Grace, Gratitude, and Goals

Personal

January 10, 2018

This post is a little late…or is it? It’s January 10^th and I had full intentions to write a post about the New Year and all of the business updates earlier but I’ve just been so busy with all of the new business updates, my multiple jobs, the New Year and my anniversary with my sweet boyfriend! So, as you can imagine this post may be a little lengthy! I’ll start with my business goals!

I may not have gotten around to writing this post until the 2^nd week of the New Year but I have been reflecting on 2017 constantly. There were amazing things that happened, terrible things, life lessons, seasons of joy and seasons of defeat but because of everything I learned, I’m excited to jump into 2018 with a positive attitude!

2018 Business Goals:

I will keep an organized work schedule that fits with my other jobs. Recently I have been working on my business every morning from Monday through Friday with the exception of Wednesday because of my other job! It’s been so helpful to have structure
Photograph taken by Nicki Metcalf

Photo taken Nicki Metcalf
I want to book a wedding that is out of state! I’ve been making connections at workshops and through social media and I would love to takeHannah Marie Events to new locations!
I will book a wedding at my favorite local venue (Upper Shirley Vineyards) by the end of 2018.
I will open a business banking account and use it efficiently and effectively!
I will purchase a program that will help with the workflow of contracts, invoices, etc.

These are ambitious goals and things that will not be easy to obtain but I want them for my business and I want to have the challenge for myself. I didn’t want to set too many goals because I want to be able to focus on each one individually. I have also come up with personal goals as well, which only include about 5 as well.

I mentioned that I have been busy working on things for my business and one of the main things is my website! I finally created my own website using Showit and I love it!! I loved the way Showit was laid out and how easy it was to use. Their online team answered all of the many questions I had and made me feel confident in what I was creating. I worked on this website for months and while I know it’s not perfect, I loved how it turned out! If you haven’t had a chance to see it, you can view it here!

The other project I have been working on is still a secret but you’ll find out what it is in just 8 days!! Think connection, good food, beautiful places and great conversation! This is an announcement that I am so excited to share with everyone and have been praying about for weeks!

These goals, announcements, and projects wouldn’t have happened, at least not within the first year and a half of business without the support team I’ve had. From the very beginning of this business, before it was really a business, I started shadowing other planners, talking to other creative business ladies and sharing my dreams with so many people! I was told I couldn’t do it, that I was too much of a perfectionist, that many businesses fail within the first 5 years and that I should get a real job because working for yourself isn’t an easy job. I know I just completed year one, but I’m determined to beat the stigma of businesses failing within the first 5 years and to make working for myself a joy instead of a burden. I’ve seen so many businesses become successful and I feel honored to have learned from so many of them.

The main girl who let me into her world and see the good, the bad, the ugly, the pretty, the struggle and the fun was Kat Schmoyer of Dear Sweetheart Events. She let me shadow her for a wedding in the Spring of my Sophomore year of college after a simple email was sent to her asking for advice. I didn’t know Kat at all, in fact, I didn’t know any wedding planners. Katelyn Alsop has been a friend of mine for 11 years when they came to our church! Katelyn told me about Kat and I immediately reached out even being scared to death to do so. Fast forward almost 4 years later and I now work for Kat and have attended two Creative at Hearts and I don’t plan to stop at two!

Photograph by Holly Felt at Creative @ Heart- Raleigh

C@H has been life-changing for so many people and I met some amazing encouragers when I went this past August. I don’t think I would be at the point in my business that I am without the encouragement, orders (thank you, Megan Martin, for telling me I had to create a domain, regardless of being ready to start the website process), prayers and life-giving discussions. I can’t explain how grateful I am for these women and this conference.

Lastly, speaking of gratitude, positivity, and joyfulness, Huck and I celebrated 5 years of dating on Monday and it’s been the best 5 years to date. Growing in a relationship with someone through different stages of life is a privilege and honor and I wouldn’t choose anyone else to do it with!

Really, lastly, can anyone guess my word for 2018? If you guessed gratitude you’re right. This year I’m going to find gratitude in all things. No matter the situation, I want to be grateful for what it’s happened and that I lived another day to experience something new and learn from it.