Success in the event industry shouldn’t demand exhaustion. In this episode, May Yeo Silvers urges event professionals to rethink the glamorized narrative of post-event burnout often shared on social media. She challenges the idea that physical exhaustion and pain should be seen as badges of honor or the norm for success in the event planning business.
Drawing from her early days at M2 Hospitality, where she handled every detail herself, May explains how she learned to prioritize sustainability and scalability. Through delegation, vendor trust, and detailed playbooks, she transformed her business model to avoid being physically present at every event, achieving both time freedom and long-term growth.
While acknowledging that some professionals find fulfillment in hands-on involvement, May prompts listeners to ask whether this approach aligns with their long-term goals, particularly when it comes to time freedom and scaling their businesses. She also cautions aspiring event professionals against assuming that constant exhaustion is the only path to success. By sharing her strategies, May offers an alternative roadmap for building a business that balances financial success, personal fulfillment, and sustainability.
May’s message is clear: rethink your approach, align your business with your goals, and embrace a model that works for you—whether that’s hands-on or visionary leadership.
Quotes
• “If you are truly feeling wiped out, extremely exhausted after every event that you have done, there’s something wrong.” (04:18 | May Yeo Silvers)
• “Stop glamorizing your pain after each event. Do not glamorize your scars, your war wounds in our industry.” (05:20 | May Yeo Silvers)
• “Not one entrepreneur that I spoke with tells me that they want to start a business because they want to fulfil their passion and they want to make a lot of money, and not because they want to have the time and freedom to do what they want, when they want.” (16:45 | May Yeo Silvers)
• “If you are on the other side of the equation that you want to be hands-on, then start asking yourself: How much longer can I continue to work this way? And what happens when I’m sick?” (27:49 | May Yeo Silvers)
Links
There is no one way to build a business and the most important thing to consider is however you decide to build your business, it should fulfill these 3 things: 1. Financial Freedom 2. Time Freedom 3. Personal Happiness and Fulfillment
If you are still in the early stages of building your events business, you may not have an idea how you should structure your business to achieve those 3 things mentioned above.
There are many online resources for you to learn from, BUT make sure if you want to copycat, find the right cat to copy. Check out my YouTube, IG, Facebook and LinkedIn to see if the business strategies, tactics and mindset I shared resonates with how you see your future self!
Connect with May at: [email protected]
Website: www.mayyeosilvers.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayyeosilvers
IG: www.instagram.com/mayyeosilvers
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial
FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone
