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Have you ever sat down to plan your summit and thought, okay, I just need to make a few decisions?
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And then three hours later, you're comparing 17 different summit platforms, 14 different VIP offer ideas, 32 potential speakers, and somehow you're now researching whether your summit needs a completely different color palette, and you're no closer to actually making that decision.
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Because here's the thing: we don't think most summit hosts get stuck because they don't know how to host a summit.
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They get stuck because there are just so many decisions that need to be made throughout the entire summit process.
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And decision fatigue can be just as exhausting as the actual work of hosting the summit.
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Let's talk about it.
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Hey, I'm Jenny.
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And I'm Lindsay, and you're listening to the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast.
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This is a place for you if you want to learn hashtag all the things about hosting a virtual summit.
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We've hosted and produced countless summits, and we cannot wait to share with you all of our biggest secrets.
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So sit back, grab your favorite drink, and get ready to put on a killer summit experience.
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Hey there and welcome back to the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast, the go-to show for entrepreneurs who want to host profitable high-impact virtual summits without the overwhelm.
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We're Jenny and Lindsay, Virtual Summit and Visibility Childist, and today we are talking about the summit decision fatigue problem and how to simplify everything.
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So we're going to discuss where hosts tend to overthink, how we've turned many of our summit decisions into like defaults, our three option rule, when like good enough really is good enough, and how having more structure can actually give you more freedom.
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Because the goal isn't to make every summit decision perfectly.
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The goal is to make good decisions early enough that you actually have time to execute them well.
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So let's get into it.
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So first we want to start with what we think is one of the biggest misconceptions about summit planning.
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And that is that most hosts don't get stuck because they don't know how to host a summit, but they get stuck because there are just so many different decisions that need to be made.
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So think about everything you have to decide when it comes to hosting a summit.
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You need to figure out the name of the summit, the topic of the summit, the promise of the summit.
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When is it happening?
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How long is it going to be?
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How many speakers and who are they?
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What are the session topics?
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What platform are you using for the summit itself?
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How are you delivering these sessions?
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Are you doing live or pre-recorded?
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What's your VIP offer and how much does it cost?
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What bonuses are being included?
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How are you promoting the event?
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When do you start that promotion?
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What are you having speakers promote?
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How often are you sending emails?
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What happens after the summer?
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And honestly, that's just a tiny fraction of the different decisions.
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And that's before you've even gotten into all the other decisions that pop up along the way.
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And that's why decision fatigue can show up at multiple points.
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For us, we see it happen a lot at the beginning of the planning process because there are so many foundational decisions to make.
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But then we also see it happen again, say a week or two before the summit goes live.
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That's when everything suddenly feels urgent.
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You're looking at your list and thinking, did we forget something?
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Should we change this?
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Wait, do we need to add something?
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Maybe we should do this instead.
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And that's when things can get really overwhelming.
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And here's the mindset we want you to take away from this episode.
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A good decision made early is better than a rash decision made at the last minute, because waiting for the perfect decision doesn't necessarily make the decision better.
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Sometimes it just means you have less time to execute it.
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So now let's move on to what you might be overthinking when it comes to hosting a summit.
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There are a few things that we consistently see summit hosts spend way too much time deciding.
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The first one is branding.
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So we're not saying here that branding isn't important.
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You obviously want your summit to look cohesive and professional, but we see a lot of hosts spending weeks trying to choose fonts, colors, logos, graphics, and all the other tiny details before they've even net nailed down the strategy for their summit as a whole.
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Another one is the planning process itself.
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Sometimes hosts are so busy trying to figure out the absolute perfect way to plan their summit that they aren't actually focused on planning the summit.
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And then of course there's tech.
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The tech rabbit hole is real.
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You're asking questions like, should I use this platform or that one?
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And this one has this feature.
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Wait, this other one has this integration.
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And before you know it, you spent like many, many hours researching a problem that your existing tech stack already solves.
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And then there's offers for your summit.
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Host can spend so much time trying to figure out what should be included in VIP, how many bonuses should I have?
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Should I have multiple tiers of the VIP?
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Should I add another thing in here?
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And sometimes the answer here is simply just no.
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You don't need to keep adding.
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You need to ask whether what you're adding actually makes the experience better.
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So now let's talk about speaker selection because this is another place where decision fatigue can really creep in.
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So hosts start asking, how many speakers should I have?
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Should I say yes to this person?
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What if I say no and they're amazing?
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Do I need, you know, more big names?
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What if someone else has a bigger audience?
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And suddenly you're second-guessing every speaker decision.
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Our approach is much simpler.
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We do not prioritize big names.
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We want every speaker to be aligned and make sense for the summit as a whole.
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Does their topic fit?
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Does their audience make sense?
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Does the speaker fit the overall experience that we are trying to create?
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Those things matter so much more to us than whether someone's name is recognizable.
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And that's one of the easiest ways to reduce decision fatigue.
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Instead of asking, could this person potentially be a good speaker?
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We want you to ask, does this person clearly fit the event that I am building?
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That makes the decision much easier because you aren't evaluating the speaker in like isolation.
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You are evaluating them in context of your event.
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So now moving on to one of the biggest like decision making nightmares, and that is tech.
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And we feel like this is probably one of the biggest areas where we would encourage hosts to create a default.
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And for us, our default approach is use what you already have unless there's a really good reason not to.
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You don't need to chase the newest summit platform just because it exists.
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You don't need to add another tool because someone on Instagram told you that it's great.
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And you definitely don't need to completely rebuild your tech stack for every single summit because every new tool creates more decisions and potentially more integrations and more things to learn and more things that can break and more things that you have to remember the next time that you host the event again.
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Sometimes the simplest solution is honestly the best solution.
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And this is actually where our three option rule comes in.
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So instead of researching 47 different tech platforms, give yourself three options.
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First option, use what we already have.
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Second option, upgrade something we already use.
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And third option is the add a new tool.
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That's it.
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So that's it.
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Now you have a decision to make because when you give yourself 10, 20, or 50 options, you don't necessarily make a better decision.
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You just get overwhelmed and then you make zero decisions.
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So we want to talk about this three option rule a bit more because we think it's so useful just beyond tech.
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So the reason we like three is because once you get beyond three options, it becomes so much harder to compare them meaningfully.
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You can use this for speakers, for formats, for VIP offers, you can use it for promotional strategies, really almost anything.
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So let's say you're trying to figure out your summit format.
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Instead of asking what are all the possible summit formats that have ever existed, we want you to give yourself three.
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Maybe they are like option one, a three-day prerecorded summit.
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Maybe option two is a three-day pre-recorded summit, but it includes a couple of live elements.
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And maybe option three is like a one-day condensed timeline summit.
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Now, we want you to compare those three against your actual goals.
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So which one fits your audience?
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Which one fits your capacity?
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And you know, which one supports your offer?
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So once you go through all of those, you should have a winner and you know the decision is made for you.
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Or let's say you're deciding between VIP options, instead of creating 15 possible bonuses, give yourself three concepts.
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Then we want you to ask, which one actually adds value?
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You do not need a limited option, you need enough options to make a good choice.
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Now, this brings us to another major decision fatigue area, which is offers.
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So we often see hosts getting stuck trying to figure out how much they should include inside of their VIP pass and other offers.
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And we understand why.
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You want your VIP pass offer to feel valuable.
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You want people to feel like they're getting a really great deal.
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And that's great, but there's a point where adding more doesn't create more value, it just creates more noise.
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And that's the question we want hosts to ask.
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Is this adding value or is this adding noise?
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Because more content isn't necessarily what people need.
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People already have access to an incredible amount of information.
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What they often need is help doing something with it.
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So instead of adding another course, another PDF, another training, and another resource, what if you gave them something that actually helped them implement?
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That's a much better use of your energy.
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And it also makes the decision much easier.
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So instead of asking, what can I add?
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You're asking what would actually help this person move forward.
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Next up is promotion, because this is another place where hosts get stuck.
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I mean, I'm sure you've caught yourself asking, when should I start promotion?
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How often should I email?
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What should speakers post?
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What should I post?
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Should I do reels?
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Should I do live?
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Should I run ads?
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And again, we think the answer is to create some defaults.
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So for example, we like a two-week promotion period.
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That's enough time to promote without making the event feel like it's going on forever.
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And beyond that, we don't think you need to follow someone else's like rulebook.
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There isn't one magical promotion schedule that every summon host needs to follow.
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So for example, when we first started, I think we had a three or four-week promotion, and that just resulted in us needing so many more nurture emails.
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It was way too far out that people would forget about the event.
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So now we do a two-week promotion.
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We tend to start a week early for ourselves for testing, but two-week set, we're good.
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Basically, you want to choose what works for you, your audience, and your business.
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Then stick with it.
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And you can always redefine it later if it's not working.
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And so as you can see, one of the biggest things we've really learned from hosting multiple summits over multiple years is truly the power of defaults.
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You do not need to reinvent every single decision every time you host an event.
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So we've turned a lot of our summit processes into defaults.
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So our tech stock, our email platform, our registration process, our speaker workflow, our product timeline, our promotion schedule, our page structure, our typical summit length, our like session length that we ask for people to create sessions within.
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Even our VIP structure has a pretty basic framework.
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Now that doesn't mean we never make any changes.
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We definitely do.
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We tweak things, we experiment, we try new formats, and we change things when there's a reason to change them.
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But our starting point is this is how we do it, unless there's a really good reason to change it.
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And that's what makes this process so much easier because we're not starting from a blank page every single time.
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We're starting from something that already works.
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And this is something that we want to really emphasize.
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So structure actually creates freedom.
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Sometimes people hear the word structure and they think it means like rigid.
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But for us, we have learned that the structure does actually create freedom in our business and planning of the summit.
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Because when you have a project plan, you don't have to constantly wonder what happens next.
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When you have a speaker tracker, you do not have to like remember in your head which speaker still needs what.
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When you have templates, you're not starting from scratch each time.
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When you have SOPs, you don't need to figure out like the process from the beginning every single time.
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It's very consistent.
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When you have a timeline, you don't have to be asking yourself all the time, am I behind?
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And this is where a repeatable system is even more powerful than a plan.
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A plan tells you what you are doing this time.
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A repeatable system gives you a framework you can actually use like again and again.
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And I think that's a huge distinction because if you are planning your third, fourth, fifth, or tenth summit and you're still starting from scratch every time, you are creating a ton of unnecessary decision fatigue.
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Now let's talk about something that can make all of this significantly worse.
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And that is perfectionism.
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We see it all the time with branding, website copies, session titles, emails, social media graphics, VIP offers, tech, speaker lineups.
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You name it, we see it.
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Hosts get trapped thinking, I just need to make this one more tweak.
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And sometimes that tweak can be helpful, but sometimes it's just delaying the inevitable decision that needs to be made.
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And this is where we think there is an important distinction.
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Good enough for strategy is not the same thing as good enough for quality control.
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Your website copy doesn't have to be the most brilliant copy that anyone has ever written.
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Your graphics don't need to win designing awards.
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Your session titles don't need to be perfect.
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Your VIP offer doesn't need 37 different bonuses.
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Those things can all be good enough.
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But there are things where we don't want quote unquote good enough.
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And your speaker lineup is one of them because the quality and alignment of your speakers directly impacts the attendee experience.
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So that's where we're willing to spend more time.
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And that's the key.
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You do not need to perfect everything.
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You just need to know what actually deserves your attention.
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So now let's get on to some tough love.
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And here's a question we want you to ask yourself.
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And we want you to be honest.
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Are you researching or are you just avoiding making the decisions?
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Because they can look very similar.
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You might tell yourself, I'm just doing more research.
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But if you've already gathered like enough information to make a reasonable decision and you are still looking, you might not need more information.
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You might just need to decide.
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So one way we like to tell the difference is to ask, what information am I actually missing?
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If there is a specific piece of information you need, absolutely go find it.
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But if you were just looking for something that's going to make you feel like a hundred percent certain, you're probably never going to get there.
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And the cost of overthinking isn't just mental energy.
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It can delay speaker outreach.
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It can delay promotion.
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It can cause you to miss opportunities.
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It can create a rushed launch and it can increase your stress because now you're trying to squeeze everything into a smaller window.
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And we're speaking from experience here from some of our beginning summits.
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So sometimes the best decision isn't the perfect decision.
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It's just the decision that lets you move forward.
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Okay, so let's imagine that you're listening right now and you have a bunch of tabs open.
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You're researching platforms, you're looking at other people's summits, you're trying to figure out how many speakers you actually need.
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You're comparing VAP offers, you're looking at branding, you're reading blog posts, you're watching videos, or listening to podcasts, and you're overwhelmed.
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Here is what we would tell you to do.
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The first thing is to step back.
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So before you make another decision, take a look at your business and figure out why you're hosting the summit in the first place.
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What do you want it to accomplish?
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What does the summit connect to in your business?
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Because those answers will eliminate a lot of options.
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Then the second thing you want you to do is start with your summit date and work backwards.
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So if you don't have a date, it's time to choose one.
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Then from there, once you have that date solidified, you can backdate your planning phases.
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You might be stressing out about things that are months away.
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So you don't need to solve every single problem today.
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And then the third thing, make your first summit smaller.
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If this is your very first summit, smaller is going to be much more manageable.
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You don't need to start with 40 speakers.
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You don't need to start with five days, and you don't need a more complicated tech stack.
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You also don't need every feature you've ever seen another host use.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.919
Start with something that you can actually execute really well.
00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:07.519
And remember, trying to solve every possible problem before you've even started doesn't make you more prepared.
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.279
It just keeps you stuck.
00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:15.679
Now, because we are a co-host of our events, we obviously don't agree on every single decision.
00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.679
I know that can be shocking, but when we disagree, we do talk through it.
00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:25.600
We compare the pros and the cons, we look at the goal, we look at the attendee experience, and then we make a decision.
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.519
And I think that's another thing that changes when you've hosted more events.
00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:33.519
You get better at recognizing which decisions actually matter.
00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:40.639
Early on, you might spend a ton of time debating something that ultimately has very little impact.
00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:55.519
Over time, you're going to learn what matters, or if something doesn't matter as much, if something is actually worth discussing, or if this is a decision that you can just make and like move on and not worry about it.
00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.320
We think the experience helps you build that judgment.
00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:09.119
And that's one of the reasons we're such big fans of creating those defaults, because you do not have to rethink something you've already proven works unless there is a specific reason to.
00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.960
So here are some of the biggest summit decision-making mistakes that we see.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.359
Number one, asking too many people for opinions.
00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:24.559
At some point, you can have so many opinions that you just don't even know what you even think anymore.
00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.640
Number two, constantly changing your mind.
00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:31.759
If you've made a reasonable decision and nothing has changed, you don't need to revisit it every three days.
00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.079
Third thing is chasing the newest platform.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.839
Just because something is new, it does not mean your current system is broken.
00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.880
Fourth thing, comparing your summit to someone else's.
00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:48.960
And this one might be the biggest downfall of all, because you don't know their goals, you don't know their audience, their capacity, their back end, and you don't know what they're measuring.
00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.759
And you definitely don't know everything happening behind the scenes.
00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.960
So stop making decisions because another host is doing something.
00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.480
Make decisions because it makes sense for your own summit.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.880
Now we've covered a lot in this episode so far.
00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.119
So we want to give you our simple like summit decision-making framework.
00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:12.319
And if you need to make almost any summit decision, we want you to start with these questions.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.359
So number one, what is the goal?
00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.119
And we mean the goal of your summit.
00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.400
So what are you actually trying to accomplish with the event?
00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.200
Number two, what does the attendee need?
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:31.519
Not what would be impressive, not what someone else is doing, but what does your attendee at your event actually need?
00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.039
Number three, what is the simplest option?
00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:40.160
If two options accomplish the same thing, we always recommend going with the simpler one.
00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:44.799
You're not going to win a medal for having the most complicated system, tech, whatever.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:48.799
It's much better if something just works and why make it harder on yourself.
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:52.319
Number four, does this actually matter?
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:58.880
So is this decision going to meaningfully impact the attendee experience or your business results?
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:04.960
You will find so many times that it honestly doesn't.
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:12.559
So spending all of this time making a decision is just a waste of your time when you can make something quick and just move on or scrap it.
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.680
And then number five is just decide and move on.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:20.079
So once you have gathered enough information to make a good decision, make it.
00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:27.359
And I do want to say that we said a good decision, not a perfect decision, because I don't think anything's ever going to be 100% perfect.
00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:35.920
But we also want to say that we don't want you to then keep reopening the decision just because you're uncomfortable with uncertainty.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:40.799
And we think this framework works because it puts the focus where it belongs.
00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:45.119
Not on making the summit as impressive as possible.
00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:55.279
That's like a vanity thing that makes you feel good, but rather on making the summit effective so it makes your speakers, your attendees, and everything feel good.
00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.759
And that in return has a big impact on you.
00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:01.839
But so again, effective over impressive, I think is key.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.519
So let's bring this all together.
00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:10.240
If you're stuck between three good options, choose the one that best supports your goal and your attendee experience and move forward.
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:17.519
If a decision doesn't significantly affect the attendee experience or business results, then we don't want you to spend hours obsessing over it.
00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.160
Make a reasonable choice and keep on moving.
00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:24.880
Because the hosts who execute consistently aren't the ones who make every decision perfectly.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:28.640
They're the ones who make decisions, create systems, and keep on moving.
00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.680
And if you remember one thing from this episode, let it be this.
00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:35.039
You don't need to make fewer decisions because you're less strategic.
00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:39.119
You need to make fewer decisions because you've already decided what matters.
00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:44.559
Your summit doesn't need to live in your brain as 500 different individual decisions.
00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:53.839
Turn decisions into defaults, turn processes into templates, and turn templates into systems, and give yourself permission to stop reinventing things that already were.
00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:03.440
And if this episode has you looking at your summit and thinking, okay, maybe I don't need to make everything so complicated, that is exactly what we hoped you take away.
00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:12.640
Because after hosting summit after summit, we've learned that there are a lot of things that can feel important, but not all of them actually move the needle.
00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:19.440
And that's what we're talking about next week in what actually moves the needle in your summit after seven plus years of hosting.
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.799
We are going to pull back and look at the bigger picture.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:32.160
What actually drives attendance, what actually creates engagement, what actually leads to conversions, and what actually contributes to long-term business growth.
00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.240
So there are things that we used to obsess over.
00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:41.279
And looking back, we've realized that they just weren't that important.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:47.920
And there are things we now focus on every single time because we've seen them make a difference again and again.
00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:55.839
So if you've ever wondered what I should actually be spending my time on when I host a summit, you are definitely going to want to listen to that one.
00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.000
So we are going to see you next week.
00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:02.160
Until then, remember, you do not need to make every decision perfectly.
00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:06.720
You will just need to make the right decision for your summit and keep on moving.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.640
Thanks for spending time with us today on the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast.
00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:18.960
If this episode was helpful, be sure to share it on social media and tag us at Summit Success Squad or personally share with somebody you know could benefit from it.
00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.599
New episodes will be released every Wednesday.
00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.359
See ya next time.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280
Have you ever sat down to plan your summit and thought, okay, I just need to make a few decisions?
00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:20.559
And then three hours later, you're comparing 17 different summit platforms, 14 different VIP offer ideas, 32 potential speakers, and somehow you're now researching whether your summit needs a completely different color palette, and you're no closer to actually making that decision.
00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:25.359
Because here's the thing: we don't think most summit hosts get stuck because they don't know how to host a summit.
00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:30.640
They get stuck because there are just so many decisions that need to be made throughout the entire summit process.
00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:35.119
And decision fatigue can be just as exhausting as the actual work of hosting the summit.
00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:36.640
Let's talk about it.
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.240
Hey, I'm Jenny.
00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:42.560
And I'm Lindsay, and you're listening to the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast.
00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.920
This is a place for you if you want to learn hashtag all the things about hosting a virtual summit.
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:53.920
We've hosted and produced countless summits, and we cannot wait to share with you all of our biggest secrets.
00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:59.119
So sit back, grab your favorite drink, and get ready to put on a killer summit experience.
00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:11.120
Hey there and welcome back to the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast, the go-to show for entrepreneurs who want to host profitable high-impact virtual summits without the overwhelm.
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:20.159
We're Jenny and Lindsay, Virtual Summit and Visibility Childist, and today we are talking about the summit decision fatigue problem and how to simplify everything.
00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:36.400
So we're going to discuss where hosts tend to overthink, how we've turned many of our summit decisions into like defaults, our three option rule, when like good enough really is good enough, and how having more structure can actually give you more freedom.
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:40.239
Because the goal isn't to make every summit decision perfectly.
00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:46.000
The goal is to make good decisions early enough that you actually have time to execute them well.
00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:47.519
So let's get into it.
00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.000
So first we want to start with what we think is one of the biggest misconceptions about summit planning.
00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:59.680
And that is that most hosts don't get stuck because they don't know how to host a summit, but they get stuck because there are just so many different decisions that need to be made.
00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.799
So think about everything you have to decide when it comes to hosting a summit.
00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:08.159
You need to figure out the name of the summit, the topic of the summit, the promise of the summit.
00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:09.199
When is it happening?
00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:10.479
How long is it going to be?
00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:12.479
How many speakers and who are they?
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What are the session topics?
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.560
What platform are you using for the summit itself?
00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:18.400
How are you delivering these sessions?
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Are you doing live or pre-recorded?
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.319
What's your VIP offer and how much does it cost?
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What bonuses are being included?
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How are you promoting the event?
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When do you start that promotion?
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What are you having speakers promote?
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How often are you sending emails?
00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:36.080
What happens after the summer?
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:41.360
And honestly, that's just a tiny fraction of the different decisions.
00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:46.080
And that's before you've even gotten into all the other decisions that pop up along the way.
00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:49.520
And that's why decision fatigue can show up at multiple points.
00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:57.439
For us, we see it happen a lot at the beginning of the planning process because there are so many foundational decisions to make.
00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:02.080
But then we also see it happen again, say a week or two before the summit goes live.
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.280
That's when everything suddenly feels urgent.
00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:08.159
You're looking at your list and thinking, did we forget something?
00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:09.120
Should we change this?
00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.120
Wait, do we need to add something?
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.039
Maybe we should do this instead.
00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.919
And that's when things can get really overwhelming.
00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.280
And here's the mindset we want you to take away from this episode.
00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:28.800
A good decision made early is better than a rash decision made at the last minute, because waiting for the perfect decision doesn't necessarily make the decision better.
00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.919
Sometimes it just means you have less time to execute it.
00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:36.000
So now let's move on to what you might be overthinking when it comes to hosting a summit.
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There are a few things that we consistently see summit hosts spend way too much time deciding.
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The first one is branding.
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So we're not saying here that branding isn't important.
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You obviously want your summit to look cohesive and professional, but we see a lot of hosts spending weeks trying to choose fonts, colors, logos, graphics, and all the other tiny details before they've even net nailed down the strategy for their summit as a whole.
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.000
Another one is the planning process itself.
00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:07.439
Sometimes hosts are so busy trying to figure out the absolute perfect way to plan their summit that they aren't actually focused on planning the summit.
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.120
And then of course there's tech.
00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.120
The tech rabbit hole is real.
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You're asking questions like, should I use this platform or that one?
00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:15.680
And this one has this feature.
00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.759
Wait, this other one has this integration.
00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:24.399
And before you know it, you spent like many, many hours researching a problem that your existing tech stack already solves.
00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.560
And then there's offers for your summit.
00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:32.160
Host can spend so much time trying to figure out what should be included in VIP, how many bonuses should I have?
00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.160
Should I have multiple tiers of the VIP?
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Should I add another thing in here?
00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:38.560
And sometimes the answer here is simply just no.
00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.000
You don't need to keep adding.
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You need to ask whether what you're adding actually makes the experience better.
00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:52.879
So now let's talk about speaker selection because this is another place where decision fatigue can really creep in.
00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:56.319
So hosts start asking, how many speakers should I have?
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Should I say yes to this person?
00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:01.199
What if I say no and they're amazing?
00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.399
Do I need, you know, more big names?
00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:06.879
What if someone else has a bigger audience?
00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.240
And suddenly you're second-guessing every speaker decision.
00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:12.480
Our approach is much simpler.
00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.040
We do not prioritize big names.
00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:19.920
We want every speaker to be aligned and make sense for the summit as a whole.
00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:21.199
Does their topic fit?
00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.560
Does their audience make sense?
00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.160
Does the speaker fit the overall experience that we are trying to create?
00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.959
Those things matter so much more to us than whether someone's name is recognizable.
00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.639
And that's one of the easiest ways to reduce decision fatigue.
00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.639
Instead of asking, could this person potentially be a good speaker?
00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:43.920
We want you to ask, does this person clearly fit the event that I am building?
00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:49.519
That makes the decision much easier because you aren't evaluating the speaker in like isolation.
00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:53.199
You are evaluating them in context of your event.
00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:58.480
So now moving on to one of the biggest like decision making nightmares, and that is tech.
00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:03.040
And we feel like this is probably one of the biggest areas where we would encourage hosts to create a default.
00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:08.560
And for us, our default approach is use what you already have unless there's a really good reason not to.
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.759
You don't need to chase the newest summit platform just because it exists.
00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.439
You don't need to add another tool because someone on Instagram told you that it's great.
00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:29.439
And you definitely don't need to completely rebuild your tech stack for every single summit because every new tool creates more decisions and potentially more integrations and more things to learn and more things that can break and more things that you have to remember the next time that you host the event again.
00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:33.439
Sometimes the simplest solution is honestly the best solution.
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:36.959
And this is actually where our three option rule comes in.
00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:41.279
So instead of researching 47 different tech platforms, give yourself three options.
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.439
First option, use what we already have.
00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:45.920
Second option, upgrade something we already use.
00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.480
And third option is the add a new tool.
00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.279
That's it.
00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:50.160
So that's it.
00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:56.560
Now you have a decision to make because when you give yourself 10, 20, or 50 options, you don't necessarily make a better decision.
00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.600
You just get overwhelmed and then you make zero decisions.
00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:06.079
So we want to talk about this three option rule a bit more because we think it's so useful just beyond tech.
00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:14.000
So the reason we like three is because once you get beyond three options, it becomes so much harder to compare them meaningfully.
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:22.639
You can use this for speakers, for formats, for VIP offers, you can use it for promotional strategies, really almost anything.
00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.920
So let's say you're trying to figure out your summit format.
00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:33.680
Instead of asking what are all the possible summit formats that have ever existed, we want you to give yourself three.
00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:38.240
Maybe they are like option one, a three-day prerecorded summit.
00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:43.920
Maybe option two is a three-day pre-recorded summit, but it includes a couple of live elements.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.240
And maybe option three is like a one-day condensed timeline summit.
00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:52.639
Now, we want you to compare those three against your actual goals.
00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:54.720
So which one fits your audience?
00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.800
Which one fits your capacity?
00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.920
And you know, which one supports your offer?
00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:05.279
So once you go through all of those, you should have a winner and you know the decision is made for you.
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:12.480
Or let's say you're deciding between VIP options, instead of creating 15 possible bonuses, give yourself three concepts.
00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:15.839
Then we want you to ask, which one actually adds value?
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:21.120
You do not need a limited option, you need enough options to make a good choice.
00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:25.600
Now, this brings us to another major decision fatigue area, which is offers.
00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:33.360
So we often see hosts getting stuck trying to figure out how much they should include inside of their VIP pass and other offers.
00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.320
And we understand why.
00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.919
You want your VIP pass offer to feel valuable.
00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.200
You want people to feel like they're getting a really great deal.
00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:46.879
And that's great, but there's a point where adding more doesn't create more value, it just creates more noise.
00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:49.279
And that's the question we want hosts to ask.
00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.080
Is this adding value or is this adding noise?
00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.960
Because more content isn't necessarily what people need.
00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.480
People already have access to an incredible amount of information.
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.440
What they often need is help doing something with it.
00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:08.240
So instead of adding another course, another PDF, another training, and another resource, what if you gave them something that actually helped them implement?
00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.480
That's a much better use of your energy.
00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:12.879
And it also makes the decision much easier.
00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:15.200
So instead of asking, what can I add?
00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.039
You're asking what would actually help this person move forward.
00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:23.360
Next up is promotion, because this is another place where hosts get stuck.
00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.799
I mean, I'm sure you've caught yourself asking, when should I start promotion?
00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:28.159
How often should I email?
00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:29.679
What should speakers post?
00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:31.039
What should I post?
00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.080
Should I do reels?
00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:32.879
Should I do live?
00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.159
Should I run ads?
00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.600
And again, we think the answer is to create some defaults.
00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.440
So for example, we like a two-week promotion period.
00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.759
That's enough time to promote without making the event feel like it's going on forever.
00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:50.960
And beyond that, we don't think you need to follow someone else's like rulebook.
00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:55.600
There isn't one magical promotion schedule that every summon host needs to follow.
00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:03.759
So for example, when we first started, I think we had a three or four-week promotion, and that just resulted in us needing so many more nurture emails.
00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:07.440
It was way too far out that people would forget about the event.
00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.279
So now we do a two-week promotion.
00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:16.080
We tend to start a week early for ourselves for testing, but two-week set, we're good.
00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.679
Basically, you want to choose what works for you, your audience, and your business.
00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:20.879
Then stick with it.
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.879
And you can always redefine it later if it's not working.
00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:32.799
And so as you can see, one of the biggest things we've really learned from hosting multiple summits over multiple years is truly the power of defaults.
00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.559
You do not need to reinvent every single decision every time you host an event.
00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.360
So we've turned a lot of our summit processes into defaults.
00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:52.559
So our tech stock, our email platform, our registration process, our speaker workflow, our product timeline, our promotion schedule, our page structure, our typical summit length, our like session length that we ask for people to create sessions within.
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.759
Even our VIP structure has a pretty basic framework.
00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:57.919
Now that doesn't mean we never make any changes.
00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:58.720
We definitely do.
00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:03.840
We tweak things, we experiment, we try new formats, and we change things when there's a reason to change them.
00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.480
But our starting point is this is how we do it, unless there's a really good reason to change it.
00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:13.600
And that's what makes this process so much easier because we're not starting from a blank page every single time.
00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.000
We're starting from something that already works.
00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:19.279
And this is something that we want to really emphasize.
00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.399
So structure actually creates freedom.
00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:27.120
Sometimes people hear the word structure and they think it means like rigid.
00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:34.320
But for us, we have learned that the structure does actually create freedom in our business and planning of the summit.
00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:38.639
Because when you have a project plan, you don't have to constantly wonder what happens next.
00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:45.279
When you have a speaker tracker, you do not have to like remember in your head which speaker still needs what.
00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.720
When you have templates, you're not starting from scratch each time.
00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:53.759
When you have SOPs, you don't need to figure out like the process from the beginning every single time.
00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.960
It's very consistent.
00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:00.879
When you have a timeline, you don't have to be asking yourself all the time, am I behind?
00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:05.679
And this is where a repeatable system is even more powerful than a plan.
00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:08.720
A plan tells you what you are doing this time.
00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:14.080
A repeatable system gives you a framework you can actually use like again and again.
00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:27.200
And I think that's a huge distinction because if you are planning your third, fourth, fifth, or tenth summit and you're still starting from scratch every time, you are creating a ton of unnecessary decision fatigue.
00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.559
Now let's talk about something that can make all of this significantly worse.
00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.399
And that is perfectionism.
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We see it all the time with branding, website copies, session titles, emails, social media graphics, VIP offers, tech, speaker lineups.
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You name it, we see it.
00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:46.639
Hosts get trapped thinking, I just need to make this one more tweak.
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And sometimes that tweak can be helpful, but sometimes it's just delaying the inevitable decision that needs to be made.
00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.759
And this is where we think there is an important distinction.
00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:00.000
Good enough for strategy is not the same thing as good enough for quality control.
00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:04.559
Your website copy doesn't have to be the most brilliant copy that anyone has ever written.
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Your graphics don't need to win designing awards.
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Your session titles don't need to be perfect.
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Your VIP offer doesn't need 37 different bonuses.
00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.639
Those things can all be good enough.
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But there are things where we don't want quote unquote good enough.
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And your speaker lineup is one of them because the quality and alignment of your speakers directly impacts the attendee experience.
00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.919
So that's where we're willing to spend more time.
00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.720
And that's the key.
00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.559
You do not need to perfect everything.
00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:31.440
You just need to know what actually deserves your attention.
00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:34.799
So now let's get on to some tough love.
00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.240
And here's a question we want you to ask yourself.
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And we want you to be honest.
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Are you researching or are you just avoiding making the decisions?
00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:47.120
Because they can look very similar.
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.000
You might tell yourself, I'm just doing more research.
00:13:50.159 --> 00:14:00.240
But if you've already gathered like enough information to make a reasonable decision and you are still looking, you might not need more information.
00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.320
You might just need to decide.
00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:09.440
So one way we like to tell the difference is to ask, what information am I actually missing?
00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:15.759
If there is a specific piece of information you need, absolutely go find it.
00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:23.279
But if you were just looking for something that's going to make you feel like a hundred percent certain, you're probably never going to get there.
00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:27.039
And the cost of overthinking isn't just mental energy.
00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.360
It can delay speaker outreach.
00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.120
It can delay promotion.
00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.440
It can cause you to miss opportunities.
00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:40.559
It can create a rushed launch and it can increase your stress because now you're trying to squeeze everything into a smaller window.
00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:44.960
And we're speaking from experience here from some of our beginning summits.
00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:48.480
So sometimes the best decision isn't the perfect decision.
00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.120
It's just the decision that lets you move forward.
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:55.840
Okay, so let's imagine that you're listening right now and you have a bunch of tabs open.
00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:01.440
You're researching platforms, you're looking at other people's summits, you're trying to figure out how many speakers you actually need.
00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:08.240
You're comparing VAP offers, you're looking at branding, you're reading blog posts, you're watching videos, or listening to podcasts, and you're overwhelmed.
00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:10.320
Here is what we would tell you to do.
00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.799
The first thing is to step back.
00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:19.360
So before you make another decision, take a look at your business and figure out why you're hosting the summit in the first place.
00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.799
What do you want it to accomplish?
00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.039
What does the summit connect to in your business?
00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:26.480
Because those answers will eliminate a lot of options.
00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.639
Then the second thing you want you to do is start with your summit date and work backwards.
00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.519
So if you don't have a date, it's time to choose one.
00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:38.080
Then from there, once you have that date solidified, you can backdate your planning phases.
00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.960
You might be stressing out about things that are months away.
00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.600
So you don't need to solve every single problem today.
00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.720
And then the third thing, make your first summit smaller.
00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:50.240
If this is your very first summit, smaller is going to be much more manageable.
00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.080
You don't need to start with 40 speakers.
00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.840
You don't need to start with five days, and you don't need a more complicated tech stack.
00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.960
You also don't need every feature you've ever seen another host use.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.919
Start with something that you can actually execute really well.
00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:07.519
And remember, trying to solve every possible problem before you've even started doesn't make you more prepared.
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.279
It just keeps you stuck.
00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:15.679
Now, because we are a co-host of our events, we obviously don't agree on every single decision.
00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.679
I know that can be shocking, but when we disagree, we do talk through it.
00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:25.600
We compare the pros and the cons, we look at the goal, we look at the attendee experience, and then we make a decision.
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.519
And I think that's another thing that changes when you've hosted more events.
00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:33.519
You get better at recognizing which decisions actually matter.
00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:40.639
Early on, you might spend a ton of time debating something that ultimately has very little impact.
00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:55.519
Over time, you're going to learn what matters, or if something doesn't matter as much, if something is actually worth discussing, or if this is a decision that you can just make and like move on and not worry about it.
00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.320
We think the experience helps you build that judgment.
00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:09.119
And that's one of the reasons we're such big fans of creating those defaults, because you do not have to rethink something you've already proven works unless there is a specific reason to.
00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.960
So here are some of the biggest summit decision-making mistakes that we see.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.359
Number one, asking too many people for opinions.
00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:24.559
At some point, you can have so many opinions that you just don't even know what you even think anymore.
00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.640
Number two, constantly changing your mind.
00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:31.759
If you've made a reasonable decision and nothing has changed, you don't need to revisit it every three days.
00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.079
Third thing is chasing the newest platform.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.839
Just because something is new, it does not mean your current system is broken.
00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.880
Fourth thing, comparing your summit to someone else's.
00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:48.960
And this one might be the biggest downfall of all, because you don't know their goals, you don't know their audience, their capacity, their back end, and you don't know what they're measuring.
00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.759
And you definitely don't know everything happening behind the scenes.
00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.960
So stop making decisions because another host is doing something.
00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.480
Make decisions because it makes sense for your own summit.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.880
Now we've covered a lot in this episode so far.
00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.119
So we want to give you our simple like summit decision-making framework.
00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:12.319
And if you need to make almost any summit decision, we want you to start with these questions.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.359
So number one, what is the goal?
00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.119
And we mean the goal of your summit.
00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.400
So what are you actually trying to accomplish with the event?
00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.200
Number two, what does the attendee need?
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:31.519
Not what would be impressive, not what someone else is doing, but what does your attendee at your event actually need?
00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.039
Number three, what is the simplest option?
00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:40.160
If two options accomplish the same thing, we always recommend going with the simpler one.
00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:44.799
You're not going to win a medal for having the most complicated system, tech, whatever.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:48.799
It's much better if something just works and why make it harder on yourself.
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:52.319
Number four, does this actually matter?
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:58.880
So is this decision going to meaningfully impact the attendee experience or your business results?
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:04.960
You will find so many times that it honestly doesn't.
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:12.559
So spending all of this time making a decision is just a waste of your time when you can make something quick and just move on or scrap it.
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.680
And then number five is just decide and move on.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:20.079
So once you have gathered enough information to make a good decision, make it.
00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:27.359
And I do want to say that we said a good decision, not a perfect decision, because I don't think anything's ever going to be 100% perfect.
00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:35.920
But we also want to say that we don't want you to then keep reopening the decision just because you're uncomfortable with uncertainty.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:40.799
And we think this framework works because it puts the focus where it belongs.
00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:45.119
Not on making the summit as impressive as possible.
00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:55.279
That's like a vanity thing that makes you feel good, but rather on making the summit effective so it makes your speakers, your attendees, and everything feel good.
00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.759
And that in return has a big impact on you.
00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:01.839
But so again, effective over impressive, I think is key.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.519
So let's bring this all together.
00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:10.240
If you're stuck between three good options, choose the one that best supports your goal and your attendee experience and move forward.
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:17.519
If a decision doesn't significantly affect the attendee experience or business results, then we don't want you to spend hours obsessing over it.
00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.160
Make a reasonable choice and keep on moving.
00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:24.880
Because the hosts who execute consistently aren't the ones who make every decision perfectly.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:28.640
They're the ones who make decisions, create systems, and keep on moving.
00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.680
And if you remember one thing from this episode, let it be this.
00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:35.039
You don't need to make fewer decisions because you're less strategic.
00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:39.119
You need to make fewer decisions because you've already decided what matters.
00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:44.559
Your summit doesn't need to live in your brain as 500 different individual decisions.
00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:53.839
Turn decisions into defaults, turn processes into templates, and turn templates into systems, and give yourself permission to stop reinventing things that already were.
00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:03.440
And if this episode has you looking at your summit and thinking, okay, maybe I don't need to make everything so complicated, that is exactly what we hoped you take away.
00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:12.640
Because after hosting summit after summit, we've learned that there are a lot of things that can feel important, but not all of them actually move the needle.
00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:19.440
And that's what we're talking about next week in what actually moves the needle in your summit after seven plus years of hosting.
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.799
We are going to pull back and look at the bigger picture.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:32.160
What actually drives attendance, what actually creates engagement, what actually leads to conversions, and what actually contributes to long-term business growth.
00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.240
So there are things that we used to obsess over.
00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:41.279
And looking back, we've realized that they just weren't that important.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:47.920
And there are things we now focus on every single time because we've seen them make a difference again and again.
00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:55.839
So if you've ever wondered what I should actually be spending my time on when I host a summit, you are definitely going to want to listen to that one.
00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.000
So we are going to see you next week.
00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:02.160
Until then, remember, you do not need to make every decision perfectly.
00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:06.720
You will just need to make the right decision for your summit and keep on moving.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.640
Thanks for spending time with us today on the Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast.
00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:18.960
If this episode was helpful, be sure to share it on social media and tag us at Summit Success Squad or personally share with somebody you know could benefit from it.
00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.599
New episodes will be released every Wednesday.
00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.359
See ya next time.
