Build Your Business Backup Plan—Before You Need it
Operations 202: Risk Management and Contingency Planning
When disaster strikes, systems save you. In this 3-hour intensive, you’ll learn how to spot your biggest business risks, set up essential safety nets, and create a personalized contingency plan you can count on. You’ve worked too hard to leave your business up to chance.
3-Hour Intensive
Protecting Your Business Before the “What If” Happens
Operations 202 instructor Dixie Willard shares why risk management and contingency planning are critical for creative professionals. She reveals common misconceptions about business risks, how smart systems can prevent costly crises, and the confidence that comes from knowing you’re prepared for anything—without losing focus on your design work.
Imagine This…
By the end of this intensive, you will:
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Spot the Cracks Before They Split
Learn to identify operational, financial, and personal risks before they derail your business. -
Set Up Simple Safety Nets
Build basic systems for emergency access, continuity, and protection—no tech degree required. -
Know Who’s in Your Corner
Identify the pros you need on call before you need them, from legal to insurance to IT. -
Leave With a Real Plan
Walk away with a tailored contingency plan, key checklists, and your next smart steps.
For designers who want their business to thrive, even when life throws a curveball.
You don’t need to live in fear of what could go wrong; you need a plan. This intensive helps you identify your biggest risks, set up simple systems, and take control when things get messy. If you're the glue holding everything together, this is your chance to build backup support that’s just as strong. Be prepared, not panicked.
from 11:30am EST - 2:45pm EST
Dixie thinks ahead in a way most people don’t.”
Dixie is the person you want when things go sideways.”
Dixie brings structure and grounded expertise to the table.”
Meet Dixie Willard
Dixie Willard is an NCIDQ-certified designer with 20 years of experience in design, project execution, and business operations. She specializes in helping creatives build resilient systems that keep their businesses running no matter what comes their way.
20+
Years in the
Design Industry
125+
Presentations
Given
4+
Years as a
Mydoma
Expert
Dixie's Superpowers
- 20 years of hands-on experience in design, project execution, and business operations—Dixie brings real-world context to every strategy she teaches.
- NCIDQ-certified designer who understands the high-stakes reality of creative businesses—not just theory, but field-tested solutions.
- Specializes in building systems that keep businesses running under pressure—with a gift for turning chaos into clarity.
- Known for calm in the storm—Dixie’s strategic thinking helps owners plan proactively, not reactively.
- A trusted guide for creatives who juggle client demands, life curveballs, and business responsibilities—she knows how to prepare for what others ignore until it’s too late.
Is this course for you?
We’re a great fit if…
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You’re the only one who knows how your business really runs
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You’ve had a close call that made you realize how unprepared you are
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You’ve been meaning to get “emergency-ready” but don’t know where to start
We’re not a fit if…
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You already have a full contingency plan and backup systems in place
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You’re not the one keeping things running when problems hit
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You already work with consultants who handle business risk and recovery
Create Calm in a Crisis with Systems That Have Your Back
If you’re ready to stop relying on luck and start building a resilient business, this intensive is for you. You’ll leave with tools, systems, and a clear plan that’s ready when you need it.
The Magic is in the Actions You Take AFTER the Intensive
Within one day. Within one week. Within one month.
And Dixie is going to break it down into doable, precise elements. You’ll leave with…
3 Actions for
The First Day
Quick wins. Essential steps. Some low-hanging fruit. The ‘do this now’ advice from a designer with a wildly successful business model.
3 Actions for
The First Week
What’s next to move the needle? What are the most strategic, efficient actions within one week of the intensive?
3 Actions for
The First Month
The big ones. These are the actions—big and small—that will make you look back on this intensive as a turning point.
What’s Included?
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FREE RECORDED CLASSES FOR 90 DAYS: Can’t make one of the classes? No problem! Recordings will be available the next day—just log in to your account to access them. If you’d like unlimited access, you can purchase Lifetime Recording Access for $75 when you register—or at any time during your 90-day window.
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THREE HOUR INTENSIVE WORKSHOP: Expert instruction in a no-fluff, highly-structured format. Specific actions—for your first day, week, and month—because the magic is in the implementation.
3-Hour Intensive
Register NOW
Operations 202 - 3-Hour Intensive
Operations 202 – 3-Hour Intensive
$495.00
Register now for Early Bird Pricing! The price goes up to $595 on August 30th.
FAQs
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We meet on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 at 11:30am ET.No problem! A recording of the intensive will be available the next day. When you purchase Lifetime Recording Access (available during registration), your recordings never expire. Otherwise, recordings are available free for 90 days after the intensive.Recordings are available for 90 days after your last class. After that, your access will expire unless you’ve purchased Lifetime Recording Access, which can be added to your cart during registration. With Lifetime Recording Access, your recordings never expire. Don’t worry—when your 90-day period is nearing its end, we’ll remind you and give you another opportunity to purchase Lifetime Access.
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We want you to feel confident when you enroll in a LuAnn University course. Our policy is designed to be fair to both students and instructors:
If you cancel before the date of the intensive: You’ll receive a refund of your tuition, minus transaction fees.
Because these are live, single-day events, we’re not able to offer refunds after the intensive has been held. If you attend and feel the experience didn’t meet the learning outcomes as described, we want to hear from you. Please reach out within 48 hours of the session—we’re committed to addressing concerns with fairness and care.We meet via livestream. Expect an email with instructions a few days before the intensive.
The meeting is three hours of live coaching with a 15-minute break and a combination of dynamic teaching (expect tons of real-world examples!) and live Q&A.No! We’ve created a full business education with multiple tracks—but you get to decide where to start. Register for any course or intensive in any track.
“Dixie thinks ahead in a way most people don’t. Her workshops are always packed with practical tools and real strategies that help you build safety nets before problems have a chance to start.”
“Dixie is the person you want when things go sideways. She’s calm, prepared, and always has a plan. Her foresight and systems-thinking are a lifesaver for anyone running a business.”
“Whether she’s mapping out a project from day one or helping you recover from a mess, Dixie brings structure and grounded expertise to the table. She makes the hard parts easier.”