It’s no secret that event planning is stressful — and for event planners there is always a risk of burnout. And the reality is, if you’re in the events business for long enough, every now and then something is sure to go wrong.

If you find yourself struggling with a particularly demoralising slump, remember — even the most veteran event professionals need a few words of encouragement now and then! To help you power through, here are 14 inspirational quotes for motivating yourself through any event planner’s nightmare.

When you’re finding a venue and locking down sponsors

1. “The beginning is always today.” – Mary Shelley

There’s nothing more exhilarating and terrifying than starting at square one. Luckily for you, event planners thrive on creating experiences from the ground up.

2. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot)

You know that there’s an amazing venue or sponsor out there for your event — and you’ve got the energy and contacts to make it happen. You just need to keep knocking on the door.

When your ticket sales launch

3. “All things are ready, if our mind be so.” – William Shakespeare (Henry V)

It takes plenty of preparation to get ready for your ticket sales launch, but you’re confident your planning has paid off, thanks to a solid social media strategy and having the right ticketing or registration partner.

4. “Grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.” – Michaelangelo

You’re always thinking about how you can improve your process and promotion to meet your goals. That’s why you might be using a social influencer campaign or another creative way to advertise your event for the moment tickets go on sale. 

When ticket sales lull

5. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

When ticket sales lull, it’s hard not to stress about everything you’ve done and everything you could be doing to fix it. But that unceasing focus on the way forward is exactly why you’ll be able to help ticket sales speed right back up.

6. “Persistence is a secret weapon for everyone.” – Liu Wen

The reason you’re so great at planning events is that you’re persistent, you keep things in perspective, and you’re never discouraged for long.

The day before the event

7. “If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent van Gogh

On the eve of your event, all the last-minute things you need to do can feel pretty overwhelming. Don’t let the doubt creep in — you have a big day tomorrow and it will require all your focus. If you need to, make a checklist – and ticking off items will help too!

8. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi

When your pre-event to-do list looks way too long, remember that it’s fine to aim for perfection, but settling for excellent is okay.

When people start lining up at the gates

9. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

You’ve got your favourite motivational anthem playing on repeat in your head and as you look at the growing line of attendees, you know you’re on top of things. 

10. “Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” – Henry Ford

Everything that’s come before this moment disappears. This is the moment you’ll see how all your preparation is going to pay off.

When you’re calming frustrated attendees

11. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost

Even the best event is bound to generate the occasional complaint. You’ve got more than one trick up your sleeve for dealing with unhappy attendees, but most of the time all it takes is being a good listener.

12. “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald

You’re a people person who loves helping attendees have an amazing time. Fuelled by your passion, you’re able to diffuse most situations and stay calm while doing it.

When it’s over and it’s time to do it all over again

13. “Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

When the fatigue and exhaustion set in after the last attendee walks away, you might think to yourself that you need a break before your next event. But since you love what you do, you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to get right back at it.

14. “There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” – Bruce Lee

Every event is an opportunity to improve on your process to get it closer to elusive perfection. Your event might be over, but it’s just a stepping stone to the next, better one.

Want help tackling your pre-event stress?

Download our How to Plan an Event Template to help you stay organised in the days leading up to your event.