What Matters Most
Wisdom from 27 years and 2,000 Weddings as a Mobile DJ.
Most know I spent 27 years of my life as a professional Master of Ceremonies, Host, DJ and "Day-Of" Wedding Coordinator. (From 1987-2014) I did this in parallel through the years with day jobs: sheet metalist, grocery clerk, house painter, construction worker, book store clerk, property manager-present, Realtor-present, husband & Dad-proudly present.
Music & performing, well... it was a constant in my life, I love music, I love to dance, I'm a servant leader of people all my life. So, to "marry" the two, serving people through music was a dream career. I was very fortunate to do what I loved for so long.
Eventually real estate became my new passion, I sort of discovered my niche late in that career (since 1999) and decided to cross over. So, I retired from weddings and became a full time, fully focused Realtor. It was a natural transition, helping people make big decisions, on an expensive purchase (in most cases they've never done before) and everything needs to go right and it involved multiple professionals working in concert to make that happen. So weddings and escrows are basically the same from a service perspective.
Here's what 2,000 wedding plans & performances, 3,000 kitchen table sales & consulting meetings, taught me and how I use it in life & in my real estate career:
- When you know what matters most to you, it gives you peace of mind. Life is full of problems, in fact life without problems is called DEATH. The power to face problems and challenges comes from this inner peace of mind. Not everything went right at weddings, they don't always go right in escrows, but I found if you didn't freak out, most people never knew the difference and those that did were able to sort it out with minimal damage or delay. This a was crusical skill when things went wrong in front of 300 people at a once in a lifetime event.
- When you know what matters most it gives you direction and you become unaffected by outside agendas; it creates focus through distractions. “This is where I'm going as a Realtor, or this is where we're going as a family: I’m not seeking your permission or approval, I hope we cross paths many times along the way, but this is where we’re going” It creates conviction and clarity of purpose. As a planner, I had to know what my client wanted and defend it; it's surprising how many people try to interject their opinions at a wedding.
- When you know what matters most it allows you to know true contentment. You are not distracted by the outside negative forces, keeping up with the Jones, not a victim of shiny objects syndrome that tend to distract or deplete you. In fact you're wanting for less, happy with who you are. I learned about this when I saw big, lavish weddings end in divorce a few years later and simple garden weddings that are still sending me the children's photos. I always have stayed in touch with clients that let me...another habit that serves me well in real estate.
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