Planning a successful conference involves overcoming initial overwhelm and making the idea tangible by focusing on practical steps such as estimating costs, reaching out to experienced planners, and committing to concrete actions like booking venues and confirming speakers. The journey from concept to execution requires a clear understanding of the event's purpose, ensuring it offers genuine value beyond mere brand exposure, and aligning it with the interests of the organizers and potential attendees. This process, as experienced by the team at ReadMe, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the core audience and purpose, in their case, creating a conference centered on API developers to build and strengthen their community.