Have you let excuses get in the way when it comes to attending live events?I don’t have the money, I don’t have the time, I can’t travel that far”…….you know the ones I’m talking about.

Have you let excuses get in the way when it comes to YOU hosting your own live event?“I’m not smart enough, I’m not credible enough, I don’t have the money to pull that together……”

Live events – whether you attend as a participant or host your own – are one of the single best ways to grow your business. There are some simple things to keep in mind, either way. Here are a few that have worked for me – and they can work for you, too.

Make a decision!

You see, you don’t need the money until you’ve made a decision. It’s really that simple. Just make a decision to attend at least one live event a year – and set goals around that event. Make a decision to host at least one live event a year – include these in your business plan for the year.

Learn from Others.

When I attend LIVE events, I am always watching everything that is going on around me – as well as listening to the speakers and learning from what they have to say. I watch the technical people, the support team, and I certainly listen to what participants are saying about what they do like and what they don’t like about the event.

Schedule it – and Plan for It!

There’s no time like the present- once you make a decision to either attend or host a live event, then schedule it into your calendar. Calculate all the expenses related to it – travel, accommodation, food, registration, potential purchases (of products and/or services), etc. Then start a savings account and put away ‘x’ number of dollars each month so that, when the time comes, you will have the exact amount of money you need. Planning takes the guess-work out of it and removes any financially related stress.

Host Your Own Event.

Make a decision – put it in your calendar – create a marketing plan (it takes at least 3-4 months to properly market a live event!) – and then get the word out. Stay focused on getting butts in seats. If it happens to be your first event, keep your numbers realistic – focus on getting 10-15 ideal people in a room – give them your best content – and then work from referrals and testimonials.

Everyone has to start somewhere!

If you keep making excuses and avoid attending events that will help you grow your business, you will stay stuck. You need to get out of your own bubble and get some perspective. Attending live events will benefit you in so many different ways – learning new business techniques, meeting new people, creating joint ventures, and so much more.

Hosting your own first live event can be scary.

But know that once you have one under your belt, you’re well on your way. Learn from others who have gone before you – there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Live events are absolutely one of THE best business building strategies that exist. It’s not for the faint of heart – so if you truly want to be a wealthy women leader, step up to the plate, step out into the game – and just get going! You’ll be happy you did!

What professional development event have you attended this year? What was your major take-away?

Please share your thoughts