All in Mindset

WeddingIQ: How Everything Has Changed, and What's Next

WeddingIQ: How Everything Has Changed, and What's Next

Guest Contributor
Announcements, Mindset

I remember when I first had the idea for what would become WeddingIQ. It was very early in 2012. I'd been running my DJ company for about 10 years, mainly overseeing the customer service and administrative side of things. My then-husband and business partner had stepped back from the day-to-day operations of the company to pursue other things, leaving me at the helm. Even with the added responsibility, I just felt like something was missing. Part of it was that I wasn't feeling particularly challenged anymore - I'm definitely someone who likes to take on new things - and part of it was that I knew I wasn't doing everything I was capable of doing in this industry, one that I'd been part of since I was 21 years old.

Plus, because I'd largely systematized the DJ business so that, with the help of a great assistant, it functioned pretty smoothly without my constant supervision, I had time on my hands and my wheels always seemed to be turning. (Basically, every rant you've ever read on WeddingIQ began as a monologue inside my very chaotic brain.)  And, increasingly, I wanted to give my thoughts a voice, a platform. I found myself feeling called to do two things: to help other business owners to become more effective and successful, and also to dissect some of the bullshit I observed in the wedding industry on a regular basis. If I'm being completely honest, I think I probably also believed I had it all figured out. At least most things. (Oh, if only I knew the humble pie I'd be eating later.)

Side Hustle Series: Alli Elmunzer of COLOR!

Side Hustle Series: Alli Elmunzer of COLOR!

Guest Contributor
Guest Posts, Mindset

(Editor's Note: Our popular "Side Hustle Series" is back, this time with a twist! Today we're featuring Alli Elmunzer, a photographer who started out in weddings and eventually <gasp> got out! Her conscious decision to transition away from wedding photography, in an effort to build a career that would fit better into the lifestyle she wanted, is one i think is definitely worth discussing. As rooted as I am in the wedding industry, I'm also a firm believer that our passions, our priorities and our purpose can all evolve throughout our lives. I think it's a great thing when someone decides to make intentional changes to their career path, and Alli is a great example of that. She now focuses on commercial and styled product photography through her primary business, Turquoise and Palm, and recently launched her side hustle, a stock photography membership site called COLOR!

Read on to learn more about Alli's entrepreneurial journey, and about how her new venture fits in with her business and her life!)

Friday Five: 5 Attitude Adjustments to Augment Your Sales

Friday Five: 5 Attitude Adjustments to Augment Your Sales

Guest Contributor
Sales, Mindset

I won't beat around the bush: selling your service or product in a wedding industry business can be hard. And when the clients you want to work with don't seem to be the ones inquiring, or when your offerings seem to be scaring off more prospects than they're enticing, it's easy to become disillusioned. And therein begins the vicious cycle: slow sales cause a sour mindset, which results in even slower sales.

This Friday Five series post doesn't have all the answers - your business issues could be caused by any number of things, from bad branding to misguided marketing to a tarnished reputation, and fixing them probably requires real work.However, if you're feeling bored, burnt out, bitter, or just plain blue, here are five adjustments to make to your attitude before it affects your sales.

Are Your Branding & Marketing Authentic to You?

Are Your Branding & Marketing Authentic to You?

Guest Contributor
Marketing, Mindset, Wedding Industry

Anyone who knows me well knows that authenticity is one of my core values - so much so, in fact, that I developed an entire business venture to support entrepreneurs in integrating their authentic selves into their work. It drives me crazy to see good people struggling to succeed in businesses that don't feel right to them, and experiencing the burnout that comes from working harder and harder for clients with whom they just don't connect.

I've said it before: there is room in the wedding industry for every type of person to operate a business, because every type of person is out there, getting married and looking for vendors. There are a sea of clients out there who perfectly complement your personality, who like what you like, and who are dying to do business with someone exactly like you. Those competitors of yours who drive you crazy, who strike you as fake or annoying or whose pricing seems not to align with their talent? There are people out there who are really hoping those aren't their only options for your service category.

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