I have never been afraid of an ugly beginning. In fact, the beginning of Thrive Lounge was VERY ugly!
My first vision board event only had two people show up - and it was FREE! It was a potluck and only one person brought food so we all crowded around one single plate of chicken wings.. and water.
The next year, eight people attended our vision board party and over the years, it grew to an audience that would fill a college auditorium.
I know growing small isn’t the sexiest thing in the world - especially when many hosts dream of selling out large conference rooms. However, there are several reasons why starting small is a beautiful thing.
You can make mistakes while no one is watching.
Let’s be honest, the first time you do anything the outcome will not be perfect. You will find things that can be done better, differently or not at all. You’ll find things that you love and don’t love about the process. You’ll say things you don’t love and think to yourself “I definitely should not have said that!”
The same goes for a vision board workshop. Maybe you tell a story you don’t love the first time you host an event. Maybe you don’t get the right foods or overspend on the decorations. That’s all apart of the learning process.
You can test your stories and activities with a small group.
You’ve likely heard stories about huge comedians like Dave Chapelle or Jerry Seinfeld testing out their new jokes on a small audience in tiny “hole in the wall” clubs. They do this because they want to see how real audiences will react to their jokes.
No one wants to go straight to a Netflix special with jokes that haven’t been tested on a live audience! How do you know people will even laugh?
As a motivator, we’re doing exactly the same thing.
We learn over time what stories and phrases make an audience nod their head, viciously takes notes, and ask you to repeat because the message was so good!
We also learn what stories were met with blank stares, what questions confused people more than they helped.
You will build your presentation ability.
Some people are natural speakers. They woke up one day and were able to tell stories that inspired and convey an internal strength that resonated with crowds.
Even these people need to practice.
As vision board workshop hosts, it’s our job to lead others to clarity and help them create a vision rooted in their purpose.
You don’t achieve that by simply being a good speaker. You must learn what your audience needs and figure out how to deliver exactly that clearly and effectively.
That level of service to an audience takes time.
How To Start Small with Your Vision Board Parties
Invite a group of people who you know to your first event.
Your very first event can start off with a small group of people that you know. You can invite friends from school, a social group, church community or online community to your first event.
Speaking to people you know for your first event can take a lot of pressure off of you because these will be people that know and trust you. This is a great place to practice your stories and activities, and build your confidence in front of a live audience.
Create an event and workshop as if this were a professional event.
I used to sing in the school choir. There is one piece of advice that stuck with me: practice as if you’re in front of an audience. Even though we were in a classroom and there was no one watching, we would belt out those notes as if someone needed to hear us from the back of an auditorium.
Practicing as if this is a real event prepares you better for the real thing.
Take an event for your friends and family just as seriously as you would a real live event for a larger audience. Creating a professional even will help you see what it really takes to create an event at the level that you’d like to produce for others.
Host a real professional event and show up 100% no matter how many people are in the room.
My very first event had two people show up. I could’ve cried and left the room. I could’ve ended that night believing that big vision board parties were only a dream.
BUT… I didn’t! (That goodness.)
I embraced the two people that did show up with open arms. I cherished their presence in my home.
I treated them like the million-dollar people they were and we had an amazing time.
Vision board events are what you create them to be. No matter how large or small - there are lives to be changed, people to be impacted, clarity to be found. You can be the agent of change in your community, no matter the size of your audience, the size of your impact is unlimited.
Who can you invite to your very first vision board event?
Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party?
Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.
Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts.
Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.
About the author
Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!
