What does it take to succeed?
Again in 2016, Danielle Leilani began her personal wedding ceremony planning firm with out EVER having attended a marriage! And, after simply two years of working within the trade. Over the previous 6.5 years, Danielle has been primarily centered on rising her wedding ceremony planning enterprise + model, Leilani Weddings. To this point, Leilani Weddings has seamlessly deliberate, designed + executed over 350 weddings and occasions in 3 international locations + 5 states, and has change into the go-to firm for “the fashionable bride celebrating common love”.
Danielle credit her success to 10 distinctive attitudes, and you’ll undertake them too! These attitudes are usually not solely related to entrepreneurs, however to anybody employed or in enterprise. So if you happen to’re able to take issues up a notch, then learn on.
Time for somewhat nostalgia
I began Leilani Weddings actually from my bed room. On the time, I shared a rental with my ex-boyfriend + he was truly the one who inspired me to check out the marriage trade (extra on that later). From the pc in our bed room, I conceptualized Leilani Weddings, and it got here to life earlier than my eyes. I got here up with the title (Leilani is [one] of my center names [the other is Elizabeth], he helped me get the web paperwork arrange, we registered the enterprise (the boring stuff, ha!) and in simply a few quick weeks I had a emblem, inside a month, a web site + enterprise playing cards, and inside the first a number of weeks, I had bookings on the calendar. I used to be severe about this entrepreneur factor – it was fast and it was intense and I’ve beloved each single second of it.
My message to you
Whether or not you’re aspiring to start out your personal firm in the future, or if you happen to’ve already taken the leap + are actually simply attempting to hone in on how precisely this loopy entrepreneur life works – we’re all on this collectively, and I acquired you lady. And to all of my aspiring wedding ceremony planners – learn intently! Belief me after I say that this trade just isn’t for the faint of spirit. Based on Forbes, it’s one of many 5 most hectic jobs – proper up there subsequent to navy personnel, firefighters, pilots + law enforcement officials. I want I used to be kidding.
Should you’re severe about this trade, be ready to work actually, actually exhausting, develop a thick pores and skin, keep open-minded, and alter to working with every kind of various character varieties. Whether or not this will get you much more enthusiastic about pursuing wedding ceremony planning or one other dream profession, or has you working for the hills (I actually hope that isn’t the case!), right here’s how I found out what I needed to pursue in life + two years later, made it occur, and began my very personal firm.
10 attitudes that helped me reach enterprise
1: I went with my intestine
One single dialog led to my dream profession, and if I had pushed the notion apart, pondering it was loopy, or too farfetched, I might not be the place I’m immediately.
I used to be 23 years outdated. My ex-boyfriend + I had simply spent a weekend away and whereas driving again house, began having a deep dialog about life. I introduced up how I felt like I used to be having a “quarter-life disaster” (dramatic, a lot?) and that I used to be confused about what was subsequent. I had simply graduated school a yr earlier than, I knew what my strengths have been, I knew what I loved doing – I simply didn’t know precisely how you can take that data of myself + these abilities that I had + make a profession out of it.
He was the one who urged a marriage planner, as a result of, and I quote, “you’re on high of your shit” and “you’re bossy”. All correct statements. Quick ahead to the following day (I’ve by no means been one to attend round) and I purchase the entire wedding ceremony magazines I can discover on the newsstand of the mall I labored at, and determined proper then + there that I used to be going to place my coronary heart + soul into pursuing this.
2: I discovered myself an internship
…and labored totally free, despite the fact that I had simply labored my tail off for 5 years to get a bachelor’s diploma.
As quickly as I made the choice to pursue wedding ceremony planning, an nearly instant afterthought was that I might most likely need to shadow a marriage planner, for a very long time (or so I believed on the time) and doubtless not receives a commission (that half was true, however just for a short while). So what would any clever, assured, former magnificence queen do on this state of affairs? I cold-called wedding ceremony planners + left “pitch letters”, in voicemail format, on their answering machines. Katherine, proprietor of Occasions by Katherine, ended up calling me again + I nonetheless bear in mind how she chuckled + mentioned that no one had ever left her a voicemail like that earlier than. #further, what can I say? Earlier than the tip of the month, I had landed an internship in my dream trade.
3: I by no means stopped in search of alternatives
I Fb stalked, texted buddies + messaged outdated colleagues till the suitable alternative offered itself.
From the primary wedding ceremony I assisted, I used to be hooked. I used to be scheduled a closing shift for that first wedding ceremony helping Katherine in my house state of California, and I bear in mind how excited I used to be on the two-hour bus journey to the venue. Sure! You’re studying that proper…
I took a two hour bus journey to work 6 hours FOR FREE.
And I used to be so stoked about it.
I arrived proper earlier than ceremony, and the band was doing their sound test because the ice sculpture arrived. This was heaven to me.
After that first wedding ceremony, I used to be hooked. However like all part-time internship, the alternatives have been scarce + I didn’t really feel as immersed within the trade as I needed to be. I instantly went to Fb, looking by means of outdated buddies, questioning who may need a reference to one other firm, or one other alternative. All I knew is that I needed extra. I ultimately reconnected with an outdated buddy from center college who shared that she labored at a financial institution with a man who owned a marriage planning + rental firm along with his spouse, which she operated. She was in search of an government assistant, a proper hand, and I instantly mentioned to myself: THIS IS IT.
You’ll study to understand the fantastic thing about rising + evolving, each as a enterprise proprietor + a frontrunner, and discover worth in studying from others + taking recommendation.
4: I bought myself
I stepped into a reasonably established planning + rental firm, declared I had simply two months of expertise within the wedding ceremony trade, but proceeded to inform them precisely why they need to nonetheless rent me.
Confidence will get you a great distance, however being resourceful will get you even additional.
Positive, I didn’t have years of wedding ceremony planning expertise below my belt. Promoting wedding ceremony leases, like chairs + linens? Not precisely on my resume. However what I DID have was Drive. Motivation. Confidence. Intelligence. I ended up interviewing with the house owners twice earlier than they determined to take an opportunity on me + I assured them they might not remorse their choice.
5: I proved myself
I didn’t take this chance with no consideration, and I labored exhausting to indicate the house owners that I used to be meant for the job, and that they’d made the suitable choice.
I utilised my previous experiences to thrive, and realized “weddings 101” alongside the best way.
The expectation of me was to promote our planning shoppers leases and achieve new enterprise, so my earlier expertise working in high-end retail turned an asset. My magnificence pageant days got here in helpful after I wanted to exit + have lunch with venue managers, to market the corporate. Writing abilities proved to be a bonus, as I used to be capable of write partaking blogs for the corporate’s web site. My days of being a cheerleading coach proved to be useful after I created the corporate’s first internship program, which led to hiring the corporate’s first two staff (apart from me). They each ended up working for the corporate for years to come back (and one gal remains to be with the corporate!)
6: I used to be thrown into what I fondly discuss with as “The Lion’s Den”
After simply 6 months within the wedding ceremony trade (I had by no means even attended a marriage in my life earlier than helping at one, by the best way), I coordinated a marriage alone!
This specific firm specialised in Southasian + Persian weddings, and as most individuals know, as is widespread data, these are among the most detailed, lavish, fairly frankly, high-maintenance, and costly weddings that exist. The primary wedding ceremony I coordinated was an intimate seaside wedding ceremony on the sand, however after that, it was no small fries.
That first yr, I coordinated massive Southasian weddings at five-star resorts like The Montage Laguna Seashore + the Terrenea Resort, and effectively – I can let you know that after you execute a marriage like that, you kinda really feel like you possibly can execute any sort of wedding ceremony. And to be trustworthy, there’s lots of reality to that.
7: I by no means stopped desirous to study + develop
Immersing myself in studying about weddings + working a enterprise, I constantly challenged myself, labored tremendous lengthy hours, and all the time stored my eyes looking forward to what was subsequent.
Having by no means been one for complacency, I knew this new profession path was one thing to take very, very significantly. I knew early on that I needed to excel on this subject and change into an skilled at my craft. So I went to work each day with diligence + enthusiasm, and with ardour, understanding that in the future I might (on the time, I believed after 5 years) construct a reputation for myself below my very own firm, for my very own model, alone phrases.
8: I took a leap of religion
…and after simply two years within the biz, determined I needed to work for myself, create + construct my very own model, and peaced out to having a boss + doing issues on any person else’s phrases.
I really feel kinda bratty saying this as a result of the girl who skilled me was so fantastic. Not solely did she take an opportunity on me, however she gave me a lot accountability together with her firm, skilled me on all there was to find out about weddings, and actually turned an in depth buddy. Regardless of all of this, although, deep down within me, there was all the time a longing to have one thing to name my very own. I might be remiss if I didn’t share that each time I might go to a networking lunch or assembly + get requested if I used to be the proprietor, having to say “no” was actually fairly painful for me.
As a result of I might hardly anticipate the day after I might proudly reply “YES! I’m the proprietor.”
So two years in, with respect + grace for each the corporate, and for myself, we parted methods, and I got down to create my very own empire (nonetheless workin’ on it, but it surely’s positively getting there!)
9: I acquired comfy with the truth that I would wish to study as I went
Once I began my firm, I positively didn’t have the entire solutions. I nonetheless don’t. However I used to be laser-focused on my objectives, knew what I needed to perform, and got down to do exactly that, taking it in the future at a time.
It may be humbling going from a cushty way of life as a school pupil, or your 9-5 that you just’ve mastered + can virtually do in your sleep. Beginning one thing new, particularly opening a brand new enterprise of your personal, goes to be scary, that’s inevitable. Simply know that there WILL be a studying curve. You might not get it proper the primary time, it’s possible you’ll (and doubtless will) make a rookie mistake (or a number of). I’ve skilled this firsthand. You’ll study to understand the fantastic thing about rising + evolving, each as a enterprise proprietor + a frontrunner, and discover worth in studying from others + taking recommendation. As your enterprise develops, your methods of doing issues, workflow – even your priorities + objectives, will shift all through the weeks, months, and years, and you’ll study to seek out consolation within the underlying chaos that’s the lifetime of an entrepreneur.
10: I believed that I might, so I did
That’s it. Easy. As tacky as that will sound.
I really feel SO strongly about this – you, lady, can do ANYTHING you place your thoughts to doing. Should you really feel it in your intestine, in case your convictions are robust, and in case you are keen to place within the time, effort, and exhausting work that it takes, you possibly can pull off something that you just actually need to make occur. You might have to start out earlier than you’re absolutely prepared, you might have to be extra stringent in your spending, you may need to place your ego apart or do one thing out of your consolation zone. However it’s solely once you take an opportunity on your self, that magic occurs.
Concerning the creator
Danielle Leilani is the Founder, CEO + inventive director of award-winning + printed wedding ceremony planning, design + way of life model Leilani Weddings, founding father of the unique “celebration in a field” decor package the bachbox, and founder + CEO of Leilani Social, a social media administration, PR + occasion planning firm for manufacturers. Danielle is the blogger + way of life character behind danielleleilani.com. And likewise the host of The Leilani Technique, a weekly podcast that teaches brides + boss babes how you can assume massive, dwell boldly + make it occur whereas residing their finest lives.
