President's Corner - June 2025

When I chose the topic of managing change for this month’s article, I even rolled my eyes. Managing change? Please, Donna. We’re event professionals. We manage change for a living.

But BEOs, room diagrams, AV orders, and contracts aren’t what I had in mind. I’m talking about Change. The big life stuff. Moving. Starting new jobs. Family issues. The kind that drives me a little crazy when I try to manage big Change along with all the ordinary day-to-day change.

I’ve had a lot of self-instigated Change over the last 18 months or so. In some ways, Change is invigorating. All the shiny new freshness of life staring you in the face ready for you to create the life you’ve always dreamed of is so much fun.

But wait. You mean I almost literally have a blank slate? What the heck am I supposed to do with that?

I’ve learned that I need to take a beat when my brain starts talking to me, or I’ll go into anxiety mode and start stress eating. Since that usually ends with snug pants and a grumpy stomach, instead I try to find a quiet place and do something to get all the shouting out of my head so that I can think clearly. Sometimes I journal or do some adult coloring. If I’m at work, I’ll write a to do list and establish priorities.

I also try to remind myself that all I really have to do is the next thing. I do not have to figure out my entire life all at once. I just have to figure out which drawer I want the silverware to go in.

How do you manage Change in your life? If it’s more productive than diving head-first into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, I’d love to talk about your tips.

Donna Harbers, CMP
president@mpithcc.org
JoyShine. LLC