Individuals who schedule events for a living understand that you must live and die by a chosen date. You must take into consideration what needs to be accomplished and who needs to be notified. After that, fix the date. All planning from this point forward is based on this date.

Owners who do not understand the date commitment process fall prey to the floating Grand Opening. Originally, a date is chosen for the event. A few days later the date gets pushed back. Planning starts, project dates move forward, and like dominoes the owner pushes the date farther down the calendar schedule.

Indecisiveness does not lead people to accomplish their goals, it just allows procrastination to persist. Those who have committed to the original date have to scramble to adjust schedules to accommodate the new date.

The individuals who are procrastinating, will still put things off to the last minute. It is best to commit to a Grand Opening date and push forward with it. Working under a deadline gives the team focus and goals to achieve.

If the date selected has obstacles, look at creative solutions to overcome these challenges. Be 100% committed to that date. If all else fails, then it would be okay to push the Grand Opening date forward in time, but make sure that all other options have been exhausted.

Improve Grand Opening by Committing to a Date:

  • Giving staff and team a deadline to meet
  • Allowing more advanced scheduling of personnel
  • Decreasing the chances of misprinted marketing material
  • Confirming to staff leadership’s ability to see a project through
  • Showing staff that management skills are not weak under pressure
  • Building teamwork as staff prepares for the event