One of my goals is trying to be present in every single moment of my life. One of my favorites book is by the brilliant spiritual teacher Mr. Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now. This book talks about the beauty of constantly being present in “the now.” I often practice this powerful tool every time I meet a new client or a potential new business situation.
For me, being in “the now” is gauging all the different types of feelings that come up at that moment. In these series of blog posts, I’ll try to describe, in a humorous way, what goes on in my head during various moments in meetings with my clients.
I’ll call this client Mrs Smith:
As soon as they walk in, I think, oh my god these women are gorgeous.
Mrs. Smith and Daughter: Good morning Mr. Bailey. I’ve heard so much about you. This is my daughter Jane Smith.
Me: (Thinking, “Wow, look at those outfits.”) Mrs. Smith, great to meet you both.
Fall colors in a spring wedding
Mrs. Smith: My daughter is getting married in the fall and I am trying to convince her to do it in the the spring.
Me: (I get it, she wants me to help her convince her daughter) Well, both times of the year are great for a wedding.
Daughter speaking for the first time: I happen to like the wonderful fall colors.
Winter colors in a summer wedding
Me: (Oh my DOUBLE GOD, LOOK AT THAT EXQUISITE RING. How does her tiny finger hold up that huge rock?) Well, at times, it’s kind of fun to use fall colors in the spring and spring colors in the fall.
Mother: (She looks at me as if I just asked her to spill red paint all over her Louis Vuitton bags) Mr. Bailey, in our community, that is simply not done.
Daughter: (Showing great excitement for the first time) Mom, this is my wedding and I can have any colors I want.
Winter colors in a spring wedding
Me: (You tell her girl!) Mrs. Smith, the wonderful part about weddings today is that you can use any colors you like at any time. Of course, my job is to make it work.
Mrs. Smith: (She is still not happy with this answer but has decided to move forward) Thanks Mr. Bailey, let’s see what you can do.
QUESTION: Are you a bride who’s ever disagreed with your mom on what you should and shouldn’t do for your wedding? How did you handle it?
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Rosalba Fasan-Buffat
March 10, 2010
I have found this a few times during consultations. I think it is very important to make sure the mother and daughter are happy and not just the daughter-when mom goes home unhappy they tend to be able to change the daughter’s mind (maybe by arguing or “reminding them who is paying” for everything. I try to get both involved and excited by incorporating both idea and it makes for a much more enjoyable and productive meeting.
Thanks Preston!
Georgianne Vinicombe
March 11, 2010
Oh my goodness, that was very funny. I laugh when I read this but as a floral designer, I do sometimes get a bit upset seeing the back and forth power struggles between mothers and daughters. My thought is that as long as the mother’s budget is not exceeded, it’s my job to interpret what the daughter’s vision is. I’ve even been known to tell a mother that my goal is to make the bride cry with joy when she first lays eyes on her flowers and I want the mother to cry when she sees how happy her daughter is!
mbt shoes
August 2, 2010
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