We recently connected with Jacinda MerChant and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jacinda, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
It took years for me to develop my confidence and self-esteem. The biggest thing I did to develop it was to start believing in myself. When I first started as a wedding planner, I would second guess myself a lot, to the point where I would make myself sick. I had to train myself to stop listening to the devil on my shoulder and trust that I know what I’m doing.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the owner and lead wedding planner for a luxury wedding planning business based in Charlotte, NC. I started 7 years ago as a wedding blogger until I was confident enough to step into the role as a wedding planner. I spent so much time studying the fundamentals, learning the industry, trying to think as a bride. Looking back, I missed out on a lot of opportunities because of who much time I spent away from my family and friends, but my dedication has led me to be featured in multiple publications, as well as winning a global wedding award for most authentic wedding planner last year.
This year, I have dedicated a lot of my time towards a full rebrand. Tier & Co. has expanded into a full brand as I now have two business that are extensions of Tier & Co. Because of that, it made sense to change my wedding planning business name to give it more of a separate identity, while Tier & Co. is still the foundation for both businesses.
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?
The first one was developing a balance. As a wedding planner, we spend hours and hours focusing on the smallest details. I would work during the week and spend so many hours at night and on the weekends trying to grow my business. I got so bad at time management that I would miss so many family gatherings, too tired to attend my spiritual meetings, even too tired to hold conversations. After I realized how unhealthy it was, I decided to train my body and mind to be balanced.
The second thing would be to learn to say no. Every client is not for you, nor does every client fit your brand. Just because you’re starting does not mean you need to say yes to everything that comes your way. If you have a certaint aesthetic for your brand, stick to it!
Lastly, I would say to have patience. The world of social media had me believing I would make six figures in the first 6 months as a business owner. Baby that is not true! I was IN THE HOLE my first two years because of how much I had to invest in my business and because I made so many mistakes trying to rush my progress. Be patient! When you become patient, you will be able to make better business decisions, which will send your business in the right direction. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FOLLOW!
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Believe it or not, I still struggle with my confidence as a business owner. I have gotten BETTER, but it is still very hard not to be so hard on myself. I see some of the planners that inspire me and I ask myself, “why am I not there yet? What am I doing wrong?” I have to remember that I’M NOT THEM. My journey is MY JOURNEY. Whenever I get that way and I feel my confidence dwindling, I try to really take the positive comments and feedback from my clients, family and friends to heart, sometimes repeating it to myself so that I can believe it. I’ve made so much progress with that challenge, so I know it’s only a matter of time before it’s no longer a challenge for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tierandco.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/tiercoevents
- Facebook: Facebook.com/tiercoevents
Image Credits
TAdams Designs Timeless Carolinas Althea Weddings 5d Photography Apple Avenue Photography
