What I Have Learned about Myself after 10 Years in Business; reflections inspired by an interview with President Obama

In an interview with President Obama this evening on "60 Minutes," the interviewer asked, "What have you learned about yourself in these last two years [of your presidency]?" I then paused to reflect and ask myself the same question, what have I learned about myself in these last ten years of being in business? I have learned...

that I am truly passionate about weddings, and that while some people spend a lifetime bouncing from one position to the next in search of their "dream job," I am fortunate to have already found (or created) mine;

that unlike other business people whose decisions are driven by numbers and growth, I am instead motivated by how to better service and satisfy our clients;

that through the most daunting of challenges and hardships, I will always be able to put one foot in front of the other, and to grow from tough experiences;

that in spite of white hairs and a few more wrinkles - we'll call them "smile lines" - than I would care to admit having, I tend to forget my age and feel immortalized in my twenties (which is probably how I find it easy to relate to brides and grooms, whose average age ranges from mid-twenties to thirties);

that I am only where I am today because of the support of our staff, fellow vendors, friends, and my mom, coupled with the faith and trust placed in us by our brides and grooms. Indeed, these last ten years have been a journey I have not made alone, and I am forever indebted to so many.

While my answers add up to quite a list, one of the things I wish to highlight is that I have learned...that the gratification I find from having a business comes not only from establishing a company based on hard work, but also from sharing my knowledge with my team, interns, and students, and seeing them grow as individuals. This post is dedicated to the many people whom I have had the pleasure of working with at Weddings by Grace and Mona and who have touched my life in so many ways. Here are a few photos of the often times behind-the-scenes team members who have helped to ensure the success of countless weddings.

Photo credits (in order of photo appearance):
1st photo: Images by Kellie Ann
4th, 5th, 6th photos: Hokuli'i Images
7th, 8th photos: Kris Labang Photography
10th photo: Bianca Photography
11th, 12th photos: Perfekt Photo
14th, 15th, 16th, 17th photos: Love Story Weddings