#celebrantgoals
Welcome to 2024! This is the day we traditionally shake off the haze of our Champagne-induced hangovers and promise ourselves that we’ll be better, healthier, smarter human beings… for about 2-6 weeks.
But with the hecticness of 2022 well behind us, and the ‘figuring it all out again’ of 2023 done, 2024 is perfectly positioned to be a year of growth, change and getting it done!
To take advantage of this next solar cycle and the possibilities that lay ahead, here are seven New Year’s resolutions for celebrants that you can realistically stick to. Pick one, two or all seven to commit to this year – whichever ones speak most to you (though everyone really should do number 6).
1. Demand your worth
2. Do OPD before May
Does OPD equal procrastination nation for you? You’re not alone! By the start of December 2023, a whopping 36% of celebrants had yet to complete their compulsory training. That’s more than a third of celebrants who waited until the final month to do their training… that had been issued seven months earlier… and was free… and only took most people less than 1 hour to do. The procrastination barrier is real!
SO MANY CELEBRANTS messaged us in a panic about how stressed they were feeling over not having done it yet. But once they did, the general consensus was “why did I put this off so long? It was easy!” Do yourself a favour and unburden the dragging weight of “incomplete” by marking 1st May in your calendar as your self-motivated OPD deadline.
3. Invest in you
The wonderful thing about celebrancy, is that most of the skills we develop are highly transferable to a lot of other professional and personal settings. From public speaking and storytelling, to marketing, fostering client relationships and basic tech skills. Make 2024 a year of learning. The Celebrant Society hosts loads of free opportunities for its members including regular catch-ups and professional speakers; or go all out to nourish mind, body and soul at our celebrant retreats in Bali this July.
4. Service your PA (and get your tech in order)
While it’s important to invest in that super computer you call your brain, your other equipment shouldn’t be ignored. If it’s been more than two years since you last had your PA serviced, book it in for a check up now. If you have a Bose S1 Pro, check that the firmware is up to date. While you’re at it do a general digital health check, e.g. are all your emails and files protected by two-factor authentication? Is your iPad or Kindle running on the latest software? And, in the wise words of WA celebrant Eddie Couto, “BACK UP YOUR SHIT!”
5. Spring clean your business
Throw open the metaphorical windows, blow off the dust and dedicate some time to refreshing your celebrant business. The wedding industry has changed so much over the past few years, so if you are still rocking 2019 business vibes, it’s time for a shake-up. It could be as simple as re-organising your workspace for maximum productivity or to spark creativity; or it could mean a complete overhaul of your marketing strategy. Big or small, if it’s a job that you’ve been putting off, 2024 is the year to tick it off your list. Need help getting started? Check out ‘The Ultimate Business Refresh’ course – there’s a 50% discount for The Wedding Society members.
6. Wear sunscreen
Like, at every wedding. Or any time you are outside. Good-quality SPF 50+. On your face, on your arms, on your legs, on the tops of your ears. For all the most obvious health reasons (duh), but also because no one wants to be the beetroot-red marriage celebrant in all the photos.
7. Support other celebrants
One of the most wholesome things about being part of The Celebrant Society is that the members truly embody the mission statement of “community over competition”. So let’s take this one step further this year by mindfully and purposefully support each other. Like and comment on each other’s social media posts; schedule at least one shout-out per month to celebrants who have made an impact on you; offer a wedding ride-along to a newbie who is eager to learn; or reach out to a celebrant you know who is having a tough time. Also, PLEASE don’t slam other celebrants in a public wedding couples forum – remember, you’re likely only getting half the story. When we support each other, we raise the industry as a whole and ultimately we all benefit.
Make even just one of these pledges to yourself, then look forward to how smug you will feel on 31st December 2024 with all that you’ve achieved. In the next 525,600 minutes, what resolutions will you use to measure this next season of love?
