We recently connected with Tara Consolati and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tara, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
It would be misleading to say that I’m always optimistic; however, I have a strong faith in Christ and have always had a “knowing feeling” that no matter what my current circumstances are, I don’t have to worry about the outcome because it will literally all be okay in the end. That’s not to say that I don’t work hard and keep trying to take forward steps, but it’s a constant, gentle reminder that I don’t need to rely on my own strengths, talents or skills (quite the opposite, really…I shouldn’t play the “ME” game). And that’s been so liberating and empowering. I read incessantly…9 books out of 10 are business/self-improvement, etc…and I always walk away with little nuggets from each book. But I credit my faith for giving me my confidence and the security to know that I believe in a God of abundance.
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?
I’ve been in the events industry for roughly 15 years now. I started by helping businesses with their marketing and social media efforts (when social media first came onto the scene!), gradually started designing shoots for outlets like Style Me Pretty and various magazines…and would get calls about planning couples’ weddings. I usually responded with “No way…I’m not a planner, but I can refer you to one” because I knew the stress involved in planning these luxurious events. Then one summer I (begrudgingly!) agreed to help a couple of venues out, realized I loved it and could make a great income!
I’ve been primarily based in the Berkshires and NYC areas, running Tara Consolati Events, which initially focused primarily on luxury weddings. Most recently, though, I’ve relocated to the Charlotte NC area (which I’m OBSESSED with!) and have begun working with various corporations and non-profits here. I still fly back and forth to NYC because I never want to abandon my “regular” clients; however, the bulk of my time is now being spent down south.
In “rediscovering” this region (in which I briefly lived about 30 years ago) I’ve also realized I’m “reinventing” myself…as a now 50-year-old woman with a successful business, more confidence than I had in my 20’s and 30’s, and more freedom (literally…as an empty-nester…and creatively) than I’ve ever had. It’s been exhilarating to work on some fun new projects, including some executive women’s retreats, masterminds, and large-scale corporate events. The people here are so welcoming and my network has expanded beyond what I ever imagined.
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?
Having two college-aged daughters, I’ve reflected on this type of question a lot lately. Here’s some of the advice I’ve given them:
1. Always be yourself–I know that sounds so cliché, but it’s true. Each of us brings something unique to the table and when we constantly try to fit into someone else’s mold, it’s a recipe for exhaustion, frustration and burnout. Trying to be like everyone else also robs our clients of some really great work. I believe my events are pretty great…but it certainly isn’t because I’m the best planner out there! It’s because I put myself into my work and I think my personality and joy comes through in the end result.
2. There is rarely one straight path to success–I could count on one hand the number of people I know who are actually in the careers they started in, or got their degrees in. I think so many young people get overwhelmed by trying to figure out the rest of their lives when they’re basically still kids…and as we age, we realize it’s all just an evolving path. My daughters were so stressed about choosing their colleges based on what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives and I told them I was the LAST person to advise them to figure it all out now. I literally dropped out of college to sell knock-off perfume, because I thought that was my “big” thing, LOL! If we just focus on doing the next “right” thing, we all figure it out eventually…or we just keep evolving. It really will be okay.
3. Don’t take yourself too seriously–It’s crucial to keep your sense of humor, a sense of curiosity, and surround yourself with people you LOVE working with. Things rarely go exactly as you planned, so staying flexible and being empathetic are critical skills. And though you can certainly master various skills that will help you rise to the top, realize that there are really no true gurus or experts in anything…because everything is always changing and we just have to do our best to keep growing and learning. I recently read a quote that summed it up for me…”I never want my skills/talents to take me further than my character can keep me.”
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Well, as with most businesses in the service industry, a client with a good healthy budget is always ideal, lol! There’s nothing more stressful than trying to work with a client who has unrealistic expectations on just how far (or not far) their money will go.
But even more than that, my ideal client TRUSTS me, is someone with discerning taste…and has the ability to let go and just let me do my thing. That’s not to say that they’re not involved, or that their event becomes “The Tara Show” by any means, but my ideal client has hired me because they love my work and/or have heard great things about working with me from past clients. They’re able to work with me on honing their vision and curating their design elements…and then they let me run with it…leveraging my relationships and my years of experience in bringing some pretty amazing events together.
I don’t work well with clients who want to micromanage (though they have NO experience in this industry) or Type A clients who are always trying to “swim upstream.” I can truthfully say that whenever I’ve stumbled upon a client like this, they–without fail–have come to me at some point during their event and said, “I wish I had relaxed a little more…this is even better than I imagined.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taraconsolati.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taraconsolatievents/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraconsolati/
- Other: Medium: https://medium.com/@tara_95561
Image Credits
Liron Eirel Photography
Dani Fine Photography
Mark Spooner Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
