How an Event Planner Creates Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences

Summary

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Living Your Legacy – July 13, 2026

Episode: How an Event Planner Creates Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences

Host: Jason Tyler
Guest: Anju Lynn, Founder of Explore Marketing

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Anju Lynn—a dynamic entrepreneur and founder of Explore Marketing. Anju discusses building unique, memorable events and incentive experiences, the entrepreneurial journey of launching her business, and the importance of creating a healthy company culture. She also dispenses practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women business owners.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Magic of Event Planning

• Creating Unique Experiences
  • Anju describes her passion for crafting extraordinary events, emphasizing her desire to provide what clients can't organize themselves.
    • “It's creating that, like, once in a lifetime experience… something you couldn't plan on your own. You can't describe this unless you're actually here.” (00:00)
    • Examples include African dancers on stilts and trips to elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. (05:49)
• The Rush and Reward
  • She and Jason discuss the parallels between event planning and production—both get a rush from seeing complex plans come together.
    • “Like, seeing all that and like having that rush and then. And knowing that, like, you brought all of these things together...” (05:00)

2. Founding Explore Marketing: From Vision to Reality (07:12–09:02)

• Early Inspiration
  • Anju’s fascination with hospitality began in her childhood, inspired by the TV show Hotel and Leona Helmsley. (03:14)
• From Employee to Entrepreneur
  • After hitting a ceiling in her previous job, Anju realized she needed to start her own business to grow further. Her husband’s support was pivotal in giving her the confidence to take the leap.
    • “Having that [support] really gave me the confidence I needed to feel like I could go out on my own and start something.” (07:12)
• The Big Leap
  • She and her husband moved to Florida to start Explore Marketing, initially working around a non-compete by offering event-adjacent services until they could fully launch into planning. (07:12–08:43)

3. The Realities of Entrepreneurship (09:02–10:58)

• The Roller Coaster of Business
  • Anju and Jason reflect on the unpredictable, demanding nature of both travel and entrepreneurship.
    • “For no business owner out there is it not a roller coaster. It's always a wild ride.” (08:43)
• Complex Logistics
  • Anju describes the logistics behind global events, like getting 30 people to the Serengeti via small aircraft.
    • “It's like an orchestra that you have to [conduct]...” (09:29–10:08)
  • Her mantra: They make it work, regardless of obstacles.
    • “Somehow we make it work. Every time we do, we just figure out a way and figure out a solution.” (10:22)

4. Keys to Success for Entrepreneurs (10:58–13:34)

• Fearlessness and Resilience
  • Anju cites a willingness to take risks and not being afraid to fail as crucial to her success.
    • “I honestly think not being afraid to fail… you have to take risks. And what's the worst thing that happens?” (11:17)
• The Value of Caring
  • Both host and guest underscore the need for genuine care for clients—and that no one should out-care you in your own business.
    • “You should never have a moment where one of your competitors cares more about the client than you do.” – Jason Tyler (12:19)
• Building the Right Team
  • Anju emphasizes surrounding herself with smart, honest people, including a best friend unafraid to provide candid feedback.
    • “Having people around you that are smarter than you, having people that aren't afraid to tell you if you're making a mistake.” (12:50–13:34)

5. Company Culture and Leadership (13:34–15:07)

• Culture of Trust and Balance

  • The Explore Marketing team operates like a family, with flexibility, trust, and respect as foundational values.
    • “We can have real conversations. We're almost like a family… our team members have been there forever.” (13:34–14:30)
  • Employees enjoy real work-life balance—flexible schedules, ability to take Fridays off if their work is done.
    • “They have Fridays off. If they don't want to work on Fridays, as long as they put in 40 hours a week, I trust them, you know, to do their job.” (14:30)

• Leaders Investing in Employees

  • Anju and Jason discuss the importance of caring for all aspects of an employee’s well-being.
    • Quote: “How can you expect to get a hundred percent out of someone, out of an employee if you only care about 50% of their life?” – Jason Tyler (15:07)
  • Employees are described as both company ambassadors and extension of the brand, fit to represent the company well.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Making the Impossible Possible:
  “My team knows never to come to me and say, like, they said it can't be done, because I'll be like, what are you talking about? Of course it can be done. Get them on the phone. Let's figure this out. There's always a way.” – Anju Lynn (00:30, 10:22)

• On Risk and Failure in Business:
  “What's the worst thing that happens? … There's no shame in any of those jobs, right? … Not being afraid to fail. Understanding that if you work hard… all of that stuff will come back in tenfold. It really will.” – Anju Lynn (11:17)

• On Leadership and Team:
  “Having people around you that are smarter than you, having people that aren't afraid to tell you if you're making a mistake. I dragged my best friend into this, into our company right after Covid, and I was like, I need somebody that's not afraid to tell me when I'm making a mistake.” – Anju Lynn (12:50–13:34)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Anju shares her passion for creating unique event experiences.
• 03:14 – Early inspiration: TV’s Hotel and Leona Helmsley.
• 05:49 – Examples of once-in-a-lifetime event moments (African dancers, Thailand elephants).
• 07:12 – Founding Explore Marketing and the leap into entrepreneurship.
• 09:29 – The challenge of travel logistics: Shipping, customs, Serengeti trip.
• 10:22 – “We'll figure it out” attitude and the flexibility of a small business.
• 11:17 – Anju’s number one key to success: Don’t fear failure.
• 12:50 – Importance of feedback and building a team you trust.
• 13:34–15:07 – Company culture, work-life balance, and employee empowerment.
• 15:07 – The necessity of investing in the whole employee.
• 16:29 – Where to find Explore Marketing online.

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Conclusion & Where to Find Anju

• Website: exploring.com (xplorinc.com)
• Social Media: @ExploreInc (with engaging event photos!)

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Tone: The conversation is warm, candid, and practical, mixing humor, real-life entrepreneurship lessons, and actionable advice to inspire both aspiring and established business owners.

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This episode is a goldmine for anyone interested in event planning, entrepreneurship, company culture, or turning passion into a legacy—sharing both the highs and the how-tos of building a business that makes a difference.

Transcript

[Anju Lynn]

It's creating that, like, once in a lifetime experience we might do, like, something that you wouldn't expect and something you couldn't plan on your own. You can't describe this unless you're actually here. So it's like giving people those kinds of experiences is truly what, like, warms my heart. And that's, like, what I'm passionate about and what our company loves to do.

[Narrator/Intro Voice]

Anju Lynn is an entrepreneur, event strategist, and the founder of Explore Marketing. She helps organizations create impactful meetings, incentive programs, and travel experiences that inspire teams, strengthen relationships and and drive lasting business success.

[Anju Lynn]

We make it work. Every time we do, we just figure out a way and figure out a solution. And that's kind of like the mentality. We don't take no for an answer. Like, if someone's like, oh, that's not possible. Like, my team knows never to come to me and say, like, they said it can't be done, because I'll be like, what are you talking about? Of course it can be done. Get them on the phone. Let's figure this out. There's always a way.

[Jason Tyler]

If you have the will for the audience out there, what would you say is, like, your number one key to success?

[Anju Lynn]

Understanding that

[Podcast Intro Voice]

it spans the globe like a super high cold Internet Elvis Presley. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the Living your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has been. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago was the lead. You said, Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[Jason Tyler]

Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast. Today I am joined by Ms. Anju Lynn. How are you?

[Anju Lynn]

I'm good. How are you? Thank you for having me.

[Jason Tyler]

Of course, of course. Welcome to the show.

[Anju Lynn]

Thank you.

[Jason Tyler]

Now, you just finished recording your episode of Women in Power. First of all, how do you feel now, now that you're on the other side of it?

[Anju Lynn]

I feel less nervous now that I'm on the other side of it. But it's good. It's. It's funny.

[Jason Tyler]

You had a little bit of those, like, jitters going into it at the

[Anju Lynn]

beginning, but your team was awesome and they made me feel really comfortable. So I feel like by the end it was good. And I'm going to trust that the editing team is going to make me look even better.

[Jason Tyler]

I put all my faith in my editor.

[Anju Lynn]

Absolutely.

[Jason Tyler]

And you interviewed with Kofi, which he's really, really great, and I'm not just saying that because he's within earshot, but what would you say is the number one thing that you want people to be able to learn or like, take away from your.

[Anju Lynn]

Well, I think it's probably twofold. I think one is to learn and understand what we do as an event planning team and really our incentive market and what that's all about. And I think the other thing is for other women who are trying to start out as business owners, if I can drop a little knowledge, help them in any way with their business, that would really be the twofold. So something for our company, but then something to help other women, you know, out and support other small businesses.

[Jason Tyler]

Now, event planning, funny enough, like working in production, I've worked hand in hand with a lot of different event planners because productions like video, audio, visual production is usually like a piece in the puzzle that is planning an event, right?

[Anju Lynn]

Yep.

[Jason Tyler]

That is not an easy world to get into. So how did you. How did you get into this world?

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah, so I watched this show, which you're too young to remember, but it was called Hotel, and it was like on ABC at 9:00'.

[Narrator/Intro Voice]

Clock.

[Anju Lynn]

And my parents would let me stay up late when I was a kid and watch it. And I always wanted to own my own hotel and be the next Leona Helmsley. And she was just this boss babe, you know, they didn't have that term then, but she just was awesome. And everyone, she just ran this hotel and she did it with so much grace. And I just thought it was the coolest job ever. So from a really young age, I wanted to get into hotel restaurant management. And that was my major in college. And got out of college, got into the business and realized there's absolutely no work life balance. It was just a different. It's a hard industry to be on. And so a couple turns in the road and then I was able to kind of end up on the event planning side of it, which still has the hospitality element, which is what I think I was, what I enjoyed about it. But it also gave me more like work life balance. And so I ended up in event planning. And then that's kind of when I fell in love with it. And then my passion for travel kind of combined and, you know, I was able to kind of start my own company that did both.

[Jason Tyler]

Got you. Got you. And so I want to, you know, you mentioned that the hospitality part of it was kind of what drew you in. What would you say is like, you know, it's a people business. Right. And Like, I think if you're anything like me, like, I enjoy being around people. I enjoy seeing people happy. Is that like a big thing for you?

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah, I mean, I think putting on a big event, like the rush of it all, like the intensity of it all, there's like a euphoria at the end, right? Or like a high. You feel something when you get to

[Jason Tyler]

see a plan come together.

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah. You see it all come together. And so, like, seeing all that and like having that rush and then. And knowing that, like, you brought all of these things together and you work so hard and it's crazy. And, you know, because you've been in the production side of it, there's just so much to it. So there's that part I love, but I also love making people happy, right? And like, pleasing people and having clients say how, you know, they couldn't do it without us. Like, those are all just things that, that just, I don't know, are like my love language, I guess.

[Jason Tyler]

You know what? We got to add that to the list of love languages. But like, similarly to in film, like, it's seeing, like a production is getting to see a plan come into play and. And then you have that sense of euphoria when you actually get to go and see it on the big screen. Or I guess nowadays you see it on your phone. So it's like the little screen.

[Anju Lynn]

No, for sure. And it is. It's creating that, like, once in a lifetime experience. Like on our incentive travel trips, we're not just saying, like, hey, this is any trip that you could, you know, go online and Pay, you know, $2,000 and go on tours. Like, this is like, really cool entertainment. We have that, you know, at the welcome events. And then, you know, we might do like a, A something that you wouldn't expect and something you couldn't plan on your own. Because we know the destination, we know the area. You know, we had like African dancers on stilts come to a dinner one time. Like, we do just crazy stuff like that to give, like, the wow factor and just to see the look on people's faces, like when they're seeing stuff and they're like, how did you know about. Like, we would never have found this on our own or we would have never done this. Like, we took people, just last year we were in Thailand and we took them to an elephant sanctuary. And people were like, you. You know, you can't. You can't describe this unless you're actually here. So it's like giving people those kinds of experiences. Is truly what like warms my heart and that's like what I'm passionate about and what our company loves to do.

[Jason Tyler]

So I want to get into just kind of the nitty gritty of what your company is and does.

[Anju Lynn]

Sure.

[Jason Tyler]

So just talk to me about first, like the founding point when you. Or maybe not the founding point, but the point where you realize like this was going to be your, your baby and then just what the day to day looks like now.

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah. So I worked for another company, you know, I think as a lot of young entrepreneurs do. And then I worked at that company for quite a, quite a while, learned the ropes and then kind of got to the place where I wasn't going to go any higher than I, than I could. But I still had big dreams and aspirations for what I wanted to do. But it wasn't until I met my husband where I really felt like I had the support, you know, somebody who always had my back and just not afraid to fail. Like it's something with that relationship when you find your person and you have that like relationship where you feel like it doesn't matter, like who cares if I try this business? If it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out. So like having that really gave me the confidence I needed to feel like I could go out on my own and start something. I had done some small like wedding planning and some smaller, other low risk businesses, but this was kind of like the big, the big risk. So we kind of cashed it all in, moved to Florida, started our own company and then we just kind of started really like boots on the ground, like reaching out to people, keeping relationships at a non compete agreement. So for two years I couldn't touch any events. So we were doing branded merchandise like other things that touched events like you were saying, but not actual event planning. And then yeah, the opportunity finally presented itself to us where we could start planning events again. And then we, once we started doing it, word of mouth kind of started spreading and we kind of knew we had like a cool niche and something that was like really working. So yeah, it's been a while. I was saying on my show, it's been a wild ride.

[Jason Tyler]

I feel like that that's always the case. You know, I've interviewed a ton of people in these chairs and even in the episodes themselves. And one of the things that I've seen travel carry across from all of their stories is that for no business owner out there is it not a roller coaster. It's always a wild ride.

[Anju Lynn]

It is and especially, especially in the event planning world. Right. Like, you're talking about travel, right? When does travel ever go smooth? It doesn't. Right.

[Jason Tyler]

It's a logistical nightmare.

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah, it really is.

[Jason Tyler]

Every single time. Because I do a lot of, like, travel gigs where I'll, you know, build a film crew and we'll go travel out to the location and we have to build out our set in that location. And getting film gear on a plane, I had no idea until I had to do it for the first time how much of a pain it is.

[Anju Lynn]

Yeah, I mean, we ship pallets all over the U.S. we, you know, try and get, you know, items into Mexico, stuff them in our suitcases, hoping, you know, nobody finds out. Like, it's just, you know, it's hard logistically. Super hard. I'm actually working on a trip to Tanzania right now. And just the logistics of getting. It's a small group, it's like 30 people, but. But the logistics of getting them all there in time because they have to take this private little puddle jumper plane into the Serengeti where all like, you know, there's not an, there's not an international airport in the Serengeti. Right. So it's like getting them all there on the same flights, coordinating all that. I mean, it's. It's like an orchestra that you have to.

[Jason Tyler]

You feel like a composer almost as you're putting it together. And then once it, once it comes together, then you're like, ah.

[Anju Lynn]

And then all of a sudden, everyone's like, I don't know how you did it. We're like, we don't. Sometimes we don't know how we did it.

[Jason Tyler]

I don't know how you got there. I. I don't know how we got

[Anju Lynn]

here, but somehow we make it work. Every time we do, we just figure out. Figure out a way and figure out a solution. And that's kind of like the mentality of, of. And I think it's one of the biggest advantages. Like, there's. There's plenty of meeting companies out there, right? But, like, one of the advantages to having a small team and being a small business is that we can pivot really quick. We can be super flexible, you know, if, if we, we don't take no for an answer. Like, if someone's like, oh, that's not possible. Like, my team knows never to come to me and say, like, they said it can't be done, because. What are you talking about? Of course it can be done. Get them on the phone. Let's figure this out. There's always a way if you have the will.

[Jason Tyler]

That's such a strong point. And it brings me to what my next point is, which I want, I wanted to get from you. Like, for the business owner out there, you know, our audience, they're super entrepreneurial, they're super business minded. For the audience out there, what would you say is like your number one key to success?

[Anju Lynn]

I honestly think not being afraid to fail. I, I do. I mean, like, you have to take risks. And what's the worst thing that happens? You know, I said to my husband when we first started business, what's the worst thing? I have to go bartend for a year until like, get back on our feet. Like, who cares? There's no shame in any of those jobs, right? So like, not being able to, to like not being afraid to fail. Understanding that if you work hard, I, I'm a huge like, karma person. Like, I think you put, you get out from the universe what you put into it. So I think if you work hard and you are true, you're honest, you take care of your clients, all of that stuff will come back in tenfold. It really will. Like, our clients, you know, they took care of us during COVID We had a couple clients that, that truly saved our business during COVID because we had taken such good care of them, you know, and we've had conversations with clients before where they're like, hey, you guys are getting a little expensive. We might need to, you know, put out an RFP and see what else is out there. And I'm always like, do it. Because I promise you won't get the level of service, the detail, all of the stuff that you're going to get from a small business.

[Jason Tyler]

Care. And the care is like. And I tell business owners this, you can, you should never have a moment where one of your competitors cares more about the client than you do. I think that's like a super important thing because a lot of people, you know it, there's the glitz and the glam starting a company and it's like, oh, the financial success, you know, time, freedom. I'll be able to make my own schedule. No, won't. But I think the biggest thing is don't get into a business if you don't care about the results that you're getting.

[Anju Lynn]

That's exactly right.

[Jason Tyler]

I think that's like the number one thing.

[Anju Lynn]

And I think, I think one of the things you also have to remember as a small business owner is like, no one's going to care about your business as much as you do, and that's okay, right? But finding the right team and having people that do care and they work hard and they respect you, that, to me, is also a really key component. Having people around you that are smarter than you, having people that aren't afraid to tell you if you're making a mistake. I dragged my best friend into this, into our company right after Covid, and I was like, I need somebody that's not afraid to tell me when I'm making a mistake. And that's what she does, you know, and we'll fight. We'll fight.

[Jason Tyler]

What is the. What is the job description for that? Right. I need you to tell the CEO when they are screwing up.

[Anju Lynn]

That's exactly right. Like, just be my friend. You know what I mean? And she never says it with, like, ill intent. She always says it with, like, think about what you're actually saying. Think about the message you want to deliver. I know you. I know who you are at your heart. So sometimes if I'm frustrated or I, you know, like, I'm angry about something, she's like, okay, let's take a deep breath. Let's not say exactly what we mean. Let's figure out how we're going to say this in a way that is going to be productive. And so she's able to kind of reel me in sometimes. And I think in any good business, you need, like, that balance. You need somebody. And almost all my team, like, we can have real conversations. We're almost like a family more than we're like, you know, boss and employees. Like, we. We spend so much time traveling on the road together that you just kind of, you know, get this good bond with the team. And so, you know, our team members have been there forever. Like, nobody really leaves a lot because a. I mean, it's a. It's a cool job, you know, with the travel and everything. But also, I think, because they do have a really good work life balance, like, you know, they can pick the days and times they work. They have Fridays off. If they don't want to work on Fridays, as long as they put in 40 hours a week, I trust them, you know, to do their job. And so, you know, there's perks to that. So I think also, you know, back to your original question about being a successful small business is you have to be flexible. You have to understand that your employees are going to have a life outside of, you know, well, this is my whole life. They have other lives, and you have to give them time to do those things and to understand it and then trust that they're still going to do their job. And you have to have a lot of trust in your employees.

[Jason Tyler]

You know, there was a, there was a quote that my most recent client gave me, and I think it plays to exactly what you're talking about. He said, how can you expect to get a hundred percent out of someone, out of an employee if you only care about 50% of their life?

[Anju Lynn]

Right.

[Jason Tyler]

And the other 50% is really, really important. And a lot of businesses don't focus on like, hey, your employees are also your customers.

[Anju Lynn]

Right.

[Jason Tyler]

And they have feedback for you.

[Anju Lynn]

Right.

[Jason Tyler]

If you only care about your, your client feedback, but you don't care about your employee feedback, you're not getting the full picture. And you don't. You, you won't understand how to grow from that point.

[Anju Lynn]

No, I, I mean, I think that's such an excellent point. It really is. It's like if you don't care about them, what, what makes you think that they're going to care about you back? Right. And it's, it's, you know, they're also the face of your company. They are also client facing. They have interactions with your clients. So they are an extension of you. Right. And so that's why I think it's really important to treat them the right way.

[Jason Tyler]

Now, for you guys out there, if you're still tuned in at this point, I want to make sure that you guys check out Anju's episode of Women in Power, which will be coming out shortly after this podcast episode drops. So make sure you guys tune in for that. You're going to get the full breakdown on her story. We only covered just a little bit here, but for the people who are watching, where can they find you if they want to learn more about you on social media? Where's your website?

[Anju Lynn]

Yep. So it's exploring.comease x p l o r I n c dot com. And also we obviously have a social media. Lots of cool pictures on there. So go check out our social media at Explore Inc. As well. And then, yeah, we're around. It's easy to find. You can Google us, you can find us, and we would love to, to talk about opportunities.

[Jason Tyler]

Perfect. Perfect. And I'll make sure we throw those little taglines up somewhere here on the screen. But guys, for y' all out there, this has been another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast. Thank you guys for tuning in. And Andrew, thank you so much.

[Anju Lynn]

Thank you. It was great chatting with you.

[Jason Tyler]

It has been a pleasure. It has been a pleasure.

[Anju Lynn]

Awesome.

[Jason Tyler]

All right, guys, this has been another episode. I am your host, Jason Tyler, and I will catch you, you guys, in the next one.