Motivational speaker and award-winning storyteller Kelly Swanson advises wedding professionals (and all business owners who want more sales), "Don't sell the service. Sell the story."   But how do we do that when we're not sure what story to tell.Is it the story of me?Is it the brand story?Is it the couple's story?The thing is, if we can merge those 3 stories together, we're creating a powerful connection where couples will be drawn to work with us. Today, Kelly shares her expert storytelling tips, her 3-paragraph formula for telling a memorable and impactful story, and why she completely disagrees with the phrase, "Content is King." 
This episode is a must-listen for professionals looking to humanize their brand, build trust, and connect with clients on a deeper level. --- Wedding and Event Planners Story Chat with Kelly Swanson - StoryStudio.Life  Story Impact Academy - https://motivationalspeakerkellyswanson.com/story-impact-academy/ Instagram - @Kelly_Swanson_Speaker StoryImpactNetwork.com --- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Today's episode is hosted by Rachel Sheerin.  Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence.

Wedding Pro ChatGPT Bundle - https://www.theplannersvault.com/shop/p/wedding-pro-chatgpt-bundle

270. Sell More With Storytelling, with Kelly Swanson

Real wedding vendors share their tips and tricks for surviving and thriving in this one of a kind industry. Hosted by The Planner’s Vault’s Megan Gillikin, you'll hear guests share their secrets on marketing, the client experience, networking, community, sales, and more - and you might even hear some crazy wedding stories along the way!

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Megan here. I'm back, and I'm inviting you into a personal reflection and behind-the-scenes look at what burnout can look like—not just as a business owner, but as a human - a human who needs to stop fighting and pushing through burnout but instead heal the root cause. 
 I’ve talked about burnout before on the podcast:194: Ask Me Anything (About Burnout, Selling My Business, New Market, and More)55: Rachel Sheerin on Preventing Burnout and the 80-20 RuleBut this episode will be different and approach burnout from a new angle. 
 As always, I want to keep it real with you about what you can expect in this episode. 
I’ll be sharing my own recent experience with burnout and what had to change, what I learned, and what takeaways I think will be helpful to you in your own life and business. 
If you're experiencing some burnout, you're not alone. --- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence.

Wedding Pro ChatGPT Bundle - https://www.theplannersvault.com/shop/p/wedding-pro-chatgpt-bundle

272. Burnout: My Old Habits Die Screaming Story

Lisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean? Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette 
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This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence.

Wedding Pro ChatGPT Bundle - https://www.theplannersvault.com/shop/p/wedding-pro-chatgpt-bundle

(Encore) Professional Etiquette Tips for Wedding Pros, with Lisa Lyons

Lindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant.  She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses.  Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if YOUR idea is really something to go after, that feeling of imposter syndrome you are sure to have when you’re doing something new, and how vendors can know when it’s time to take the leap.   
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This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence.

Wedding Pro ChatGPT Bundle - https://www.theplannersvault.com/shop/p/wedding-pro-chatgpt-bundle

(Encore) Carving Out Your Own Niche, with Lindsay Lucas

When you hear the word "belonging", what do you think of?  Maybe you think of wedding pros, because we're welcoming, ambitious, kind-hearted, and badass business owners.  Maybe it's finding your people to share your goals and dreams with - it's that positive feeling we get when we feel respected. As a business owner, I want my team, my clients, my vendor partners, and you listening to this to have that supported positive feeling around you.  So how can you boost belonging on your team - in your work and in your life? Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky is a Keynote Speaker and Workplace Belonging Expert, and author of The Quarter Life Breakthrough, who you can find at:Linkedin | @AdamPoswolskyWebsite | SmileyPoswolsky.comInstagram | @WhatsUpSmiley
[02:36] How did Adam become "Smiley"? And what does that have to do with belonging?
[06:46] Addressing loneliness at work
[12:39] Digital detox camp?
[16:03] Creating belonging in internal teams
[18:42] Thrive interviews and small acts of kindness.
[24:44] Building belonging and community through connection.
--- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Today's episode is hosted by Rachel Sheerin.  Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence.

Wedding Pro ChatGPT Bundle - https://www.theplannersvault.com/shop/p/wedding-pro-chatgpt-bundle

270. Sell More With Storytelling, with Kelly Swanson

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