Being an independent business owner in the hospitality industry is a goal that many of us have dreamed about for years. It is a lifestyle choice and at times we are reminded of why we made this decision.

Any loss of life is tragic and we are often affected even more when it is a child or young adult. With the recent loss of a fellow student and friend of my teenage daughters, I am reminded to make certain my personal and professional priorities are in line. Whether you choose to work for an organization or in the independent model, we must stay focused on the ‘why’ we are doing what we do. Many of us chose the independent meeting planner/entrepreneurial model so we could build the lifestyle that enabled:

• Flexibility
• More time with family and friends
• The ability to utilize our experience and knowledge
• An opportunity to build wealth
• The ability to give back (time and money)

These are attainable aspirations…I am seeing them accomplished every day by members of my team and fellow entrepreneurs throughout our industry. This post was not intended to be sad, but instead to serve as a real life reminder of our ‘why’…the reason we chose our career path. We work to live and not live to work.

I made the transition to the independent meeting planner/entrepreneurial model in 2007…and have never looked back. I know it can be scary, but all things in life worth achieving come after making the difficult decision to take action toward our dreams. Are you ready to take this step?

I wish you continued health, happiness and success!

If you found this article interesting, you might also like “Independent Meeting Planners Are Small Business Owners/Entrepreneurs”.