Your Wedding Planning Business: Personal Growth

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I have had the awesome opportunity to speak with wedding planners from all over our great nation who are either interested in attending or have signed up to attend Backstage Bridal Pro Academy. During those conversations I've learned many things that challenge wedding planners. However, at the base of it all there is one underlying issue that plagues each and every one. It's the issue of personal growth.

When you become an entrepreneur, you soon realize that you - your strengths, your weaknesses, skills, fears, limitations - are intricately connected to the growth of your business.

Right now you're probably saying... "Duh, tell me something I don't already know!"

But here is the thing that I am starting to realize . . . even about myself. We are horrible bosses sometimes. Why? Because we seem to think we should have it all handled, yesterday and that we've got "this"!

What makes us horrible bosses is this level of thinking. We need to cut ourselves some slack. Seriously!

Nothing challenges our assumptions and insecurities quite like the ambition to become successful on our own path, often in a role we are inventing as we go along.

Here are 5 simple truths we need to be aware of about the human nature of entrepreneurs. Take a deep breath and remember:

1. YOU WILL NEVER FEEL READY - EVER! You know how people say there is no right time to have a child? Well there is no perfect time to start a business or launch a product or go after any big that that you want to try. You will never have enough money or time or expertise to feel ready. And that's perfectly fine, because stretching beyond our comfort zone is how we grow. It still sucks sometimes, but it is soooo worth it. Trust me.
2. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ANOTHER VOICE. Isn't it staggering how much information is available to us online? And it seems that there is always someone who is saying what we are saying better or has a slicker website or gets better press. When wedding planners go out on their own and begin to build a personal brand, we think that we are under qualified because we are comparing ourselves to everyone in the world. Didn't you know that you only need to know enough to help someone else that is behind you on the path? It's true. So you can't help someone that knows just as much or more than you. But what about that bride who never considered what it took to plan a wedding? Or that mother of the bride who has no idea what sand ceremony is? You have value. It's up to you to see it. Not only that, your voice is only your voice - no one else has your perspective, your story, your personality. The world needs what you have to say.
3. YOU WILL ALWAYS WANT SOMEONE TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO NEXT. The funny thing about being a human being and an entrepreneur is that while we are creative, independent thinkers, on a biological level our brains are hardwired for safety. It's human nature to want to feel secure, to want to know what's around the bend in the road sooooo badly! We also don't want to feel embarrassment, EVER! That leads to analysis paralysis: unread books and unused products, workshops that don't deliver the results we wanted because we are waiting to know what's the absolute right thing to do. But at the end of the day the decision is yours. It's YOUR job to take responsibility for getting where we want to go, and accept that the road is risky and uncertain.
4. YOU WILL NEVER THINK "IT" IS GOOD ENOUGH. Perfect is the enemy of good. So many times I have seen people start out with a grand design of how they would like to see things run. They want a blog and an e-zine and an e-book and they want to plan weddings and speak publicly and host bridal workshops and bridal expo events AND they want to launch product and execute photo shoots and get published and be on TV and it goes on and on and on and on. Oh and did I mention that they also want to do this in less than a year's time! HA! I am tired just typing it up! And guess what? I am completely guilty in this as well. I am constantly working on pulling back and being more realistic and focused with my business ideas. It's great to think big but we really need to focus on what is enough for now. Don't spend $5,000 on your website design when you haven't tested the market for your services. We all want to build the Taj Mahal but it starts with a pretty little wooden stall in the marketplace. If we grow slowly and cultivate patience, eventually our thing, whatever that is, will be big and beautiful.
5. YOU WILL CONSISTENTLY UNDERVALUE YOUR SERVICES. You will always take for granted the thing you do.  If you ever feel that your service is so easy or your suggestions are so obvious, then beware! You are dismissing the value you bring to your clients and customers. Pricing is always tricky, but you should be careful to never undervalue your services, EVER! 

Growth only happens when you are moving forward. Have you ever heard the story about the girl and the horse? She was attempting to learn to ride and as she sat on the horse she was having the hardest time trying to get it to turn. Finally her instructor turned towards her and stated, "You can only turn a horse when it's moving." Your business is like a horse. It's much easier to steer once you've set it off in a particular direction.

If you would like to know more about how I pushed past my fears to fulfill my career and personal goals, attend Backstage Bridal Pro Academy and sit in on my session, "Be Smashing!" We will discuss how you can embrace your differences and smash those inner fears that are holding you back. Register today to reserve your seat! Can't wait to meet you there!