Creation

From the Big Picture
To the Minute Details

I recommend that you begin by stepping back and looking at the big picture. Take a broad perspective view of what you want to do. Perhaps you believe that you have the perfect event, but when you follow the formula prescribed in these pages, you realize that you are drawn to something completely different. And perhaps that event has, in fact, much more potential for profit (if that is your vision of success). A broad view will help you to find what provides you with true joy.

Step #1. Which brings us to the first step of Creation, asking the question – What do you want? More specifically, how do you define success? Is it money? Is it making a difference in people’s lives? Is it having the freedom to do what you want when you want? These are all questions you must consider prior to taking the next step so that you are headed in the direction of success AS YOU DEFINE IT. Once you have completed Step 1 from your big picture, broad view, you can move on to Step 2, but always remember that you can course correct at any time.

Most people believe that they have to commit to a single direction and “stay the course” regardless of what happens. We often believe that we have to be tough and stick it out to prove that we are doing “the right thing.” We believe that that’s how successful people create their success even though nothing could be farther from the truth.

We need only consider one of humankind’s major achievements – sending men to the Moon and return safely. Most people believe that computers kept that space vehicle on a direct course to the Moon when, in fact, the lunar vehicles were off course and being corrected nearly 99% of the time. Course correction was critical to that enormous journey, and it is crucial to your journey in creating your dream event, especially when you maintain your broad view.

Step #2 in the creation of your event or series of events also involves big picture visioning. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, consider the questions: Who am I? What do I have to offer? What do others want that matches my offerings? This involves inner work and usually some amount of writing. You need to take an honest look at yourself. Perhaps asking your friends and family how they view you will help. In any case, this aspect of your creation may take some time, but, again, this will be time well spent. You are laying a foundation that will serve you well once you have created your event(s). Even if you decide that your next step is not to create an event, you will have learned a great deal about yourself, and that will be valuable in all aspects of your life.

Step #3 looks at the most important aspect of your event – THEM, your audience. Here you need to consider who they are and whether or not you can attract enough of them in a viable manner to make your event successful (as you have already defined success). Within your big picture, broad view perspective, you need to find your niche. If you discover that your audience of potential guests / customers / clients is too small or difficult to attract to your event, you may have to reconsider what you are proposing. If you find that what you have to offer and what they want are radically different, it is time to course correct. Since you have a broad view perspective, this will be much easier than it would be had you not laid a solid foundation.

Neither of these propositions mean that you have to give up or throw out your idea. They simply suggest that it’s time to step back again and consider the big picture. Where is the fit? How can you be of service and create a successful event while remaining true to your vision and their needs? Is it possible, and will take more work than you initially planned? I have witnessed many a presenter fall flat on her or his face in front of an audience because they believed that they had what people wanted without taking the time to seriously consider these initial big picture steps.

This is also a great time to get the input of others. Like one of my clients, you may have a brilliant idea but not have the audience. He wanted to do workshops on shamanism even though his expertise and credentials were as a therapist. Those shamanism workshops were successful and fulfilling for him because he wanted to do them. However, they did not attract nearly as many participants as his past life regression workshops, which were essentially taking his private practice and expanding it from one-on-one to a large group.

If you consider these larger questions first, your event will succeed. It may not bring in huge amounts of money, but your broad view, big picture perspective will help you to lay a foundation that works well for you, and you may discover that making lots of money is not your intention. Always remember, you are in the driver’s seat. This endeavor needs to create joy in your life as well as provide what comes from examining your potential participants’ needs from a broad view. It’s your show, and you can have it any way you want. The real issue is to discover your passion and move forward with the creation of it in your event.

One vital element of that success is your ability to entertain as well as educate your participants. People no longer need to attend seminars, workshops, trainings or other live event to be educated or obtain information. They can find the information in a book, DVD and most important on the Internet. As a presenter, you are competing with these and other media outlets.

Accordingly, you must provide them with something more than can be found in a streaming video or DVD. You must provide them with valuable experiences and creation of entertainment. That’s not to say you have to sing or play an instrument, but you have to be captivating in your presentation / performance. You also have to look the part of a knowledgeable expert or talent.

All this is easily done if you understand the perspective of participants and events. Most people don’t even really want the information. They want to be inspired and moved to take action. That is the job of the presenter / facilitator.