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My 26 year old daughter recently got married. I’ve been to dozens of weddings and enjoyed them, but this was my first hold a wedding. In the months I spent planning this week with my wife, I learned seven valuable business-related lessons.
We wanted to have a traditional wedding so we looked for a wedding venue to host the reception. However, we ran into a problem. Our guest list included approximately 500 of my closest friends, most of whom were fans, friends, students, and others of my daughter.
For so many people, paying $50-$150 per plate for a reception venue is beyond our budget. We had a choice: we could pare down the list or organize the wedding ourselves. We all did it.
We reduced the guest list to 300 people and still Save as much money as possible We did the best we could and hosted the wedding ourselves. My wife is the wedding coordinator and I am her assistant.
What is a DIY wedding like? Well, we purchased custom stickers and put 400 stickers of the bride and groom on 400 water bottles. We borrowed vases from friends and also had many of our own from previous events. One of our friends is a design lover, so she created dozens of table arrangements and bouquets using real and fake flowers. I could go on.
However, the most important thing about planning this wedding were the lessons I learned along the way:
Related: 8 Important Lessons from Leading Entrepreneurs
1. Communication is essential
We have several WhatsApp groups to facilitate communication. We held regular meetings to update status and plan various elements of the wedding. My wife and I are in constant communication. We made multiple trips to the venue, our church, to prepare and plan.
poor communication is one of the biggest obstacles to success. Poor communication and misunderstandings can destroy your business.
Maybe my wife asked me to “put the vase on the table” but I didn’t ask which vase. This can result in the wrong vase being placed on the wrong table.
The same goes for your business. Communicate clearly – In fact, when the task is very important, you should over-communicate.
2. Be clear about what you want to achieve
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, we kept in mind the key goals we needed to achieve. We know that the bride and groom must get married – that’s the most important thing. Our other goals include great food, a fun environment, and more.
The same goes for your business.
clear what what you want to achieve Your business includes the various projects and tasks that are part of your business. If you don’t know your goals, it’s hard to know what success looks like or even how to succeed.
3. Ask for help
While my wife took on most of the wedding planning responsibilities with my support, we couldn’t have done it alone. Our friends and family helped us through every stage of the wedding.
A couple helped us a few weeks before the wedding. Other friends also helped on the wedding day and in the weeks leading up to the wedding.
The same goes for running your business. It’s difficult to serve your customers and grow your business if it’s just you. Ask for help Build a teamand seek help from friends, mentors, and even family. You will need different people to assist in different ways.
Assistance can take the form of paying an attorney to help you draft your legal agreement in the right way. Help can come in the form of a good business friend providing you with advice on new hires.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help as you start and grow your business.
4. Who you work with matters to your success (or failure)
My wife and I were partners in making sure our wedding was a success. We trust each other and work together to the best of our ability. The same is true in business.
for one partnership To be successful, you must understand what is important to your partner. Learn how they communicate and their work style.
Partners can be a powerful asset to your business because they can help relieve you of the thinking and practical work required to grow your business. However, the wrong partner can cause damage to your business.
Related: 25 Lessons Business School Will Never Teach You
5. Priorities matter – don’t major in a minor and don’t minor in a major
Priority Important, especially as the complexity of the project increases. You can only accomplish so much in a day. Time is limited. Therefore, being able to prioritize is crucial. As we prepare for our wedding, we have to constantly decide on priorities. For example, today we are setting the table. Tomorrow, we will put out the vases. As the wedding approached, we had to “let go” of some things and scale back on others.
You need to do this in your business too.
What needs to be done today? How long can we wait? What must be done this season and what can be put off to another day?
When you work with others, also understand that your priorities may not be their priorities. Therefore, there are common goal Understand what’s important to you, your partners, and/or your team.
6. Who are the stakeholders?
For weddings, we knew we had to consider a few important people or groups of people. The bride and groom are the most important. The groom’s parents are also important, so we have to consider their needs and concerns. We must also consider our church ministries and their concerns and needs regarding weddings.
The same goes for your business. In your career, you are never alone. This includes you, your employees (or team members), your customers, and possibly government agencies, suppliers, and others.
Consider the stakeholders who are critical to the success of your business and consider their needs and concerns.
Related: 5 Lessons from the Most Successful Entrepreneurs
7. Listen to other people’s advice
Our wedding coordination team is vital to the success of your wedding. The team consists of my sister, my daughter’s best friend, my wife, my daughter, my daughter’s fiancé, and me!
We have regular meetings with this team to get their input and their help with much of the wedding planning – cake, clothes, housing, etc.
Your business needs consultants, too. you can seek advice From fellow business owners. You can get advice from books and podcasts. You can join a coaching community. You can also hire a consultant to guide certain aspects of your business.
My daughter’s wedding was a success and now you know why. A wedding is a one-day event. However, it can take years for your business to grow and become successful. you can’t build a successful business Go it alone – This requires guidance, purposeful planning and a little luck.
