<a aria-current="page" href="/" class="router-link-active router-link-exact-active"> The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur™

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Mar 20, 2025

Event Budgeting 101- Episode 182

Thursday Mar 20, 2025

Every event has a budget. But are you spending in the right places?

May Yeo Silvers pulls back the curtain on event budgeting, tackling the common misconception that adjusting your budget automatically changes how many people you can host. Instead of letting numbers dictate your event, she urges planners to start with the bigger picture: What’s the real purpose of this event? What kind of experience do you want attendees to have?

May lays out a smart, structured approach to budgeting: separating must-haves from nice-to-haves, understanding both financial and emotional ROI, and making intentional choices about venue, timing, and costs. From peak season pricing to the trade-offs between food, decor, and AV production, May shares insights to help planners maximize their budget without compromising impact.

With examples (including lessons from her own wedding), she makes the case for spending wisely, not just more. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a retreat, or a celebration, this episode will change the way you think about budgeting and help you create an experience that truly delivers.

Quotes

• “Every time you spend money for an event, on all the different elements of the event, you have to ask yourself: What am I going to get out of this? What are my attendees going to get out of this?” (21:24 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “What is the most important thing that you want people to take away from your event? What is the goal of having this event? Who do I need to invite to this event in order to achieve the goal of me hosting this event?” (23:46 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You’re dealing with a client who wants everything but they do not have the money to pay for everything. So you need to manage expectations, you need to manage numbers, you need to negotiate. You need to negotiate with your vendors so that you can get the most for your buck.” (25:22 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “In order to be an excellent event planner, an event planner who’s able to deliver as much as possible for your client’s events vision, you need to understand the numbers, you need to understand what you can negotiate, not to negotiate, you need to understand the questions to ask your client to find out what they really want from the event in order to determine what are the things that you need to spend money on and advise your client to spend money on this because these are the things that are going to create the experience that align with the end goal of why they want to host the event.” (25:45 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

Want to add more tips and tricks into your event planning tool kit? Follow me on these various platforms:

Want to learn something new that's 30 mins or less while you are on the move? Subscribe to my Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-unstoppable-eventrepreneur/id1591114236

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You are a reader? I got you covered? Grab my book, the Unstoppable Eventrepreneur here

https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-EVENTrepreneur-TM-Profitable-Business/dp/1961347105/

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Mar 13, 2025

To Niche or Not to Niche - Episode 181

Thursday Mar 13, 2025

Should you niche down or keep your options open? It’s one of the biggest questions entrepreneurs face, and the answer isn’t as simple as you might hope.

May Yeo Silvers shares her own experience navigating this decision in the event planning industry. When she launched M2 Hospitality, she offered a full suite of services—event planning, design, and destination management. Over time, she refined her focus, zeroing in on in-person events for Fortune 500 companies and high-earning coaches. Was that the right move? Absolutely. But would it have worked if she had started there from day one? Probably not.

Many entrepreneurs worry that niching down too soon could limit opportunities. Others fear that offering too much will leave them feeling scattered. So how do you know which path to take? May breaks it down, encouraging listeners to experiment, pay attention to what truly excites them, and build a business that aligns with both their strengths and their long-term goals.

May also shares lessons from her coaching business, where she took the opposite approach—starting highly specialized before expanding her reach. The takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy, but there is a way to make an intentional choice instead of a fearful one.

Quotes

• “When I first launched M2 Hospitality, I had different baskets of services and different baskets of revenue. I did not put all my eggs in one basket because I suffer from FOMO and I thought that it’s a good way for me to expose myself to all the different services that I know I’m very good at delivering and then eventually get a feel of what I really love to do.” (08:45 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “I don’t want to wake up just looking for money. I want to wake up doing what I really enjoy, which is event strategy, event planning.” (12:04 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “To niche or not to niche is an evolution. Don’t be too rigid about it. If you’re certain that you only want to focus on one thing, like weddings, and you have no interest in corporate events, children’s parties, or other social gatherings, then commit fully to that niche.” (17:27 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “If you’re offering a full suite of services instead of niching down, be clear in your messaging. There are clients who need exactly that. Don’t get caught up in worrying, ‘What if I’m not known for this?’ If you niche down, you might start second-guessing—’But I can also do this.’ That uncertainty can leave you stuck in the middle. So, pick a side. The best way to figure it out? Try everything first, then decide what you truly love doing.” (23:38 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

BEFORE you spend time thinking if you should niche down or not niche, you should FIRST be doing a self evaluation if you have the business skills and acumen to start and grow a business. This is probably the most forgotten step yet the most important part that every entrepreneur needs to consider before they even start thinking about anything else business related.

The good thing is that business fundamental skills and acumen could be learned and acquired overtime. To help you take the first step of making your dream of owning a business to reality, I have put together a Business Kickstart Bundle which you could use as a launchpad.

The bundle consists of 24 crucial learnings that every planner, designer or decorator needs for the WHAT and the HOW. There are videos and templates revolving around, pricing, sales, marketing, legalities, mindset and productivity hacks. Click this link to find out what the bundle includes and what other EVENTrepreneurs have to say about the 24 course Business Kickstart Bundle!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Mar 06, 2025

Why “Assigned Seatings” Are Used for Events - Episode 180

Thursday Mar 06, 2025

Assigned seating can make or break an event. Are you using it to your advantage?

May Yeo Silvers unpacks the strategy behind assigned seating, showing how a well-planned arrangement does more than keep things organized—it shapes conversations, builds connections, and even influences business outcomes. With over 20 years in the industry, May shares how different seating approaches, from general areas to carefully placed VIP tables, can transform an event’s flow and impact.

May also dives into the details that elevate an event, like color-coded place cards that make meal service seamless and tiered seating that adds exclusivity while driving ticket sales. When done right, these choices create a smoother experience and a sense of value that guests notice.

Whether you’re planning corporate events, weddings, or ticketed experiences, this episode will change the way you think about seating. May leaves listeners with a call to action, sharing insights from her book, “The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur,” a must-read for anyone looking to build a thriving event business.

Quotes

• “When it is an event that you want your sales team to be seated next to a particular potential client, you actually place where your salesperson is sitting, and then you place the potential client next to the salesperson instead of at the far end of the table.” (04:10 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “When you’re pricing your tickets, think about the perks that can help sell tickets at a higher price. Ideally, those perks should cost you little to nothing while adding significant value for attendees.” (09:18 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “So giving them the front row seats is not going to cost you anything, but it gives the social status, gives the first access, and it also gives a feel-good feeling to your attendees, those who bought those tickets, and they also have better seating. So all in all, it doesn’t cost you anything financially, but it costs the ticket holders. But they’re paying for it because they know they’re going to get all these perks, and they put value to those perks.” (09:38 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “If you are just starting out or you want to do some refinement of your business, check out the book, ‘The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur.’ It teaches you the strategy about how to build a business and also the mindset required, financial knowledge, social marketing knowledge, but it also talks about the industry, like the actual way to plan events as well.” (12:42 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

If you are looking for an "all in one" book that helps event planners gain more knowledge about event planning AND also provides a step by step guide on how to start and grow an event planning business, check out my book, The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur. Click the link to grab your copy!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Feb 27, 2025

Mistakes=GROWTH. The What, Why & How - Episode 179

Thursday Feb 27, 2025

Mistakes aren’t failures; they are signals pointing to deeper issues. May Yeo Silvers explores why simply recognizing a mistake isn’t enough. To break the cycle, you have to understand what led to it in the first place. She shares a story about her daughter struggling with a math problem, highlighting how assumptions and unchecked thought processes often cause repeated errors. The same patterns show up in business and life. Hiring out of desperation, investing in coaching but never applying the lessons, or choosing relationships that don’t align with long-term goals.

Instead of dismissing mistakes as bad decisions, May encourages a different approach. What if the real issue isn’t the mistake itself but how you respond to it? Are you evaluating the process behind your decisions or just reacting to the outcome? She challenges entrepreneurs to go beyond surface-level thinking and take ownership of their choices. Growth doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes; it comes from understanding them.

Quotes

• “If you don’t understand the root cause of your mistake, it will be very difficult to avoid making the same mistake.” (02:20 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “Hiring is not a mistake. Hiring the wrong person is a mistake, so you must learn to differentiate what exactly is the true problem here.” (06:32 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “Is it really a mistake, the act of investing in a coach or the act of buying a course, or how you utilize what you bought is a mistake because you did not show up, you did not do what you’re supposed to do?” (14:12 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “There’s never a perfect time to start a business. There’s a better time, but never a perfect time.” (18:05 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “Sometimes a business owner may not equally be a good CEO. You may be a creative brain, but you may not be a good leader. Then perhaps it's time to seek help on how to become a better leader.” (22:49 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

One of the reasons why many of the EVENTrepreneurs are slow to launch or are constantly in "prep mode" is because they are afraid of making "mistakes".

Entrepreneurship is challenging enough, imagine not having a blueprint to show you the What and the How, no wonder these EVENTrepreneurs are afraid to take actions fearing the potential loss that comes in all kinds.

This is WHY I created the Business Kickstart Bundle! In the bundle, there are 24 courses focusing on all the business fundamentals like pricing, marketing, sales, legalities etc that are easy to consume in a day, accompanied by step by step instructions on how to implement what you learn!

Best part is, it is priced ONLY at $24, and that is NOT a pricing mistake because I want to make this bundle accessible to EVERY EVENTrepreneur out there. Click on this link to find out what comes with the bundle!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Feb 20, 2025

Business Finance Management 101 - Episode 178

Thursday Feb 20, 2025

Money moves fast in business, but without a solid plan, you could be spending when you should be investing—or worse, mismanaging the funds that keep your business running.

In this episode, May Yeo Silvers breaks down the essentials of business finance, from why every entrepreneur needs a dedicated business bank account to the smartest way to handle taxes without overpaying the IRS. She shares personal strategies for keeping transactions clean, managing client funds without costly mistakes, and making sure every dollar works toward growth.

How do you decide what to invest in, what to save, and what to spend? Tune in as May offers a practical approach to financial decisions that will keep your business strong.

Quotes

• “Every time you receive revenue from your business, you should put aside a certain percentage of that revenue to pay taxes—minimum 20%. The goal is to put aside enough but not so much that you don’t have enough capital left to invest back into your business.” (07:57 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “If you’re trying to build a business, capital is extremely important. You want to be able to have some form of extra money left to invest back into your business.” (11:47 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You have to be so clear how you are going to use that money and disperse the money. If not, you will see this money and you will immediately start thinking you have all this money that you can invest in your business at one particular time, and when a better opportunity comes for investment, then you do not have the money.” (24:25 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You have to prioritize which of these activities or investments is going to get you the fastest growth or alleviate the biggest pain in the butt for you.” (25:39 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

You can be the BEST planner/designer/decorator. You can be the BEST marketer and salesperson. BUT, if you are NOT GOOD in managing your BUSINESS FINANCE, you will constantly be cash strapped, or spending the funds on the wrong things at the wrong time.

I LOVE talking about money. On my social media platforms, I talked a lot about how your relationship with money could determine if you will have money or you will always be short. I talked about how your upbringing affects your money mindset, how your surroundings (place and people) can play a part in how you see money and use money.

I hate to see an entrepreneur making LOTS of money, but they can't seem to keep it so it is always a constant chase to make more money. Follow me on social media to learn more about how to make money, how to manage your business funds and how to invest your hard earned money to make more money!

Disclaimer: I am not a financial planner, tax attorney or CPA. All information I shared is purely based on my own experience on how I managed MY OWN business funds.

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Feb 13, 2025

How to Measure the ROI of Your Business Investments - Episode 177

Thursday Feb 13, 2025

Most business owners spend money to grow, but how many actually track whether those investments are working? Are you making strategic decisions or just following what other event profs are investing in at the moment?

May Yeo Silvers breaks down how to measure return on investment across different business expenses, from networking events to software, coaching, and marketing. She explains the distinction between tangible and intangible returns—some deliver immediate financial results, while others, like knowledge or mindset shifts, take time to pay off.

Drawing from her experience at her own event planning company, M2 Hospitality, May shares how she strategically invests in relationships with high-end venues, tracks lead quality, and adjusts her spending based on conversion rates. She also discusses her own significant investments in business coaching, pointing out the importance of showing up, implementing what you learn, and setting clear milestones to assess success and ROI.

Whether you’re investing in tools, mentorship, or relationships, this episode will help you spend smarter and maximize your ROI.

Quotes

• “If they have given me a good amount of leads and I don’t close, then the problem is me.” (14:43 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You need to track your numbers in terms of your return on investment, where you’re spending your marketing dollars, and how much money you’re getting back by doing that.” (15:41 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You cannot invest with a scarcity mindset to say that, ‘I invest this much money, I’m going to squeeze every single drop.’” (18:10 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You must implement what you learn immediately. You cannot wait for the perfect moment to do everything right.” (20:33 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “As a CEO of your business, you must make clearer decisions on where to spend your money, when to spend your money, and how to calculate how much you have received in order to justify if you should continue to invest in that one marketing activity.” (30:16 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

If you are looking for a business course in the events field that requires MINIMAL investment of money and time to learn and yet receives a HUGE ROI, our $24 for 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle is the ULTIMATE guide that not only gives you the overview of what to expect when starting and growing your business, the bundle also provides the WHAT and the HOW. Click on this link https://learnwith.mayyeosilvers.com/kickstart-24ob47oto67-podcast to find out what it includes!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Feb 06, 2025

Do You Know Your Objectives & ROI When Deciding Which Networking Events to Attend? - Episode 176

Thursday Feb 06, 2025

Most event planners fill their calendars with industry networking, but is that really the best way to grow your business?

May Yeo Silvers makes a case for being more strategic about where you invest your time, money, and energy, especially when it comes to networking. She shares why she doesn’t prioritize events filled with fellow planners and instead focuses on rooms where potential clients gather. For those trying to scale beyond six figures, May explains why high-level business conversations, financial strategy, and operational efficiency matter more than rehashing industry basics.

Are you networking in the right places, or just following the crowd? This episode will help you rethink your approach and make every connection count.

Quotes

• “When you are trying to grow your business, you have to decide what is the fastest path to take to get your brand out there. Based on where you are in your business and also in your life, you need to be so selective about how to spend your marketing dollars and also your time, especially if your business is a side hustle.” (00:53 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “If I attend a networking event where I know other event planners will be, and I already have an idea of who will be there, I need to consider their level. If they are at the same stage as me or at a stage I’ve already surpassed in my business, then I won’t gain much from attending.” (08:29 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “When you spend time and money to travel to these events, what is the return on investment that you will get? Because when you attend these types of events, would that be a direct approach or direct contact with your potential clients? Most probably not because they are all industry people.” (17:22 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “Before attending a networking event, establish your objective and determine the return on investment based on that goal.” (19:23 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

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If you want robust software with all the bells and whistles, use my Honeybook affiliate link that gets you 30% off the first year of subscription, get a free trial and enjoy the discount when you are ready to sign up!

If you are just starting out and want something that is simple and easy to use but at the same time, you want to look professional, have the capability to process invoices and collect payments, check out Rock Paper Coin! Use my affiliate link to get a 60% discount on your first year subscription!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Jan 30, 2025

The Biggest Rookie Mistake of All When Thinking to Start a Business - Episode 175

Thursday Jan 30, 2025

Talent and passion for your craft are great, but are they enough to build a thriving business?

In this episode, May Yeo Silvers explores the biggest mistake new entrepreneurs make: underestimating the passion, discipline, and resilience required to run and grow a successful business. With insights and relatable examples, she highlights the harsh realities of entrepreneurship, from the challenges of consistent marketing to navigating setbacks and rejections.

May also encourages aspiring business owners to reflect on a critical question: Are you truly prepared to embrace the mindset and effort it takes to create something sustainable? This episode offers perspective and actionable advice for anyone ready to move beyond their craft and step into the world of business with purpose.

Quotes

• “Your passion in starting, building, and growing your business where it’s going to allow you to find clients who will pay you so that you can actually be paid to play has to be so much more intense.” (05:18 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “The passion you have and the knowledge that you have, it’s great. It’s what you need to do service delivery. But the other side of the equation is your passion to run a business.” (04:18 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “The rookie mistake is believing that having the craft alone is enough to start, run, and grow a successful business.” (12:32 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “The business will test you in every shape and form—it will test you physically, mentally, and emotionally.” (12:51 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “The question here is you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I want to walk this path or I am not ready to walk this path yet because of where I am in my life?’” (18:51 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

If you want to have a CLEAR idea what lays ahead of you when starting a business, our $24 for 24 courses Business Kickstart Bundle is the ULTIMATE guide that not only gives you the overview of what to expect when starting and growing your business, the bundle also provides the WHAT and the HOW. Click on this link to find out what it includes!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayyeosilversofficial

FB private group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/events4anyone

Thursday Jan 23, 2025

What Should You Do First When Thinking to Start a Business - Episode 174

Thursday Jan 23, 2025

“Do you have something that people want to pay you for? That’s the question you have to ask yourself,” says May Yeo Silvers, as she reframes what it truly takes to start a business.

In this episode, May challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to think beyond logistics and focus first on the value they bring. Do you have a skill that’s been validated by others? Are people already asking to pay for what you offer? She shares why external feedback matters and how it can serve as a compass for building confidence and clarity.

May also explores the role of timing and personal circumstances in the entrepreneurial journey. Are you in a season of life where you can dedicate the time and energy needed? If not, what support or adjustments could help make it possible? Her practical advice encourages listeners to align their vision with their reality while prioritizing marketable skills and strategic planning.

May offers a clear and practical approach to starting a business, encouraging listeners to focus on their strengths, seek help where needed, and take actionable steps toward success.

Quotes

• “Do you have something that people want to pay you for? That’s the question you have to ask yourself.” (05:05 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “You need to be able to have this skill set that you can confidently market to the public that will recognize your skill set, your talent, your work, and pay you money for it.” (08:53 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “I’ve always said that there’s never a good time to start a business. And it’s true. You can start a business anytime, but there’s actually a better time to start a business. Anytime is a good time, but there is a better time to start a business when you really ask yourself, where are you in your life?” (19:03 | May Yeo Silvers)

• “Assess your external environment, your internal mindset. And then we go from there.” (24:46 | May Yeo Silvers)

Links

If you like more free resources on how to start and build your events business, make sure to check me on my YouTube, IG, Facebook and LinkedIn for business strategies, tactics and the right mindset needed to succeed!

Connect with May at: may@events4anyone.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayyeosilvers/