Linnyette Richardson Hall is the Owner and Creative Director of Premiere Event Management, a Baltimore-based firm that specializes in creating unique, elegant, fun and personality-oriented events.  She is the Special Contributing Editor of the two book series Going to the Chapel (Penguin Putnam 1998) which was created for couples who are in the wonderful process of planning their nuptials. Formerly, Linnyette was Contributing Editor for Signature Bride Magazine and Columnist for WeddingChannel.com. American television audiences are able to see her work her "wedding magic" as one of the featured consultants on the hit reality television series, “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" which airs weekly on The Style Network.

Linnyette has been in the wedding industry since 1993 and has planned hundreds of weddings for brides & grooms locally and on a nationwide basis. Linnyette’s expertise has been featured in many local and national publications such as Glamour, Essence & Black Enterprise magazines, The Washington Post as well as appearing on CNN, FOX News, CBS and a host of other media outlets.

The Stylish Planner is so pleased to have Linnyette as a contributing guest blogger!  I feel her “tell it like it is” personality combined with her years of wedding and event planning experience make her feature a “must read”.  The feature is aptly titled “DIVA Day”, and will be posted on the first Wednesday of every month!

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There’s an old adage I heard somewhere in my distant past that says "nice girls finish last".  Mind you – I said it’s an "old adage", which means I don’t necessarily give any credence or power to the statement.  As wedding planners, it’s almost inherently a part of our "DNA" to want to please everyone.  From the client, to the vendors, to our staff, to the petulant guest who’s angry because there isn’t any Belvedere Vodka on the "house brand" bar…..we make it a part of our business to make sure everyone is taken care of.

Sometimes in this "rush to please", we forget one very important core element..our conscience.  It’s that little voice that encourages when you are doing the right thing and the stern admonisher that whispers in your ear when stuff isn’t happening as it should.  The term "nice girls finish last" is an acute reminder of how hard we try to please and in the midst of it all, we lose sight of the inner "voice".  We’ve all been there – a client is driving you up the wall of insanity, so instead of severing the ties and ending the relationship..you keep plugging along.  The end result?  You are a TOTAL wreck, emotionally and sometimes professionally AND you still have an insane client on your hands – even though you "stuck" it out.

This month’s insight is about YOU finishing where you NEED to be.  It doesn’t always have to be first, although winning is a great thing! You have to be able to go inside and take heed to the "voice" which calls your name every single day, every waking hour.  You have to be willing to make unpopular decision for the better good…of your company and your mental being.  We all have goals, both professionally and personally.  Make sure your "finish line" takes you to a place that leaves you refreshed, renewed and proud of the race you’ve run as well as the many others that are on your horizon.