Summer so far, is looking quite different from last year: air travel is a mess; prices are sky high, and the market is still in a wrenching period of instability. And yet the act of taking personal time has never been more essential than at this very moment. As emails bounce back with ‘out of the office’ notifications, this the perfect time to log off from reality and give yourself a much-deserved break.

As with everything, planning well in advance can alleviate most of the anxiety associated with periodic reporting requirements. First, identify the date to report earnings and work backwards with your IR advisor to coordinate timelines, logistics, results and remarks. Internally create a protocol list of who is responsible for specific deliverables and check in periodically to ensure everyone is on task.

With Canada Day on July 1 (the day commemorates the anniversary of the Constitution Act in 1867, which consolidated three territories into the single nation of Canada) and Independence Day on July 4th– the summer season, complete with outdoor merriment, kicks into full swing.

Remember the last time you hit a pocket of turbulence on an airplane? That feeling of being shaken and scared of the unknown is one of the most dreaded parts of flying. But, as soon as the captain’s reassuring voice came over the PA system, you immediately felt better. The takeaway here: uncertainty creates fear and good communication can alleviate it.

Marc-Andre Lebel is a funding warrior. Since 2007, he’s completed dozens of complicated capital raises to fuel FRX Polymers, his specialty chemical business and says, “it’s a very important survival skill for entrepreneurs.”

With the upcoming 121 Mining Investment New York, PDAC Mineral and Mining Convention in Toronto and our very own virtual Agtech conference (in conjunction with Investor Summit Group) just around the corner in June, conference season is decidedly in full swing. What is your strategy when attending these industry events? Better yet, what are your expectations and how do you meet them?