We were lucky to catch up with Haley Frieler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Haley, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Well, it all begins with knowing who you are, and it took me a bit of time to figure out who I was and to be confident in that until I found Jesus! Now I know I am fearfully and wonderfully made, whether that be walking on two legs or conquering life on 6 wheels.
That Christ-like confidence has allowed me to be successful in any room I am in because I know I am there for a reason, and what I have to say is just as valuable as anyone else in the room. People connect to others with their personalities and confidence, and when you are confident in any setting, people will see past a visual appearance after a bit of time.
I’ve also learned how to just be comfortable with attention on me. Being someone who uses a wheelchair currently to navigate life, I do things a bit differently than most, and it does tend to draw attention because it is different — and that is okay! I treat it as a first impression opportunity; some say I know how to make a great entrance! 😉
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I love what I do; event planning! I own my own business, Delight Events Co., where we focus on event planning for corporate and non-profit events, though we also love the occasional social soiree we get to plan every so often. My biggest passion is helping newer non-profits establish themselves by getting them set up with successful event and fundraising strategies, focused branding to push forward their mission, and connecting them with the right groups or people to see them flourish.
Delight Events Co. is different than what most see as a typical event planning company because, not only do we want you to have a successful event or fundraiser, but we also care overall about your organization and the people who serve there, and how we can be a support to their success as well. We care about people at the core of it all, and making sure people are who we steward best. If that happens, everyone catches the same vision, events and fundraisers fall into place, and are executed well. It is such an amazing thing to witness and be part of!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Funny enough, I went to school for fashion design at a college in Wisconsin. Now, Wisconsin isn’t exactly the mecca of the fashion world, so when I graduated from school my job prospects in that industry were limited. I applied, but after 5 months of trying for a fashion-type job, I took a job working a desk at a children’s hospital because – can we be honest – I needed a job.
Fast-forward to now, I am beyond grateful I took that job because it is where I learned my gift of administration. I learned how to plan, organize, and anticipate events and people. I was juggling patients, families, nurses, and hospital staff all at once, and that quickly taught me skills I use at Delight Events Co. today!
My advice is that even when something doesn’t seem to match the idea in your mind, it doesn’t always mean it is the wrong move. Never in my 22-year-old mind did I think working that hospital job would train me to be an entrepreneur in my 30s and teach me skills I’d need to run an event planning business, but it did, and I loved that job and the people I worked with. The journey doesn’t always look like what you plan, but if you trust where you are going, it will turn out even better than what you were imagining! Sometimes it takes saying yes to something that feels right, but may not make sense at the time.
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?
They never treated me any differently than my younger siblings, and for that reason, along with the Lord’s constant guidance, I know why I have been able to conquer so much in my life. They had high standards for all of us, and my use of a wheelchair was not a reason I couldn’t meet those same expectations, so I never developed a mindset that said I could not do something because of it either. I may do things differently or need a bit more assistance in something, but who doesn’t need help in some areas of their life? We are meant to do life together, and help each other grow and prosper!
My parents jokingly now say they raised me to be too independent because I’m taking on goals we all couldn’t even imagine!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.delighteventsco.com
- Instagram: @delighteventsco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090845452628
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/delight-events-co
- Other: hello@delighteventsco.com
Image Credits
Lauryn Bray, StyledbyRyn
