We recently connected with Stacey Hoyt and have shared our conversation below.
Stacey, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
When you tell yourself that everything is going to be alright, you are inclined to do what needs to be done to make sure that everything is indeed going to be alright. Having a positive attitude as a default is something that can be practiced.
I think that I learned positivity from my father. He was often very jolly, and in difficult situations he was able to see the humor in precarious predicaments. I admired that, and I have always admired people that can keep cool and take charge under pressure, so I have tried to emulate that quality as an adult.
As an event planner, there are often situations where things are not going according to plan. It helps to have thought through different scenarios in advance so that alternative solutions are already top of mind, but it is not always possible to have a plan B for every scenario. My strategy is to stay focused on solutions. It does no good to rehash the root of the problem in the moment, you can always go back and analyze things later. When faced with time sensitive problems I try to clear my mind and think about every possible solution, and how the different paths might have an impact on others. It’s important to stay positive and be willing to put a plan into action quickly.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been an event professional for more than 20 years. I started my career as a professional stage manager, but I had to pivot when I decided to start a family. It was difficult to start over from scratch in a new career, but I have been happy with my choice.
I love working in events, and most of my work has been in the nonprofit sector. I like the fact that I lean heavily on logistical skills, but I also get to be creative. It is very rewarding to put an event together and see it come to life and stand back and watch the attendees enjoying themselves.
Right now, I have a job working at a classical radio station that also has a beautiful performance venue. I get to work with performers and be a part of the creative process, which is very satisfying.
I have also been fortunate to find work teaching event planning to others, and that brings me fulfillment. I love working with students in and out of the classroom. Teaching also helps to keep me current on what is happening with technology and trends.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think it is important to pay attention to terminology and be inquisitive. If someone is talking about something that you don’t understand you can ask someone else to explain it to you or do some research to gain a better understanding. You can also read books and magazines and use the internet to gain knowledge in areas you are interested in.
It is important to make connections with other people and nurture relationships. You never know when someone you have met can help you in the future. Don’t burn bridges and make sure to be kind and be the type of person others want to work with.
Keep challenging yourself. It can be daunting to take on new challenges, but you will never know what you are capable of if you don’t try.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I think that we should pay attention to the things that we are naturally good at and lean into those things. As I get older, it becomes more apparent that some people are much better at things than others. This helps us find more joy in our work.
For example, I know that I don’t like working with data and spreadsheets. I still have to know how to create a budget and track expenses, but I would not enjoy being an accountant. But there are people that love working with data, so they should find work that suits them.
In my job, there are a lot of new technologies that we are implementing in our performance space. I want to drill down and learn how everything is operated, but I don’t have the time or the acumen to be an expert in those things. I still want to understand what is going on, but I let my team focus on what needs to be done to operate everything efficiently and what upgrades make sense. I let go of my desire to learn it all, and trust that they will do a good job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kmfaeventspace.org/
- Instagram: @stacey_hoyt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacey.hoyt/
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/staceyhoyt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kmfa895
Image Credits
Photo by Jennifer Linberg (B&W)
Teaching photos by Deepicka Mehta
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