By Planners Hack
The Event Business School 1.0 by Planners Hack – a 6-week business strategy and accountability group for event planners – had 17 event planners in the program, Anne Ejike-Okeke of Biiutifulandbyond Events being one of them.
Introducing savvy planner, Anne of Biiutifulandbyond Events, who recently completed her 6 weeks program in Event Business School.
After 6 whole weeks of intensive training, strategy and coaching sessions in the Event Business School program, we’re pleased to present Anne of Biiutifulandbyond Events as a stand-out graduate of the school.
In today’s magazine issue, we’d be delving into Anne’s experience in the Event Business School; her highs, lows and most importantly her advice for the next cohort.
You’d get to read her experience, see behind the hurray as she takes you behind the scene. Let’s dive right in!
Q: Hello! Can we meet you?
A: My name is Anne Ejike-Okeke Brand name is Biiutiful and Byond Events We have been in business officially on paper since 2011 but actively just a little above 3 years.
Q: Describe the woman that came into EBS and the woman stepping out.
A: Hmmm! The woman that went into EBS was a woman who was desperate for a change in her business structure.
A woman who needed to be more confident in her ability to deliver the best experience for her clients. She battled with this imposter syndrome of feeling she is not good enough despite putting in her all.
The change she desires cuts across not just the structure and self-awareness and appraisal but also the ability to create other passive income streams within the industry, and a reflection of that progress in her bank account.
Q: What are the things you have been procrastinating but being in EBS has helped you take action?
A: Before EBS I struggled with a few questions about quitting my 9-5 job: Will the business be able to stand on its own and sustain me? For how long will I be able to get it right?
Because every business has its ups and downs, especially the event industry that changes almost every now and then. I knew I needed to be different, to identify what makes me unique and develop that aspect of me to embrace my unique identity.
With EBS, I have been able to identify that area of strength that is unique to me, and I am working tirelessly to see everything come together by God’s grace.
Q: How has being in EBS made you a better planner to prospective clients?
A: Wow, wow, wow! EBS has helped me in these regards by assisting me in knowing and understanding my ideal client.
This has enabled me to identify their unique challenges, and I can now create solutions that suit their lifestyle and preferences. My new clients are quite lucky because they have a new me who can see their events through their eyes.
I can cater to all their worries and provide them with a seamless execution, along with an excellent communication line that keeps them informed about all the processes.
I provide them with measurable timelines for deliverables, offer a stress-free engagement with vendors, take care of every little detail, and afford them time to attend to other work-related responsibilities.
They are in for their best times yet.
“EBS helped me identify my unique strengths!”
Q: Why was it important for you to join EBS?
A: It was important for me to join EBS because I needed that platform that would help me grow and thrive in the little things that matter to my clients.
It afforded me self-discovery, opened my eyes to the areas that really matter, and helped me surpass my limitations while cheering me on to always exceed my expectations.
The 6 weeks in EBS have been the best times yet this year for me as a business person. I saw myself exceeding limitations I had placed on myself, like showing my face on my business page, staying up late to catch up on activities I missed during the day, showing up every day for my business either in creative writing or developing working documents, researching my ideal clients to know how better to serve them, and the list is inexhaustible, really.
Q: While working on the lead magnet what were your major highlights?
A: Identifying my ideal client played a crucial role in helping me create a lead magnet. I can provide a solution to a thought in their heads that they have struggled with, which makes them feel at home, knowing we’ve got them covered.
For me, I don’t have a final product because times change, and people’s interests also change. We have to keep fine-tuning to stay relevant to our clients. But so far, it’s been really good.
“I am now more intentional about my brand. Thanks to EBS!”
Q: How did you feel showing up on your first Instagram LIVE?
A: My first Instagram Live experience was quite nerve-wracking. It wasn’t because I didn’t know what to say, but it’s more of a personal thing for me.
I’m not a big fan of social media, especially when it comes to showing my face. Being under pressure for deadlines and realizing that my personality could sell my brand added to the anxiety.
I had to encourage myself, even though I didn’t really have a choice (smiles). It was a huge relief after the Instagram Live session, and now I actually look forward to doing more of them, seriously (giggles).
Q: In EBS, we had an assignment of writing 750 words daily. How did this help you?
A: The 750 words challenge was a huge unveiling of my inner potential. It felt odd at first, but I quickly discovered that I had reached 859+ words on the first day, and I subsequently had fun with it.
This challenge has helped me to think more creatively. Sometimes, I have a spontaneous prompt to write.
For example, I was having a conversation about how the lack of support systems for new moms contributes to postpartum depression. When I got back to my office, I started writing endlessly.
I never would have believed I could do that if someone had told me before. Now, I don’t struggle to write; once I think about it, I write it. Thank you, Coach Dammy, for this enlightening discovery.
Q: What difference have you noticed from optimizing your page? If you were a visitor to your page, would you find it captivating enough to stay?
A: I’m not even done optimizing my page, but so far the engagement has been good, with a little more push and consistency, we would get there..
Q: What key things did you learn from the Marketing Module? If you have implemented some, what has been your experience so far?
A: The level of discoveries with this marketing module was great. For me, the lead magnet approach is my most preferred, because people will sign up for my email listing because of the value I could add to them, that could help me build their trust over time.
Another one for me is showing up online for my followers. I learnt that showing up for my followers is not just for me, it’s also a sign that I value them for following my brand and that really makes me be intentional about what I post or intend to.
Sponsored ad is the one I haven’t tried, I know the value is way high up, because I discovered Plannershack by sponsored ad, and I am thankful everyday for that.
Knowing that there’s someone out there that needs my service and not showing up to say I am here, is me sitting on a goldmine, that’s my next call of action though.
Also I could measure my growth from different angles but the key being that anything I post must be valuable by all.
Q: Of all the templates shared, which have you found to be a DIAMOND?
A: Well for me, I already got the softlife bundle, so it’s been super good. The lead magnet templates were really good, knowing that those information I have are goldmines, feels good.
Q: I believe you came into EBS with expectations? Were they met?
A: I came into EBS with so much expectation but, of course my expectations were over met. I had to be on my feet to catch up with so much more that I still have to implement, this is me absolutely being truthful. I haven’t scratched the surface yet.
The classes are such that even if you had the best grades, you need to go over it again and again to be able to milk all the treasures in it.
As a matter of fact, I am planning a personal retreat for myself and my business, me versus my brand to catch up and upgrade.
I can’t wait to log off the regular and log in to my retreat mode, trust me, it’s a countdown to a big blast.
Q: As a senior EBS tribe, what advice would you give to the next set of EBS tribe?
A: Hmmm! We are really very fortunate to be the first set of EBS tribe, I also congratulate them because they would have a bigger and better fine tuned course.
My advice is: Ensure you attend all the life classes
• If you miss or lost any info during the class, listen to it almost immediately to be able to reinforce what you heard and unlearn anything you got wrongly
• Answer he module questions sincerely, don’t do it out of pressure from others so you are able to do a self discovery and appraisal
• Take the 750 words seriously, it doesn’t last forever and it helps you on a writing discovery you never possible.
• Embrace your partner with the heart that God brought your path together for a purpose, help them the best way you can, share your problems and build each other up.
• Put in your best in all the activities, never run someone else’s race, don’t compare yourselves, YOU are the only version of YOU.
Q: Any Final Words?
EBS met my expectations and beyond. I had to be on my feet to be able to catch up! I felt so stretched, in a beautiful way.
To one and only coach Dammy, you are the best gift from God this year in my life and business. Thank you!
From The EBS Team
Anne is an outstanding graduate of the Event Business School Cohort 1.0 and we are very proud! She is a doer who demands the best from herself continuously!
She showed up & showed out week after week and was ever ready to learn & implement. Her clients are immensely lucky to have her.
We pronounce her a CERTIFIED savvy planner! Huge congratulations, Anne!
