How My Business Systems Helped Me Plan the Easiest Birthday Bash Ever

I believe business lessons are everywhere — even in epic 50th birthday parties!

Last year, I threw my first official summer bash to celebrate turning 50. I went all in: signature cocktails, a curated playlist, pool lights, a DJ and amazing food. It was fun, chaotic, and a little bit magical. The kind of night you don’t want to end.

And this year? I decided to make it an annual tradition.

Only this time, it didn’t take hours to plan.
In fact, I had it mapped out in under 30 minutes.

Not because I suddenly became a party-planning expert… but because I did something I always do in business:
I created a system.

I Treated My Party Like I Treat My Business

After 18 years of running (and eventually selling) a successful retail business, I’ve learned that systems are the secret sauce behind almost everything that works smoothly.

So last year, when the party was over and the dishes were finally done, I opened up a fresh Google Doc and wrote down:

• What we served (and how much people actually ate)

• What drinks were most popular (spoiler: Founders coolers go FAST...if you haven't tried them yet, you can thank me later 😜)

• Setup tips I didn’t want to forget

• Things I’d skip next year

• And a note-to-self that read: “No DJ required if we have to bring the party inside"...hello Saskatchewan weather

Nothing fancy. Just a few clear notes to save Future Me from spending more time planning than I needed to.

And wow, did it work.

The Unexpected Power of a Simple System

This year, when it was time to plan the next bash, I opened that doc — and instantly had a blueprint.

I knew exactly what to buy, what to prep ahead of time, how much to serve, and what not to bother with.
No overthinking. No reinventing the wheel.
Just rinse and repeat, with a few fun upgrades.

That’s the exact approach I help my coaching clients apply in their businesses.

Because whether you’re planning a party or running a company, there’s one truth I come back to again and again:

If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist — at least not in a way that saves you time or lets someone else help.

Business Is a Series of Repeatable Moments

Think about it: how many things in your business do you do over and over again?

• Posting to social media

• Onboarding new team members

• Answering the same customer questions

• Preparing for sales or promotions

• Training staff

• Running monthly reports

And yet — most small business owners are holding all of that in their heads.

That’s where overwhelm lives.
That’s where burnout hides.
That’s where so much unnecessary stress comes from.

When you start building simple, repeatable systems — even just by jotting things down in a doc — you save time, energy, and mental load. You make your future self’s life easier.

That’s what systems do.
And they don’t have to be complicated.

What a “System” Actually Looks Like

Here’s what mine looked like for the birthday bash:

• A Google Doc

• A few bullet points

• A handful of honest notes to myself

• Links to a few things I ordered or loved

• One reminder that still makes me laugh: “The birthday cake shots were a hit”

In business, that same simplicity applies. A system doesn’t need to be a 50-page manual. It can be:

• A checklist you reuse monthly

• A saved email template

• A Google Drive folder with step-by-step notes

• A Trello board for your weekly content flow

The key isn’t perfection. The key is consistency.

Systems Save Time and Sanity

One of my clients recently shared that she was spending 6–8 hours onboarding each new employee manually. Every time, she rewrote the emails. Re-explained the tasks. Hoped she remembered everything.

We worked together to create a simple onboarding process — just a few docs and templates. Now?
Her new hires get a professional, repeatable experience.
And she saves 5+ hours per new team member.

Another client used to recreate her holiday sales promo from scratch every year. We documented her best-performing content, emails, and graphics, and now she has a plug-and-play folder she reuses and updates each season. No scrambling. No guesswork. Just results.

Clarity Isn’t Just for Your Business — It’s for Your Life

The funny thing about systems is that they don’t just give you time back in your business…
They give you clarity in your life.

Because when your brain isn’t overloaded with small decisions — when your to-do list isn’t being rebuilt every single week — you start to think differently.

You show up more intentionally.
You make decisions faster.
You create space for things that actually matter — like unplugged family time, personal goals, or yes… throwing a party that doesn’t make you want to cancel halfway through.

That’s why I believe so strongly in helping business owners create clarity, not just in their calendar — but in their identity.

When you operate with systems in place, you start showing up as the CEO, not just the operator.

Want to Start Small? Try This Today:

If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. Start with one thing. Here's your action plan:

1. Choose a repeatable task.
   Something you do at least monthly — like writing your newsletter or packaging client orders.

2. Do the task, and document it as you go.
   Open a Google Doc and write down the steps. Keep it casual. Done is better than perfect.

3. Add a note to Future You.
   What worked? What took too long? What should you tweak next time?

Boom — that’s your first system.

The Takeaway

My birthday bash might look like a totally personal moment — and it is — but it also reinforced one of the most valuable lessons in business:

If something worked well, write it down. If something didn’t, make a note. That’s how you build a smarter, lighter, more scalable business.

Whether it’s your content calendar or cocktail menu, your launch plan or lighting setup — everything runs smoother with a plan.

The best part? You don’t need to build it alone.

Ready to Reclaim Your Time?

If you’re tired of feeling like everything in your business depends on you, let’s change that.

🖤 Let's dive deeper inside From Chaos to Clarity, my signature coaching program for business owners ready to get out of the chaos and back in control.

APPLY HERE!

Because your business should support your life — not the other way around.
And yes, that includes time to plan the party and actually enjoy it.