The holiday season is a busy, high-stakes time for event planners. It’s a period marked by high expectations, tight schedules, and countless moving parts, all while working to create events that truly resonate with attendees. Having spoken with countless event professionals while keynoting at the IFEA Annual Convention & Expo, I understand the pressure that event planners face to deliver experiences that leave a lasting impact, especially during this season. But I also know that the right mindset—one grounded in resilience—can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and delivering a transformative experience that touches lives.
This is where my “Anatomy of Resilience” framework comes into play. This framework, developed through my lived human experience while facing years of personal and professional challenges, offers a guide for event planners to navigate common industry pressures with confidence, adaptability, and purpose.
THE HOLIDAY SEASON: A TIME OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES
Event planners know that holiday events come with a unique set of expectations. Guests arrive expecting a sense of magic, togetherness, and celebration, while planners work behind the scenes to meet those expectations, sometimes against unpredictable challenges. From last-minute changes to tight budgets and high-pressure timelines, the holiday season requires more than logistical skill—it demands resilience.
This is where the framework I developed—Blind Ambition’s Anatomy of Resilience—proves invaluable. It’s designed to help you, as planners, not just get through challenging times but thrive in them, turning obstacles into opportunities and creating experiences that deeply resonate with attendees.
1. CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE
Event planning can be unpredictable. Last-minute changes, logistical issues, and high client expectations are all part of the job. While these stressors are often out of your control, how you choose to respond to them is entirely within your power. The first pillar of my resilience framework, CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE, is about taking ownership of how you react to unforeseen circumstances. Instead of falling victim to the scarcity mindset, you can reanchor yourself to gratitude, embrace an abundance mindset, and set yourself up for improved accountability, control, and ultimately, event outcomes.
For example, if a major element of an event plan has to change unexpectedly, you can choose to approach the situation calmly and creatively. By focusing on what you can control instead of what’s outside your control, you’ll empower yourself to turn challenges into possibilities. This mindset shift allows you to remain centered and resourceful, even under pressure.
2. TELL YOURSELF THE RIGHT STORIES
The stories you tell yourself shape your reality. In the fast-paced world of event planning, it’s easy to fall into a narrative of stress, scarcity, or “barely making it.” But the second pillar, TELL YOURSELF THE RIGHT STORIES, is a reminder that you have the power to rewrite these narratives in a way that moves you forward while keeping you motivated.
For instance, instead of viewing a long holiday season as an overwhelming series of tasks, you can frame it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, bringing people together and creating lasting joy. This shift in perspective isn’t just about positive thinking—it’s about reorienting your mindset to focus on purpose and possibility. Steven Wood Schmader, President & CEO of IFEA, captured this sentiment when he said about my keynote, “Chad Foster’s message goes far beyond simply checking the ‘Keynote Speaker’ box on your planning list. His ability to connect on both a personal and professional level, provided our attendees with a very real opportunity to refocus on the challenges we all face but–more importantly–the possibilities that we still control in our lives. Following up his keynote presentation with his workshop presentation, brought out some very clear, new, and obvious connections. Our industry is all about touching lives in a positive way and Chad Foster allowed us to do that for the people responsible for doing that for others.”
3. VISUALIZE YOUR GREATNESS
The third pillar of resilience, VISUALIZE YOUR GREATNESS, is about reimagining a future that’s anchored to the reality of the situation, but bold enough to inspire you to take action. For me, I had to figure out how to make blind look good. That’s a little tongue-and-cheek way of getting the point across, but, if you can never reimagine how to make unfavorable circumstances look good, how could you ever move towards acceptance—let alone thriving in them?
Maybe you’ve got rising costs in your event planning budget. So, how can yu still thrive amid rising costs? Is it possible to bring in new sponsors? New sponsorship levels? New ways of creating monetization streams at your event? Maybe there are ways of doing things more efficiently, or more innovatively?
Necessity is the mother of invention. You are capable of more than you know—we all are. So, the next time you get an unchangeable and unfavorable curveball, step back and reimagine how you can still succeed despite the unexpected obstacle, and knock that curveball out of the park.
4. GET COMFORTABLE WITH DISCOMFORT
Holiday events are often fast-paced and full of surprises, which means planners are regularly stepping outside their comfort zones. Whether it’s making last-minute adjustments, navigating unexpected issues, or dealing with high-pressure timelines, discomfort is par for the course. The fourth pillar, GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH DISCOMFORT, emphasizes embracing these moments as part of the growth process.
My journey of going blind taught me early on that true resilience is built when we push ourselves into uncomfortable territory. Event planners can apply this lesson by embracing each challenge as a way to expand their comfort zone. When a problem arises, rather than seeing it as an obstacle, you can approach it as a chance to grow stronger and more adaptable. With time, you’ll find that situations that once felt daunting now feel manageable, allowing you to approach each event with confidence and calm.
5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DISADVANTAGES
The fifth pillar of resilience, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DISADVANTAGES, is about finding situations where perceived disadvantages can become competitive differentiators. In event planning, limited budgets, short timelines, or unforeseen logistical issues are often viewed as setbacks. But with a resilient mindset, these “disadvantages” can become catalysts for creativity.
For example, if a budget constraint limits your options, this could be an opportunity to think outside the box and create something unique with fewer resources. Or, if a venue’s layout presents challenges, it might lead you to develop a new way of organizing space that makes the event even more impactful. This pillar encourages you to see limitations as possibilities, inspiring you to find creative solutions that make your events stand out.
PRACTICAL STEPS TO CULTIVATE A RESILIENT MINDSET
For anyone facing life’s difficulties, a shift in mindset can be transformative. I encourage reframing challenges as opportunities for growth. By choosing to see setbacks as stepping stones to success, you can begin to build resilience even in the most trying circumstances. Rather than sidestepping difficulties, embrace them as essential to building a strong, resilient mindset. When adversity strikes, acknowledging it and learning from it becomes a critical component of personal and professional growth. This approach shifts the focus from avoiding pain to welcoming it as a catalyst for resilience.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF RESILIENCE WITHIN YOUR TEAM
Resilience doesn’t have to be a solo journey. In the same way that I rely on the people around me to support my work, event planners can create a resilient culture within their teams. Sharing the framework of resilience with your team members can empower them to handle challenges independently, fostering a supportive and adaptive work environment.
This culture of resilience doesn’t just ease the stress on you as the planner; it can elevate the entire event experience. When everyone on your team is mentally prepared to face challenges together, you can respond to last-minute issues with a sense of unity and shared purpose. This mindset shift creates a collaborative, solution-focused environment that shines through in the final event, making it smoother and more impactful.
THE POWER OF RESILIENCE IN CREATING HOLIDAY MAGIC
The holiday season is a time when people seek connection, nostalgia, and inspiration. As event planners, you have the unique opportunity to bring these experiences to life. My five pillars of resilience—CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE, TELL YOURSELF THE RIGHT STORIES, VISUALIZE YOUR GREATNESS, GET COMFORTABLE WITH DISCOMFORT, and TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DISADVANTAGES—offer a framework to navigate the season’s pressures with strength and purpose.
By applying these pillars, you’re not only building resilience in your own life but also creating events that carry deeper meaning for those who attend. Resilience becomes the foundation for every decision, every adjustment, and every success, transforming each challenge into a step toward something unforgettable.
As you plan your holiday events this year, remember that resilience isn’t just a tool for surviving—it’s a way to create a powerful, lasting impact. Embrace the season as an opportunity to grow, inspire, and bring people together in a way that feels real, hopeful, and resilient. And that’s a gift worth giving every year.
