We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Petach a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kate , 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 think I have gained most of my confidence and self-esteem from time, practice, and humility. I had to learn over the years that it was okay to be very good at what we do and have confidence in that–and realize that’s not arrogance. Having confidence also means you’re willing to learn from your own mistakes, others’ advice, and life experience. Time teaches us many skills and gives us a lot of experience to face similar situations in the future. Another aspect is receiving what the people around me are telling me. For many of us, receiving compliments and constructive feedback is tricky. Once I started hearing consistent feedback, and actually receiving it, it gave me confidence in the services that we provide in our area.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I own and run a wedding coordination company in the Cincinnati area. We are a service-based industry, which means we get to love our clients, their families, and the other wedding professionals we work alongside well. I love to celebrate love and allow the people involved to do just that–celebrate! Each wedding is unique and different in a lot of ways, and it’s so fun to be able to help our clients take those dreams, ideas, and plans and help them come to fruition.
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?
Be open. Be open to new ideas, plans, ideas, and different people. I think that the wedding industry (or any industry really) changes so often and it’s helpful to be open to learning about new strategies, designs, and ideas! When I took over the business, I had NO idea what I was doing…so leaning on business and entrepreneurship resources and learning was very important. Now that I’m several years into this, I still see the value and love to learn something new every day! Seek out podcasts, coaches, and industry professionals in your field…and learn! Research trends outside of your area–you can often see what’s headed in your direction.
Have community. Business ownership can feel like a lonely road to walk. Opening yourself up to a community of industry professionals will help the road feel less lonely. Even people that are “competitors” are valuable resources. Both as someone to bounce ideas and problems off of, but also to act as a referral network for when you’re booked or at capacity! Networking is a fantastic way to start to develop this. Get to know people. Also, if you’re a veteran–take the new professionals under your wing.
Be courteous. Kindness and service are renewable resources that we have access to all day every day. Even when things may not go according to plan (and sometimes they won’t) we can approach the situation and the people involved with compassion. Even in the most volatile of situations kindness can surprise and turn a not-so-great moment into a redemptive one. I’ve never regretted approaching someone or something with a kind response. It’s at the heart of how we run our business and I think everyone involved is better off for it! When I’m hiring for our team, it’s the number one characteristic I look for.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
We love to work with clients that reflect our ideals. We love working with clients that are organized but are relaxed. Their focus is on celebrating with the people they love and allowing us to help them in that process.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluedahliaevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedahliaevents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluedahliaevents
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-petach-4763b456/
Image Credits
Images 1-3 Native Iris Photography Images 4+5 Megan Noll Photography
