As a wedding entrepreneur, it’s easy to blur the lines between being a business owner and being your own employee. The distinction between working in your business versus working on your business is critical for long-term success. Understanding and balancing these roles can help you grow from being busy to being productive—and ultimately, transition from employee mode to CEO mode.
Let’s break it down.
Working In Your Business: The Day-to-Day Grind
Working in your business means handling the operational tasks that keep the wheels turning. These tasks are essential, but they often consume your time and energy without necessarily driving strategic growth. Examples include:
- Answering client emails
- Managing wedding timelines
- Sending invoices and processing payments
- Coordinating with vendors
- Handling day-of logistics
These tasks generate income and keep you busy, but they don’t leave room for big-picture planning or scaling your wedding business. When you spend all your time working in your business, you’re essentially acting as an employee—not the visionary leader your business needs.
Working On Your Business: The CEO Mindset
Working on your business is about stepping back to focus on growth, strategy, and long-term goals. This is where you operate as a CEO, shaping your business’s future. Examples of working on your business include:
- Developing a marketing strategy tailored to wedding clients
- Refining your brand to attract your ideal couples
- Building systems to streamline client onboarding and vendor management
- Analyzing your pricing structure to ensure profitability
- Networking with other wedding professionals to build partnerships
These activities may not generate immediate income, but they are essential for creating a sustainable, scalable, and profitable wedding business.
Key Differences Between the Two
Income vs. Growth:
- Working in your business generates short-term income.
- Working on your business creates opportunities for long-term growth.
Busy vs. Productive:
- Working in your business keeps you busy with tasks that maintain the status quo.
- Working on your business makes you productive by laying the foundation for future success.
Employee vs. CEO:
- When you work in your business, you’re effectively an employee tied to daily operations.
- When you work on your business, you embrace the CEO role, focusing on leadership and strategy.
How to Strike the Right Balance
To build a thriving wedding business, you need to find a balance between the two. Here’s how:
Delegate Tasks:
Outsource tasks like social media scheduling, bookkeeping, or day-of coordination to free up your time for strategic work.Set Dedicated CEO Time:
Block out time each week to focus solely on working on your business. Use this time to plan, strategize, and analyze your progress.Invest in Systems:
Implement tools like HoneyBook or Aisle Planner to streamline operations, giving you more space to focus on growth.Educate Yourself:
Attend industry conferences, enroll in business coaching programs, or take online courses to sharpen your skills as a leader.
Why This Matters
As a wedding industry expert, your time and energy are your most valuable assets. When you focus too much on working in your business, you risk burnout and stagnation. Shifting your mindset to prioritize working on your business allows you to build a brand that not only thrives but also stands out in the competitive wedding market.
Remember: the goal is to transition from being a busy entrepreneur to becoming a strategic CEO.
Ready to Take the Leap?
Start dedicating time to work on your business today. Whether it’s refining your processes, building a marketing plan, or seeking guidance from a coach, every step you take moves you closer to building the wedding business of your dreams.
Let’s Connect! If you’re ready to elevate your wedding business, I’d love to help. Reach out today for one-on-one coaching tailored specifically to wedding entrepreneurs like you.
Love and Soul Always, Kawania
Photo: Nikki Daskalakis
