Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Massey . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amber , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I’m not entirely sure. I know it was definitely developed over time and something that is always a work in progress. I have always been a person that, if I have been told I can’t do it, then it makes me want to do it more to prove a point. This is actually something that has been on my mind lately. You’re told as a kid that you can do anything, but when you try something new, there is always someone to tell you that you can’t. You have to dig deep and know that you have it in you. And if you don’t find it when you dig deep, you probably didn’t want to do it in the first place.
In every job I have had, I have had a manager, owner, or CEO tell me that I can’t do a specific job or I’m not “built” for a task or position, and when I leave that job, they always ask me to come back at a higher salary. So, you have to know you’re doing something so well, it looks effortless.
Once I realized that an expert or a professional is anyone who calls themselves that, and it’s all just smoke and mirrors, it really opened my eyes. I thought, holy cow, and I be whoever I say I am. But that comes with a price. You have to know that when you do that, you have to exceed the expectation for others to believe it too.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I create an environment that gives couples the willingness to do what they want to do on their wedding day. I’m and advocate for my couples. I explain that when it comes to weddings there are no rules. Plus, with the added bonus I am able to create these experiences on a budget. I created Epic Elopements to offer an experience to couples in Northeast Ohio, that has now spread across the state and Western Pennsylvania, that was easy and would give them the day they really wanted; a stress-free wedding day that they could spend together. It was my goal when I started my business to give couples the support they needed to make the decisions they wanted to make. Someone just had to tell them it was okay.
As couples started reaching out and would say they wanted a small wedding but wanted a few key pieces to the day, but they were working with a smaller budget, it was a challenge.
I’m a naturally frugal person. I grew up with very little. And it was a really good way to grow up. I learned that material things weren’t important and really learned to find things at a discounted price or to work to create the thing I wanted, instead of buying it. I was able to hone that skill into an art that has continued throughout my career.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Education: I was always looking to be better at anything I did from the start. I worked in a donut shop in high school. It wasn’t enough to wait on customers, I had to learn how to make the donuts and what went into them. I couldn’t learn one instrument, I had to learn two. As I developed in my career, I couldn’t just be the sales person, I had to learn more about management and how the restaurants ran. I learned how to make cocktails and learn about liquors, prep, cook on the line, run the restaurant more effectively. Then I couldn’t work one store, I had to work two. Then I got into marketing and menu costing. Then as I expanded in my career into hospitality it wasn’t enough to know one part of the business, I had to learn more. I think being inquisitive is an important part. You learn what you like, what you don’t, what you’re good at, and what you’re not. It’s all about asking questions and asking why.
Diligence: As mentioned before, I was told many times I wasn’t good at something, or I wasn’t a good fit. I never let that stop me. Just because one person thinks that, doesn’t mean that person is correct. Keep pushing. If something doesn’t work, learn a different way. There is always a way.
Get your hands dirty: If you aren’t willing to jump in yourself, who in the hell is going to follow you? You have to be willing to learn the insides and out. When you do, people respect you and listen to you because they have seen first hand that you are willing to learn, willing to help, and willing to support. I always used to tell my teams, someone has to go first. When you put this into place, you’ll know who the leaders are.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents were lackadaisy when it came to school. It wasn’t a good thing if I had subpar grades, but I was never punished for it. I had very little punishment as a kid.
What my parents did do is teach me hands on skills, at a very young age. I learned that physically hard work was valued and truly changed the outcome of the results. If I mowed the lawn and did a terrible job, I was made to do it over again. It didn’t matter that I was a child, there was an expectation and I was held accountable when it mattered most. If we were painting the house, I was expected to help because I lived in that house and there was no exception for me because I was “just a kid.”
There was no exception for me because of my age, and I think that at a young age it taught me that there are no special circumstances. You do a great job because you’re supposed to work hard and do a great job. As I got older, I would work with or have employees that thought they should do less work because of their age or seniority, or lift less because they were female. That was something I could never tolerate. You do the job, because you’re here to do the job. You don’t slack because you think you can.
I think in my career experience and my own business that really helped. Whether it’s employees or clients, they are always amazed by the effort put in by a manager or business owner. It really effects the end result of their experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.epicallyelope.com
- Instagram: epic.elopements
- Facebook: Epic Elopements Ohio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambersironen/
Image Credits
The Golden Hour Photography. Kelly Kruse The Karleigh Collective. Karleigh Portemry Lindsay Dawn Photography. Lindsay Zilke
