I have been thinking about my mum, Mary, a lot lately. Thankfully, she is still alive at 81 and, even though ageing and more fragile, she has still retained a sharp, focused mind and sense of humour. Until she retired, mum was a successful businesswoman – quick with numbers, stylish, kind, a fabulous cook, a generous loving mother to four children and she had an innate talent for entertaining people and building relationships. Growing up, I used to think she was a Superwoman, especially watching her juggle family and business. One thing I know for sure is she is definitely my hero. Here's what she taught me about business and life. You can read about the key lessons here.

"My mentor said, 'Let's go do it', not 'You go do it'. How powerful when someone says, 'Let's!'" -- Jim Rohn Most business owners feel they have to figure things out on their own. Imagine what it would be like if you had access to a leading expert and leader, who you could contact to ask for advice. Especially when you feel overwhelmed with choices and need to make sound business decisions faster.

I have been thinking about the great learnings I've had in the past 3 decades in business as an entrepreneur. I am privileged to have represented over 100 of the world's top speakers and I have modelled what makes the very best of them successful. And, I implemented these strategies and behaviours over time. You see, there have been years when I kicked massive goals, was awarded the Business Review Weekly (BRW) Fast 100 Companies for 3 consecutive years in a row, produced 4,500-person events, held 1206 events in 7 countries and there have been years when I struggled, wondering how to pay the rent and wages.

If you think about it we have a culture of events. If you go to a party or even on social media, the buzz is often about the launch date for a new Apple product, a big name concert, a sporting match or a party. Whatever the event is, it has a date and a place where a gathering takes place.

The venue you choose has a direct impact on your clients and can leave a lasting impression. If the venue is not suitable or is difficult to get to, it is the business hosting the event that will receive the feedback. Booking a venue for your event may seem like a simple task and, yet, if you are new to the live-event industry, or even if you have hosted events, overlooking one key item can seriously affect the overall experience for your clients.

Can you guess what it is? Before I answer, I have a few questions for you to consider… Do you own a business and are you looking for ways to increase your sales and scale, so that you can grow fast and the business can, ultimately, run without you?​ Do you feel like you can't work any harder – you're burnt out and overwhelmed and doing too much just to keep your business operating?