The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur™

What would it look like if you didn't have to be onsite for every event you plan? Could your business actually grow faster if you weren't tied to every detail in person? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers pulls back the curtain on how she manages multiple events, sometimes in different states, without being physically present.   May walks through the exact process she uses to decide when she's needed onsite and when she's not. From assessing a client's team capacity to setting expectations with vendors and venues, she lays out the systems that keep everything running smoothly. She also shares how clear communication and proactive oversight allow her to support events remotely while staying fully in the loop.   And then there's the mindset piece. If you've ever felt like you have to show up in person just to prove your value, May challenges that belief with one simple truth: the work you do before the event is what truly matters.   Want to build a business that doesn't rely on you being everywhere at once? This episode is a solid place to start. For more real talk on how to build a sustainable, scalable event business, grab a copy of May's book, The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur: https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/    Quotes • “If you want a smooth event, you cannot be pulling your team in all directions.” (05:57 | May Yeo Silvers) • “More than 50% I don't have to be [on site].” (09:55 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I'm not afraid to let go of control because I trust that everybody knows what they're supposed to do because we have communicated and over-communicated and determined that everybody is capable of functioning as a professional to make things happen.” (17:20 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to already know that the work that you do leading up to the event has already shown your worth. That's why they hire you.” (18:38 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You have to ask yourself, subconsciously, do you feel that you need to be on-site to make sure that everything is running well, to make sure that you show your face so that you are worth the price that you have asked clients to pay you?” (19:0 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links In order for you to scale your business, you must first build a strong foundation for your business. In my Unstoppable Eventrepreneur book, I talked about rookie mistakes to avoid when starting your business. I also discussed the importance of understanding your financial risk appetite, the mindset that is going to propel you or hold you back. This book is an ALL IN ONE, where you get your questions answered in every aspect when thinking to launch and scale your events business. Grab your copy today using this link!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

More followers won't grow your business if you don't know who they are or why they're there.   May Yeo Silvers is setting the record straight on one of the biggest social media myths in the event planning world: follower count does not equal business success. So what does matter? Who's following you, why they're interested, and what kind of connection you're willing to build.   Are your followers potential clients? Referral partners? Or just passing through? May shares how to spot the difference and why engaging with the right people whether through a simple thank-you message or a thoughtful question can lead to real opportunities. This episode is packed with reminders for anyone who's tired of chasing numbers and ready to focus on strategy.   May also talks about the value of stepping outside of social media and building a more well-rounded marketing approach. If you're serious about growing your business, consistency, clarity, and connection matter far more than your stats. Want to go deeper? May offers her Business Kickstart Bundle, a 24-course program designed to help EVENTrepreneurs strengthen their sales, marketing, and mindset. Learn more about it here: https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast    Quotes • “The number of followers does not dictate how much business you ultimately do.” • “You need to understand who exactly is following you and why they are following you. The why is so important.” • “This photographer, when they are thinking of who to refer to their clients who are looking for a wedding planner, you are on their radar because they follow you and you consistently show up with great content.” • “So you could have a very small following but if you put in the time and effort to work on who is following you and who you should follow, you are going to see significant results in the amount of leads and referral that you're going to get.” • “Social media is the easiest lift. It's free, and it only takes up sweat equity time.”   Links An effective marketing strategy consists of more than 1 way to market yourself. Once you find out what is working, you stick to it and do more of it. Simultaneously, you MUST continue to do more than that 1 marketing outreach activity. You do NOT want to put all your eggs in 1 basket.    A savvy business owner will always have more than one marketing strategy. If you are wondering what other marketing activities you should incorporate into your marketing strategy. Check out the Business Kickstart Bundle I created specifically for event planners, designers and decorators!    Inside the 24 courses bundle, I dedicated an entire module on Marketing. The strategies mentioned in the bundle are the same strategies I apply in my day to day event planning business and it has brought me tremendous success and consistent revenue. Click on this link to check it out!    Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Consistency alone won't move the needle if your actions aren't aligned with what actually works.   In this episode, May Yeo Silvers unpacks why so many business owners, especially in the events industry, get frustrated when their consistent efforts don't lead to growth. Are you showing up every week on social media but not seeing engagement? Are you attending networking events without landing new clients? May shares why that happens and what to do about it. She walks through how to evaluate what's working, where your audience is paying attention, and how to shift your strategy without abandoning your discipline. The habit of showing up stays the same but the way you do it needs to evolve. If you've been wondering why your consistency hasn't paid off, this episode has the answer!   Quotes • “So you would think that because I'm posting consistently, I should have a steady growth in the number of followers, correct?... No.” (03:36 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to make sure that your consistency is put into the best use, creating the biggest impact.” (05:12 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Do not change your consistency. You are still going to be consistently taking actions, but you are going to change what actions you are taking and executing in order to yield better results.” (06:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Interestingly, posts that talk about mindset have the least engagement. That means the audience that I'm attracting are still not focusing or understanding how important mindset is… They have not yet connected the fact that after you learn the ‘what' and the ‘how,' the thing that is gonna help you be consistent to execute the ‘what' and the ‘how' is the mindset.” (07:44 | May Yeo Silvers) • “What is the difference between showing up consistently and showing up consistently doing what you need to do at that stage of your business?” (11:10 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links Don't feel bad if you feel that your consistency has gone to “waste.” Being able to stay consistent is a HUGE strength and positive attribute that every entrepreneur needs.    Now that you have mastered the difficult part, the easy part is tweaking the actual actions you need to take and stay consistent taking the “newly improved” actions. I assure you, results WILL come.   To help you stay motivated and make the right moves, follow me on these platforms for mindset shifts, productivity hacks plus business strategies!   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayyeosilvers podcast link: The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur  https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-unstoppable-eventrepreneur/id1591114236 IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most event budgets miss the mark because no one talks about the hidden fees that quietly drain your client's wallet… and your value.   May Yeo Silvers breaks down the overlooked costs that can quietly inflate an event budget, from taxable service charges to outdoor setup fees and AV vendor penalties. She shares real examples—including a $1,000 food and beverage minimum that turned into $1,375—and shows how venues often leave out key details unless you know exactly what to ask.   This episode gives planners the tools to spot red flags, educate their clients, and position themselves as strategic partners, not just executors. If you want to build trust, quote fees with confidence, and make smarter budget decisions, this one's essential listening.   Quotes • “When you are talking to your potential client or client about event budget, I always say, whatever they are paying to something else means they are taking away money from paying you.” (01:47 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Is your service charge taxable? And I will guarantee you almost 50%, if not 75% of the venues, if not 100% of the venues that I work with, and I do events all around the country, the service charge is taxable.” (05:34 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You always have to ask for the banquet menus and then look at the pricing based on how many people are coming and the type of food that you want to order and then come up with the actual number how much you're going to spend.” (09:16 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You are being an event strategist—helping your client plan their budget better. That is an intangible value you've added to yourself, which will make the client see your value more clearly and will reciprocate by paying you a higher fee.” (17:30 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links There is SO much to learn about event planning. BUT what is going to separate you from your competitors is really understanding the nuances of event planning, such as the little titbits I shared on this episode that will have a HUGE impact on your client's event budget which then translates to having more funds handy to make the event even more spectacular.    If you want to stand out from the crowd, follow me on the different platforms listed on the show notes for more event strategies and "event insiders" knowledge that your clients are going to love you for!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Adding a new service might sound exciting, but is it actually a smart move for your business?   In this episode, May Yeo Silvers unpacks what it really means to expand your offer suite, and how to do it without losing money, energy, or clarity. She challenges the idea of pivoting just because you're bored or burned out and shares the questions every business owner should ask before making a shift. Is this new service aligned with the clients you already serve? Does it build on what you're already great at? Will it actually pay off?   May draws from real conversations with event pros who are tempted to branch out too far from what's already working. She explains why misalignment can confuse your audience and dilute your brand, and how to grow with intention instead. May also shares how she added a new service in her own business, only after making sure it leveraged her strengths and delivered meaningful results.   If you've ever felt the urge to shake things up in your business, this episode will help you pause, reassess, and move forward with a lot more clarity.   Quotes • “I'm not saying not to add on new services, but you have to understand why you're adding on the new services. And does the money make sense? Does the financial decision make sense to add on this new service?” (11:19 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You should only add on your offer when you have a very clear idea that you no longer want to do whatever you're doing. Clean slate, rebrand, and start talking to a new audience.” (15:04 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Is it going to leverage my existing skills or do I have to learn a completely new skill set, talk to a completely new market? How long is it going to take me to learn and execute and make back the same amount of money that I used to make? You have to ask yourself that.” (15:27 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You cannot take on a new service because you dislike something. You can, but your timing has to be right. You have to do both at the same time so that you don't sacrifice whatever you're already making even though you hate it.” (15:45 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “At the end of the day, if you add on a new service, it has to have sustainability and it needs to continue to bring you joy.” (17:40 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you have no idea where to begin when thinking about starting an event planning business, check out my book, The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur. Inside the book, I addressed topics like when to quit your job to become a full time CEO, how to prepare yourself financially, mentally and emotionally, marketing and sales strategies, and rookie mistakes to avoid when starting and growing your business. Click the link  https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/ to grab your copy on Amazon today!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Every event has a budget. But are you spending in the right places?   May Yeo Silvers pulls back the curtain on event budgeting, tackling the common misconception that adjusting your budget automatically changes how many people you can host. Instead of letting numbers dictate your event, she urges planners to start with the bigger picture: What's the real purpose of this event? What kind of experience do you want attendees to have?   May lays out a smart, structured approach to budgeting: separating must-haves from nice-to-haves, understanding both financial and emotional ROI, and making intentional choices about venue, timing, and costs. From peak season pricing to the trade-offs between food, decor, and AV production, May shares insights to help planners maximize their budget without compromising impact.   With examples (including lessons from her own wedding), she makes the case for spending wisely, not just more. Whether you're planning a corporate event, a retreat, or a celebration, this episode will change the way you think about budgeting and help you create an experience that truly delivers.   Quotes • “Every time you spend money for an event, on all the different elements of the event, you have to ask yourself: What am I going to get out of this? What are my attendees going to get out of this?” (21:24 | May Yeo Silvers) • “What is the most important thing that you want people to take away from your event? What is the goal of having this event? Who do I need to invite to this event in order to achieve the goal of me hosting this event?” (23:46 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You're dealing with a client who wants everything but they do not have the money to pay for everything. So you need to manage expectations, you need to manage numbers, you need to negotiate. You need to negotiate with your vendors so that you can get the most for your buck.” (25:22 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “In order to be an excellent event planner, an event planner who's able to deliver as much as possible for your client's events vision, you need to understand the numbers, you need to understand what you can negotiate, not to negotiate, you need to understand the questions to ask your client to find out what they really want from the event in order to determine what are the things that you need to spend money on and advise your client to spend money on this because these are the things that are going to create the experience that align with the end goal of why they want to host the event.” (25:45 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links Want to add more tips and tricks into your event planning tool kit? Follow me on these various platforms: Want to learn something new that's 30 mins or less while you are on the move? Subscribe to my Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-unstoppable-eventrepreneur/id1591114236 Prefer to watch?  Subscribe to my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mayyeosilvers Love to be on social media? Connect with me here: Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers You are a reader? I got you covered? Grab my book, the Unstoppable Eventrepreneur here https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Should you niche down or keep your options open? It's one of the biggest questions entrepreneurs face, and the answer isn't as simple as you might hope.   May Yeo Silvers shares her own experience navigating this decision in the event planning industry. When she launched M2 Hospitality, she offered a full suite of services—event planning, design, and destination management. Over time, she refined her focus, zeroing in on in-person events for Fortune 500 companies and high-earning coaches. Was that the right move? Absolutely. But would it have worked if she had started there from day one? Probably not.   Many entrepreneurs worry that niching down too soon could limit opportunities. Others fear that offering too much will leave them feeling scattered. So how do you know which path to take? May breaks it down, encouraging listeners to experiment, pay attention to what truly excites them, and build a business that aligns with both their strengths and their long-term goals.   May also shares lessons from her coaching business, where she took the opposite approach—starting highly specialized before expanding her reach. The takeaway? There's no one-size-fits-all strategy, but there is a way to make an intentional choice instead of a fearful one.   Quotes • “When I first launched M2 Hospitality, I had different baskets of services and different baskets of revenue. I did not put all my eggs in one basket because I suffer from FOMO and I thought that it's a good way for me to expose myself to all the different services that I know I'm very good at delivering and then eventually get a feel of what I really love to do.” (08:45 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “I don't want to wake up just looking for money. I want to wake up doing what I really enjoy, which is event strategy, event planning.” (12:04 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “To niche or not to niche is an evolution. Don't be too rigid about it. If you're certain that you only want to focus on one thing, like weddings, and you have no interest in corporate events, children's parties, or other social gatherings, then commit fully to that niche.” (17:27 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If you're offering a full suite of services instead of niching down, be clear in your messaging. There are clients who need exactly that. Don't get caught up in worrying, ‘What if I'm not known for this?' If you niche down, you might start second-guessing—'But I can also do this.' That uncertainty can leave you stuck in the middle. So, pick a side. The best way to figure it out? Try everything first, then decide what you truly love doing.” (23:38 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links BEFORE you spend time thinking if you should niche down or not niche, you should FIRST be doing a self evaluation if you have the business skills and acumen to start and grow a business. This is probably the most forgotten step yet the most important part that every entrepreneur needs to consider before they even start thinking about anything else business related.   The good thing is that business fundamental skills and acumen could be learned and acquired overtime. To help you take the first step of making your dream of owning a business to reality, I have put together a Business Kickstart Bundle which you could use as a launchpad.    The bundle consists of 24 crucial learnings that every planner, designer or decorator needs for the WHAT and the HOW. There are videos and templates revolving around, pricing, sales, marketing, legalities, mindset and productivity hacks. Click this link to find out what the bundle includes and what other EVENTrepreneurs have to say about the 24 course Business Kickstart Bundle!    Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Assigned seating can make or break an event. Are you using it to your advantage?   May Yeo Silvers unpacks the strategy behind assigned seating, showing how a well-planned arrangement does more than keep things organized—it shapes conversations, builds connections, and even influences business outcomes. With over 20 years in the industry, May shares how different seating approaches, from general areas to carefully placed VIP tables, can transform an event's flow and impact.   May also dives into the details that elevate an event, like color-coded place cards that make meal service seamless and tiered seating that adds exclusivity while driving ticket sales. When done right, these choices create a smoother experience and a sense of value that guests notice.   Whether you're planning corporate events, weddings, or ticketed experiences, this episode will change the way you think about seating. May leaves listeners with a call to action, sharing insights from her book, “The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur,” a must-read for anyone looking to build a thriving event business.   Quotes • “When it is an event that you want your sales team to be seated next to a particular potential client, you actually place where your salesperson is sitting, and then you place the potential client next to the salesperson instead of at the far end of the table.” (04:10 | May Yeo Silvers) • “When you're pricing your tickets, think about the perks that can help sell tickets at a higher price. Ideally, those perks should cost you little to nothing while adding significant value for attendees.” (09:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “So giving them the front row seats is not going to cost you anything, but it gives the social status, gives the first access, and it also gives a feel-good feeling to your attendees, those who bought those tickets, and they also have better seating. So all in all, it doesn't cost you anything financially, but it costs the ticket holders. But they're paying for it because they know they're going to get all these perks, and they put value to those perks.” (09:38 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If you are just starting out or you want to do some refinement of your business, check out the book, ‘The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur.' It teaches you the strategy about how to build a business and also the mindset required, financial knowledge, social marketing knowledge, but it also talks about the industry, like the actual way to plan events as well.” (12:42 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are looking for an "all in one" book that helps event planners gain more knowledge about event planning AND also provides a step by step guide on how to start and grow an event planning business, check out my book, The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur. Click the link to grab your copy!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Mistakes aren't failures; they are signals pointing to deeper issues. May Yeo Silvers explores why simply recognizing a mistake isn't enough. To break the cycle, you have to understand what led to it in the first place. She shares a story about her daughter struggling with a math problem, highlighting how assumptions and unchecked thought processes often cause repeated errors. The same patterns show up in business and life. Hiring out of desperation, investing in coaching but never applying the lessons, or choosing relationships that don't align with long-term goals.   Instead of dismissing mistakes as bad decisions, May encourages a different approach. What if the real issue isn't the mistake itself but how you respond to it? Are you evaluating the process behind your decisions or just reacting to the outcome? She challenges entrepreneurs to go beyond surface-level thinking and take ownership of their choices. Growth doesn't come from avoiding mistakes; it comes from understanding them.   Quotes • “If you don't understand the root cause of your mistake, it will be very difficult to avoid making the same mistake.” (02:20 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Hiring is not a mistake. Hiring the wrong person is a mistake, so you must learn to differentiate what exactly is the true problem here.” (06:32 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Is it really a mistake, the act of investing in a coach or the act of buying a course, or how you utilize what you bought is a mistake because you did not show up, you did not do what you're supposed to do?” (14:12 | May Yeo Silvers) • “There's never a perfect time to start a business. There's a better time, but never a perfect time.” (18:05 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Sometimes a business owner may not equally be a good CEO. You may be a creative brain, but you may not be a good leader. Then perhaps it's time to seek help on how to become a better leader.” (22:49 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links One of the reasons why many of the EVENTrepreneurs are slow to launch or are constantly in "prep mode" is because they are afraid of making "mistakes".    Entrepreneurship is challenging enough, imagine not having a blueprint to show you the What and the How, no wonder these EVENTrepreneurs are afraid to take actions fearing the potential loss that comes in all kinds.   This is WHY I created the Business Kickstart Bundle! In the bundle, there are 24 courses focusing on all the business fundamentals like pricing, marketing, sales, legalities etc that are easy to consume in a day, accompanied by step by step instructions on how to implement what you learn!    Best part is, it is priced ONLY at $24, and that is NOT a pricing mistake because I want to make this bundle accessible to EVERY EVENTrepreneur out there. Click on this link to find out what comes with the bundle!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Money moves fast in business, but without a solid plan, you could be spending when you should be investing—or worse, mismanaging the funds that keep your business running.   In this episode, May Yeo Silvers breaks down the essentials of business finance, from why every entrepreneur needs a dedicated business bank account to the smartest way to handle taxes without overpaying the IRS. She shares personal strategies for keeping transactions clean, managing client funds without costly mistakes, and making sure every dollar works toward growth.    How do you decide what to invest in, what to save, and what to spend? Tune in as May offers a practical approach to financial decisions that will keep your business strong.   Quotes • “Every time you receive revenue from your business, you should put aside a certain percentage of that revenue to pay taxes—minimum 20%. The goal is to put aside enough but not so much that you don't have enough capital left to invest back into your business.” (07:57 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “If you're trying to build a business, capital is extremely important. You want to be able to have some form of extra money left to invest back into your business.” (11:47 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You have to be so clear how you are going to use that money and disperse the money. If not, you will see this money and you will immediately start thinking you have all this money that you can invest in your business at one particular time, and when a better opportunity comes for investment, then you do not have the money.” (24:25 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You have to prioritize which of these activities or investments is going to get you the fastest growth or alleviate the biggest pain in the butt for you.” (25:39 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links You can be the BEST planner/designer/decorator. You can be the BEST marketer and salesperson. BUT, if you are NOT GOOD in managing your BUSINESS FINANCE, you will constantly be cash strapped, or spending the funds on the wrong things at the wrong time.   I LOVE talking about money. On my social media platforms, I talked a lot about how your relationship with money could determine if you will have money or you will always be short. I talked about how your upbringing affects your money mindset, how your surroundings (place and people) can play a part in how you see money and use money.    I hate to see an entrepreneur making LOTS of money, but they can't seem to keep it so it is always a constant chase to make more money. Follow me on social media to learn more about how to make money, how to manage your business funds and how to invest your hard earned money to make more money!    Disclaimer: I am not a financial planner, tax attorney or CPA. All information I shared is purely based on my own experience on how I managed MY OWN business funds.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most business owners spend money to grow, but how many actually track whether those investments are working? Are you making strategic decisions or just following what other event profs are investing in at the moment?   May Yeo Silvers breaks down how to measure return on investment across different business expenses, from networking events to software, coaching, and marketing. She explains the distinction between tangible and intangible returns—some deliver immediate financial results, while others, like knowledge or mindset shifts, take time to pay off.   Drawing from her experience at her own event planning company, M2 Hospitality, May shares how she strategically invests in relationships with high-end venues, tracks lead quality, and adjusts her spending based on conversion rates. She also discusses her own significant investments in business coaching, pointing out the importance of showing up, implementing what you learn, and setting clear milestones to assess success and ROI.   Whether you're investing in tools, mentorship, or relationships, this episode will help you spend smarter and maximize your ROI.   Quotes • “If they have given me a good amount of leads and I don't close, then the problem is me.” (14:43 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to track your numbers in terms of your return on investment, where you're spending your marketing dollars, and how much money you're getting back by doing that.” (15:41 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You cannot invest with a scarcity mindset to say that, ‘I invest this much money, I'm going to squeeze every single drop.'” (18:10 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You must implement what you learn immediately. You cannot wait for the perfect moment to do everything right.” (20:33 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “As a CEO of your business, you must make clearer decisions on where to spend your money, when to spend your money, and how to calculate how much you have received in order to justify if you should continue to invest in that one marketing activity.” (30:16 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are looking for a business course in the events field that requires MINIMAL investment of money and time to learn and yet receives a HUGE ROI, our $24 for 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle is the ULTIMATE guide that not only gives you the overview of what to expect when starting and growing your business, the bundle also provides the WHAT and the HOW. Click on this link https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast to find out what it includes!    Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most event planners fill their calendars with industry networking, but is that really the best way to grow your business?   May Yeo Silvers makes a case for being more strategic about where you invest your time, money, and energy, especially when it comes to networking. She shares why she doesn't prioritize events filled with fellow planners and instead focuses on rooms where potential clients gather. For those trying to scale beyond six figures, May explains why high-level business conversations, financial strategy, and operational efficiency matter more than rehashing industry basics.   Are you networking in the right places, or just following the crowd? This episode will help you rethink your approach and make every connection count.   Quotes • “When you are trying to grow your business, you have to decide what is the fastest path to take to get your brand out there. Based on where you are in your business and also in your life, you need to be so selective about how to spend your marketing dollars and also your time, especially if your business is a side hustle.” (00:53  | May Yeo Silvers) • “If I attend a networking event where I know other event planners will be, and I already have an idea of who will be there, I need to consider their level. If they are at the same stage as me or at a stage I've already surpassed in my business, then I won't gain much from attending.” (08:29 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “When you spend time and money to travel to these events, what is the return on investment that you will get? Because when you attend these types of events, would that be a direct approach or direct contact with your potential clients? Most probably not because they are all industry people.” (17:22  | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Before attending a networking event, establish your objective and determine the return on investment based on that goal.” (19:23 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links You don't have to attend networking events to get a good deal! If you are looking for a cost effective software to process a professional looking proposal, contract, invoice and to collect payments, I have something for you.   If you want robust software with all the bells and whistles, use my Honeybook affiliate link that gets you 30% off the first year of subscription, get a free trial and  enjoy the discount when you are ready to sign up!   If you are just starting out and want something that is simple and easy to use but at the same time, you want to look professional, have the capability to process invoices and collect payments, check out Rock Paper Coin! Use my affiliate link to get a 60% discount on your first year subscription!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Talent and passion for your craft are great, but are they enough to build a thriving business?    In this episode, May Yeo Silvers explores the biggest mistake new entrepreneurs make: underestimating the passion, discipline, and resilience required to run and grow a successful business. With insights and relatable examples, she highlights the harsh realities of entrepreneurship, from the challenges of consistent marketing to navigating setbacks and rejections.    May also encourages aspiring business owners to reflect on a critical question: Are you truly prepared to embrace the mindset and effort it takes to create something sustainable? This episode offers perspective and actionable advice for anyone ready to move beyond their craft and step into the world of business with purpose.   Quotes • “Your passion in starting, building, and growing your business where it's going to allow you to find clients who will pay you so that you can actually be paid to play has to be so much more intense.” (05:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The passion you have and the knowledge that you have, it's great. It's what you need to do service delivery. But the other side of the equation is your passion to run a business.” (04:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The rookie mistake is believing that having the craft alone is enough to start, run, and grow a successful business.” (12:32 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The business will test you in every shape and form—it will test you physically, mentally, and emotionally.” (12:51 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The question here is you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I want to walk this path or I am not ready to walk this path yet because of where I am in my life?'” (18:51 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you want to have a CLEAR idea what lays ahead of you when starting a business, our $24 for 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle is the ULTIMATE guide that not only gives you the overview of what to expect when starting and growing your business, the bundle also provides the WHAT and the HOW. Click on this link to find out what it includes!    Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Do you have something that people want to pay you for? That's the question you have to ask yourself,” says May Yeo Silvers, as she reframes what it truly takes to start a business.    In this episode, May challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to think beyond logistics and focus first on the value they bring. Do you have a skill that's been validated by others? Are people already asking to pay for what you offer? She shares why external feedback matters and how it can serve as a compass for building confidence and clarity.   May also explores the role of timing and personal circumstances in the entrepreneurial journey. Are you in a season of life where you can dedicate the time and energy needed? If not, what support or adjustments could help make it possible? Her practical advice encourages listeners to align their vision with their reality while prioritizing marketable skills and strategic planning.    May offers a clear and practical approach to starting a business, encouraging listeners to focus on their strengths, seek help where needed, and take actionable steps toward success.   Quotes • “Do you have something that people want to pay you for? That's the question you have to ask yourself.” (05:05 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to be able to have this skill set that you can confidently market to the public that will recognize your skill set, your talent, your work, and pay you money for it.” (08:53 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I've always said that there's never a good time to start a business. And it's true. You can start a business anytime, but there's actually a better time to start a business. Anytime is a good time, but there is a better time to start a business when you really ask yourself, where are you in your life?” (19:03 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Assess your external environment, your internal mindset. And then we go from there.” (24:46 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you like more free resources on how to start and build your events business, make sure to check me on my YouTube, IG, Facebook and LinkedIn for business strategies, tactics and the right mindset needed to succeed!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Big goals often fail because we focus on the end result instead of the daily steps that lead to success. In this episode, May Yeo Silvers introduces the concept of “Quit Friday,” the second Friday of January when many abandon their New Year resolutions, and explains how focusing on daily actions instead of yearly goals can help prevent premature quitting.    Using relatable examples, May points out the importance of breaking goals into manageable tasks. For instance, a resolution to lose 10 pounds in a year becomes more actionable when broken into monthly, weekly, and daily milestones, allowing for steady progress. Similarly, a financial goal of $120,000 annually feels less overwhelming when viewed as a daily target of $357.15, making it easier to maintain focus and track achievements.   May encourages consistency and small, incremental actions, arguing that methodical daily efforts build momentum and reduce the risks associated with taking big, risky leaps. This practical approach not only helps achieve goals but fosters accountability and long-term sustainability.   Join May as she provides actionable insights and motivational guidance to help you avoid the “Quit Friday” trap, stay committed, and turn your ambitious goals into achievable daily tasks!   Quotes • “The interesting thing is that not many people set a deadline for when they want to see results from their New Year's resolutions. However, inwardly, subconsciously, and emotionally, they expect to see results as soon as possible. If you take the time to closely examine the goals you've set for your New Year's resolutions, they are often—or in most cases—goals that require more than a month to achieve.” (03:40 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I want you to refocus and be extremely intentional about breaking down your yearly goals into smaller time frames. Use these to create manageable goals, devise a plan, list your tasks—your success list—and identify the daily actions needed to stay on track.” (11:23 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I want you to take a look at your New Year's resolution and stop focusing on what you need to do for the entire year. Instead, start focusing on questions like: What do I need to do today? Tomorrow? The day after? How did I do yesterday? What can I do differently today? Did I do well yesterday? If I did well yesterday, let's continue that momentum today. Repeat the action until you reach a point where you think, ‘Okay, I'm really good at this now.' Then ask yourself: What can I add tomorrow to build even more momentum? It's a process of repetition and reflection.” (16:47 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links After listening or watching this episode, I would love for you to send me a comment or DM and let me know what you are doing to NOT quit on "Quit Friday" (aka "Quitters Day") so I can share your strategies with my followers! You can reach me at any of the social media handles below: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Success in the event industry shouldn't demand exhaustion. In this episode, May Yeo Silvers urges event professionals to rethink the glamorized narrative of post-event burnout often shared on social media. She challenges the idea that physical exhaustion and pain should be seen as badges of honor or the norm for success in the event planning business.     Drawing from her early days at M2 Hospitality, where she handled every detail herself, May explains how she learned to prioritize sustainability and scalability. Through delegation, vendor trust, and detailed playbooks, she transformed her business model to avoid being physically present at every event, achieving both time freedom and long-term growth.     While acknowledging that some professionals find fulfillment in hands-on involvement, May prompts listeners to ask whether this approach aligns with their long-term goals, particularly when it comes to time freedom and scaling their businesses. She also cautions aspiring event professionals against assuming that constant exhaustion is the only path to success. By sharing her strategies, May offers an alternative roadmap for building a business that balances financial success, personal fulfillment, and sustainability.     May's message is clear: rethink your approach, align your business with your goals, and embrace a model that works for you—whether that's hands-on or visionary leadership.   Quotes • “If you are truly feeling wiped out, extremely exhausted after every event that you have done, there's something wrong.” (04:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Stop glamorizing your pain after each event. Do not glamorize your scars, your war wounds in our industry.” (05:20 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Not one entrepreneur that I spoke with tells me that they want to start a business because they want to fulfil their passion and they want to make a lot of money, and not because they want to have the time and freedom to do what they want, when they want.” (16:45 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If you are on the other side of the equation that you want to be hands-on, then start asking yourself: How much longer can I continue to work this way? And what happens when I'm sick?” (27:49 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links There is no one way to build a business and the most important thing to consider is however you decide to build your business, it should fulfill these 3 things: 1. Financial Freedom 2. Time Freedom 3. Personal Happiness and Fulfillment   If you are still in the early stages of building your events business, you may not have an idea how you should structure your business to achieve those 3 things mentioned above.    There are many online resources for you to learn from, BUT make sure if you want to copycat, find the right cat to copy. Check out my YouTube, IG, Facebook and LinkedIn to see if the business strategies, tactics and mindset I shared resonates with how you see your future self!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

For May Yeo Silvers, every day can be January 1st—a chance to act on your goals without waiting for the “right” moment. In the first episode of 2025, May unpacks the challenge of maintaining momentum with New Year resolutions. Why do so many of us wait for a Monday or the first of the month to begin? May challenges this mindset and shares why the first 90 days are crucial for building habits that stick.   May doesn't shy away from the truth: enthusiasm fades, often by the third month, when progress feels slow or motivation starts to waver. So, what's the answer when your drive dwindles? May suggests taking short, intentional breaks to recharge without losing the momentum you've worked hard to build. She raises an important question: how quickly do you recover when you fall off track?   May offers advice and encouragement, reminding us of the value of taking short, purposeful breaks to recharge without losing momentum. She cautions against extended pauses, which can disrupt progress, and inspires listeners to prioritize resilience, recover quickly from setbacks, and lean on supportive communities for accountability. With the right community and accountability, you can sidestep procrastination traps and stay on track. This episode serves as both a reality check and a pep talk, encouraging you to rethink your approach to goals and sustain your drive throughout the year.   Quotes • “Life will happen, and you get busy, and there are distractions. You keep pushing back and pushing back and pushing back the deadline to pick it back up. People or successful entrepreneurs are people who, when they fall off the wagon, it's not just about getting back on the wagon—that's step number one, all right? But what is going to differentiate them from just going back into the grind to actually rising from the grind is how FAST  they get back up on the wagon.” (10:02 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Allow yourself some time to reflect and to rest, but do not take longer than necessary because you will lose the enthusiasm. In business, we say ”time kills all deals”. If you want to do something, do it now.” (10:44 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Do not give yourself more time than you need to restart and know that you're not restarting from ground zero.” (13:48 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links Staying motivated AND accountable to yourself when the results are not what you expected even though you had "given it all" is one of the MOST CHALLENGING obstacles that stands between you and your goals.   It's good to have the know-how, but it is GREAT to have a community to support you when you are feeling discouraged, to help pull you up and push you to get out of the funk and more importantly, inspire you to believe that YOU CAN DO IT.   That is exactly what we do inside our Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur Live Support Community. Want to know how else we can support you in your EVENTrepreneur journey? Click on this link to find out!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Success, May Yeo Silvers notes, begins when you focus on what you can do today and take that first step, no matter how small. In this episode, she shares her straightforward approach to goal-setting and planning for the year ahead. How often do perfectionism or life's responsibilities stop you in your tracks? May's insights center on breaking tasks into smaller, doable steps and choosing progress over perfection.   Through a personal story of overcoming health challenges, May highlights the power of small actions to create momentum, showing how shifting focus from what's out of reach to what's within your grasp can lead to meaningful progress. Her thoughtful advice and relatable anecdotes inspire listeners to take purposeful action toward their goals while staying rooted in gratitude.   If you're seeking a clear, grounded way to prepare for 2025, this episode combines practical strategies with a touch of encouragement to help you get started with confidence.   Quotes  • “The worst thing you can do is to be stuck in perfectionism mode, constantly prepping and not taking any action. When you don't take action, you don't have any data to analyze, and you don't have any outcomes to refine to help you take more steps toward your goal.” (04:26 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “If you are focusing on either ‘it's all or nothing,' you are going to be extremely disappointed in your business and in your life. I know that firsthand, in many aspects of my life. And I'm pretty sure if you look at your life—your kids, if you have children, or your close friends and family—they will share examples with you that it is not all or nothing. This type of ‘all-or-nothing' living is extremely, extremely dangerous because it puts you in the mindset that you are constantly in prep mode. And when you're constantly in prep mode, you take no action.” (21:00 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Focus on what you can do instead of what you can't do. And the most important thing is to get started.” (30:45 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are looking for a daily boost of inspiration, education or motivation, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mayyeosilvers. Go to the "Shorts" tab, and enjoy the videos which are 60 seconds or less!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When plans unravel, resilience and adaptability become your greatest assets in building a thriving business. With over 20 years of experience, May Yeo Silvers exemplifies this as she shares actionable strategies for overcoming setbacks, staying grounded, and realigning goals to achieve both financial success and time freedom.   In the final part of her three-part series on strategic planning for 2025, May focuses on what to do when things don't go as planned. She highlights the importance of setting intentional, detailed goals—covering financial targets and time management—to create a balanced foundation for both work and personal life.   How do you stay committed to your goals when progress feels slow or uncertain? May introduces the ABCDE framework from Martin Seligman's book “Learned Optimism” to help entrepreneurs manage setbacks and maintain focus. This practical approach offers tools to shift negative beliefs, refine strategies, and stay on course.   Through personal stories and hard-earned insights, May explores the balance between ambition and well-being, showing how entrepreneurship is as much about mindset as it is about strategy. Can you truly define success without considering both financial freedom and time freedom? This episode challenges you to think differently, adapt boldly, and embrace the realities of the entrepreneurial journey.   Quotes  • “Do not be stuck in the ‘I want to make it perfect' zone. If you work only in your head, nobody knows whether it's perfect except you. But you are not the buyer. Your buyer will determine whether what you're putting out there is going to attract people to pay for what you are selling. You are not the one buying; you are the one selling. So, you can't use yourself as a gauge to decide whether it's good enough to be on the market. You will only know once you put it out there, collect data, and gather feedback.” (08:22 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You cannot tell yourself that you expect this outcome in the first month, second month, or third month. You have a goal but you cannot be so rigid that when the outcome or the result is not what you expected, you get discouraged. It can go both ways: the outcome could be better than what you expect, or it can be less than what you expect. Do not attach any meaning to the outcome. It's just an outcome.” (15:44 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Time is the most expensive resource that we cannot get back.” (48:15 | May Yeo Silvers)   • “Whose happiness is most important? Your happiness. And your happiness is created by you, not given to you by these people. You need to remember that. Your happiness and your fulfillment is created by you, not to be given to you by all these people.” (56:10 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you have invested time and money in learning the "what to" and "how to" for your events business, BUT you still feel like "something" is missing to catapult your business, perhaps having a supportive community of EVENTrepreneurs where you can bounce off ideas, seek advice from and get emotional support to cheer you on your EVENTrepreneur journey is the missing link.   Inside our Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur Live Support Community, we have Eventrepreneurs at different stages of their business and we share business strategies, event experiences etc so you don't make costly mistakes and learn from those who have been there and done that. Hear from these EVENTrepreneurs the ups and downs of being a business owner so you don't feel so lonely on this journey! Click on this link to learn more about the EVENTrepreneur LIVE SUPPORT Community.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Adjust your actions to meet your goals, not your goals to meet your actions.” May Yeo Silvers challenges us to rethink how we approach goal setting in part two of her three-part series on strategic planning for 2025. Are your goals pushing you to grow, or are they keeping you in your comfort zone?   In this episode, May explores the distinction between practical goals that feel safe and realistic goals that push you toward meaningful progress. Drawing from her own journey, she shares how to set goals that challenge you without overwhelming you, encouraging bold but achievable steps forward.   How much time, energy, or money are you truly willing to invest in your goals? May encourages listeners to assess their circumstances honestly, identifying opportunities to automate, delegate, or eliminate tasks that don't align with their priorities. She stresses the importance of tracking progress, refining strategies, and leaning on a supportive community for guidance and encouragement. Setbacks, she reminds us, are part of the process—and community can be a powerful source of resilience when they arise.   Quotes • “There is a big difference between setting realistic goals versus setting goals that are practical. For me, I like to have a good balance. Setting realistic goals, for me, are goals that are not only just practical, but it pushes me, and I will be able to find resources and support that will push me from practical to realistic.” (04:52 | May Yeo Silvers)  • ”When you are setting your realistic goals, it is pushing you more than whatever you're doing, but not pushing you so much to the extent that you feel that, ‘Oh my God, I'm never ever gonna make it.'” (09:45 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You have to also evaluate your current stage in your life—your current lifestyle. Do you have many obligations that will take time away from you working on your business? …A lot of business owners tell me that they are unable to grow their business because they don't have the time.” (18:01 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Adjust your actions to meet your goals, not your goals to meet your actions.” (25:03 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are thinking of launching your side hustle events business or considering doing a rebranding, our 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle will serve as your guide on how to start, launch and grow your events business.    The Business Kickstart Bundle includes all the fundamentals of business such as pricing for profit, marketing to gain visibility and leads, slaying sales to close those leads, business legalities, and mindset and productivity hacks. Click on this link to check out what the bundle offers!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“You need to tell money how you're going to spend it, and you need to tell time how you're going to use it,” says May Yeo Silvers, highlighting the power of intentionality in building a life and business that align with your priorities.    In this episode, the first of a three-part series on strategic planning for 2025, May challenges entrepreneurs to dig deeper into what they truly want. What does financial freedom look like for you—not just in theory, but in numbers? And how would you use time freedom if you had it? She shares her own journey, the lessons learned from balancing two businesses, and the mindset shifts that helped her define success on her terms.   May reminds listeners that entrepreneurship isn't just about pursuing your passion but also about building the structure that allows you to do so sustainably. With a mix of practical insights and real-world examples, this episode is a guide to creating clear goals and preparing for the realities of running a business. What steps will you take to align your goals with the life you want?   Quotes • “You will come to realize in entrepreneurship that certain things you can have a general idea about. But when it comes to implementation, when it comes back to the fundamentals of why something is working or not working, why you want something or why you don't, you have to be so specific in acknowledging your emotions, desires, and fears. These are the things that will either propel you forward or pull you back from reaching your goals.” (11:06 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to tell money how you're going to spend it, and you need to tell time how you're going to use it.” (39:38 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The passion for building the business has to be equal, if not greater, than the passion you have for your fulfillment, your skill set, and your craft. So, you need to start by being honest with yourself: Do I have the passion to build the business?” (48:40 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are thinking of starting a side hustle or turning your side hustle into a full time business in 2025,  make sure you check out The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Book.  I had consolidated all my years of experience in the events field and how I built a multiple 6 figure profit events business, all into a book that you can finish reading in a day.  This book has become the blueprint for many event planners, designers and decorators to help guide them to turn their passion for events into a profitable business. In the book, I covered strategies and tactics, PLUS addressing the emotional roller coaster ride and how to manage those emotions to make decisions that will not only help you survive, BUT THRIVE in both your business and personal life. Click on this link to get your copy today! https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“If they can't find you, they can't pay you.” For any business, visibility is essential. In this episode, May Yeo Silvers gets straight to the heart of why many entrepreneurs struggle with sales, breaking it down into three core reasons that often go unnoticed.     Are you making it easy for potential clients to discover your business? Sporadic social media posts or a static website aren't enough. May challenges listeners to think about whether their marketing is consistent, aligned with their personality, and actually reaching the right audience.     May also asks: Are you speaking to the people who truly need and value your services? Selling to the wrong crowd—or worse, failing to address your clients' core needs—could be why you're not closing deals.     This isn't about doing more; it's about doing it smarter. Drawing from her extensive experience in the events industry, May shares actionable insights and real-world examples, offering clarity and solutions for these common pitfalls. Ready to refine your approach and connect with your ideal clients? Tune in and take the first step!   Quotes • “You need consistent marketing, and it's important to find a marketing style that suits your personality. In my ‘Events4Anyone' Facebook group, I shared a tutorial on choosing a marketing strategy based on your resources—whether you have more time or money—and your personality type. Evaluating these factors helps you develop a consistent strategy to let people know you have something to sell. Remember, if they can't find you, they can't pay you.” (03:41 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If you're selling the product to the wrong people, they may not see the need for it right now. Without a strategy to entice them to buy now, they also might not see that what you're offering is something they actually want. Additionally, they may not be able to afford it, or your price could be too high. They might want your service and want it now, but if your pricing is wrong, that could be a barrier.” (05:39 | May Yeo Silvers) • “In order to upsell, you must first satisfy their core needs, then you upsell your other services that you can very confidently speak about.” (27:46 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If knowing how to sell is your Achilles heel, check out our FREE private facebook group: Events4Anyone-A-Z guide to help you start and grow your events business. Inside the facebook group, there is an entire module called "Slaying Sales" where I have several free videos teaching you how to SLAY SALES! Here's the link to join the group.   If you want more hands on help where you ask questions and also learn from others who have walked the path before you, our LIVE SUPPORT community could be what you are looking for. Click on this link to find out what the community offers!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com  Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“This is your business. If you're going to invest time and energy qualifying a lead to decide whether to book an event, you need to ensure you're making the right decision. Because whatever you're saying ‘yes' to, you're saying ‘no' to something else.”   May Yeo Silvers discusses recognizing red flags when speaking to potential clients, a skill every event planner needs to master. She emphasizes the importance of being selective with your time and energy, sharing three key warning signs that indicate a lead might not be the right fit for your business.   What should you do when a client mentions they already have a friend or family member in the industry? How do you respond when they want to source their own vendors, creating a potential loss of control over the event's quality? And what's the best way to handle objections about your fees? May walks listeners through each scenario, offering clear strategies to navigate these situations with professionalism and confidence.   This episode challenges event planners to think critically about how they are qualifying their leads. May's actionable advice reminds listeners that being selective is not only okay—it's a key ingredient to building a successful, sustainable business.   Quotes • “This is your business. If you're going to invest time and energy qualifying a lead to decide whether to book an event, you need to ensure you're making the right decision. Because whatever you're saying ‘yes' to, you're saying ‘no' to something else.” (09:41 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You have to find out what is the ultimate desire. What is the ultimate motivation for them to have this event? What is the result that they want that they will say, ‘I will pay whatever it is to get that result'? You need to find out: What is extremely important to them about this event, and what do they want the outcome of the event to be? How is it going to impact them? How is it going to impact their business? How is it going to impact their relationship with the people at the event?” (28:30 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Anytime you spend your time and energy on something you're uncertain about, you're taking away from pursuing something you feel more confident about. Time and energy are so precious.” (31:34 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You can be the most skillful planner, designer, or decorator—those are all incredible skills. But if you can't sell and close, then your skill remains a hobby. It might bring you fulfillment when you do events, but if you're aiming to run a business and turn your passion, skill, and talent into revenue, you must learn to sell, qualify, and close.” (34:40 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links The most important skill set to have apart from being a talented planner, designer and decorator is to know HOW TO SELL. You can be the BEST in what you do, you can be the BEST marketer of your services, BUT if you don't know how to sell, your talent can only be showcased through non-paid events. If doing events gives you fulfillment as a hobby, fantastic. But if you want to turn your passion AND talent into a profitable business, you need to learn HOW TO SELL. Inside our 24 courses for $24 Business Kickstart Bundle, one of the modules is Slaying Sales. There are videos of roleplay and also a video of me talking to a lead and closing the lead, so you see me in action! The bundle also includes all the fundamentals of business such as pricing, marketing, legalities, and mindset and productivity hacks. Click on this link https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast to check out what the bundle offers!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“If you can't even respect your own boundaries, how can you expect your client to respond or respect your boundaries?” says May Yeo Silvers in this episode, as she explores the art of setting firm but respectful boundaries with clients in the event planning industry.    May shares personal stories and practical advice, stressing the importance of being proactive from the outset—establishing clear expectations around communication, workflow, and availability during the initial sales process. She highlights documenting communications and maintaining professionalism as ways to reinforce these boundaries, while also advising planners to respect their own time to avoid setting unsustainable precedents.    With a blend of empathy and assertiveness, May's insights guide event planners in creating a balanced, fulfilling work-life dynamic, ensuring both their clients' satisfaction and their own well-being.   Quotes • “How do you set boundaries? What do you say to clients who don't seem to understand that they don't own you? When they contract you, they don't own you. I can understand from the client's perspective that they don't want to forget details. So, they send you an email, a text message, or ask to get on a call because, for them, it's so urgent. So, what do you do when you have a situation like this, after they've already hired you? What you need to do is not react—not handle this problem in a reactive mode. You need to handle it in a proactive mode, meaning you prevent it from happening before it even begins.” (05:47 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I am super protective about my boundaries, my time, and I make sure that my client is aware of that.” (24:44 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You need to respect your own boundaries because if you don't, your client won't either.” (25:11 | May Yeo Silvers) • “All of this has to be done with finesse. It cannot be cold. It has to be done with a level of understanding, a level of curiosity, and communicated in a way that helps them understand why, for the sake of efficiency and clarity, you need certain information before getting on a call with them or responding to them. All of this comes with experience and your personality.” (26:10 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you are looking to join a facebook group where you get to learn about how to plan events, marketing and business fundamentals to help you launch your events business PLUS a community of over 8k EVENTrepreneurs to share ideas, experience or simply to support one another, check out our FREE private facebook group: Events4Anyone:A-Z guide on how to start & grow your event planning business. Every week, we drop a new video about business strategies and event planning tips. Click the link here to join (https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone). Hope to see you inside the facebook group!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Golden hour is the hour of the day that you are operating at peak efficiency or at optimum. That means you are at your most focused, your best form, you are in the zone,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she discusses the value of identifying and embracing these golden hours to boost productivity and balance in both business and life. May shares her personal experience of adjusting to life after a serious illness, explaining how tuning into these peak moments has helped her maintain progress, even when physical limitations make it challenging. She encourages listeners to cultivate self-awareness, align tasks with their available energy, and leverage these moments for impactful results.   For those looking for additional support and inspiration, May invites listeners to join the Unstoppable Eventrepreneur community—a space for networking, encouragement, and practical business strategies. May's message is clear: finding and making the most of your golden hours, even during difficult times, can be the key to sustaining and growing a successful business.   Quotes • “Golden hour is the hour of the day that you are operating at peak efficiency or at optimum. That means you are at your most focused, your best form, you are in the zone.” (01:35 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “It's not a situation when you're building a business where it's either you do nothing or you do everything... Business is like a fire. You've got to start with the flint.” (10:57 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to find that particular spark in your waking hours where you find that burst of motivation and energy to fan the fire in your business.” (18:56 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Once you are so self-aware of how your body is feeling, how your mind is feeling, how your emotions are feeling, then you will know when to just do a small fanning of the fire or a big fanning to create a big blaze for your business.” (22:47 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you are looking for business and emotional support to cheer you on your EVENTrepreneur journey, our Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur LIVE SUPPORT Community could be the answer. We have Eventrepreneurs at different stages of their business and we share business strategies, event experiences etc so you don't make costly mistakes and learn from those who have been there and done that. Hear from these eventrepreneurs the ups and downs of being a business owner so you don't feel so lonely on this journey!  Click on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/17livesupportupsell24kb) to learn more about the EVENTrepreneur LIVE SUPPORT Community.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Every client thinks that they're the most important client. Their event is the most important. Nothing else matters. This is their perspective, and you need to respect their perspective because they're spending good money,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she discusses the critical role of communication in the event planning industry, focusing on how professionals can navigate client interactions with empathy and professionalism.   May points out common missteps made by event planners, designers, and decorators, such as citing multiple ongoing projects or personal financial obligations to explain delays. These explanations, while factual, can leave clients feeling undervalued and unimportant, harming the client-vendor relationship. Instead, she advocates for a client-first mindset, where every client is made to feel like the top priority.    May offers practical tips on how to reframe potentially dismissive language, such as addressing delays or additional charges by referring back to the agreed scope of work. This approach reinforces the client's investment and avoids diminishing their sense of importance.   Clear and respectful communication, especially when discussing scope changes or missed deadlines, is essential. By assuming the best intentions from clients and their teams, event professionals can foster a positive and supportive environment, strengthening relationships and enhancing client satisfaction.    Quotes • “Every client thinks that they're the most important client, their event is the most important. Nothing else matters. This is their perspective, and you need to respect their perspective because they're spending good money.” (06:55 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Ego is going to kill all deals. In this position, you never want to be the one with the big ego. Let the client be the big ego.” (17:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to make your client feel like they are the number one; the one and only client. And you also need to be very clear about what is the scope of work that they hire you for and remind your client that that is the scope of work that they hire you for. Anything beyond that is an additional cost.” (19:20 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Maintaining your relationship with your existing clients is gonna help you grow your business so much easier and faster than you think you can.” (21:24 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are looking for a blueprint on the how's and the what's on starting an event planning business, check out the Unstoppable Eventrepreneur book. I laid out all the business fundamentals, strategies, the traits, the mindset work AND the emotional roller coaster ride that you will experience to start, grow and thrive in your events business. Get your copy on Amazon today!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“It is your job to educate your client on the specific expectations for the on-site coordinator and the tasks they need to perform on that day,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she points out the importance of clearly communicating the role of an on-site coordinator to clients, especially when they assume friends, family, or venue staff can handle these responsibilities. May underscores that while these informal helpers may have good intentions, they often lack the experience needed to manage the intricate details of an event, from vendor coordination to ensuring everything runs on schedule.   May encourages event planners to take a proactive approach by explaining the value of professional coordination and the specific tasks involved. This episode empowers planners to demonstrate why investing in an on-site coordinator ensures the event flows smoothly and prevents well-meaning but unprepared helpers from becoming overwhelmed. By educating clients on the complexities of event management, planners can help them understand the importance of having experienced professionals in place on their special day.   Quotes • “It is your job to educate your client on the specific expectations for the on-site coordinator and the tasks they need to perform on that day.” (11:16 | May Yeo Silvers) • “As a planner, don't discount or brush it off or be condescending when your client tells you that they have friends and family helping. It's not because they want to save money. Sometimes it could be, but sometimes it could be out of good intention that they want to do it, but they really have no idea what is required of them.” (17:38 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You have to make it as professional, as formal as possible so that your client and the person whom they say that they're going to be helping feels the importance of this role, which is going to be the key player.” (20:10 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are just starting to launch your events business or thinking of starting one, know that knowing how to sell IS one of the keys to profitability. You can be the best marketer, but if you don't know how to close a lead, your business eventually becomes a hobby because you can't ask for what you really want to be paid. Inside our Business Kickstart Bundle, one of the modules is Slaying Sales. There are videos of roleplay and also a video of me talking to a lead and closing the lead, so you see me in action! The bundle also includes all the fundamentals of business such as pricing, marketing, legalities, and mindset and productivity hacks. Click on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast) to check out what the bundle offers!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“You need to understand, from a planner's perspective, what fees will remain unchanged, even if the number of attendees fluctuates, unless there's a significant increase in your workload,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she addresses a common dilemma for event planners: whether to reduce fees when a client's guest count changes. Drawing on her experience, May explains that while tangible costs like food and decor may fluctuate with the number of attendees, the essential planning tasks—such as venue sourcing, contract negotiations, and vendor coordination—remain constant, regardless of event size.   She emphasizes the importance of educating clients about this distinction, helping them understand that the time and expertise involved in planning an event are consistent, whether it's for 10 or 1,000 people. By doing so, planners can ensure their fees reflect the true value of their work, avoiding the pitfall of reducing prices when the workload hasn't changed. May encourages event professionals to confidently stand by their pricing, while also being transparent about when adjustments may be justified for specific, tangible services.   Quotes • “If you need me to source for a venue, the work of sourcing the venue is still the same. It doesn't matter whether I'm sourcing for 10 people or 1,000 people.” (03:02 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Your fee in terms of planning and designing will not go down because these are intangible services. That means they can't really see an actual product. It's a service that you provide.” (03:56 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The only thing that the numbers will fluctuate will be the actual product. The food and beverage cost will go down because you're feeding less people.” (05:15 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You need to understand, from a planner's perspective, what fees will remain unchanged, even if the number of attendees fluctuates, unless there's a significant increase in your workload.” (07:26 | May Yeo Silvers)   Make sure you go to the show notes and follow me on social media to learn more strategies about how to thrive in the competitive events industry!   Links Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“As a business owner, if you don't work, you don't make money. So you have to be extremely disciplined when it comes to cash flow,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she shares a personal story about her recent health scare, highlighting the critical need for both self-care and careful financial management.    May emphasizes that, while it's easy to focus on booking events and generating revenue, many business owners neglect essential financial practices, such as tracking deposits and managing expenses. Without a clear understanding of cash flow, even successful businesses can run into trouble. She points out the importance of regularly checking bank accounts and credit card balances to avoid overspending or falling into debt, and reminds listeners that discipline is the key to staying financially healthy.   May urges entrepreneurs to move beyond the day-to-day operations of their businesses and take an active role in managing their financial health. She encourages listeners to join her live support community, where they can receive hands-on guidance and accountability in overcoming financial challenges. The community offers co-working sessions and practical support to help business owners maintain a firm grasp on their financials and sustain long-term success. Click here to learn more!   Quotes • “As a business owner, if you don't work, you don't make money. So you have to be extremely disciplined when it comes to cash flow. When the money is coming in, and you're grateful for the sales effort that's paying off and converting into paid clients, you need the discipline to pay yourself, cover your bills, and set aside contingency funds.” (09:59 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If your credit card bill is higher than what you have in the bank, that's a major red flag.” (14:04 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You are operating in your business instead of managing your business.” (16:02 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You have to look at your numbers. You have to be so disciplined to look at your numbers. It's not the sexiest thing to do, but if you don't get this part right, your business is just running in circles.” (18:08 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are a EVENTrepreneur CEO who is making "getting to know your financial numbers" a priority but you want someone who can explain to you what the numbers mean in the events business terms (not some generic quickbook lingo), check out our Live Support Community where we have co-working sessions to do CEO tasks and one of the sessions actually focuses on understanding your business finance. Click on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/17livesupportupsell24kb) to find out what else the Live Support Community offers!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When most people think of running a business, they imagine making lots of money, traveling the world, and working less. May Yeo Silvers calls this the CEO mindset. While this lifestyle is achievable, it requires a lot of groundwork. In this episode replay, she explains the difference between a CEO mindset and an employee mindset.   May points out that letting go of the employee mindset is the first step towards building a successful business, and that entails focusing on investing in your business and being prepared to go the extra mile. Unlike employees, CEOs take on more risks because they are accountable for the outcome of every decision. Before starting a business, it's really important to understand what being a CEO truly involves.   Tune in to this week's episode to know the key differences between a business owner and a CEO, the value of investing in your business, and how defining your “why” can help you shift from an employee mindset to a successful CEO.   Quotes • “When you own a business and you know how to run your business, your business is profitable and your business can run without you, you certainly can enjoy the fruits of your labor where you make a lot of money and work very little, very few hours, have minimal involvement in your business, except for critical decisions and communication with your key staff who is running your business. You can take vacation anytime. So, that is the dream life of a CEO or a business owner. But in order to get there, there is some work that needs to be done.” (05:01 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “As a CEO, you are the only person. You have to make all of the decisions and you have to go figure things out.” (07:32 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “In order for your business or your side hustle to become a full-time job, you have got to stop thinking like an employee.” (12:54 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “A CEO is up for challenges. A CEO loves the potential for great results and they're not afraid to fail.”  (15:55 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are ready to turn your passion for events into a profitable business instead of an expensive hobby, your lowest cost of investment to find one of the best resources in the events field is our 24 course Business Kickstart Bundle, at only $24! The bundle focuses on the key pillar of business success: Pricing for Profit, Marketing for Brand Visibility, Sales Strategy to Close Sales, Business Legalities, Mindset and Productivity Hacks!  Click on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast) to get your bundle today!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Every time your client has to pay for one thing, it means they will have less money to pay for another thing. And that other thing could be you,” says May Yeo Silvers, as she explores the impact of room rental fees on overall event budgets. She emphasizes that event planners need to understand the broader financial picture, as every expense—whether it's decor, catering, or venue rental—affects what's left to cover their own fees.    May expresses her strong dislike for room rental fees, especially in the post-COVID environment where venues have become stricter due to rising operational costs. However, she also shares when it may be necessary to pay these fees, such as for events with large spaces or extensive setup needs. She touches on strategies like negotiating room rental fees alongside food and beverage minimums to create a win-win for both the client and the venue.   May encourages event professionals to think beyond their immediate tasks and adopt a more strategic view of the entire event budget which can strengthen relationships with clients and establish the planner as a trusted expert who can navigate financial decisions with ease.    Quotes • “Remember, every time your client has to pay for one thing, it means they will have less money to pay for another thing. And that other thing could be you.” (01:14 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “You don't want to have your blinders on and only focus on your one thing. It's good to understand the whole picture when an event is happening or when your client needs help with an event. Knowing the event budget will really help because it shows your expertise as an event professional who has more knowledge than just doing that one thing. Your client gains more trust in you because you've been able to offer advice and guidance outside your scope of work.” (01:47 | May Yeo Silvers) • “I'm a strategist. I don't just take orders from my client. I understand their vision, their needs for the events, and then I go to work when it comes to doing the event budget. I try to strategize the best way to negotiate the best contract for my client.” (21:11 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Should you advise your client to pay room rental? This is just touching the surface, but it's a good tip you can learn, right? You, as a planner or an event strategist—if you want to call yourself that, just like I do—don't just take orders. I question every single thing. I strategize every single component when planning the event. So, this is another piece of knowledge you can put in your tool bag to help your client and showcase your expertise and value.” (24:13 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you are ready to turn your passion for events into a profitable business instead of an expensive hobby, your lowest cost of investment to find one of the best resources in the events field is our 24 course Business Kickstart Bundle, at only $24!   The bundle focuses on the key pillar of business success: Pricing for Profit, Marketing for Brand Visibility, Sales Strategy to Close Sales, Business Legalities, Mindset and Productivity Hacks! Click on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast) to get your bundle today!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“It's not just the money—your reputation is on the line. That's why I say you need to learn this skill. And once you learn it, your clients and your vendors will love you,” says May Yeo Silvers. This week, May underscores a vital skill for event professionals: mastering the logistics of setup time. She explains that success hinges on knowing how much time vendors need and ensuring that venues are booked accordingly to avoid last-minute stress, added costs, and rushed setups.   May highlights how poor planning often results in rushed setups, increased labor costs, and unnecessary tension. From missing critical details like audiovisual setups to underestimating the time needed for custom designs, such oversights can jeopardize the event. One example she shares involves an event at a New York library, where the venue was booked for just the day of the event, leaving no time for proper setup—leading to a chaotic and stressful situation for both vendors and the client.   May encourages event professionals to ask detailed questions, negotiate for adequate setup time, and compare the costs between extra labor and additional venue hours. Proper communication and planning with vendors not only save money and reduce stress but also help maintain a strong reputation. By mastering these logistics, professionals can ensure smooth, well-executed events that build trust and satisfaction with clients and vendors alike.   Quotes • “The skill I'm talking about is the ability to understand what is required for the event to happen successfully in terms of logistics—particularly the time it takes for vendors to set up the event.” (04:25 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Whether you are a planner, designer, or decorator, when you are tasked with booking a venue as part of your service—especially as a planner—if you are hired to book the venue for your client's event, or if you are a designer or decorator hired to design or decorate the event, you need to have a crystal clear idea of how long it's going to take for you, the designer or decorator, to execute the design. And if you're a planner, you need to have a very clear idea of how long it's going to take for your vendors, or the vendors that you or the client has hired, to execute the event.” (05:04 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The particular skill you need to have is knowing how long it takes for the entire event to be set up. Not just your scope, but the whole event.” (24:14 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “It's not just the money—your reputation is on the line. That's why I say you need to learn this skill. And once you learn it, your clients and your vendors will love you. They'll love you because you have a helicopter view of what it takes to make the event successful.” (25:44 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links Join my FREE private facebook group: Events4Anyone-A-Z guide on how to start and grow your event planning business to learn more about event planning skills and business skills!   Inside the facebook group, we have modules that focus on Event Planning Skills, What you need to start your business, Sales and Marketing strategies, and even Mindset and Productivity hacks! Come join the rest of the 8k EVENTrepreneurs inside the community to grow your network and broaden your skills!   Click this link to join the free private facebook group. See you on the inside!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I spent over $100,000 on business mentors who helped me build my business, improve my wealth awareness, and taught me how to sell. I also worked with mentors who helped me understand the programming from my childhood to adulthood, and how I could change that programming. This shift in my belief system improved my relationships with my family, clients, vendors, and many other areas of my life,” shares May Yeo Silvers.   This week, May reflects on the pivotal role mentorship played in her journey, offering key lessons for personal and business growth. She debunks the idea of waiting for the “right time” to take action, urging entrepreneurs to create their own opportunities and avoid procrastination. May emphasizes the importance of financial discipline, noting that successful entrepreneurs find ways to generate and allocate resources, rather than making excuses. Understanding how clients perceive value is essential in sales, where aligning your services with their priorities can make all the difference.   May also tackles the emotional challenges of running a business, from letting go of underperforming employees to standing firm on pricing. She advocates for focusing more on the business side of things than the craft itself, urging entrepreneurs to embrace business strategies and management to achieve sustainable growth. For those struggling with these aspects, May advises seeking mentorship or partnerships to develop the essential skills needed to run a successful business.   Through her experiences and lessons learned from her mentors, May provides actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to accelerate their business growth, highlighting the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to decision-making.   Quotes • “When you're building a business, there's never really a ‘right' time. It's about what you make of the time you have. It's like flying the plane while you're still building it. Your job is to try not to crash badly. I say ‘try not to crash badly' instead of ‘try not to crash' because you will crash. That's when you know that whatever you're doing isn't working.” (07:58 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Learning how to start, grow, and sustain a business is a completely different skill set from the actual skills needed for client fulfillment and providing your services. You need to understand that.” (17:56 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “If you don't have a love for business—whether it's starting, growing, or sustaining it, and if you don't enjoy any part of it, including business strategies and tactics—then it will be a challenge. It's not easy to love, as it will test you as a person and as a CEO, tearing you down while also lifting you up.” (20:02 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you don't want nor do you have the resources to invest over $100k for business mentors, the most economical way is to join our Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Live Community.   We host 4 LIVE zoom calls a month where the community members come and co-work to get their CEO stuff done, and they also get to ask questions and learn from EVENTrepreneurs, including myself, who have been there and done that. This is probably the cheapest and fastest way to grow your business where the investment is low, and the learning curve is so much smoother than trying to figure it out on your own!   Click this link to get the details of what the Live Community offers!    Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Being on a preferred vendor list doesn't guarantee you business. In fact, sometimes it can cost you more than not being on the list at all,” says May Yeo Silvers. This week, May explores the advantages and potential pitfalls of preferred vendor lists within the event planning industry. She explains that these lists help streamline the planning process for clients by offering a curated selection of trusted vendors, benefiting both clients and venue staff. From a venue's perspective, preferred vendor lists can be a powerful marketing tool that fosters mutually beneficial relationships with vendors who, in turn, may refer clients back to the venue.   However, May points out that for service providers, being on a preferred vendor list does not automatically translate to guaranteed business. It's crucial for vendors to maintain strong relationships with venue staff, especially given the high turnover in the events industry, to stay top of mind for referrals. She also highlights the potential challenges vendors may face if they are not on these lists, particularly with venues that have strict policies about outside vendors.   May encourages both venues and service providers to carefully assess their strategies regarding preferred vendor lists. She emphasizes that these lists should support business growth rather than hinder it, urging both parties to consider whether participation truly aligns with their goals.   Quotes • “If you're a venue, it's important to invite vendors from all categories to come and see your space. This way, you're not just marketing yourself to the end user, but also to vendors who can refer leads to you. By doing this, you make sure that vendors know you exist, and they can refer clients who are still looking for a venue.” (06:00 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “As a service provider, should you consider being on a preferred vendor list? My take is that it depends on your goal. If you believe that paying to be on a preferred vendor list will bring in a lot more leads, and those leads are highly viable, then it could be worth considering.” (23:19 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “It's also important to ensure that the venue is careful about limiting the number of vendors in each category. A good practice for a venue is to have no more than three vendors per category, so everyone has a fair chance to bid for the business. However, if a venue has five to eight vendors per category, I wouldn't suggest paying to be on that list.” (23:40 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Being on a preferred vendor list doesn't guarantee you business. In fact, sometimes it can cost you more than not being on the list at all.” (25:13 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are one of those people who like to learn by reading and highlighting notes on a physical book, make sure you check out The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur book.   This is one of my "babies" that I spent countless hours on consolidating all my years of experience in the events field and how I built a multiple 6 figure profit events business, all into a book that you can finish reading in a day. This book has become the blueprint for many event planners, designers and decorators to help guide them to turn their passion for events into a profitable business.   Click on this link to get your copy today! https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Statistics show that growing a business is much easier and more profitable when the majority of your clients are repeat customers rather than constantly chasing new ones,” explains May Yeo Silvers. This week, she highlights the vital role that cultivating repeat clients plays in building a sustainable and successful event planning business. May shares insights from her own company, M2 Hospitality, where long-term client relationships have been key to their ongoing success. She emphasizes that securing repeat clients is not only more cost-effective but also less time-consuming than continually acquiring new ones.   To create a resilient business, May suggests maintaining a balanced client base with 50% repeat clients and 50% new clients. This approach ensures stability even if some clients temporarily pause their services. She stresses the importance of continuous marketing and outreach to preserve this balance and prevent revenue dips. May offers actionable advice on fostering repeat business by delivering outstanding service from the first engagement and nurturing personal relationships with clients.    Quotes • “‘Why is it important to get repeat clients? It is because statistics show that growing a business is much easier and more profitable when the majority of your clients are repeat customers rather than constantly chasing new ones.” (01:18 | May Yeo Silvers) • “It costs a lot more time, money, and energy to get new clients versus getting repeated business because the people who have used you once have already experienced the level of service from you, and they also know what it's like to work with you. Therefore, there is less hesitation to want to work with you again, provided that, of course, the first experience is a good experience.” (01:42 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “It's so important that even though it doesn't require a lot of time, energy, and money to keep repeat clients, you must continue to grow that repeat client base, and that can only happen if you grow your new client base. They move in tandem.” (06:42 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “This is Marketing 101. Get back to your repeat clients. Check in on them. Let them know you appreciate them.” (23:08 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are looking for an event prof community where you can ask the what, the how, the accountability and support, check out our Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Community!   Inside the community, we host co-working sessions and personal development calls. Here's a glance of our sample August call schedule:   Co-Working Sessions: Wed Aug 7 8pm EDT: Content Strategy and Digital Presence Co-Working session. We will talk about how to use AI tools to help you create your social media content strategy. If you want to volunteer for this exercise so we can help create your social media content, please DM me. First come first serve. If there's time left for website and social media audit, pls DM me. First come first serve.   Tues Aug 13 8pm EST: Business legalities, system and process, Funds management, CEO schedule   Tues Aug 20 8pm EST: Style Shoot, Sales and Marketing   Hot Seat Q&A With May: Wed Aug 28 8pm EST: Come on and ask questions! I will also talk about the process I went through to overcome my “limiting self beliefs” when I grew my business from high 5 figures into a multiple high 6 figures profit company.   Personal Development Call: Thurs Aug 15 8pm EST: Topic for August-Building Consistency.   Want to be in a community like ours? Find out more about our Live Support community by clicking on this link (https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/17livesupportupsell24kb) to get the details!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I can totally relate to this because I feel that pain in my own business, even though we have a successful business. It can plateau, or it can decline in terms of growth. I have to do some soul-searching and a lot of auditing to understand why my business is not growing as fast as I want it to,” shares May Yeo Silvers.    Entrepreneurs need to invest time and energy in critical analysis of your marketing tactics to overcome growth plateaus and optimize results in all aspects of their business.  For example, May emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to social media marketing, advising that while consistent posting is vital, success hinges on understanding what content truly drives engagement and conversions. She shares that, although her Instagram reels attract followers, it's the static posts and carousels that generate more significant engagement and sales, underscoring the importance of focusing efforts on what works best.   Email marketing is a powerful tool, but May stresses the importance of analyzing which emails achieve higher open rates. Tailoring content to audience preferences can significantly boost engagement and sales, as evidenced by her own revenue-generating email campaigns.    May also explores the value of in-person marketing, such as trade shows and networking events, urging entrepreneurs to track ROI meticulously. By focusing on the most profitable opportunities, businesses can allocate resources more effectively.   EVENTrepreneurs should regularly audit their marketing activities to determine what works and what doesn't, enabling them to make informed decisions and focus activity in the areas that actually drive business growth.   Quotes • “I can totally relate to this because I feel that pain in my own business, even though we have a successful business. It can plateau, or it can decline in terms of growth. I have to do some soul-searching and a lot of auditing to understand why my business is not growing as fast as I want it to.” (02:30 | May Yeo Silvers) • “You can see that many business owners are doing the right thing, which is marketing themselves in different formats… The action is correct, but not all actions will yield the same results. And because time is limited, and resources are limited, you want to be able to focus your time and resources on those right things that are yielding results at a faster pace. So don't think that you are doing everything correctly.” (23:31 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Do not stop doing the right things, but be more intentional and critical in auditing and analyzing the results that all the right things you're doing are yielding. This way, you'll know how to channel your time and resources into the things that are really working for you.” (25:16 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links It is a challenge to determine what are the "right" things to do when you are launching and growing your business. It is also a challenge to decipher if you are doing the "right" things correctly.   These are the questions that EVENTrepreneurs have swirling in their head, and also keep them from gaining momentum in their business. Why tackle the EVENTrepreneur journey alone when you can be in a community where there are other EVENTrepreneurs who have already walked this journey and can guide you from making expensive mistakes and wasting time?   Click on this link to find out what the Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Live Support Community has to offer!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“How much revenue my business generates means nothing to me in reality. What I care about is the profit,” shares May Yeo Silvers. This week, May delves into the essential strategies and mindset shifts needed to grow an event planning business from four-figure to six-figure profits. Drawing from her extensive experience in the events industry, May emphasizes focusing on profit over revenue, describing revenue as merely a vanity metric. She outlines a clear path for business growth, starting with the foundational steps necessary to achieve a four-figure profit, often involving significant “sweat equity” and manual effort, especially for those balancing a full-time job with their entrepreneurial pursuits.   May highlights the importance of auditing efficiency and productivity in the early stages of business development. She advises new entrepreneurs to be frugal with resources, investing only in essential tools and software that directly contribute to sales and client acquisition. As the business grows to a five-figure profit, she recommends gradually incorporating paid marketing strategies, such as ads and trade shows, and considering hiring virtual assistants to handle time-consuming tasks, allowing the entrepreneur to focus more on sales and marketing outreach.   According to May, the transition to a six-figure profit is more about mindset than operational changes. She discusses common psychological barriers that entrepreneurs face, such as imposter syndrome and the fear of growth, which can hinder progress. May shares her personal experiences of overcoming these mental hurdles and emphasizes the need for intentional business structuring. She advocates for building a capable team and refining systems and processes to sustain and scale the business further.   Quotes • “How much revenue my business generates means nothing to me in reality. What I care about is the profit, which can be impacted by various variables, including how much revenue you're bringing in and what your operating expenses are, as those will ultimately affect the amount of profit you have at the end of the day.” (01:57 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “The majority of the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneurs who work with us inside our mentorship program hit a five-figure profit or low five-figure profit in their very first year of launching their business, even while working a full-time job.” (05:54 | May Yeo Silvers) • “If you are doing this by yourself, don't be too hard on yourself if you don't achieve a five-figure profit in your first year. Give yourself some grace because you don't have someone to guide you along. You're managing everything yourself and trying different approaches; it's a trial-and-error process. The growth path will have many more bumps compared to when you're working within a program with a mentor to guide you. You need to audit your efficiency and productivity.” (06:15 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Now you are the CEO—the true CEO who is the visionary—you cannot be afraid to manage people; it's a necessary part of the role. Just acknowledge that you will make mistakes, and you may hire the wrong people. It's a work in progress, and you have to engage in a lot of self-talk and self-auditing. Be willing to fall and get back up again.” (31:18 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you are looking for the "unicorn" of all event courses that covers Pricing, Marketing, Sales, Legalities, Mindset, Productivity at an affordable price, check out our 24 course Business Kickstart Bundle that is ONLY $24!   This is NOT your typical course where you pay for what you get. This is a course that you pay little BUT you get A LOT! The courses in the Business Kickstart Bundle are all handpicked AND taught by me and my students who had achieved REAL results. Follow the strategies and advice in the courses, and your learning curve will be smoother, less expensive and less frustrating than trying to figure things out yourself.    Click this link for more info on the 24 course for $24 Business Kickstart Bundle!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“For me, the real wealth in starting a business lies in time flexibility and autonomy,” shares May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she delves into how true wealth encompasses more than just financial success; it includes personal freedom and time flexibility. She recounts her journey, particularly a significant year when her business flourished financially but at the expense of her well-being, prompting her to reassess her priorities.   May highlights how many entrepreneurs lose sight of their initial goals of financial and time freedom in their pursuit of profit. Through her experiences, she underscores the importance of balancing financial goals with personal well-being. She advises entrepreneurs to intentionally define their version of real wealth and build their businesses accordingly.   The episode also underscores that real wealth is subjective and varies for each individual. May shares her sister's decision to choose a less stressful job for better work-life balance as an example that wealth isn't always tied to high financial income. She encourages entrepreneurs to regularly evaluate and adjust their business strategies to align with their personal values and goals, emphasizing that true success in entrepreneurship is about creating a fulfilling and balanced life.   Quotes • “To last in the business and maintain your well-being, you need to build your business with a holistic intention. This means considering how to live your life, leave a legacy, and achieve financial freedom and stability all at the same time.” (06:27 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Financial freedom may look very different for every person.” (07:22 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “When you build your business with intention, you constantly have conversations with yourself. What is the real intention here? How can I build my business in a way that allows me to gain a certain level of wealth and a certain level of financial, time, and choice freedom? Only you will have the answer to these questions. You, and only you, will know the financial numbers that matter to you, how much time you need, and what you want to do with the time you've gained. This is how you build the real wealth that is meaningful to you, not what social media dictates.” (34:09 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “If you don't build your business with intention, you risk burning out and losing the very wealth you've achieved. Sacrificing time and choice freedom in the pursuit of financial gain is not sustainable. Real wealth encompasses financial success as well as the freedom to enjoy your time and make choices that align with your values and desires.” (35:06 | May Yeo Silvers)   Links If you are thinking of starting an event planning business and you want to build your business with INTENTION like how I explained in this podcast episode, the Mindset and Productivity module inside our 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle will help guide you on how to manage your time to have a work life balance, one of the REAL wealth of owning a business.   The pricing module, also included in the bundle, will show you how to price for profit so you can also attain REAL financial wealth. If you are lacking the sales and marketing skills, we got you covered too in the bundle!    Click this link for more info on the 24 course for $24 Business Kickstart Bundle!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“If you think that you can grow a business just by cruising along or believing what some other entrepreneurs are saying—that it only takes very little time, very little effort, and very little money to start, grow, and sustain a business—I'm here to shake you with some tough love: some of it is true, and some of it is totally false,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, she dives into common excuses that hinder entrepreneurs, particularly in the event planning industry, and offers practical advice to overcome them.   May debunks the myth that minimal effort, time, and money are enough to succeed. She identifies five common “valid reasons” entrepreneurs cite for their lack of progress: family priorities, lack of funds, insufficient skills, absence of high-paying clients, and limited market potential. For each, she provides actionable solutions:   Family Priorities: Emphasize time management, set boundaries, and seek support from loved ones. Lack of Funds: Scrutinize spending habits and make short-term sacrifices to fund the business. Insufficient Skills: Focus on continuous learning and leverage existing strengths. Absence of High-Paying Clients: Evaluate pricing strategies and market to different areas if necessary. Limited Market Potential: Conduct market research and adapt to the local economic landscape.   May's insights are grounded in her experiences and lessons from her business coach. She encourages listeners to reassess their beliefs, conduct self-audits, and make necessary sacrifices to achieve their business goals.    Quotes • “If you think that you can grow a business just by cruising along or believing what some other entrepreneurs are saying—that it only takes very little time, very little effort, and very little money to start, grow, and sustain a business—I'm here to shake you with some tough love: some of it is true, and some of it is totally false.” (01:37 | May Yeo Silvers) • “Every single one of these valid reasons comes with a valid suggestion and solution. If you're giving yourself reasons why your business is not growing as fast as you want, I need you to listen to this episode many times and start asking yourself all the hard questions.” (36:22 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Audit yourself. Do you have the wrong beliefs? Are you believing things that hinder your growth? Are you willing to make the sacrifices that will help you grow? Do you really want what you said you wanted? Because if you don't, there's no point in making all these sacrifices. So, this is what I mean by having a vigorous and rigorous self-audit in the evolution of your mindset, your goals for your business, and the goals for your life. What has changed? Did priorities change? Did your desires change? Because all this will impact how much time, energy, and sacrifice you're willing to put in to attain what you say you want in your business.” (36:45 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you already have the event skills, NOW is the time to invest in learning business skills. Look no further, as our $24 for 24 course bundle has you covered!    I had intentionally chosen the best 24 courses in my year long mentorship program curriculum to help newbie “EVENTrepreneur” get a taste of what it's like to build a business. The courses are robust but not overwhelming. It is also very well rounded as it covers pricing, marketing, sales. business legalities, mindset and productivity.    Click this link for more info on the 24 course for $24 Business Kickstart Bundle!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

How much experience is necessary to start an event planning business? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers tackles this frequently asked question, emphasizing that the quality and diversity of experiences matter more than the number of years in the industry. She explains that many event planners begin by organizing events for friends and family, often turning a hobby into a business despite initial doubts about their skills.   May breaks down the roles of decorators, designers, and planners, highlighting the specific skills each requires. She stresses that decorators need only a few solid designs to start, while designers should understand trends and collaborate with vendors. Planners need a broad skill set, including contract negotiation and budgeting.   Investing in education and shadowing experienced professionals is crucial, with continuous learning being key. May reassures aspiring event planners that having the basic skills and a passion for growth means they're ready to start their business, regardless of the length of their experience.   Quotes • “Don't worry about getting complaints from your client when you don't know how to do certain things. You're human. If there's something that you don't know, you can go learn. You can go ask. Don't expect yourself to know every single thing.” (35:29 | May Yeo Silvers) • “The business fundamentals, the marketing skills, the lead conversion skills, the budgeting, business finance budgeting, and sales projection are all more challenging than the actual skill set for learning how to do an event. I am not going to sugarcoat this. Two things need to go hand in hand. You can have the skill set to do an event, but if you don't know how to run a business, what's the point?” (36:47 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “If you're a business owner, you should at least know the service execution part. You don't have to know everything, but you need to know at least overall what your company provides.” (37:43 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links If you want to build your event planning skills, make sure you join my facebook group: Events4Anyone: A-Z guide to start and grow your event planning business https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Inside the Guides tab of the free private facebook group, you will see different modules on building your business to 6 figures and also event planning tutorials.    If you want to learn more, follow me on my other social media handles where the videos and posts are short, quick and easy to follow!   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“This is fundamental for any business's success. Unfortunately, it's something that many entrepreneurs overlook,” begins May Yeo Silvers as she delves into the three-step process for ensuring business success, especially for those in the event planning industry. Clarity - belief - action: these 3 steps are interconnected and neglecting any part of this sequence can lead to struggles and hinder business growth.   Clarity involves envisioning financial and time freedom in detail, specifying exact figures for income, work hours, and lifestyle aspirations. Belief is crucial, as it fuels commitment and must be supported by evidence such as existing knowledge and skills. Action requires consistent and strategic efforts to achieve the envisioned goals. May acknowledges the challenges of maintaining belief and taking action, especially when immediate results are not visible. Fluctuating levels of motivation and belief are normal, but successful entrepreneurs stay the course.   For those looking for additional support, May offers her 24 courses for $24, covering not only the fundamentals of building a business but also how to scale it in sales and marketing, converting leads, managing your CEO schedule, understanding legalities, and more. You'll also have the opportunity to be part of a live community where you can co-work, brainstorm, network, and help each other. Click here to see what comes with the 24-course bundle!   Quotes • “This three-step process is interconnected with one another, and one cannot live without the others. This is the most fundamental for any business's success. Unfortunately, it's something that many entrepreneurs do not pay enough attention to.” (01:13 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “Measuring your energy is so important. There are seasons in business, just like there are seasons in life. There are life-changing events such as getting married, someone dying, giving birth, or somebody getting sick. All these life-changing events are going to take you away from your business and even time from yourself. Your business cannot always be going at one hundred percent or a thousand percent all the time because you are human.” (20:00 | May Yeo Silvers)  • “It will be up, down, up, down—that's the life of an entrepreneur. If you are listening to this episode, you have to constantly assess your energy and remind yourself that this is part of the game you're playing for the long term. This is part of the mental game that life and business will test you with. So don't give up. That's what I want to say. Don't give up. Go back to the three-step process. Know that this is a game, and you have to be in the game to play it and win it. If you're not in the game, you can't play.” (23:58 | May Yeo Silvers)    Links HAVING the belief that you CAN have what you want is THE key fundamental to achieving your dreams.But it is NOT easy to truly believe you can have what you dream of, especially when no one in your immediate environment is living the dream life you are envisioning. It is also NOT easy to take actions if you don't know what actions to take, and not knowing if you are doing everything correctly. These are the 2 feedback I get all the time in my event planners and designers community. Because of that, I created the 24 course bundle that also comes with optional live support to give you the WHAT and the HOW, PLUS a community to support your beliefs that you CAN really do it.   These 24 courses revolve around the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Are you making one of these three common mistakes that could sabotage your business? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers explores three major pitfalls that can tank an event planning business, sharing personal examples and valuable insights for each. Although her advice is tailored for event planners, designers, and decorators, the business fundamentals she discusses apply to any service-oriented business. Premature Investment: While reinvesting revenue back into the business is generally a good practice, doing so prematurely can stunt growth and lead to failure. May emphasizes the need to evaluate the return on investment and usage frequency before making financial commitments. Lack of Expense Tracking: Many business owners lack a clear understanding of their monthly expenses, leading to financial mismanagement. Know exactly how much is needed to cover personal and business expenses to make informed reinvestment decisions. Absence of a Sales Projection: A sales projection is essential for planning and meeting financial obligations. Project costs and revenue for the next three to six months to guide sales and marketing activities. May ties these three points together, showing how they are interconnected. Premature investment often stems from not knowing one's expenses, and without a sales projection, it's impossible to plan effective sales and marketing strategies.   Quotes “When you have revenue coming in, immediately deciding to reinvest it back into your business is not a bad thing, but it could be a premature investment that might stunt the growth of the business and eventually tank it.” (04:05 | May Silvers) “To support the business, you must first have sales. If you're making premature investments to support the business, such as software, labor, and hardware, but you don't have enough sales coming in, that is going to tank your business. So, you have all these things that cost money, but not enough revenue is coming in to maintain this support that you purchased. Premature investment into your business is one of the things that could tank your business and stunt its growth.” (12:02 | May Silvers)  “If you don't know your expenses, how are you going to do a sales projection? You need to get a handle on your expenses first. Then, you need to add in the extra money you want to have after paying the expenses, and that becomes your sales projection. It's really a no-brainer.” (20:03 | May Silvers) “That's the fundamental of running a business. It all comes down to knowing your numbers. Once you know your numbers, you're able to craft your sales and marketing strategy. When the money comes in, you will know exactly when to use it and for what.” (26:58 | May Silvers)   Links If you have enjoyed my podcast, follow me on social media to learn more! Check out the show notes to find all my social media handles and follow me on the one where you hang out the most.   AND, if you are just starting your events business and want to avoid making costly mistakes financially and energetically, check out our Business Kickstart Bundle-24 courses for ONLY $24! Click this link to check it out.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"If you want to attract high-end buyers, you need to constantly work on these three factors: your energy, the trust, and also your level of experience," says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, May delves into the psychology of high-end clients in the event planning industry. She discusses how the decision-making processes of these clients differ from those of more price-conscious shoppers, and she stresses that beyond expertise, a planner's energy and ability to foster trust are crucial differentiators.   May recounts a personal anecdote about how she stood out among seven other planners to secure a high-end client, emphasizing the role of transparency, moral integrity, and positive energy. She highlights the importance of using social media and personal interactions to display one's personality and values, asserting that self-awareness and authenticity are fundamental in building trust and attracting high-end clients. May encourages planners to embrace their unique qualities and invest in ongoing personal development.   Listeners are invited to join May's community, the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur, which is dedicated to enhancing both business skills and personal growth. This community provides a supportive space for planners to thrive and evolve. Click here to discover more about what the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur community offers.   Quotes • “If you want to attract high-end buyers, you need to constantly work on these three factors: your energy, the trust, and your level of experience.” (04:55 | May Silvers)  • “You must first consider, do you have the skillset? When you're talking to a potential client, especially a high-end client, you have to consider if you have the skillset to even execute what they say they need you to execute. Once you have the skillset, then you need to start working on building trust and also your energy. That's why I always say that not everyone is your client and you are not everyone's planner or designer because some people are drawn to certain energy. (07:27 | May Silvers) • “Don't be afraid to showcase your personality. Don't be afraid to showcase who you are as a person, and don't be afraid to state your point of view, your opinion, because that is how your potential client is going to know you and decide, ‘Do I like this person? Do I want to work with this person?' The level of expertise, a service, and a product can be copied. Your personality, your vibe cannot. This is where they're going to make a distinction.” (24:26 | May Silvers)    Links Your business will NOT outgrow you. If you want your business to grow, YOU must grow FIRST.   Business tactics and strategies will only take you this far. To get a TRUE breakthrough, it comes from WITHIN you. Your self awareness of who you are and what you need to work on INTERNALLY is YOUR SILVER BULLET to success that is sustainable. That is why I have incorporated personal development zoom calls in our LIVE support community. Coupled with savvy business skills, you will be UNSTOPPABLE.   If you have been looking for a community where you can ask questions, learn from others who have walked the path before you so you avoid making costly mistakes and wasting time and get the emotional and mental support as you continue your EVENTrepreneur journey, look no further! Click here to find out what the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur community offers. Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"In terms of the quality of the lead, whether it's from friends, family, or a stranger, it's the same, in my opinion. As long as you conduct yourself professionally, you should treat your friends and family just as you would a total stranger who is interested in your business or service," says May Yeo Silvers.   In this episode, May addresses a key issue for new event planners: valuing leads from friends and family equally to those from strangers. A common error is undercharging for services. To avoid this, maintain professionalism and consistent pricing across all clients, regardless of the lead source. May also highlights the importance of clear discount policies and boundaries, ensuring that friends and family respect the value of your work.   May discusses leveraging connections with friends and family to build a digital portfolio and gather testimonials, which are crucial for marketing efforts. She advises charging at least the break-even rate to cover costs and avoid financial losses. By treating all clients professionally and managing expectations, you can turn close connections into a strategic advantage for your business.   To support event entrepreneurs, May offers her $24 Kickstart Bundle, which covers the essentials and provides actionable steps to grow your business. Click here to learn more!   Quotes • “You need to be a professional and deliver the service like a professional regardless whether it's a friend or family. You need to remove the mindset that a lead from a friend or family is not as good.” (08:14 | May Silvers)  • “You need to start thinking of your friends and family as your supporters. A lot of business comes from friends and family referrals, and then you just extend, extend, extend.” (08:49 | May Silvers) • “Do not think lowly of the leads from friends and family. You treat them as a professional. You charge them the same as a stranger. Do not assume that a friend or family is going to haggle the price with you and a stranger will not because they will. So do not think that a lead from friends and family is going to be worse off than a stranger. Sometimes a stranger is worse off.” (21:15 | May Silvers)    Links If you are hesitating to show up on social media because you don't have any "grammable worthy" pictures to showcase your work, you are in luck because I have just the solution for you!   In our 24 Courses Business Kickstart Bundle, there is an entire module on how to create a style shoot so you have a professional looking digital portfolio PLUS another module on social media strategies where you learn how to create content to grow followers and turn them into buyers, all for ONLY $24 for 24 Courses!    These 24 courses revolve around the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast     Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Are your inquiry forms properly qualifying leads for your event planning business? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers addresses how to refine your initial inquiry forms to focus your time and energy on prospects who are right for your business.   May highlights a common mistake many event planners make: overly detailed inquiry forms that can discourage potential clients before even determining if they're a qualified lead. She suggests including six essential questions in every initial inquiry form:   Type of Event: Understanding the nature of the event helps determine if it aligns with the planner's services. Scope of Services Needed: Identifying specific needs allows planners to assess if they can meet these requirements. Client's Research and Prior Contacts: Knowing if the client has consulted other planners or done research provides insights into their understanding of event costs and readiness to hire professional services. Urgency and Timeline: Understanding the client's timeline helps gauge the immediacy of their needs, as prolonged decision times can jeopardize potential deals. Overall Event Budget: Knowing what the client expects to spend on the event helps separate their financial expectations from the reality of potential costs. Planner Budget: Clarifying the client's budget for planning services helps determine if their expectations align with the planner's rates.   These questions are crucial for filtering out unqualified leads, ensuring that planners invest time in clients who are serious and ready to invest in their services.   Quotes • “These six questions are what I use for my own event planning company as the very initial contact that I have with a potential client who's thinking of hiring me. And this inquiry form is going to help me decide whether or not I even want to respond to their inquiry... This is my first gatekeeping. That means I am gatekeeping my time and my energy and not wasting my time and energy on people who are not ready or qualified for me to want to work with them.” (02:37 | May Silvers) • “You do not ask them event-specific questions on your very first initial inquiry form. That's how I qualify my leads. That's how I can reserve a lot of my time and energy for people who are really qualified to work with me. Otherwise, what's the point of asking all these event-specific questions if I don't even know if I want to work with them… Do not make the first initial questionnaire so long that will deter people from filling it up. Make it straightforward so they already get a feel of how you work.” (22:39 | May Silvers)  • “By adopting these six questions on your initial inquiry form, I assure you, you'll see a tremendous amount of time and energy saved. And you may not have people who want to fill this out. If they don't even want to fill this out, you shouldn't even bother talking to them.” (24:04 | May Silvers)   Links If you are looking for a community where you can ask questions, learn from others who have walked the path before you so you avoid making costly mistakes and wasting time and get the emotional and mental support as you continue your EVENTrepreneur journey, we are HERE for you! Click here to find out what the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur community offers.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Are you effectively showcasing the value of your event planning services to clients? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers teaches listeners how to articulate the worth of services that aren't immediately tangible. Drawing from her extensive experience charging between $15,000 and $100,000, May shares how she justifies her fees through transparency and detailed communication.   May emphasizes the importance of demonstrating behind-the-scenes efforts and outcomes to clients. She uses practical tools like comprehensive spreadsheets and explanatory videos to highlight the thoroughness and expertise involved in her work. By meticulously explaining contract details and showcasing her process, she builds client confidence and justifies her pricing. She also addresses the psychological aspects of sales, stressing the need to make clients feel secure in their investment.   Listeners are encouraged to embrace clear communication, transparency, and a relentless pursuit of excellence to overcome price resistance and build a thriving event planning business. To get started, May offers her $24 Kickstart Bundle, packed with insights on sales psychology, pricing strategies, and marketing. This bundle is designed to help both seasoned planners and newcomers enhance their business acumen and achieve greater success. Click here to learn more!   Quotes • “As a planner or a designer, our expertise—what we're delivering—is not so obvious to the eye in a sense that there is nothing tangible that you can actually see, that the client has nothing to hold on to or to be able to compare to. So it's very difficult to justify; they feel that it's very difficult to justify their fees compared to selling a product or a decorator that actually they can see her putting things into action, into place.” (02:48 | May Silvers) • “It's extremely important to explain what you're doing and the results that they're getting.” (04:48 | May Silvers)  • “I think a lot of times, when people say that they don't know what they're getting or they're not sure whether it's worth the money, it's when they do not see, number one, the value, and number two, the effort and time put in to create that value. That's why I said it's so important that as an event planner and designer, you want to be able to be more in their face by doing these things that I mentioned: recording a video, going through the process with them, and educating them on how you do your job.” (17:01 | May Silvers)    Links If selling is your achilles heel, we have a solution for you to overcome the fear or ickiness of selling!   Our 24 Course Business Kickstart Bundle has an entire module that focuses on buyer psychology, questions to ask that will naturally lead your lead to say YES without you feeling pushy or salesy. You even get to watch a video of me "in action" where you see me selling to a potential client! There are videos of role play where you can learn and get a good idea how a sales conversation should be like to close a lead.   In addition, the 24 course bundle includes the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“The commitment and energy that you give to your full-time job, you have to give to your side hustle,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, May provides actionable insights for transitioning from a side hustle to a full-time events business.   May emphasizes the importance of financial preparation, advising that your side hustle income should match or exceed your full-time paycheck for six months before making the leap. She also discusses the psychological readiness required, including comfort with financial uncertainty and the willingness to invest significant time and energy into the business. Drawing from her own experience with M2 Hospitality, May shares the reality of often working up to 70 hours a week to build a sustainable business.   For those planning to make the transition from side hustle to full-time, consider investing in May's $24 kickstart bundle for aspiring “eventrepreneurs.” Click here to learn more!   Quotes • “If you treat your side hustle like a side hustle, that means it's a side hustle. You're not giving it a lot of attention compared to giving your full attention when it's a full-time job. I know that it's not that easy. It's easier said than done. But if you want to quit your full-time job as soon as possible, you need to really put in the extra time and the sacrifice, the commitment, the resilience, and the dedication to build your side hustle just like how you're building it full-time.” (06:24 | May Silvers)  • “Apart from knowing your numbers, that mindset, that commitment, that dedication to continue to build your side hustle like a full-time business, to do the sales outreach, etc., you must, must, must continue to build your business and not feel comfortable that you have your full-time job paycheck to pay the bills…” (13:27 | May Silvers) • “You have to treat your side hustle as a full-time business while you have a full-time job.” (15:53 | May Silvers)    Links If you are looking to turn your side hustle to becoming a full time CEO for your events business, it is IMPERATIVE that you have strong BUSINESS fundamentals.   You could be the BEST in crafting events, but if you don't have the right skills and mindset to build a business, then you have an expensive hobby.   Our 24 Course Business Kickstart Bundle focuses on the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Are you struggling with balancing business growth and family responsibilities? In this episode, May Yeo Silvers addresses this common challenge for entrepreneurs, especially in the event planning industry.   May shares a personal story about a recent event she planned in Atlanta, which required her to be away from her family for several days. She talks about the detailed planning and coordination needed to ensure her daughter Mia was well cared for in her absence. This included enlisting the help of her husband, mother-in-law, neighbors, and other moms, highlighting the crucial role of a strong support system for entrepreneurs.   May discusses the guilt entrepreneurs often feel when seeking help, fearing judgment as parents, or trying to manage everything alone. She emphasizes that overcoming these feelings is essential. She reassures listeners that it's possible to balance a fulfilling personal life and a successful business.   To support her fellow event entrepreneurs, May introduces a new live support program designed to create a community of learning and growth. The program includes coaching calls, co-working sessions, and personal development calls, providing a space to exchange experiences, receive guidance, and enhance business skills. Click here to learn more!   Quotes • “All this guilt will be created if you don't have control of your emotions and your thoughts. So I have to tell myself that I can trust people, I have to tell myself that I can ask for help, and I do not have to be afraid of what people are labeling me.” (08:32 | May Silvers) • “It's so important when you're trying to start and grow a business to have a support system.” (12:34 | May Silvers)  • “There will be seasons that you'll be more present in your business, that you'll require more support from your ecosystem, and there will be seasons that you will have to be very present in your family, and your business will be humming instead of growing. So it will all balance out.” (18:58 | May Silvers)    Links If you are looking for a community to support you in your EVENTrepreneur journey, we are HERE for you! Click here to find out what the Unstoppable EVENTrepreneur community offers.   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“It's okay to use stock photos,” says May Yeo Silvers, but you must be cautious about representing your work and your skills honestly.  May dives into the ethical use of stock images in event planning, sparked by an experience with a florist whose misleading Instagram portfolio led to a corporate event that didn't meet expectations. This story underscores the risks of misrepresentation prevalent in the event planning industry through social media.   In her discussion, May stresses the importance of authenticity in marketing. She urges new event planners to ensure that the images they use align with their actual capabilities, to preserve their reputation and client relationships. Misleading potential clients with skills or services that cannot be delivered can lead to lost business and credibility.   May also touches on the critical aspects of responsiveness and the deep understanding of the logistics and costs involved in bringing an advertised design to life. She provides actionable advice for building a truthful and appealing digital portfolio, including conducting styled shoots that accurately showcase one's work.   For listeners looking to deepen their understanding of effective business and event planning practices, May introduces her Business Kickstart Bundle. This package includes 24 courses for $24, covering essential skills needed to thrive in the industry. This resource is designed to help planners create compelling, honest content that attracts the right clients. Click here to access the bundle!   Quotes • “It's okay to use stock photos and it's okay to use pictures of other people's events as long as you don't say ‘I did this event.'” (02:46 | May Silvers)  • “You need to be able to stand behind whatever you post on social media to say that, ‘Yes, I can do that.'” (14:09 | May Silvers)  • “This is how you're going to sabotage yourself—if you use a stock photo but you don't back it up with the resources or the knowledge to be able to execute that look. It's extremely important if you're using stock photos, you must get this step done. You must either know how to do it or you find somebody who can do that. Otherwise, it's false advertising. It may align with your brand and your design style, but you have to be able to pull off that look… You have to back it up. I cannot stress how important that is.” (19:32 | May Silvers)    Links If you are hesitating to show up on social media because you don't have any "grammable worthy" pictures to showcase your work, you are in luck because I have just the solution for you!   In our 24 Courses Business Kickstart Bundle, there is an entire module on how to create a style shoot so you have a professional looking digital portfolio PLUS another module on social media strategies where you learn how to create content to grow followers and turn them into buyers, all for ONLY $24 for 24 Courses!    These 24 courses revolve around the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“If you have to justify your fees, you're doing it all wrong,” says May Yeo Silvers. In this episode, May addresses a common mistake event professionals make: over-justifying their fees based on the time and effort they put into planning and execution. She suggests shifting the conversation from costs to the value and outcomes of the event, which more closely aligns with buyer psychology.   May emphasizes the need to understand clients' deeper motivations, such as enhancing their social standing or creating memorable experiences. She advises on asking the right questions to uncover these desires. May advocates for aligning event visions with client expectations without getting bogged down in cost details, positioning event professionals as key partners in the success of the event.   For listeners looking to refine their business and client interaction skills, May offers a new business kickstart bundle. This bundle includes 24 courses for only $24, covering essential business and event planning skills. Click here to access the bundle!   Quotes • “If you have to justify your fees, you're doing it all wrong.” (01:50 | May Silvers)  • “The price that they want to pay for that result is equivalent to the value that they're putting on the results that they want. And that value has a dollar amount, but that dollar amount can fluctuate based on how you emphasize the result that they want and what they will actually get from it.” (06:21 | May Silvers) • “How do you play their game? You play their game by understanding the buyer's psychology and the buyer's belief in what you can do for them.” (07:30 | May Silvers) • “Why is it important for them to have the event look that way? And how are you going to make it happen for them so that they not only get the event to look that way, but it also satisfies what we call the unseen, the unspoken, or the unmet need and desire for the event to look that way? When I sell to high-end clients, they want the event to look a certain way, not only because they want the event to look pretty. A lot of times, people spend a lot of money on making the events look good—it's because of ego. They want people to talk about their events.” (09:13 | May Silvers)    Links Are you an event planner or designer who is thinking about launching your events business but you don't know what to do and how to do it?    You want to invest in a course or a mentorship program to do it "right", but the cost of investment is prohibiting you?   Well, let me introduce the "unicorn" of the events business course, the Business Kickstart Bundle-24 Courses For ONLY $24!    These 24 courses revolve around the business fundamentals of Pricing, Marketing, Converting Leads, Business Legalities, Items you need to start your business, Mindset & Productivity hacks.   This is round 2 of our Business Kickstart Bundle BETA program. We launched the BETA 10 courses for $10 a few weeks ago and our clients are getting so much momentum in their business using those 10 courses and now they want MORE!   Ready to launch and scale your events business for ONLY $24? Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast   Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Are you struggling with clients who have champagne tastes on a beer budget? May Yeo Silvers dives into the common challenge of unrealistic client budgets in event planning, prompted by a controversial Instagram post that highlighted the mismatch between client budget expectations and the reality of event costs.   May argues that it's unrealistic to expect clients to have an inherent understanding of the true costs in events. Instead, she suggests that it's the event professionals' responsibility to educate their clients, pushing back against the trend of outright rejecting inquiries with lower budgets.   To manage expectations effectively, May incorporates detailed pricing in her marketing materials to set clear expectations upfront. For those clients who still come with lower budgets, a detailed questionnaire is used to educate them on the spot, aligning expectations and fostering appreciation, which often leads to referrals.   If you are looking for more support in developing your lead qualification and sales skills, along with many other key business skills, May is offering her new business kickstart bundle, which includes 24 courses for just $24. This offer is part of a beta test to refine the courses based on user feedback and implementation speed, providing listeners with a chance to enhance their business skills at a minimal cost. Click here to get the bundle!   Quotes • “There's so many event planners and designers out there sharing on social media that they are frustrated that they got inquiries from potential clients, giving them a budget that is so unrealistic. This is what we call the champagne  taste beer budget leads. They are so unrealistic about how much money they want to spend on the event based on the look that they want.” (02:41 | May Silvers) • “I don't expect my potential client to know how much it costs to do an event. And I also don't expect my potential clients to do their own research, to talk to 10 million people, to call vendors to find out how much things cost... They come to me because they want to be able to not have to do all that themselves.” (06:29 | May Silvers) • “What do I do in order to avoid wasting my time and energy on people who aren't qualified, who do not have a realistic event budget? I talk about money all the time. I make their job easier. I make their research easier. Every single marketing piece that I am putting out there on my social media, on my website, or on my podcast, anything that my potential client is consuming or following me, I will take the opportunity to educate my potential clients. (06:57 | May Silvers)  • “You cannot expect your potential client to have a realistic budget because what is realistic for them is not realistic for you. You are the professional. You know how much things cost; they don't.” (11:40 | May Silvers)    Links If you are hesitant to launch your events business because of lack of funds and business knowledge, hesitate no more!   We just launched our newest course, Business Kickstart Bundle-24 Courses For ONLY $24! This is round 2 of our BETA program. We launched the 10 courses for $10 a few weeks ago and our clients are getting so much momentum in their business using those 10 courses and now they want MORE!   Here you have it. Click the link below to see what comes with the 24 course bundle! https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm