This week I was a sponsor at two different local events.
When you work virtually, leaving the house can be somewhat challenging – so many things to remember!
If I am headed to a business networking event, all I ever really need is my business cards – so that’s pretty simple.
But when I am a sponsor, there are so many more things to coordinate.
This week one of my events was seamless … and one was not!
The first one I brought my banner, my table set up, my business cards, my giveaway and my bowl of candy.
I had sponsored this particular event before so I knew what the crowd was like and I knew what I wanted to bring with me.
It was at a new location, however, so that was my curveball this time – but, all went well!
The second event was a new one that I had not sponsored before. I had to make a decision as to what to bring with me for documentation and handouts, I wasn’t sure how much space I needed and the audience was completely different.
So because I put more thought into that type of thing, I forgot one key item as I left my home. I forgot my wallet!
I was so pleased on my drive in to the city (the location was about 40 minutes from my home) – I was excited about who I would meet and how the morning would go. It was a half day event so that was neat too.
I left plenty early so that I could allow for rush hour traffic, and I knew I had to get to the copy centre to make my copies of the items I had decided to bring as handouts for the attendees.
I was so early that the copy centre was not even open when I arrived, so I headed over to the nearest McDonald’s to get a coffee and some breakfast.
As I pulled past the order area to the second window, I reached for my purse – and that’s when I realized I did not have my wallet. And I could not get out of the drive thru lineup as there were cars ahead of me and behind me!
So there I was – sitting there waiting while they made my bagel and coffee that I knew I could not pay for .. and I waited. One car ahead of me left, another, and finally it was my turn.
I felt so silly! I said to the fellow, “I’m so sorry I realize I don’t have my wallet with me.” I was sure he would think I was crazy.
Apparently this is not the first time that has happened. He said, “No problem! Have a good day!” and I drove away.
I realized then that I also could not go and make my copies either!
I was early enough that I would have had time to drive back home to get my wallet and make it back to the event, but then I would have been late for the event.
Since I had not been to the location before I decided it was best to get there first and worry about my wallet-less situation later.
I scoped things out – I had plenty of gas and I had a bottle of water, so that would do me until lunch time!
So I started to make my way to the event location. Then a bit of panic set in. What if I needed to pay for parking?
I figured I would worry about that when I got there. I arrived almost an hour early and found that parking was free.
So I didn’t have to have my wallet by then after all.
I knew things would be okay!
But what a stressful couple of hours as I had to try to figure out what to do next!
And imagine my sheer delight when our event host arrived with coffee, muffins and fruit! I wasn’t even going to go hungry!
I had no handouts for the people at the event, which was unfortunate, but that just meant I had to engage them in conversation instead, which actually worked to my benefit – and theirs!
So it all turned out just fine!
I should mention also that as I drove to the event location, I was scoping out places I could stop to see people I knew if I really was in need of some cash! LOL. I was all set if I did have to pay for parking – I knew where I going to see a family friend who works nearby!
I talk a lot about planning ahead to make sure that you can manage your daily tasks and strategies and goals – but there are times when things will go wrong.
It’s how you handle things that makes the difference.
My initial reaction was to head home and get my wallet but then when I thought further I realized I could get by without it. And I’m glad I didn’t miss a minute of the event too!
Have you ever had a day like that? What did you do to get through it?