Plan B and Sometimes C The best planners don’t just react, they anticipate. Think ahead: Backup speakers or agenda adjustment. Alternate spaces. Alternate routes for off-site events. Flexible timelines. Contingency budgets. Determine the closest hospital. Does your team have CPR training. Have an emergency protocol handbook for your team. Know your client hierarchy.