Once you have discovered and embraced who you are in the wedding industry and what it is you stand for, then comes the real test: Trusting in it all. Trusting ourselves really causes such conflict it seems. We want to do what we are “supposed to do” or what the best move from an outsider’s perspective would be, but somehow it doesn’t feel right. We have all heard the saying that intuition is the sixth sense. More often than not your gut is like a crystal ball, foreseeing the future and letting you know which way to go. Often it comes down to knowing what you should probably do, what you don’t want to do, and then the tugging feeling inside you guiding you in the right direction can lead you to the outcome that is best. Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink supports this theory: that often times we make our best decisions in a matter of moments. Our gut has an instinct about situations long before we factor in our educated analysis of people and opportunities.
In business we are taught to make educated, rational, and well thought out decisions. However, often times I feel something inside me telling me something else and I start to lean towards the alternative outcome. There is a huge lesson to be learned in listening to yourself. I recently denied following my instincts and learned a very important, costly, and time wasted lesson, but never the less, one that I am grateful I experienced. I was hesitant to take on a client, had a feeling which way to go and I ignored it. Was I surprised by the outcome? No not really. I kind of set myself up for it. We’ve all been there at some point: booked a client we thought, “oh what the heck I’ll make a few extra dollars” or “yeah sure they may be high maintenance, but I can handle it”. In my case it was more of the “sure they may not be the best fit, but I’ll just give it a whirl and I’m up for the challenge!” I share this candid experience with you because it has taught me so much about my business and even more insight to the wedding industry vendors we work with. There is a time and a place for being all business and then there is that overwhelming feeling inside that says YES or NO. If you aren’t sure whether to hire that assistant, lower your rates for that bride, or refer that vendor for your client’s wedding…. simply Listen to yourself. You truly know what is best for you. Oh, and I should of course add that sometimes you can be wrong and so can your gut, but more often than not our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well being will thank you anyways.
You are smarter than you give yourself credit for and you know what is best for you and your business, so give yourself a little respect and trust that you are leading yourself in the right direction.
*Photo by Elizabeth Messina
Leila, Thank you for this post!
As a small business owner in the wedding industry, I have had to learn these things over the past year, and have struggled with those nagging doubts…. I love your perspective and advice – thanks!
I totally agree! It is easy to ignore that gut for a sale, but if its not a good fit the business suffers. Thanks for this post!
Fantastic post! Any tips on how to let a client know you don’t feel you’re the best fit without offending them?
Take on a client that you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when you shouldn’t have? You didn’t trust your gut…
oh yay! trust yourself Ash! RT @creativeevents: @weddingPR so needed this post today!! As always love your blog!!
@weddingPR so needed this post today!! As always love your blog!!
RT Take on a client that you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when you shouldn’t have? You didn’t trust your gut…
RT Take on a client that you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when you shouldn’t have? You didn’t trust your gut…
Great post today Lei! RT @weddingPR: Take on a client that you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when….
Always important! RT @weddingPR Take on a client that you knew was prob not a fit? You didn’t trust your gut…
This article from @weddingPR is so well said… I think we’ve all been there done that! Trust your gut!
We make our best decisions in a matter of moments. Our gut has an instinct about situations- so do you trust it?
Excellent post! So true, and something that we all need to be reminded of often! I always say, if you have to REALLY think about it hard, then it’s probably not the right way to go!
AMEN AMEN AMEN. I did this exact thing in March and booked a couple I knew wasn’t a good fit. Their engagement session was a struggle and the couple cost me hours of time with nit-picky questions and “we just want…” requests. Their wedding was equally as frustrating. Was in frustrating as all getout? You bet. But the silver lining is that I now feel MUCH more prepared to deal with difficult questions/situations, and I’ve revised my contract to be even more airtight as a result of my experience with them.
Didn’t trust my gut and the outcome was no surprise. Don’t let it happen to you!
RT @miltonganphoto @weddingPR Take on a client you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when you shouldn’t?
RT @weddingPR: Take on a client you knew was prob not a fit? Lower a price when you shouldn’t? You didn’t trust your gut
@weddingPR my gut gets me in trouble a lot of times .. so I first bounce things off my brain, if it leads me back to my gut, I go for it! 🙂
Good advice. It’s happened to me… I knew a client would probably be high maintenance and almost referred them to someone else, but then thought “Hey I can do it and make them happy” and it’s a few extra $. But in the end. Not worth the trouble.
This is great @weddingPR! Trust Your Gut! – http://www.inspiredbythis.com/2011/09/tuesday-tips-trust-your-gut/
As someone new trying to “make it” I really appreciate you writing this! I have compromised my standards a few times and regretted it each time so thanks for the reminder
So well said. I enjoyed reading this article and appreciated you sharing it with all of us wedding professionals.