Why I Do This Work
In the wake of COVID-19, many of us are reflecting on our purpose and evaluating our professional options. As a business owner, I have felt greater pressure because entrepreneurship means that you bet on yourself, past work does not guarantee future success, and social media comparisons weigh heavily. How do you find your true professional calling amid this new normal? In pursuit of an answer, I revisited my origin story.
My identity as an event planner was birthed by my mother Joyce, who I credit with showing me what organizing looks like. In her youth, people loved my mother, aspired to be her, and, sadly, some wasted their time envying her. She is a mom, wife, community leader, and trusted friend. She is tough, graceful, giving, stern, and honest. Mom is also bold and unapologetic; when she enters the room, she has a magnetism that attracts many. My mom is not a formal event planner but excels in the art of diplomacy, being creative with limited resources, and making everyone feel special. Now, more than ever, I realize that I am like my mom, which is why I cannot imagine doing anything other than event planning post COVID-19. Also, looking back has forced me to remember who I am and the struggles and mistakes that forged me. As a result, I have peace about the uncertain path ahead and know that event planning remains the professional love affair of my life for the following reasons:
1. Event planners are architects of the human experience. I love people, and from my view, diversity is power. I love diversity of thought, expression, cultures, food, and, yes, event experiences. I am confident that curating events that provide this forum is my calling.
2. Being a business owner is an exercise in personal freedom. In the past, I relied on the framework of a traditional company structure to validate my skills (and, trust me, there are many good reasons this is the choice many make, such as paid insurance, retirement plans, stable income, etc). Yet, I no longer worry about what other people think—about my hair, accent, race, gender, or all the other things that distracted me from showing how unique and bold I truly am. LaJoy Plans is built on authenticity, precision, and expertise. I do not engage anymore in external chatter or worry about competition because I know I am running the independent race I built for myself.
3. Event planning demands humility, grace, and patience. Building LaJoy Plans has been the professional test of a lifetime. While I was still figuring out who I was, wonderful clients pushed me creatively and tapped into my emotional intelligence, helping me to build my confidence, learn the business, juggle life, identify the right creative partners, make mistakes, and, sometimes, accept subpar compensation. Simply put, I was built in the laboratory of “on the job learning.” Being humbled created a woman, business owner, and leader who is operating at her highest level. Daily, I strive to practice humility, grace, and patience; daily, I am giving this business and my work everything I have.
So, now where do I go? How does the business continue and what is next for the event planning industry? I do not have a step-by-step plan. Rather, I am tapping into the lessons of my story, listening to my mom’s wisdom, collaborating with other planners who are confronting the same fears, and aggressively protecting my peace. I plan to thrive beyond this season because I am built with my mother’s DNA, relentless work ethic, humility, and a commitment to designing beautiful and diverse events experiences.
I suspect that the story of all of us—and all the events to come—post-COVID-19 will blow our minds. Thank you for being along for the ride and being part of the LaJoy Plans journey.
