On the one hand there is scarcity. On the other abundance.
Scarcity is the belief that your resources are limited: if another vendor gets a job, well, that must mean there is no work left for you. I encounter this attitude constantly. Here in New York City, there’s always a new vendor who’s the current darling, and he or she will get all of the big important jobs around town. Meanwhile, some hardworking and talented vendors, who’ve been around for years, start getting nervous that all the jobs are being taken.
Of course, more often than not, these trendy darlings are just a flash in the pan and don’t last. But no one ever seems to remember that — they just jump immediately to panic mode.
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, because it’s so true: there is more than enough work to go around. You just have to hang in there and keep gaining as much experience as possible.
One of the problems with the scarcity mindset is that we start to believe we can only win if someone else loses. (Which, incidentally, is also one of the reasons I’m against working on commission; commission makes us more invested in “winning” the sale than in what’s best for the client.)
Anyway, here are a few words of wisdom I tell myself whenever I start to slip into the scarcity mentality:
“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.” – Wayne Dyer
“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.” – Wayne Dyer
“Thank God my parents had an abundance of patience.” – Lexa Doig (I love this one!)
“When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.” – Joel Osteen
“Talent is always conscious of its own abundance, and does not object to sharing.” Alexander Solzehnitsym
So, today, let’s leave behind our fears and ditch our scarcity mentality. Instead, let’s celebrate abundance.
Dear Readers, please share an inspiring quote with me. Thank you.
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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.
Shannan Malone
April 25, 2012
Mr. Bailey,
I am a new event planner in the Huntsville, Alabama area and I was looking for inspirational material and came across your blog. Thank you so much for the information that you present everyday. I was beginning to get a little discouraged but your post have inspired me in more ways than I can tell.
I especially enjoyed this posting and I love quotes, so here is one that I have been meditating on in recent days.
“To find out what one is fitted to do and to secure an opportunity to do it is key to happiness.” -John Dewey
Thank you once again.
Ricardo Rivera
April 25, 2012
First of all I want to say thanks god for the gift you are for all of us that dream to be a wedding designers and that follow you every day, I would add that abundance is a state of mind, Last November I did start sending E-letters to all my customers from 11 years of selling food and doing events, this E-letters increase my sales 200 % right away, and I was scare, I ask God How would I produce all this orders and events he did send to me, after a while I did realize that I’m an instrument for God to let people around me get the abundance he is sending to them. Since the moment I did understand this I’m getting more abundance every day, God Bless you And all the people that work for you. Never change.
Cara
April 25, 2012
Amazing and I agree with Mr. Rivera a 100 percent!
Heather Chesnet
April 25, 2012
Love the encouragement… being new in the wedding biz I have had many nay-sayers trying to discourage us…. Thank you for building us up with encouragement!
Navjot Kaur
April 26, 2012
Very interesting especially to hear from you lond and clear. It is like someone trying to shake you up so that you do not give up so easily. I think in this business scarcity is the environment that give you what you want. One can perceive that “limit” is a hurdle in the way of “want”. If one keeps on thinking that truth is,the ratio between vendor and client has a huge gap _ then one will not try and as a result lower the productive capacity before it could be put to test. Abundance is something that will help you move forward and keep positive momentum.
Thanks for helping me analyze myself under the microscope of scarcity/abundance.
Angela
April 26, 2012
My philosophy i this- The birds in the air never collide, no matter the number that flies… Same applies in the event industry- the industry is big enough for everyone to play in and still make money. There is always a client for everyone and there are always several events that not one person can handle. This has not made me feel threatened but one thing it has done is to keep me focused on stepping up my game always, so i do not become stale.
lorraine
April 27, 2012
I love following your blog Preston and I am especially inspired by this one. As a new and upcoming wedding planer with little experience, would you advice that I understudy/intern with a bigger established wedding and design company or would I be somewhat forced to use them for my works as they’d be helping me grow?
lorraine
April 27, 2012
One of my favorites “respect your job and your job will respect you”
Allison
April 28, 2012
I love the second cover. Not many people (such as myself) can pull of the profile look. “My passion is my profession”
Yessenia Mina
May 5, 2012
Mr. Bailey,
Happy belated Birthday! May God continue to bless you with the gift of life for many years to come.
I’m currently a student of LWPI in my last week, and so excited to get the ball rolling on my dreams. I have to say scarcity has been a big part of my life but I finally decided it was time to follow my dreams and let go of all the fears that have held me back throughout the years; I’m ready to live my life abundantly. I understand the road will not be easy, but I will be dedicated and work hard to reach my goals in this business. Thank you so much for your dedication and the inspiration you bring to many of us.
“TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS it requires faith and belief in yourself, hard work and dedication. All things are possible when you BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS”
~Robert Meachem