“You’re latter will be greater than the past. You will be blessed more than you can ask. Despite all that has been done, your best is yet to come. Your latter will be greater than the rest. All things are possible! It’s a new season – It’s a new day!”
- Israel Houghton   *great song – find it to download!

Where do I begin? It’s been so long since I’ve posted and SO much has happened. The holidays are always such a great time with family and friends – and away from my macbook and work… well not entirely, but in traveling I didn’t have my handy dandy wireless on my side. I was living entirely off of my iphone and I kept up enough with brides and work to book two new Confero brides for 2010. Super excited about that and all the new things for Christopher Confero, but there will be plenty of posts about that in the next few weeks.

I want to start from square one about the spark that has changed my outlook on life. Right before Christmas I ventured to Watercolor FL to attend Lara Casey’s Making Things Happen 2010 Intensive – again, where do I begin.

If you don’t know who Lara Casey is or about her DYNAMIC life, please go read her post that birthed the MTH2010 tour.

After you’ve read her post, imagine having an all day face-to-face experience with that, while sharing it with 20 other young professionals who are starving to make something happen in their lives. We cried, laughed, shared our deepest fears and talked through how to move beyond them. I met some of the most amazing people ever. Lara Casey, Jeff Holt, Kyle Barnes, Emily Ley, Ashley Baber.. and so many many more. People that I know will be in my life forever.

Lessons Learned MTH2010 :

Be Authentic | The word authentic kept coming up over and over again during our session. Be true to who you are. Don’t ever pretend to be something you are not. You will get caught and fall on your face.

“Don’t be afraid to fall and fall often.” Lara Casey  | It’s the times when we are down that teach us the best lessons, and we realize who we can truly depend on.

Surround yourself with people who infuse | Lara made us write down the people that we are surrounded with on a daily basis and how they make us feel. We also wrote down the ones who suck the life out of you and what harm they are to your life.

Proverbs 24:1-5 – Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company. For their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about making trouble. By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power and a man of knowledge increases strength.

“Live within your arc of creativity.” Jeff Holt | Surround yourself with people who you inspire you. Not to replicate, but to appreciate the beauty in others. Let everything you experience inspire you and push you farther as a creative individual.

Know your strengths and weaknesses | Be aware and accept the things you are able to do and what you can’t do. Build yourself and your team to compliment and balance those things.

Be true to your brand | It may take a while to grasp what your distinct brand is, but when you find it… OWN IT! Never let it stop developing or growing, but stay consistent in your identity.

When I think back over the past year of my life, it encompasses the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. I literally started from the ground up, because in January – I was at my lowest and there was nowhere to go but up.

I moved back from my “extended vacation” in Charlotte, and hit the ground running again to move Confero Productions forward. Upon my return, I worked partly for Mandy Majerik at Hot House Design Studio to whom I am forever grateful for her influence. Beyond my hours at Hothouse, Confero had bridal show after bridal show, photo shoot after photo shoot… I learned from them all – some good things, some bad things.

With numerous spectacular weddings and events through 2009 there were a few that made my year monumental.

I was blessed to work with Project Runway Alum, Heidi Elnora, as her wedding designer and planner. It was a connection personally, professionally, emotionally and spiritually. I not only designed a marker in my career, I made life long friends in Heidi, Jeff and their families. I love you all!

Next was my 2010 Alabama Weddings Magazine Signature Style photo shoot, Electric Romance. Michelle Tubbs, you have been a dear friend and one of the kindest individuals I’ve ever had the privilege to know. Thank you for believing in me. I was so excited to work with so many incredibly talented professionals. A special thank you to Mark Broadway – you captured my vision better than I could have ever dreamed. I remember sitting in Michelle’s office the day I previewed the images – tears just rolling down my face. To have had everything I love in one spread. Life-long friends who are so dear to my heart – - Blaine, David – - Great professional friends who’s talent blows my mind every time I work with you – - Heidi, Diane, Mandy, Alex – - I am forever grateful for your role in this part of my year.

Through all the experiences in 2009, the lessons learned and relationships made – I knew it was the right time to get a true handle on my business and make this my passion. Confero Productions is now a thing of the past and Christopher Confero was born. A combination of my future and the reputation I’ve built the past few years.  I launched an entirely new brand, website, blog and in the coming months Christopher Confero Atlanta will open. Wrapping the year up with the Making Things Happen Intensive changed my life. It made me believe in myself again. It rekindled the spark I’d lost for something that I loved to do.

Thank you to EVERYONE who was apart of 2009 – good or bad – you shaped me into who I am.  I am coming into my own personally, professionally and spiritually. The world better watch out for Christopher Confero in 2010 – I am MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!

This is my 2009 year in review in photos. It sums up everything that I cherish.

There are so many more posts to come about my MTH experience, and things that have experienced in 2009 and look for in 2010. I can’t wait to share more with you!