I believe that hard work is the only way to guarantee you will get what you want out of life.
shhhh…
I’ll let you in on the secret to success. The truth is, there is no secret, just show up and do the work that needs to be done. Don’t get distracted trying to keep up with everyone around you. Don’t dwell too much on the past, and don’t spend all of your time worrying about the future. Keep your head down, show up every day and work as hard as you can. If that doesn’t bring you success, then at the very least it will bring you respect.
yeah totally
I found this quote in Chris Guillebeau’s The Tower. It really stood out to me, either work hard every day, or live with the regret of not working hard.
routines
It is becoming more and more clear to me that I am a person of routine. I feel best when my days follow a pattern.
Erica recently turned me onto the site Daily Routines: How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days. I’ve spent much of my day reading and obsessing over the routines of other creative and innovative people. It seems like a mundane part of their lives, but in most of the interviews it shows that their real genius happens because of the structure each person sets for their days. The biggest pattern I saw, whether a night owl, or early riser is that most spend at least a four hour period each day working without distraction.
I can’t tell you the last time I worked for that long without at least taking a peek at Twitter or my email or iPhone…
// above: Ben Franklin’s daily routine
good enough
If I always worked until a project was perfect I would never finish a single project. Good enough is good enough for me.
change of pace
People keep asking me why I’m moving to New York, and honestly it’s hard to give the answer that people are looking for. No, I don’t have a job offer, no I’ve never lived there. It’s something I’ve wanted (dreamed about) for a long time and I just decided now is the time. It’s not just New York that I want though, it’s a whole lifestyle change. The people I know there work hard, like really really hard, and I want that. I want to be tired at the end of every day.
I’ve heard a few people say that when they moved there their life was exactly the same as it always was. I do not want that to happen to me. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want out of this move and I think the list above captures my thoughts. Could I do these things from anywhere? Of course, but I would still be dreaming of doing them in New York, so I’m making my list public. Next time you see me ask me if I’m doing one or all of these things, if I say no, you have permission to slap me.
taylored occasions
The lovely ladies of Taylored Occasions, Aubyn Gominiak and Maryann Taylor, have agreed to do a little Q & A about running an event planning business. This is the first in a new series call 99% perspiration about the value of hard work for your small business or freelance career. I’ll also be sharing some photographs from a few of their recent events.
What do you offer that brides can’t do themselves, or that brides don’t know how to do themselves?
Many brides have good taste and a good idea of how they want their wedding to be. We know how to execute those ideas to the last detail. We know which vendors to use. We know how to manage the budgets: where to spend money and where we can cut corners if need be. We know how to time-manage the entire project. We have that experience and we put it to great use.
// I love the peacock illustration with the table numbers. photo credits nicole angelo photography from patty & oscar’s wedding
What is the hardest part of running a business? Is it getting clients or following through with grand ideas?
The hardest part is actually running the business. We opened our firm not because we enjoyed marketing and advertising, but because we love weddings and events and making those “grand ideas” reality. We both love to entertain. A lot of the time spent on accounting, working on the website, advertising, submitting weddings for publication, and staying current with our referral sources—well, we would much rather spend doing what we love: meeting with our brides and designing an event.
// photo credits la vida creations from kelly & joel’s wedding
What do you do with “bridezillas?” Have you ever fired a client?
We totally understand that weddings are stressful and full of anxiety. We realize brides are very excited and they want things to be perfect. We like to think we have a lot of understanding and patience, so for us the bar before a bride transforms into a “bridezilla” is set very high. That being said, once that line is crossed, we do not tolerate “bridezillas”. During our career, we’ve let three brides go after we started working with them. Our business is relationship based and when we meet a couple for the first time we are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing us. Obvious red flags are irrational ideas, unrealistic expectations, and caustic or abusive personalities. Unfortunately, sometimes these things don’t present themselves until after we begin work together.
// candy tables are popular right now, and for a good reason! photo credits la vida creations from kelly & joel’s wedding
What’s the most rewarding part of being an event planner or what are your favorite moments in the whole process from first meeting a couple to sending them off from their reception?
The most rewarding part of the job is being a part of that person’s big day. Our brides and grooms always remain in close contact with us and we are forever locked into their history. We take that very seriously and it spurs us on to work even harder and make things all the more memorable for them as a couple.
We have so many favorite moments. In the design meetings, seeing the huge smile come across the bride’s face when the brainstorming between the client, the vendors, and us just clicks and we make those “grand ideas” a doable reality.
Maryann loves being with the bride. She excels at calming her nerves, doting on her, and just being Maryann— a fantastic source of courage and understanding who knows just what to say to the brides.
I love watching the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time. The “first look” is something so full of emotion and no two grooms ever react the same way. It makes my heart skip a beat at each wedding.
Of course, the icing on the cake is to see the completed reception site. Linens on the table, flowers in place, lighting perfect, candles lit, and the music starting just as the guests walk in and stand in awe. It’s then we just know it’s going to be a fantastic party.
Thanks again Aubyn & Maryann!
