The power of reset moments

By Penny Zenker, aka The Focusologist

Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera famously said, “Live with your eyes open so you can embrace the unexpected moments, because you never know when inspiration will strike.”

In the final post of my blog series, it’s these “unexpected moments” that I want to talk about. In the first two blogs, I told you about the reset mindset and the reset practice. Today, I’m going to go a step further and talk about reset moments. It’s in these moments that you instinctively activate your reset practice, and the repetition of this practice builds your reset mindset. Whether it’s dealing with last-minute changes or unexpected challenges during an event, mastering these reset moments can positively change the way you handle change and uncertainty in your work and ultimately your life.

So how do you harness and create reset moments?

What is the reset moment?

Essentially, a reset moment is a purposeful pause for reflection, awareness, and insight that helps you make a conscious choice or a conscious response. It’s a time to reconnect with your purpose and the people, projects, and priorities that matter most.

Potential reset moments are all around you at all times, but they become powerful only when you recognize and label them.

A reset moment is an event that triggers a reset exercise. It is a catalyst that prompts you to step back, gain perspective, and realign your goals, values, and intentions. These moments can be small or significant, can happen in a split second or take a while to process, but each one offers an opportunity to reconnect with what matters most.

There is no “right” number of reset moments per day. They should be flexible and work for you, no matter your situation. In a world filled with endless stimulation, reset moments filter out the noise and help you focus on what’s important. They won’t do your work for you, but they will help you focus on what’s important—whether it’s aligning with a client’s vision, managing your team, or overcoming last-minute obstacles.

High-risk moments and small reset moments

In my previous blog, I shared examples of high-stakes situations that event planners often face—big, obvious challenges that force you to take action. But reset moments don’t always have to be so dramatic. In fact, the real power lies in the small, everyday moments. These are simple things like how you choose to start your day, how you respond to a coworker’s bad mood, or how you handle an unexpected delivery delay.

How you handle these small moments will determine how you react when faced with bigger risks, like hosting a large event. Low-risk reset moments help you prepare for bigger challenges through practice and repetition, and this preparation allows you to respond to high-pressure situations with calm and clarity.

You already know how to create reset moments

Here’s the good news: You may already be taking advantage of reset moments without even realizing it. You just need to recognize them and take advantage of them.

Reset moments can be active (made) or passive (taken). The easiest way to understand the difference is:

• Proactively A reset moment means intentionally planning a check-in — like a scheduled meeting, timesheet review, or any recurring task — that gives you space to step back, gain perspective, and recalibrate.
• Passive Reset moments are like pause signals in motion, and when something unexpected happens, it’s an opportunity to pause and reassess.

Many moments in daily life, like your morning coffee or a walk, can be reset moments in disguise. By identifying them and adding more intention and structure, you can transform the value of these times into true resets. This simple shift turns ordinary moments into powerful opportunities for reflection, clarity, and alignment. The same is true for reset moments; they’re already part of your process.

Event Planning Reset Time

As an event planner, you’ve already built several formal “reset moments” into your process. Here are some examples of “reset moments” you may already be taking:

1. Post-client meeting review: After meeting with the client, take a moment to review your notes, clarify any areas of uncertainty, and update your campaign plan based on the feedback.
2. Supplier confirmation check: Before finalizing a supplier booking, double-check the details with the supplier to ensure nothing is missed and everyone is on the same page.
3. Timeline Adjustment: As the event day approaches, reassess the schedule to ensure all tasks are on track and make adjustments if necessary.
4. Budget Adjustment: Midway through the planning process, compare current spending to the budget to ensure everything is aligned and make adjustments if necessary.
5. Team Briefing: Before a big assignment or event day, gather your team for a briefing to ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
6. Site Tour: A few days before the event, revisit the venue for a final check to ensure everything is as planned.
7. Post-activity summary: After the event, take time to review what went well, what could be improved, and gather feedback from your team, vendors, and customers.
8. Crisis Management Pause: If a problem arises, such as a last-minute cancellation by a supplier, pause, assess the situation, and find an alternative solution.
9. Participant Feedback Analysis: After collecting guest feedback, review it to identify areas of improvement for future events.
10. Personal rest: Even in the middle of a busy day, taking short breaks to recharge your energy will ensure you stay mentally clear and energized.

You may not realize that these steps are just reset moments! Each step involves your reset exercise: #1 step back, #2 gain perspective, and #3 refocus.

Every time you take a moment or make a reset moment, you are strengthening your ability to adapt and focus on aligned action. Be careful not to let these moments become routine, or done on autopilot, or taken for granted. You don’t want to get lost in the doing and forget what you’re really working towards. You want to create value in every moment and ensure that each one provides insight and dynamically adjust and readjust as needed.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Process

Eventually, this practice will become second nature. You’ll find yourself naturally incorporating reset moments into your work and life without even thinking about them. You’ll rely on them to keep you calm, manage stress, and ensure you stay focused on what’s truly important.

Reset moments are the cornerstone of resetting your mindset, and by intentionally utilizing these moments in both low-risk and high-risk situations, you will strengthen your own mindset over time and provide practical support to others at work and at home.

Read the first part of this series here Part 2 here. Learn more about my upcoming book, Reset your mindset, here.

About the Author

Penny Zenker is the Focusologist, a sought-after international speaker and bestselling author The Productivity Zone: Stop the Tug of War with TimeAs a Master NLP Practitioner and Neurostrategist, she brings together elements of thinking, communication and behavior to provide strategies for adapting to change and maximizing results. Penny’s expertise stems from building and selling multi-million dollar businesses, managing strategic projects and business transformations as a senior executive at one of the world’s leading market research companies, and later as a strategic business coach for Tony Robbins, serving companies around the world.

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