Whew! Those first three months of 2018 went by fast! Thanks for following me on my little entrepreneurial journey. You’ll never guess what I learned in these past 3 months of 2018…(drum roll please)…I need to carve out more time for my business! Seems like a simple lesson, but such a critical thing. I have big goals this year; here’s how I’m tracking so far, and what I’ve learned.
Carve Out Time: Elevated Occasions isn’t my main gig. I have a day job and work on this nights and weekends. It’s been hard (to say the least) to carve out enough time to accomplish my business goals. When I get home from work I’m tired, and weekends get busy. I work on this here and there when I have a free hour or two. I’ve learned that I need to actually schedule time on my calendar for this business just like I would an appointment. That way I can hold myself accountable vs. just working on this ad-hoc.
That said, I accomplished some pretty cool things in Jan/Feb/March! Highlights are below.
FYI, I’m hosting pop-up events this spring/summer! Hope to see you there! Good times…Good Vibes!
Hosted First Public Event: Chocolate Tasting at Cocoa + Co in Chicago
Most of my work is planning celebrations for clients. However, even if you’re not a client, I want to meet you and chat over cocktails and food! This is why I’m hosting pop-up events! The first was a February Valentine’s Day themed chocolate tasting at Cocoa + Co. Guests learned about the origins of chocolate, sampled unique chocolate bars, and tasted decadent dark drinking chocolate! I was nervous leading up to the event and wondered if anyone would sign up, but guess what…I sold out of tickets! What a great way to kick off these pop-up events! Stay tuned for more.
Booked Two Clients: So, I typically don’t do weddings….however, I booked not one but two weddings that will take place later this year! Both weddings are untraditional, and the brides are both a pleasure to work with! I’m now trying to decide if I should add “weddings” to my services.
Fabulous 40th Bday: I planned a fabulous 40th birthday for a dear friend/client of mine in Dallas. We had a lovely dinner at True Food Kitchen – Plano and then went back to her house for drinks and desserts. The deserts I ordered from Uncle Willie’s Pies were delicious! Guests danced the night away and enjoyed the “instagram worthy” grass wall photo backdrop I created!
The Blog: I finally shared my tips for a fabulous wine country getaway! However, between working and planning client events, I haven’t put much focus on the blog. A podcast I listen to said there’s a difference between working in your business vs. working on your business. I’ve spent so much time working in my business (client work) that I haven’t focused as much on the business (blogging, social media, etc.). This spring I’m going to rebalance and find ways to work both on/in the business so that I can share more helpful travel & lifestyle advice with you.
Connecting with Other Creatives: Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, but there are groups that help connect creative entrepreneurs with each other. The Rising Tide Society is one of those groups! I’ve been a member for a while, but recently started attending Tuesday Together meetings to connect with other creatives and exchange tips/advice. It’s been a wonderful experience and I look forward to more great connections. #CommunityOverCompetition