About Being an EventProf and a Father

Today, I would like to talk about the work-life balance of an eventplanner. Being an event manager demands a lot of energy, mentally and physically. Creating concepts, attending dozens of meetings, rushing through the day, catching up with e-mails, solving all kinds of problems, preparing budgets and of course, organising the event as such during set-up days, eventdays and dismantling days.

An amazing job! I love it, a lot, even during those moments you think you are just a firefighter. It takes a lot of energy but it gives back so much (I love to see happy clients!). And it also returns a lot of flexibility during the calmer periods. 

But now, I would love to talk about the combination of being an event manager and a father. During the (Summer) Holidays you clearly understand why they invented school. Not to teach these little guys and girls, but to give us some freedom to work! :-)

During long holidays, I need to plan my tight agenda even better. Getting the work done, riding the kids to different kinds of bootcamps (they finish sò early!), doing some groceries and being available for some family time. 

It is there that I realised that I need to plan these holidays as tight as a corporate event. With a scenario and a script! Because, if I do not plan it well, the holidays can be very frustrating. On the one hand because I feel I can not get the job done properly (because the kids are around). On the other hand because I feel I am not being a great dad (because I get urgent phonecalls and important e-mails about different projects).

Here's what I do during the holidays, I hope it inspires you and helps you to get through those difficult and sometimes frustrating weeks.

I get up at 5.30AM. Yes, I know. AM. It is hard for the first couple of days, but after the first week, it comes naturally. As I am not immediately sharp at 5.30AM, I start running for about 30 to 60 minutes. It feels like Christmas morning. No one is around, everybody sleeps, and I am running. That makes me feel good about myself, it gives energy and focus. Focus that I need to work from 6.30AM until 10.30AM. The kids wake up around 8.30/9AM (yes, I know, mine sleep long!) and during the first hour, they are calm. 

But the amount of work I can do in those 3 to 4 hours between 6 and 10 AM is amazing. At 10AM, I have the feeling I aready have changed the world, while the day has barely even started. After that, I have some private time with my kids and we have lunch together. After lunch, I take them to a sports camp where they have 3 hours of play. Again, that gives me 2/3 hours to do the phonecalls, some groceries and even some time for myself to do something fun. And at 4.30PM, I am ready for some new family time. After 4.30PM, I do not look at my mails anymore and I do not answer any calls. 

This Miracle Morning Project is key to me to feel like a good father and a good event manager. I create moments that are dedicated only to work, or only to the kids. The mistake I made before, was that I let the two worlds interfere with each other. That is THE biggest mistake ever. 

So, what is your vision on this? 

Written by Laurent Lootens - Lapin Quotidien, owner and Founder of Lapin Quotidien and So-Phi.