Elevate Your Wedding Business: Insights from the 2024 Wedding Pro CEO Summit

Hello there, CEO!

Welcome to the Wedding Pro CEO Podcast Blog, helping you grow and scale your profitable wedding business. If we haven’t met I am Brandee Gaar, and we’re fresh off the 2024 Wedding Pro CEO Summit.

This was our third summit, and I have to say, it was the best one yet! Over three and a half days, we focused on community building, networking, authentic relationships, and deep dives into profit, marketing, sales, and team building.

Enjoy the highlights and key takeaways below from the opening keynote.

Save your spot for the Wedding Pro CEO Summit next year visit: https://brandeegaar.com/summit

Recap from the 2024 Wedding Pro CEO Summit

Community and Connection

This year, it was incredibly encouraging to see our community come together. Our speakers and sponsors were fully invested in the attendees, creating an atmosphere of mutual support and learning.

The summit was not just about attending sessions; it was about forging real, meaningful relationships and making transformative changes in our businesses, in the moment. [No notebooks full of ideas to try and implement later.]

The Charge of the Opening Keynote

Every year, I deliver the opening keynote, and it’s always a moment I love preparing for.

This keynote sets the tone for the entire summit, urging attendees, speakers, and sponsors to dig deep and focus on why they’re here.

This is not just an event to attend for the sake of it; it’s a platform to make substantial changes in your business.

So, what did you come for?

What do you want to achieve?

Let’s break down this year’s charge.

Keynote Highlights

Year One: You Cannot Learn What You Think You Already Know

In our first summit, the charge was, “You cannot learn what you think you already know.”

This concept, borrowed from my own learning experiences, emphasizes the importance of adopting a beginner’s mindset.

No matter how successful you are, there’s always something new to learn. Drop the ego, absorb new ideas, and be open to different perspectives.

Year Two: Take What You Need and Leave the Rest

Last year’s charge was to “take what you need and leave the rest.”

With so many workshops and sessions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Focus on what you need for your business. Identify the areas where you need growth and seek out those sessions.

Don’t get bogged down by everything else. Take what you need to make significant changes in your business.

This Year: If You Wanted To, You Would

This year’s charge is “If you wanted to, you would.”

This theme is about pushing yourself to achieve your goals.

What’s holding you back?

Often, it’s not a lack of resources or knowledge but a lack of will.

If you genuinely want to grow your wedding business, you’ll find a way to make it happen. Let’s explore this concept further with an exercise.

Interactive Exercise: 7 to 7

Grab your journals. We’re going to do an exercise called “7 to 7.”

Write down everything you do in a typical day, from 7 AM to 7 PM.

This includes client work, emails, meetings, and any other tasks.

Reflect on these tasks and identify how many of them are truly moving the needle in your business.

Personal Story: Balancing Business and Family

My husband and I work full-time in our business. Initially, when our third daughter was born, I felt overwhelmed and considered closing the business.

Instead, my husband quit his job to join me full-time.

This decision was pivotal, but it also brought challenges.

We had to define our goals and align our efforts.

At first, my goal was just to pay the bills, but deep down, [cue suspenseful music] I wanted to dominate the wedding industry.

Saying your big goals out loud can be intimidating, but it’s crucial for growth.

Setting Bigger Goals and Overcoming Self-Doubt

When you set goals, think BIG.

What would you write down if you weren’t afraid of failure? Often, we limit ourselves with small goals out of fear.

But what if you aimed higher? What changes would you need to make, do, not do, etc. in your business to achieve those ambitious goals?

Practical Steps to Grow Your Wedding Business

1. Focus on Revenue-Generating Tasks: Identify tasks that directly impact your sales, marketing, and team development. These should be your priority.
   
2. Reevaluate Your Daily Schedule: Ensure that your daily activities align with your big goals. Cut out tasks that don’t contribute to your growth.
   
3. Use Parkinson’s Law to Your Advantage: Work expands to fill the time available. Set strict time limits for tasks and stick to them.
   
4. Embrace a Beginner’s Mindset: Stay open to learning and be willing to absorb new ideas as if you were a beginner.

Before We Go

None of us want to be average.

To stand out in the wedding industry, you need to focus your efforts on what truly matters.

Regularly reassess your goals and strategies, ensuring they align with your ultimate vision. Remember, if you wanted to, you would.

Push past excuses and make your business the best it can be.

“If you wanted to, you would. This year’s charge is all about pushing past excuses and making the changes you need to hit your goals. Let’s make it happen!” – Brandee Gaar

FAQs

Q: How can I manage my time more effectively as a wedding business owner? A: Prioritize revenue-generating tasks and use strict time limits to manage your schedule. Focus on sales, marketing, and team development.

Q: What should I focus on to grow my wedding business? A: Concentrate on activities that directly impact your sales, marketing efforts, and team development. These areas are crucial for growth.

Q: How can I overcome the fear of setting big goals? A: Start by acknowledging your fear and then push past it by setting ambitious but achievable goals. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks.

Q: What are some effective marketing strategies for wedding businesses? A: Utilize social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, engage with your audience regularly, and showcase your work through compelling content.

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