Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanna Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shanna , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Whew… if I’m being 100% honest, there’s not one wedding or event that I don’t experience at least a bit of anxiety. When I first started out I wasn’t as confident as I am now. The positive feedback and love I get from my clients after a wedding is what continues to build my confidence within myself. To show up, execute and pull off a successful event regardless of what unexpected occurrences may have occurred is a huge boost. In many ways it gives off that, ” I got this!”
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 am the owner, lead planner and creative designer for truELLAgance Wedding & Event Planning. I launched truELLAgance in October of 2020; in the middle of a pandemic as we were being told to stay away from people. But not me, named after my grandmother Ella, I ran with it; without a clue of what I was getting myself into. Almost 3 years later I’m still running with no plans of stopping any time soon. I love LOVE… weddings have always been my favorite events to attend and now I get to be a part of one of the most important days in others lives. At truELLAgance we are dedicated to creating unforgettable events for a wide range of clients and divergent industries. I thrive off the satisfaction and joy my client feels when we are saying our goodbyes right before a send off. To know, I had something to do with the smiles on their faces, that brings me pure joy. Within the past 3 years I’ve expanded services to now offer full wedding planning and event design, traveled to other states to coordinate and build a numerous of connections with others in the industry. Planning a wedding or any event can be overwhelming but for me, it’s my passion. I thank God that He continues to bless me with the opportunity to truly do what i love.
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?
Let’s do one of each: Quality: Communication – there’s so many moving parts in planning a wedding. One small mishap in communication with your client or a vendor could cause a huge negative impact.
Skill : Attention to detail – let’s just say not everyone has it and that quote,” the details are not the details, they make the design” I live by it.
Knowledge: the ability to solve problems – you plan for a great event but things happen. I often say,” it’s not a wedding if something doesn’t go wrong!” Being able to think quickly and come up with solutions is a must.
To anyone who is starting out in any business, my advice is if this is truly your passion, your purpose, your calling then keep going. There will be plenty of times you may doubt yourself, the process or question what are you doing – trust me I do often. But at the end of my meltdown I remember that if owning a business was super easy then everyone would be doing it. In those moments I stop and remind myself why I’m doing any of this.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My mom is the hardest working woman I know. Growing up she taught my sisters and I that if you are going to do something then you give your all and you do it right. I’ve seen how she pours her heart into her work and that has impacted my work ethic. Not only that, she encourages, supports and believes in my dream.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @truellagance
- Facebook: @truellagance
Image Credits
Carmen Washam Alex Stone Molly Murphy James Willis Kristi and Tanner Burrow
