{Build It and They Will Come?}

I have a mentor.  And two or three professors.  And some random financial guy/SMU executive MBA grad that all keep telling me the same thing...

"Build new."

Yeah, they think the Queen of the Trinity (the 1890s Queen Anne style historic landmark I want to buy and turn into an event venue) is a money pit and not worth the effort.  I can't deny this advice any longer since it has come from so many reliable and trusted sources.  In my style, I'd like to weigh the pros and cons of buying the old Victorian mansion on a hill versus building a new structure for the same purpose.  Feel free to comment with more pros and cons or your opinion on either.  

Buy Historic and Renovate

Pros:

• History
• Charm
• Great details in the architecture
• Convenient location to downtown FW and D/FW airport
• Beautiful natural scenery
• Riverfront access to future Trinity River Vision Project (10+ years down the road)
• National historic landmark
• Renovations will allow me to create the look and feel I want inside and out
• Can garner support of local historians and investors who want to see a local treasure restored
• Incorporate green elements such as new HVAC and recommissioning the rainwater collection well
• Not many direct competitors who are historic, have a lot of outdoor space and green elements

Cons:

• Expensive listing price
• Lots, lots, lots of work (landscaping, demolition, new kitchen, new baths, new siding, paint, every single last thing) which means lots, lots, lots of money!
• Could get neighborhood complaints
• All kinds of zoning and code headaches from city
• The unexpected (what will we find under each layer?)
• Not enough indoor space for larger events

Build New

Pros:

• Build a ballroom (Fort Worth in particular has a need for larger event spaces that are not hotels)
• Choose every detail and material used
• Make it as eco-friendly and efficient as I can afford
• Find reclaimed materials to incorporate
• Can build to "look" old/historic
• Bypass historical landmark restrictions or code issues on old houses
• Form focus group and let local event professionals tell me what they'd like to see in their ideal venue...and do it!
• Instant value/equity in the asset (hopefully)

Cons:

• Finding ideal location could be difficult
• No support from local historians/investors
• Competes now with other newly built "wedding venues" instead of unique historic venues (sigh)
• Could get pricey to build it the exact way I would want it
• No history to use as a differentiator

{Shot in the Arm}

Attending the Business of Brides, the Association of Bridal Consultants' annual conference, is often referred to by experienced planners as getting a "shot in the arm."  Those of us who have been around a while may not come home with tons of new information, but usually return with a reinvigorated passion for our industry.  How many times have you felt bored or even angry with your profession?  In the emotionally-draining work wedding planners do, it's very easy to feel beaten down and ready to change careers.  

I just returned from the fabulous Tremont Grand Plaza hotel in Baltimore (see right) where the conference was held.  I got to hear from celebrity planner Diann Valentine and magazine maven Grace Ormonde.   I learned tips for what to do if a less-than-honest new planner steals your work, picked up a few new design ideas that dazzle guests and enhance their experience, and got to hear from the true green wedding goddess (who really knows her facts), Kate Harrison of the Green Bride Guide.  In addition, I connected with all my old friends that I see year after year and met several more than can benefit my future growth. 

This was my 8th Business of Brides.  I attended my first one in 2004 just after deciding to start a wedding business.  I didn't have a name or business cards, but was welcomed with open arms into the community.  After seeing all the new Master Bridal Consultants get their designations, I was reminded about this blog and the reason for its creation.  My "Road to Master" is not only for my graduate degree, but also to become a Master Bridal Consultant...one of the most difficult designations to earn and most widely respected in our industry worldwide.  So, I came up with a plan that I will layout here (thus being held accountable to it):

1. Submit seminar topics for the 2012 conference so that I might present
2. Become Texas state coordinator (my term starts March 2012)
3. Grow my membership in Texas
4. Put in bid to host a future Business of Brides conference in D/FW
5. Oh yeah, start my venue and plan fabulous weddings that I can submit with my portfolio

So, that's not so hard, right?  I told you the standards are pretty high for Master Bridal Consultants, so I gotta step up!  

The Best Medicine...

I must tell you, however, that the best medicine for rejuvenating a worn out wedding planner is the sincere appreciation of our clients.  On the Saturday just before flying out to Baltimore, I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding in a small town outside of Austin.  It was a Tara Wilson Events-styled wedding in a beautiful backyard for one of the sweetest brides you could ever imagine (I would post pics here but you never know, it could be in a magazine soon!).  Not only was she easy-going and genuinely thankful, but she and her fiance were cute as a button and totally in love.

Just as we had set up the big "send off," I give the bride's dress one last adjustment, hand her bouquet over, and send them up the hill where guests are waiting to toss dried herbs on them.  They are walking and are about to be upon the guests when she stops, turns, and runs over to me with arms wide open.  I am embraced as she tells me how wonderful the day has been and how thankful she was to have me there.  I smile and send them up over the crest and into the barrage of herbs, but a tear comes to my eye once I am alone.  

It doesn't matter that I was on my feet for 6 hours the day before doing set up or that I had stayed up until midnight (and some the following day) assembling their favors.  It doesn't matter that we froze our fingers off at 7am that morning while setting up the tables or got splinters when moving the wood chargers.  Every ounce of energy and drop of sweat is completely justified when you have a client like that.  For all you event professionals reading this blog, may you be showered in appreciation for everything you do.  

{The Facebook Fast}

For the month of October, I took a fast from Facebook.  I found myself completely addicted and spending hours upon hours on Facebook when I should be doing more productive things like study or write in this here blog, so I thought I would challenge myself to stay completely off of Facebook for the entire month.  So far, I've only been tricked a couple of times into opening up the webpage due to a link on Twitter or by searching for a business on Google and only coming up with their Facebook page.  

I've been tagged in posts, tagged in pictures, and have multiple new friend requests that I can't see.  It was frustrating not being able to see what people wanted with me, what event invitations I was missing out on, and of course, what everyone else was up to.  I became more active on Twitter, but it isn't the same.  What I miss most about Facebook is the interaction.  I can change my status and get a whole conversation going.  Additionally, most of my "friend" friends are not on Twitter.  My Twitter feed is mostly comprised of industry peeps, industry celebs (why yes, Duff Goldman from the show Ace of Cakes DID give me a shout out!), and news organizations.  While it provides me lots of useful information to follow these fine people, I think most of them don't know or care about what is going on with my life.  Some Facebook friends, on the other hand, really do seem to care.  

There are loads of people I consider "friends" due to the amount of online interaction between us who, turns out, were really only Facebook friends.  During this month, I've not spoken to many of them out here in the real world.  I honestly feel some relationships may have been set back due to my being "offline" FB.  My closest friends have said they can't wait until November so they can know what the heck I'm up to these days.  

And yeah, they don't really like it when I say "you can follow me @GreenGalTX on Twitter."  

My Addiction

I do pride myself on the fact that I always checked my email BEFORE checking Facebook first thing in the morning.  75% of Facebook users log on there first before checking their email and spend 6 hours a day browsing the site according to a survey I made up for the purposes of this blog post.  I am in front of a computer for at least 10 hours of every day and a tab with Facebook open was always my default webpage. To exemplify the extent of my addiction to Facebook, let me tell you about a dream I had about a week into my fast:

I'm planning a wedding...in Switzerland.  The bride's name is Greta and I'm on my way to the venue, riding in the back of a horse-drawn wagon full of hay.  However, I realize that I need to get some important information from my email, so I pull out an iPad and turn it on.  Lo and behold, Facebook was already open! Being that I am in the middle of Switzerland in a wagon and no one is around, I stealthily sneak a peek at my newsfeed.  

Yes, I really had that dream.  It was a scene much like the one to the right, but it was me instead of that shaggy dog in the back.  And an iPad.  Sigh.

Anyway, my point is that the Fast did nothing but prove to myself that I have some self control and I can avoid Facebook if I want to (knowing is half the battle), but it really has not made me feel like I could do without it or afford to be on it less often.  I would miss so much in my friends' lives if I were to log off permanently.  Old friendships that were re-forged through the miracle of Facebook would be lost again.  I'd never be "in the know" on cool events.

My online life is an open book.  Read my info page and flip through some of my photos and you can pretty much know everything there is about me in 5-10 minutes.  This is both a good and a bad thing.  My long lost friends could catch up, but new friends gained an almost instantaneous intimacy that might have taken months or even years to cultivate.  I recently started dating someone this month and guess what?  We're not Facebook friends, at least not for another few days.  He's had to get to know me the old fashioned way...through Google chat and texting.  All joking aside, it's nice to be able to share facts about myself in the right circumstances and have him be continually surprised at my varied interests.  In a few days, all the mystery goes away when I get back on Facebook.  That is, unless I decide not to accept his friend request.  {mischievous grin}

{Falling Leaves}

No, this post is not about my favorite season, but about a lesson I learned yesterday during yoga.  The teacher read a quote from the Buddha.  I couldn't find it online, but it goes something like this:

Buddha says that life is like a tree with many colored leaves.  Each one is at a different stage of maturity.  As leaves die and fall off, they become compost that nourish the tree and help it to keep growing.  So, you see, it is necessary for some parts of your life to die in order for new growth to occur.  What activity or obligation is sucking the life out of your tree?  Perhaps it is time to let it die so you can move on and grow from the nourishment it will provide as it composts into the ground.  

We were asked to make an intention around this quote.  I had to think about a part of me I am holding onto to, but should let die.  The first thing that came to mind was my wedding planning business in Wisconsin, but I am already letting it go by selling it.  But is that all?  No, I still have memorabilia on the walls of my office and I have files and files of past clients' weddings.  So, this is what I chose to focus on.  It's time to purge the stuff that went with Top Shelf Weddings & Events (of course, I won't do this until the sale is final, but you get the idea).  

I am at a standstill with my new venture and I need motivation to move forward.  Perhaps by purging this old life, I can begin the new one.  And the experience of those leaves will nourish me as new buds sprout.  Or some some such other metaphor.  

{Fried Bubblegum}

If you live in North Texas, then you know exactly what the title is all about.  It's an award-winning new item sold at the State Fair of Texas.  It is an annual tradition for most North Texans to go to the fair every October from childhood to retirement.  Every year it's the same thing, with perhaps one or two vendors or bands switched out.  What makes this tradition so appealing and full of nostalgia?  I'll tell you a little bit of my favorite things divided into four distinct categories.

People watching

It's like "People of Walmart" meets the Failblog.  I saw so many teeny tiny shorts worn with knee high boots (cowboy, most often) that I almost got whiplash.  I saw tons of people who could have weighed tons (not really, but you get my point).  Children running everywhere or strapped to a leash or stroller.  Most often, people were walking and eating, eating and walking...which leads to my next subject...

Food

The whole point of the fair is to eat all the crap they serve.  Where else can you get this stuff unless you make it at home in your industrial deep fryer?  Between my parents and myself, we had the following:

 - Fried Bubblegum (really a bubblegum flavored marshmallow fried with a sticky sugary sauce on top)

 - 3 shots of wine ("tasting")

 - one veggie street taco

 - two Fletcher's corn dogs

 - fried shrimp basket with fries

 - two free Borden's ice cream cones  

 - one nutty bar 

 - three Shiner Bock beers

Exhibits

Typically we'd go through the automobile building, but none of us were particularly interested in new cars.  Plus, that always takes forever to walk through.  We did, however, participate in a Chevy exhibit outside where we got to test drive the new Sonic and then test drive any other vehicle they own (I took the Volt for a spin, it was cool!).  My dad had to drive a Camaro.  It was the first car he owned, and first one he wrecked as a teenager, so it will always hold a special place in his heart.

Dad talked us out of seeing all the arts and crafts that people submit for ribbons.  I did manage to convince them to see the large butter sculpture.  It's never usually that interesting, but it's, you know, a tradition.  In that strain, I got to see Elise and little Beauregard in the dairy area as well.  

In walking through the marketplace areas, we sampled chips and salsas, told a bunch of people "we aren't interested" and acquired very little in the way of random brochures and flyers.  An amazing feat!  Honestly, there are some things in the general store that I'd probably purchase and take home, but who wants to carry that stuff around or make a trip back there to get it at the end of the day when all you want to do is get in the car and take off your shoes?  

Of course, we paid our respects to Big Tex.  Boy, has he gotten chatty!  All he did was spout out advertisements and "thank yous" to sponsors while we were in his presence.  I don't think I even got a "Howdy, folks!"  He reminds me of my grandfather in the way he wears his jeans and boots, the shape of his face.

Rides

Immediately after we parked, we saw this ride that has the swinging seats and it goes in a circle.  But this ride goes up high in the air and spins!  My dad and I both agreed that we would ride this ride at the end of the day.  After we watched the parade, we made our way to the Midway.  Carnivals are typically high on sensory overload, but when it's on the scale of the State Fair, well, it's downright mesmerizing.  Blinking, blurry lights, "chingy" sounds, loud announcers, bustling kids, suspicious teenagers, sticky concrete.  

Many of the rides and attractions (like fun houses) have been there forever.  My dad pointed out several that my granddad always made a point to ride when they would go back in the 50s.  Can you imagine?  When I was younger, I did quite enjoy the fun houses.  Who were they kidding?  I can totally walk up this zig zag walkway and find my way through a series of mirrors.  It's not that hard!  Plus, it reminded me of Grease.  

We finally arrived at the ride, aptly named "Vertigo," ready for our maiden voyage on her dizzying swings.  Crap!  It's 12 coupons instead of 10.  Anyway, we got the one 50 cent coupon we needed and Dad and I boarded.  It was nothing crazy, but I have realized that in my older age, I have become more sensitive to motion sickness.  I got dizzy in the head, even when trying to find a focal point at each spin.  The moon was full and we got a view of it and the rest of the Midway, Fair Park, and Dallas.  Texas Star, the infamous Ferris wheel, shown bright.  

When we got down, we both admitted to feeling woozy and imbalanced.  I'm surprised my dad drove home because I don't think I could have.  After a quick pit stop at my parents' house in Grand Prairie, I headed home.  I still felt light headed from the effects of the Vertigo.  I just knew I'd have crazy dreams about the food, the lights, the experience; but I think I was just too worn out to dream!  So concludes another year of State Fair excitement.  Until next year!

{How Time Flies}

The last post I made about school as in April as the first semester wrapped up.  Since then, I've survived Managerial Accounting, Managing the Entrepreneurial Business (I and II), and Marketing Strategy.  Additionally, I'm in finals week for Operations Management and Strategic Management.  Talk about time flying...where did this summer go?  I remember the heat, the drought, and one crazy conference in Reno, but other than that it seems like a blur.  

At this point, I am well over half way through with the program.  It's exciting and scary at the same time.  I have my business plan and my goals for opening an event venue, but I feel like I'm not making progress.  Will I be able to ramp it up as school winds down so that I have my career ahead of me when I graduate?  Only time will tell.  

At least I accomplished one of my educational goals: to be on the next SMU Master of Science in Entrepreneurship brochure.  I told many friends that I was totally going to be on it and I am!  Well, we've taken the headshots and I've seen the layout of the page.  I guess it has something to do with me being our class representative on the SAB, being the Director of Operations (i.e. Happy Hour Chair), and just trying to stay super involved in our program.  I do think it's a terrific program and plan on sticking around post-graduation to help it grow.  

As you can see, my progress along the "Road to Master" is coming along swimmingly.  However, I have not made any progress on the front of becoming a Master Bridal Consultant, but that's only because I feel I need to be running my own business and making my own successes to make a real claim at proving myself an influential leader in this industry.  I need to speak at conferences, make more meaningful blog posts that industry pros want to read, and get more involved in ABC (in the works, I will take over as the Texas state coordinator in March).  Tara Wilson repeated a quote to me that stuck with her and is now stuck with me..."you are either a consumer or a creator."  Let's create!

{Cupping}

I had a serious case of "crick in the neck" for about two weeks.  It was my left neck/shoulder area and I just could not get it to go away.  Some mornings were better, some were much worse.  In speaking about this with an acquaintance, she suggested I try an ancient Chinese therapy called "cupping."  I'd read about it before, and it looked like something out of a bad science fiction movie featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.  

In any case, this great place called Center for the Healing Arts in Fort Worth offered the service and, honestly, I'd been looking for a reason to go there.  Earlier this year, I sought out the assistance of an acupuncturist for my sleep issues and went to a practitioner recommended by a friend.  Let's just say, the location and office of this practitioner was a little suspect.  I knew that the place in Fort Worth would be most costly, but now I know why.  You pay for what you get!  And when someone is sticking needles in your body, you want the utmost confidence in them.  

The frustration of the crick in the neck finally got to me and I scheduled an appointment for last Friday to get "cupped."  If you've never heard of this technique before, watch the video on CBS News here.  If you're too lazy to do that, I can briefly describe it.  Imagine a small glass globe.  The practitioner takes a ball of cotton soaked in alcohol and lights it on fire.  Then they briefly put the cotton ball into the glass globe, remove it, then immediately place the opening on your back.  As the fire burns off the oxygen, it sucks your skin up into the globe.  This causes blood to rush to the area. 

From a Chinese medicine standpoint, it is said to open the meridians allowing better flow of Qi (chi).  It causes toxins to be brought to the surface and released, which is said to be the cause of the lingering hickey like bruises all over your back.  From my standpoint, it's like a reverse deep tissue massage.  One deeper than you've ever felt, also because it's happening in reverse with a pull motion rather than a push.  

Ok, are you ready for the photographic evidence?  This is how I looked an hour after the therapy...  

These marks lingered for days and have only finally started to fade to a bruise-y yellow.  I have worn strategically high collared shirts and cardigans since then.  As far as how it felt, it felt like I had definitely had a rough massage even though the therapy itself is rather mild.  I was sore deep in the muscles and my skin felt sunburned.  How was the crick in my neck, you ask?  It, particularly, was better.  But the rest of my back was so sore it was hard to tell.  The practitioner had said that even though the pain was in my left shoulder, I was much more tense in the right side.  So after the therapy, my right side was in more discomfort.  

Though it's no miracle cure, it did help break the crick in the neck cycle, but I feel that more therapy will be done on me...soon.  Hopefully it's like waxing...the more you do it, the less it hurts and the less your body reacts to the pain. I wouldn't know, though, because after my first wax, I vowed never to do it again.  

So, there you have it ("a letter opener," for all your MST3K fans), cupping.  Weird, but kinda cool.  

{My bad}

Yeah, so...life is kinda crazy!  Remember how I had all of these grand hopes in maintaining a blog, chronicling my journey through grad school, my business ambitions, and life in general?  My bad.  

In an effort to redeem myself, I am taking a Facebook Fast for the month of October so that I can re-dedicate myself to the blog and to using Twitter as a social medium.  @GreenGalTx  Follow me!

So, look for new posts at least three times a week.  I'll try to make them worth your while.  I do have lots of exciting updates on school, my non-existent business, and...well, not so much on life because I seemingly do not have one.  

{a List}

It always happens when I have the most to do and am under the most stress.  I start thinking BIG.  What are my overarching life goals?  What makes me happy?  What do I hate?  What can I do right NOW to help me reach those goals?  In times of strife, it helps to make a list...

Things I like:

 - Sleeping in (well, really it's that I hate getting up anytime before 7:30-8 am)

 - Planning events with enough notice to not be rushed but not so much that it's dragged out (but definitely being involved from the beginning!)

 - Running the show (being in charge...shocker, right?)

 - Playing with linen, china, floral, and lighting - the pretties!

 - People who follow through on what they say they will do

 - Mild weather (73-77 degrees during the day and upper 50s to mid 60s at night sounds perfect!)

 - Water.  Being near water makes my heart beat stronger.  Lake, ocean, whatever.  

 - Balance between using my brain and using my hands

 - Working with highly respected, genuine people. 

Things I hate:

 - Traffic and driving around everywhere

 - Being over-committed and having to schedule every moment of my life

 - Accounting and budgets

 - Bugs

 - Game playing, politics, and drama for no good reason

 - Monotony 

 - Waste and pollution

My response at first glance is that I am definitely doing the right thing by being in school now and focusing on my dream of opening an event venue.  I keep telling myself that the craziness I go through for school and for my job(s) and for my volunteer leadership positions all works towards my goals of operating a SUCCESSFUL business in the future.  However, what if I don't stay in Texas?  I don't know if my "perfect property" will be here.  I want to stay close to my family and who knows where my personal life may lead, but I don't know if being in D/FW is going to lead me to my ultimate stress-free, rewarding and sustainable life.  

What can I do right now to make my life easier?  Well, I can't work less because I sure as heck need money to live.  I could find a 40-hour a week job that pays my bills better and doesn't require me to "think about work" when I'm at home, but I know I won't be happy.  I could reduce my drive time and commutes by trying to get all the parts of my life closer together.  But that would mean moving to Dallas and probably having to leave TWE, and I don't/can't/won't do that.  I could drop out of the leadership roles I have, but that would mean damaging some personal relationships and lessening the professional benefits I am getting from these positions. 

See?  So, what is a girl to do except to keep pushing through this challenging time and trust that it will all work out in the end.  With the perfect property, perfect weather, and perfect clients.  

Related:  A homeowner at job #1 said she was going to the north Queensland area of Australia and that it's fall there, but that up there it's kind of always perfect.  Roadtrip, anyone?

{Dork Alert}

Yesterday, I filled up for the first time at Texas Biotech, a producer of high quality Biodiesel that is made from virgin and used vegetable oil.  I first heard about them through the Green Spot Market by White Rock Lake (a hearty jaunt from where I live in Fort Worth), but was told they only "sometimes" pump to the public.  Turns out they have an operating pump that is open Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm!  I stopped by yesterday on my way to school and it's right off of Highway 360 and I-30, only 4 miles from my parents' house in Grand Prairie. For.  The.  Win.  

When I stepped out of the car, I immediately got my first whiff of Biodiesel.  I volunteered at the PrairieFire Biofuels Coop shop on numerous occasions and that smell is ingrained in my memory.  I couldn't help but smile and talk excitedly to the business owner, Abraham, about my experience with Biodiesel.  Why am I so passionate about it?  I'll tell you..

A.  No oil and no war required to make Biodiesel.  

B.  You can cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80 percent with B100 Biodiesel.

C.  The oils they use are waste products from domestic farms that make other things, like food for human and animal consumption, glycerin for cosmetics, and oil for cooking. 

D.  Any diesel engine can run on Biodiesel...no conversions required!  

E.  Biodiesel is more corrosive than Petrol Diesel which means it will clean out your engine (and not leave gunky residue buildup) and it lubricates the engine to help it run smoother, quieter and more efficiently.

F.  Sure, it costs money to make Biodiesel and you have to use precious farm resources to grow the crops that make the oil, but it's a step in the right direction towards reducing our dependency on oil.  Trust me, I'm all over a solar powered car or an electric hybrid that can be charged using electricity made from wind or solar.  

G.  Finally, soy bean prices are what determines the price of Biodiesel, not oil.  Just last week, it was $2.99 a gallon compared to $3.99 or more at most pumps for diesel.  Even if it cost more than "dino-diesel", I'd still pay for it.  

H.  Sorry, one more thing.  I get nearly 50 mpg.  That's right.  Uh huh.

Ok, now that I've thoroughly convinced you to tell all your friends to use Biodiesel (if they have a diesel engine vehicle), let's get down to business.  A bumper sticker!  I had a great one from PrairieFire that said "Biodiesel Powered" and I always got lots of compliments and questions.  After I moved back to Texas, though, I couldn't find a convenient source for Biodiesel and I started to feel like a hypocrite, so I took it down.  Now that I am confident in my ability to always have B99 in my car, I need a new bumper sticker!  Vote on your favorite below by making a comment to the blog...  

{Home Stretch}

The first semester is coming to an end and I have several big projects coming due.  The first one is the completed business plan for my Starting a Business class.  This is the culmination of all the other projects: The Opportunity Paper, the Revenue and Expense Forecasts, the Proforma Financial Statements, and the Marketing Plan.  My partner is updating the financials then I have the honor of writing the laser-sharp 2-page executive summary.  I'm really too verbose, so it will be difficult.

I am both excited and sad for this class to come to an end.  Excited because I will walk away with a business plan that is 95% better than most business plans presented to banks and other sources of financing and I can move forward with my business dreams.  Sad because the goal for taking the MSE program as a whole was to get this plan together and I am afraid I will be disappointed (or wondering what the point is) with all the classes after this and will get antsy.  As I am oft to do.

After this plan is submitted, then I get to prepare for two big presentations.  One is the sales pitch of this business plan to REAL VENTURE CAPITALISTS.  This makes me very nervous.  And I have high hopes of a fancy video presentation or a beautifully designed PowerPoint template.  I fear I have tapped out many of my vendor connections already with this semester's projects, so I think I am just going to have to do the best I can with what I have.

The second presentation is for Organizational Behavior.  My study group picked 4 concepts that we will illustrate in a part live and part recorded presentation where I am the emcee / host.  It was sort of my idea, and I volunteered, but now I'm regretting it just a little. Mainly because I'm afraid of giving too much too soon.  Later in the year when I'm in a higher level class, am I going to wish I'd held onto this idea for later?  Oh well... I'm going for the glory!

{Note to Self}

Sometimes I have to remind myself why I do the things I do, like work two jobs plus running my own business from out of state, participate on the board of directors of a large, influential industry association, and try to lead a local networking group of another.  Oh yeah, and grad school.  Oh yeah, and freelance work in between.  Oh yeah, and some resemblance of a social life.  

So, in response to my throbbing head due to lack of sleep, I am laying out the following reminders to myself:

1.  Grad school is supposed to be hard and time-consuming.  It's designed that way and the experience is the same for all who are committed to it.  This also explains why the GMAT sucked so hard.  

2.  My participation in NACE and ABC is for the benefit of my current AND future career.  Investing time in these organizations will reap many more rewards.  I may loathe compiling that newsletter at times, but it will pay off.

3.  Working at OMP is "paid study time."  Seriously.  I am not going to find a better deal than the job I currently have working as a concierge for a luxury condo building.  I get to sit in a nice lobby, have unlimited access to a computer (I'm at work now writing this blog!) for personal use, have the boss actually support these other endeavors I pursue while on the clock, and gain contacts of affluent homeowners who might need an event planner.  Plus, I have a personal space heater.  Score!

4.  Though it doesn't feel like it, I actually do have a flexible schedule.  If I need to take my dog to the vet or go get acupuncture, the boss of job #2 allows me to do so.  I do make up for it by doing work on my own time at home and at job #1.  This is the ultimate benefit of being an entrepreneur and owning your own business.  You can work around life.  

5.  Social life, who needs it?  I actually do get quite a bit of social time in.  I eat at great restaurants, have a Rahr Bucking Bock at a local pub, attend community events, go dancing, glamorous parties (well, not so much anymore), and cultural activities (symphony, opera, etc).  What I'm realizing is that what I need most is...nothing.  I just need to sit at home with my boys and bake cupcakes with a movie on in the background.  No laundry, no studying, no appointments.  Maybe eventually I will find someone to join me in doing nothing, then all will be right with the world.

{Tid Bit}

Here's a tidbit from an article on Inc. Magazine's site by Jason Freid:

When entrepreneurs ask me how to get customers to tell us what they really think, I respond with two words: Charge them. They'll tell you what they think, demand excellence, and take the product seriously in a way they never would if they were just using it for free.

As an entrepreneur, you should welcome that pressure. You should want to be forced to be good at what you do.

{Entrepreneurs are "Different"}

The above title is the actual title of a chapter in my textbook, "The Entrepreneur's Master Planning Guide."  I added the quotes, of course, to emphasize that we really are "special" in that "needs quotation marks around it" kind of way.  I will list below the profile characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, as determined by the authors of the book.

1.  Good Health.  Generally, successful entrepreneurs are physically resilient.  We deny ourselves the luxury of illness and will ourselves to be well.  I have noticed this and experienced it myself.  I do get sick, but very rarely is it in the midst of a super crazy time of my business growth.  There are no "ifs, ands, or buts" about it...we have to be there.  It's all us.  We must lead, create, cope...we can't be in bed.

2.  A Basic Need to Control and Direct.  'Nuff said.

3.  Self-Confidence.  When we are in control, we believe anything is possible.  When there are problems, we tackle them immediately and directly.  I have often said that I thrive in short time frame weddings and at crisis management.  I suppose it comes from a place of self confidence.

4.  Never-Ending Sense of Urgency.  When I read this the first time, I am pretty sure I nodded and said "yes" out loud to no one in particular.  I have always had a feeling of "do it now."  Inactivity makes us impatient, tense and uneasy.  "They have an achievement orientation and a constant, uninterrupted pattern of behavior towards that achievement."

5.  Comprehensive Awareness.  Essentially, this means we see the whole picture yet are also keenly aware of all the small cogs working to achieve the overall goal.  We are always aware of all alternatives and possibilities.

6.  Realistic.  Entrepreneurs are known for being risk takers, but that is not true.  We only partake in calculated risks for which we are predominately confident in their success.  We will measure and evaluate.  We often deal with people in the way we deal with functions and things and assumes others do, too.  This leads to item #9 below.

7.  Superior Conceptual Ability.  "Entrepreneurs possess that peculiar raw intellectual ability to identify relationships among functions and things quickly in the midst of complex and confused situations."  This means we know what's going on and are usually several steps ahead in the repair of that issue.

8.  Low Need for Status.  Some of you, whoever you are, may disagree with this.  You think that we are running the show because we want all the glory.  While that is true for some, this is what I think it means.  It means we don't need a corner office and a fancy car.  We will sacrifice those perks so that more can be poured into the business and our status will be directly related to the success of the company as a result.  We also don't need to be the "be all, end all" on every topic.  We are not opposed to asking for guidance and help in an area we know less about (like accounting, *ahem*).

9.  Objective Approach to Interpersonal Relationships.  Entrepreneurs are generally more interested in people's accomplishments and contributions than their feelings.  Everything is business.  I have a little sidebar story to tell as it relates to this topic.  When I started at AIDS Network in Madison back in 2005, they hired me because of my technical event planning skills.  What I didn't know was how much "cheerleading" I would need to be doing in the position and thus got myself into a few issues where the volunteers didn't appreciate the way I approached tasks and duties.  I had to learn to be more emotive in my communications and take time to recognize those volunteers who were giving so much and working so hard out of the kindness of their hearts.  It rubbed off on me, I think.

10.  Sufficient Emotional Stability.  Essentially, we're level-headed and can handle the extreme amounts of stress placed on us daily (usually by ourselves).  We are challenged rather than discouraged by setbacks or failure.  This is not to say we don't have strong emotional feelings and reactions, but just that we are better able to control them.  I am a woman, so I would say that it is still incredibly difficult for me to not get emotionally involved in my business dealings.  I have been fortunate that there are not many negative memories in my past, but those that are definitely still sting.

{The Focus Strategy}

Of the three main competitive strategies outlined by Michael Porter (Focus, Differentiation and Cost Leadership), I fall in the "Focus" category.  This strategy implies concentrating the marketing effort on a particular buyer group, geographic region, or segment of a product line.  In my case, that would be a very well defined target market - the Eco-Millennial Bride.  As I work on my marketing plan and defining my target market, I will go into more detail about this particular client.

Every aspect of the company is developed around serving this client.  Sure, this could limit my ability to grow beyond the target market, but it also allows me the opportunity for above average profit margins.  I can also better protect my business against competitors because of my differentiating factors. "Focus can be used to select target markets lease vulnerable to substitutes or where competitors are weakest."  

This part of the section spoke to me the most:  "The entrepreneur with a strong talent or aptitude, but limited financial resources might find the focus strategy attractive."  Yup, that's me!  I can do a better job providing excellent service to a smaller, more well defined market, than a broader one.  "Later, having achieved recognition and reputation, the entrepreneur might consider building on those assets in a wider target market."  

(excerpts from "The Entrepreneur's Master Planning Guide" by John Welsh and Jerry White)

{The Competitive Marketplace}

I thought it might be useful to occasionally post tidbits of information that I come across in my textbooks that relate to my market and my industry.  It'll be a good way for me to remember!

Regarding the competitive marketplace, the event consulting industry has "low entry and low exit barriers."  According to The Entrepreneur's Master Planning Guide:

The condition produces an industry in which there are many new competitors.  The weak firms among them retire from the competition quickly.  The total number of competitors is likely to remain about constant.  Retiring weak competitors are quickly replaced by new ones.  Since the new ones are jostling for recognition and a market share, rivalry is likely to be intense.  Profit margins will be low even for the oldest and strongest competitors.  

I have seen this trend in both Wisconsin and in Texas.  The list of wedding planners in any given year is ever changing.  I know for a fact that our profit margins are always lower than we'd like simply because very few of us can compete and still require higher consulting fees.  Since this profession requires low overhead (none, practically, if you work from home and already have a computer), it's easy to start and easy to get out of (once you've completed all your contracts, I hope!).

{Teacher's Pet}

Ok.  It may come as no surprise to you that I am an over-achieving suck up.  Participation is such a huge aspect of our grades at school that I want to make sure the professor notices me.  In my Starting a Business class, Mr. Terry said at one point that he wishes he had a "How?" hat to wear at work.  When everyone is spouting off their grand ideas, he can say, "Yes, that's all fine and well, but HOW are you going to accomplish it?"

Since I have connections to an embroidery company through my dad, I asked him to go about making me one "How?" hat, in SMU colors of course.  In our first class back from spring break last night, I left it for him in a box.  He was reluctant to open it at first probably because he was either embarrassed or suspicious (though I reminded him that he did give me pretty good grades, so there's no reason to be wary of an exploding box).  

This module of this class is focused on the "fun" stuff, as Mr. Terry calls it...the marketing plan and preparing a pitch to present to investors.  I have been looking forward to the marketing plan because I know it is an area I am so intimately familiar with as an owner of my own wedding business for the past 7 years.  At one point, he spoke about your stationary and the ways he has made his own stand out: thick card stock, printing on both sides, branded cover pages.  During the break, I pulled out my business card: super thick card stock, bright pink on one side, logo on the other, AND rounded corners on two sides (bonus point!).  He was impressed and not only asked to keep it, but further analyzed the card pointing out my clever details.

Being in this class, and definitely to the credit of this instructor, has made me feel both humbled and optimistic about my business acumen and ideas.  I've found there is plenty for me to learn and hone, but also that I actually do have lots of relevant experience that has benefited me and my classmates.  Everything I wrote about in my application essays is true, no fluff.  

You're probably wondering...did Mr. Terry like the hat?  Well, duh!

{Flying Time}

Wow.  I can not believe that my first module is over and the second is just beginning this week.  We had a "spring break" this past week, but mine was no break between the two jobs.  At least I snuck in a quick weekend trip to Austin to visit friends and to meet with Barr Mansion (whom I will speak of later), an "organic" event facility.  

I had such high hopes of blogging throughout my first module to share with you the trials and tribulations of being back in school.  The pace is so fast that it completely swept by me and for that I apologize to you and myself.  The goal of this blog was to get in the habit of writing regularly and I have failed.  Do over!

Mod A of the 1st semester consisted of Financial Accounting and Starting a Business I.  I am happy to say that my accounting professor succeeded in getting me to think in terms of journal entries and I got an A in the class overall.  We submitted a hefty financial assignment at the end of the Starting a Business class, so as of 5 minutes ago, I did not know my grade.  A!  I can't wait to see the feedback on the assignment, however.  The quality of the final submission was not up to my lofty standards and it will need to be tweaked before real world application.

During Mod A, I did a lot of research of local venues and one in Austin to compare organizational structures and successes.  There is so much information to process, but I will blog about each venue and what I took away from them as it relates to my overarching business goal of opening an eco-chic event venue.

Next up is the second half to Starting a Business and Organizational Behavior (yawn).  The professor sounds tough, but I hear he's really interactive.  I hope to be able to apply some of what I learn to my own goals, even though I won't be a multi-tiered organization but more like a small dictatorship.

Mwa ha ha!

{Love}

Yep, it's that time of year when you see red and pink puffy hearts around every corner and 3-course meal promotions from all the restaurants.  As a divorcée and someone who works in the wedding industry, I am often asked if I have adopted a cynical view on the institution of marriage.  While the answer to this can be somewhat complicated (perhaps one I will delve into in future posts), the simple answer is "no."  


Every couple that I assist with their wedding is different.  Some approach their wedding planning in a business-like, functional way while others are emotional and want every detail drenched in symbolism.  In the end, though, I find myself touched by the ceremony of marriage and the commitment that these two people and their families have made together.  


I do not fantasize about what my next wedding will look like, nor do I even have the urge to "settle down" anytime soon, but I do have hope.  In my older and wiser years, I have come to realize that I can not be happy in a relationship until I am completely whole within myself.  Trust me, this took some time with a therapist and a support group to get to this place...it was not easy.  


It's unfortunate that I have some friends that are not as hopeful.  They are desperate to find true love, to end the parade of losers that they somehow keep finding.  Valentine's Day is just another day for me (one that is equated to dollar signs because of all the new engagements), but for many people it is a very sad and lonely day.  Even though I have hope, you will find me on V-day sulking with my other tragically single friends over a bottle (ok, three) of wine.  



Let's end on a happy note.  Hallmark has a campaign running now for Valentine's Day (their most profitable holiday, I would guess) that makes me smile.  It says: "Valentine's Day is not about saying 'I love you,' it is about saying 'I love us.'"  Well said, Hallmark.  

{Starting a Business I} Forecasting

My head hurts just looking at the rubric for the next paper due in my Starting a Business I (entrepreneurship) class.  This part of the project contains the Revenue and Expense Forecast.  It was easy enough for me to figure out what potential revenue flows we might have and what expenses we might have for my business concept, but getting them all down in a spreadsheet is the nightmare.  Luckily, I have a partner that digs this stuff and is taking the lead on managing it...I'm just the data collector and industry expert.

A little background, if you look at the MSE page on my blog, you'll see my inspiration.  The whole point of going to graduate school was to attain a higher level degree (which is something I've wanted to do for most of my life but never really knew what specialty it would be) but also to develop a detailed business plan that I could take with and run as soon as I graduated (or sooner).  Luckily, our first class was Starting a Business I and we jumped right into developing our "opportunities."  This has made my experience thus far very rewarding since all the hard work I'm putting in will directly influence my ultimate career goal of one day owning and operating a fabulously unique eco-chic event venue.

I am very excited to research the "competitors" in my market.  Thanks to Cameron Fox of iEntertainment, a fellow NACE board member, I got a strong list of similar types of event venues in Dallas / Fort Worth to research.  I put "competitors" in quotations because I don't really feel there is a competitor that will be exactly like my idea.  Sure, there are beautifully restored historic venues (where you can't touch the furniture or serve red wine) and venues that make some efforts to be eco-friendly (like by using sustainable hard woods such as bamboo), however, I feel that the flexibility and modern styling of my imaginary event space will make it stand out as truly unique.  One point I would like to make is that anyone making strong eco-efforts to reduce waste should be applauded and not be viewed as a competitor.  Go ahead...copy me!  I intend to model my business after other venues spotted around the country striving to do the exact same thing.  But, I digress...

Financials.  Right.  Now that the Super Bowl is over and all our fellow event professionals can breathe again, I'll continue trying to fill in the blanks of how this whole operation will work and how to make money off of it. If you have any ideas, comment away!

Pages

In order to give some background to the purpose of this blog, I have added a few pages that talk about what it means to me to become a "Master."  I have two primary goals - to earn my Masters degree, which I am currently pursuing through Southern Methodist University's Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program through the Cox School of Business, and to become a Master Bridal Consultant™, a designation given by the Association of Bridal Consultants for those who have shown excellence in the industry and strive to increase recognition to the wedding consultant profession.

The final page is a history of my experience in the special events industry and how I'm currently using my skills...kind of an informal resume/bio page of sorts.  This blog, in whole, is an exercise in training myself to stay active and involved in social media and to hold myself accountable to these goals I will discuss.  On slow news days, or when I'm just feeling kooky, I'm sure to have posts about food, yoga, my dogs, dancing, Funkytown, and other things I find amusing.  Well, let's get on the road...