Katie and I first connected on that eventful snowy day that Toby hit NYC. We were scheduled to fly from Newark to Jamaica for a wedding - but the universe had other plans for us. Our flight out of Newark Liberty International Airport was cancelled and after hours of being on hold and listening to an awful replacement for elevator music, we were rescheduled the next day to fly out of JFK. We took the first train out of Red Bank, NJ the next morning in hopes to beat the storm and cancellation of all public transportation. Luckily, it was a success and we proceeded to spend the next 18 hours working/eating/exercising/drinking and sleeping at the lovely Even Hotel in Brooklyn - highly recommended! During our time there I received an inquiry from Katie about her and Wyatt's wedding at the Naples Grande Golf Course in Florida this fall.
Katie is a teacher, and had the day off from school due to the storm, giving us the chance to casually chat about her and Wyatt and their wedding. As most of you know, it's important for me to have a connection with my clients; to know that we are going to enjoy our time together, be comfortable together and most importantly - have lots of laughs! I want my clients to be more than just clients and I want to be more than just a check off their long list of "need-to-hire" vendors. Therefore, I always ask to connect in some way (either a FaceTime/Skype, regular old phone call or in person meeting) with my potential clients. It's an extra step and certainly takes a bit of work - but it has sincerely helped my relationship with my clients and in turn, my business.
The following week we exchanged a few emails back and forth going over details and such, when I received one from her saying, "you are so beyond sweet and thoughtful in your approach with your clients. I feel so confident in you and your ability to capture our wedding weekend in the most perfect way ... I can't thank you enough for your responsiveness and careful explanations. It really makes me feel like I'm in good hands."
And that's when my heart exploded.
Genuine Validation. Confirmation that my approach not only resonates with my clients but means a considerable amount to them. It makes a difference. Nothing is better than that!!!
