I showed up to a wedding knowing the bride was going to be a handful (money has a way of blocking those red flags).

My strategy was to be as freakin’ nice and patient as I could ever be…and then go another level nicer.

By the end of the night, I was not longer “one of the wedding vendors”. I earned my reputation as a calm, creative and respected professional.

The moral: Being a professional is never optional, and when you need to turn it up a notch, do it. It’ll make you a better creative.