For many wedding professionals, asking if it's time for you to be an educator may seem like an odd question, mostly because a considerable portion of what we do daily is to educate people. If we're good at what we do, we educate our clients. We teach them about how hiring a wedding professional is the only way to go. We teach them about what sets us apart in our field, and hopefully, we educate them on how to make their wedding planning easy and stress free. It's what we do as wedding professionals, and the best way to work together as a creative team. But are you truly sharing everything you know?
Those Who Can, Do.
There's a horrible old saying, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." Most often, this saying is applied to athletes, how when they're no longer able to perform, they transition into coaching. With wedding pros, the saying should be "those who can, should!" With all of the extra time wedding pros currently have, it's time to invest in working on your business while you can't work in your business. But the key to success is sharing what you know and bringing others along with you. Successful professionals should work to inspire the next generation, not look at them as competition.
Share Your Current Knowledge
As the world struggles to right itself, wedding pros have, to no small extent, been left out of the narrative. If you've worked with your local lenders and gotten answers to the PPP requirements, share what you know with your colleagues. The same goes for figuring out the local dos and don'ts regarding business re-openings and hosting large gatherings. Every wedding has a dozen or more pros who, in some way, touch that couple's day, and we all need to work together in order to succeed. Educating others will help lift the industry at large.
Professionalism
Pandemic aside, part of being a wedding pro versus a wedding vendor is professionalism and education. Right now, technology is having a massive impact on the way we do business. But using technology doesn't come easy for everyone. Sharing the fundamentals of your segment of the industry with others can make a significant impact on your business, while helping others grow! It sets you apart as the go-to person in your market and the industry as a whole.
Fear of Being Copied
We've heard from wedding pros who are afraid to share what they know for fear of being copied. It's important to understand that no one can do what you do exactly as you do it! Personality plays a big role in what makes us successful and who we attract as our ideal clients. And being a mentor can be a great way to develop a strong team! Share what you know and why you do things the way you do with your team members, rather than giving them an assignment and sending them off. By taking the time to teach them the how and why of everything you do, you create a team of professionals. And you might be surprised by what you can learn from them as well.
Many pros have found that being part of a national organization in their field helps them connect with colleagues in different markets and be a mentor in a non-threatening way.
Is It Right for Me?
Only you know what's right for you and your business. Ask yourself:
- What are my strongest skills?
- Are the ways we currently do things tried and true and able to work for others?
- What am I passionate about?
- How does being an educator make me stronger and set me apart as an expert in my field?
It's always the right time to share what you know. But knowing where your passion is and the best way to move forward takes an inward look and some enthusiasm!
Hero photo courtesy Evelyn Francesca Events and Amira Gray Photography
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