Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is step away from the endless task list and actually think.

In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my recent solo planning retreat - two nights in a beautiful Airbnb with just me, my laptop, and zero distractions. You'll hear the simple questions I used to refocus my business direction and how I prioritized 19 projects for the rest of the year.

Whether you're feeling scattered with too many ideas or stuck in constant "doing" mode without clear direction, this behind-the-scenes look at my planning process might give you some ideas for creating your own space to reset and refocus.

Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Have you ever had a summit host ask you to PAY for the privilege of speaking at their summit? If you've received an invitation like this, I'm here to tell you exactly why this practice is wrong and what you should look for instead. I'll break down why this approach is predatory, what it tells you about the host, and share the specific benefits quality summit opportunities should provide speakers. Whether you're evaluating speaking opportunities or hosting your own summit, this episode will help you spot red flags and create win-win situations for everyone involved. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/304

Your summit is meant to serve your business and your life, not completely consume it for a week.

While it's normal for summit week to be busy, there are simple things you can do to make sure you have plenty of time to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself.

And in this week's Summit Conversations episode, I'm sharing exactly how I approach summit week now (both with my current support systems AND what I'd recommend if you're going it alone). You'll hear my practical strategies for planning around your capacity, setting realistic boundaries, and keeping your peace during the event.

Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

You might think launching your offer through your summit sounds pushy, but what if NOT making an invitation is actually doing them a disservice? In this episode, I'm tackling one of the most common objections I hear: how to launch your signature offer through your summit in a way that feels respectful and genuinely serves your audience. You'll hear a story of someone who gained 240 new members despite being worried about her non-marketing-savvy audience, plus specific strategies for launching ethically. I'll share my "mostly consent-based launch" approach, including how to build awareness throughout your summit, communicate transparently during launch events, and provide easy opt-out options that actually make your audience appreciate you more - not less. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/303

In this episode, I'm sharing some of the summit disasters we've weathered over the years, and walking you through what's in our new backup plan. From tech meltdowns to team members being unavailable, we're finally prepared for whatever summit chaos might come our way.

If you're planning any kind of virtual event, this behind-the-scenes look at contingency planning might just save your sanity (and your summit!).

Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes when a summit strategist is planning their OWN event? I'm pulling back the curtain today to share some of the biggest experiments I'm implementing in Membership Momentum 2025 - and why innovation is becoming more critical than ever for B2B summits. If you've been thinking about hosting a summit or wondering how to keep your events fresh and engaging, this bonus episode gives you a glimpse into my strategic thinking process. You'll hear about the challenges I'm seeing in the B2B summit space and the specific solutions I'm testing to combat them. Register for Membership Momentum at https://www.summitinabox.co/summit

I'm giving you a real-time look at how I'm analyzing our Membership Momentum Summit numbers just days into promotion – and why conversion rates tell a more valuable story than straight numbers ever could.

You'll hear what our current conversion rates are (both good and concerning), how I'm using this data to make strategic tweaks instead of just hoping for the best, and the daily question I ask myself to stay proactive rather than reactive during summit promotion.

I'm also sharing why 417 registrants might actually be cause for celebration (or concern) depending on what the data behind it reveals, and how shifting your perspective on numbers can completely transform your summit hosting experience.

Register for Membership Momentum at https://www.summitinabox.co/summit

This week's guest hosts two annual virtual summits - one for knitters and one for crocheters - that have completely transformed her pattern design business. She's grown from hobby blogger to true CEO, built a thriving 260-member community, and even caught the attention of major yarn brands like Lion Brand. What I love about Hortense's approach is how she's adapted summit strategies specifically for her tech-challenged audience in a way that has let her create an engaged and profitable community. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/302

Testing your summit before launch isn't the most exciting topic, but it's a critical step that too many hosts skip entirely.

In this behind-the-scenes episode, I'm sharing what happened during our 6-hour testing marathon for our 12th summit - and you won't believe how many issues we caught!

You'll get an inside look at our detailed testing spreadsheet, see how we use test email addresses, and learn why my software engineering background makes me obsess over this "boring" but essential process. Plus, I'm sharing the issues we discovered that would have made us look unprofessional if attendees had found them first.

Want to register for our summit to check it out? Head over to https://www.summitinabox.co/summit

If you're an ideas person who wants to start ALL of your brilliant ideas at once, this week's Summit Conversations episode is for you!

After getting out of a time of hustle and almost diving right back into it, I created a simple tracker that has been saving me (and my team) multiple times per week from project overwhelm.

In this episode, I'll walk you through a simple system that helps me visualize what's actually on my plate versus what I think I can handle. Plus, I'm sharing the free template so you can create your own version and get realistic about your project capacity.

🔗Get the template: https://airtable.com/appEDWyhhekB161BK/shr1GD7LMhqKs9DEo

🎉 Join the Membership Momentum waitlist: https://www.summitinabox.co/summit-waitlist