We recently connected with Sarah Narcus and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Still working on it, every day! Seriously though, I don’t think this ever goes away. I’ve been working in weddings in Boston for over a decade, and planning events for longer, and I still sometimes get caught in the trap of comparison.
But comparing yourself to others (which lead to those imposter syndrome feelings) is the least helpful approach.
Yes, you should know the market and yes, you should know what your competitors are up to. But in the end, we are all unique and working towards different goals with different resources.
So I’m still working on it, but I’m focused on running my own successful business each day!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hi, I’m Sarah! I’m a Boston native and have been planning events of all sizes for more than 15 years.
I had been working in nonprofit events in my 20s, including planning some large fundraisers and complex voluneter operations. At that time, as my friends started to get engaged, I launched Without A Hitch, which started small but quickly grew. Without A Hitch is now a premier New England event planning company focused on day-of coordination. Since starting the company in 2013, I have worked with more than 500 brides, grooms, celebrants, and their families.
I had been running my event planning company for several years when I recognized a significant gap in the market; clients were looking for a non-traditional event venue flexible enough to accommodate all kinds of functions and professionally operated and equipped with modern amenities. I recruited my mom, Ellen, to join me in this new venture as a partner, and in 2016 began a three-year journey of searching for the right commercial real estate investment, securing all of the necessary permits and loans, and building out the space of our dreams.
In October of 2018, Ellen and I purchased the property at 43 Main Street, Peabody and we opened our doors for our first event in May 2019. We have won several awards and, most proudly have all, are delighted to work directly with clients on planning their unique and inclusive celebration.
Most recently, I recently joined the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to further support the local community.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First, persistence. Without persistence, nothing else is possible. No matter how many folks said no or didn’t reply to me, I continued on my journey to launch my businesses and persisted.
Second, your network. It’s essentially to have friends, family, and an extended network of colleagues who support and understands you. Specific to the wedding industry, most Mon-Fri days are spent working alone at a small business like mine. Without a network, this would feel overwhelming, but I always make time for coffee and chats with folks I love to work with.
Third, gratitude. It’s not always easy to feel grateful – trust me circa March of 2020 as the whole world fell apart – but it’s super important. Most days, this just means being grateful for what we have and not trying to look to far ahead to where I want the business to be. But certainly grateful for the clients and families who trust us, the vendors who love working with us, and the opportunities that have been afforded to me.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
When I started my first wedding business, I was 25. Most of my clients were around my age, maybe a few years older. I got married at 29 and had that experience alongside my clients.
Now I’m a little bit older with two toddlers, but my clients (for the most part) stay the same age. I work hard to stay updated on trends, new venues, social media, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oliopeabody.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliopeabody/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oliopeabody
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/64719821
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/oliopeabody/ https://www.tiktok.com/@oliopeabody https://www.withoutahitchboston.com/ https://www.instagram.com/withoutahitch/
