Some people like leaving things to the very last minute.
The England Football Team would be an excellent and current example.
A very late goal scored in the dying seconds of Sunday’s match saved them from exiting the Euro’s tournament.
The performance was painful in the extreme for those watching.
Bravado after the event when things have sort of worked out, doesn’t eradicate the angst that went before.
Nor the doubt about tactics or team selection.
Maybe you have someone in your team who works that way.
They probably give you the jitters when it comes to project work.
Despite their assurances about “being on it”, you have your doubts.
Organising trade show stands and pre-show marketing are things many managers intend to get around to but don’t until the last minute.
A show can be months away, so there’s no immediate pressure.
Other tasks crop up.
The organising and marketing get pushed back.
Opportunities are missed and things are done in a hurry a few weeks from the show.
Last year I had a client who wanted complicated graphics for his stand.
It should have been an excellent job for both parties.
He got in touch less than six weeks from the show.
Not a problem in itself, we can work quickly.
It was the biggest show of the year for his business and he wanted to impress visitors and his boss who was travelling from abroad to be there.
We highlighted that a special process was needed to produce the graphic effect he desired.
Therefore, we needed to see and check his artwork.
He promised it numerous times but missed all deadlines.
Weeks went past and we thought he had gone elsewhere.
Turns out that he was moving house during those weeks running up to the show.
Out of the blue, and a week from the show, his artwork appeared.
Much stress at his end ensued when told he’d left it too late for production.
Finally, and with much persuasion of our exasperated printer and a late booking levy, a simpler version of the job was produced.
Needless to say, we’ll gladly never do business with that person again.
Ten Days To Trade Show Ready is a training course and support service that enables you to delegate stand organisation to a colleague.
And to do that with confidence.
It doesn’t mean leaving things until ten days out from an event.
Ideally, the work outlined should be started three months out and longer for a bigger stand at a flagship event.
Buy it now if you have events in the autumn.
You can see what’s covered on this page of our website.
Very best,