Insider to Insider: Erica Prewitt, Owner of A Big To Do Event, Inc.

Erica Prewitt is the owner of A Big To Do Event and is otherwise known as The Checklist Queen.  She is the master of event logistics, design, and budget.  (I’m digging  this useful wedding budget she has on her blog for clients.  She’s a girl after my own heart!)  I like the feeling of relaxation that comes over me when I know someone else is managing the checklist.  AND – WOW…  I love this:  Erica’s goal as an event planner is “to make the hostess look like SuperWoman.”  Erica, darlin’… you wanna come down to Miami?  I could use a SuperWoman makeover!

Erica Prewitt
Owner, A Big To Do Event, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
www.abigtodoevent.com
Established July 2005

Why did you start your business?

I have always been entrepreneurial. When I was in college, I was a volunteer with AmeriCorps (like the Peace Corps but instead of doing service abroad, we served in our local community). Within two years, I successfully produced over 100 events for non-profits in the Jackson, Mississippi area. These events ranged from “Building a Habitat House day” to Volunteer Appreciation Events. After my service with AmeriCorps was over, I changed my business to social events and successfully created game-day events for the President of Mississippi State University in his suite at the football stadium. During this time, I also was very successful in the Mary Kay Cosmetics world.

When I graduated from college, I thought I needed to work for someone else. And since I was good at selling lipstick with Mary Kay, I went into sales. And I was good at it. However, being 23 and working 70-80 hours per week and not getting to see the guy I moved to Atlanta for made me realize this was not the life I wanted to embrace. So I planned my boyfriend’s mom’s Surprise 60th Birthday Party. People still talk about that event.

So two weeks later, I opened A Big To Do Event, quit my sales job, and haven’t looked back.

What book (business or soul-searching) do you recommend to new business owners? Why?

I LOVE the book If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat by John Ortborg. Aside from the fact that the title in itself is a mini “Come-To-Jesus” with yourself, the message inside the book gives examples of people whom I respect who stepped out of the boat and accomplished great things.

Do you have any cool goal-setting tips to share with us?

I am a huge fan of the color coded daily calendar. Each color means a different task. For example, all green blocks are dedicated to immediate Income Producing Activities (writing proposals, creating contracts, meeting with prospects). All red blocks are dedicated to timeline driven activities (creating timelines, ordering linens, etc.) All light green blocks are dedicated to networking. Because I know that 85% of my business is attributed to relationships I’ve developed through networking, light green chunks are a regular occurrence on my calendar.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge as a business owner?

Honestly, because I essentially sell time, it was hard for me to value time as a product. At the beginning of my business, I undervalued my product: my time. I would often give it away for free. Yikes!

If you were starting your business all over again, what would you have done differently?

I would have taken more time to really understand what a business plan was and to create one for my business. I bought books about starting a business but I was so interested in being in business that I barely skimmed them.

Thanks Erica!

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