We are going into the busiest season for event professionals (we see you, Spring), it’s easy to get overwhelmed by your business plans and goals. And while we all know that setting clear boundaries and expectations is crucial for success, let’s be real: it’s a lot easier said than done — that’s why I’ve compiled my top tips for you below!

For the last 18 years as a solopreneur, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions as I have learned, grown, been disappointed, overwhelmed and lacked focus. It can be isolating to run a business on your own. A lot of our experiences as small business owners are learned on the job, in the failures and wins — or perhaps you get lucky and get input from a trusted peer.

There are several studies and theories as to why time seems to speed by as we get older or as life gets busier. As we come out of the pandemic and life picks up pace, I have been putting thought into what I need to do on the daily to reach the version of myself I want to be in 6 months.

Each year, I pick a word as my anchor for the year. For 2021, it is “empathy”. As a person who deeply wants to see the success of others, I am constantly challenging myself to see past the social circles I grew up in and learn more about people who have had different life experiences, desires, religious perspectives and cultural upbringings than me.