The Minimum Viable Prep Plan: How to Get Ready for Your Virtual Event Without Burning Out

The Minimum Viable Prep Plan:

How to Get Ready for Your Virtual Event Without Burning Out

Raise your hand if you've ever spiraled into a prep rabbit hole and still felt "not ready" when it was go time.

You planned.

You stressed.

You built the perfect slides.

And somehow, you still hit the stage with a brain full of fog.

What if there was a way to prep just enough. . .

Without over-prepping, burning out, or triggering your inner perfectionist?

Welcome to the Minimum Viable Prep Plan (MVPP) - a  neurospicy friendly approach to event readiness that helps you show up grounded, not overwhelmed.

Let's break down how to prep smarter, not harder.

Why Traditional Event Prep Doesn't Work for Spicy Brains

Standard advice like "rehearse five times" or "write out your whole script" can actually hurt more than help - especially if you're a neurospicy brain type.

More prep often means more anxiety.

It can activate the perfectionist spiral, lead to decision fatigue, and suck the joyful energy right out of your content.

Neurospicy entrepreneurs don't need more preparation.

We need a flexible, low-friction system that meets us where our brains thrive.

What "Prepared Enough" Looks Like

(and Feels Like)

Ok let's redefine readiness:

You're prepared enough when:

• You know your core message

• You've got a clear flow or outline

• You've got anchor points to guide you

• ex. "Now I'll share the story about my first failed launch" or

• ex. "This is where I demo the tool"

• You feel regulated and grounded

Prepared enough does NOT mean:

• Having a word-for-word script (cue panic about "forgetting your lines")

• Practicing until you're drained (you put all your energy into preparation and left nothing for execution)

• Looking like a "professional presenter"

It's not about memorizing - it's about being engaged in your topic and present with your audience.

The 4-Part MVPP Framework

Let's build your new go-to system:

1. Core Message

What's the ONE idea you want people to remember?

Not ten takeaways. Not three themes. Just one.

Example: "Passion > polish" or "You don't need fancy tech to connect."

Make it short, sticky, and something you can return to if your brain blanks out.

2. Segment Skeleton

Instead of scripting every word, create a basic flow:

• Hook/Story

• Teaching Point #1

• Teaching Point #2

• Interaction/Q&A

• Offer or Call to Action

Stick it on a post-it. You're golden.

3. Comfort Ritual

This is your grounding process before going live:

• A favorite hoodie

• A playlist that hypes you up

• Tea, water, or something warm

• A sticky note that says "Breathe"

This tells your nervous system: we're safe and ready.

4. Just-In-Time Notes

Don't cram everything into your brain. Use:

• Bullet points on a second screen

• A notecard with 3 key reminders

• Slides with minimal prompts

• A written "reset phrase" if you lose your train of thought (like "Let me circle back to what matters most here...")

Just-in-time notes give you confidence without overload.

ADHD-Specific Hacks to Prep Without the Spiral

Use a timer:

Set 15-minute "prep sprints" to avoid hyperfocusing for hours.

Start from the middle:

Skip the intro and warm up on content you're excited to teach. Your energy will be higher, and you can always come back to craft the opening once you're in flow.

Use a Parking Lot:

Jot down off-topic ideas so you don't get sidetracked. Keep a notepad titled "Cool ideas for later" right next to your main prep notes.

Visual checklist:

Keep prep visible - like sticky notes or a dry erase board. Your brain processes what it can see.

These tools aren't fluff - they're how we reduce friction and keep momentum.

A Sample 30-Minute Prep Plan

(If You're Down to the Wire)

The "I've Got 30 Minutes, Let's Go" Plan:

• 5 mins: Set up lighting, camera, background

• 5 mins: Review your core message + segment skeleton

• 10 mins: Practice your opening out loud once

• 5 mins: Drink water, breathe, stretch, cue the hype music

• 5 mins: Open your presentation platform (Zoom, etc.) early and settle in

That's it. You're ready.

Here's What I've Learned from Watching Hundreds of Virtual Events

The most engaging presentations are often the least rehearsed. I've seen perfectly polished speakers bore audiences to tears, while slightly nervous presenters who spoke from the heart had people hanging on every word.

People don't remember flawless. They remember real.

When you relax into being yourself, people trust you more. When you fumble and laugh? They like you more. When you show up and speak with heart? They buy more.

Done beats perfect every damn time.

So, let's stop micromanaging ourselves into burnout and start trusting that "good enough" is often exactly right.

Post-Event Debrief:

The Secret to Iterative Confidence

Most people skip this - and then wonder why nothing gets easier.

After each event, ask:

• What worked well?

• What felt awkward?

• What one thing will I tweak next time?

That's how you build mastery without perfectionism.

Final Thoughts:

Prep to Protect Your Energy, Not Your Ego

You don't need a script.

You don't need to look or sound like anyone else.

You just need a system that protects your capacity while highlighting your brilliance.

Prepared enough = calm, clear, confident.

And that version of you?

That's who your audience came to see.

For more honest, ADHD and Spicy Brain friendly strategies to run magnetic and repeatable virtual events, follow me on LinkedIn