Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Morgan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Avery. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
You never realize how far you’ve come or how hard you’ve worked to get somewhere until you’re asked a question like this.
How do I keep this short and simple?
I’ve always said that I thrive in chaos, which I’ve proven true considering I’ve worked in the service industry for 8+ years.
I got my first job as a barista at the only coffee shop in my small town. I needed gas money to go see my boyfriend who lived in a neighboring town on the weekends. This silly little job lit a fire in me that has yet to go out.
I fell in love with the feeling of improving someone’s day. I fell in love with feeling like someone people could depend on. I fell in love with feeling accomplished. It was a whole new level of responsibility for 16-year-old me. I know that sounds corny. I know it’s not that serious. I know I only made coffee for grumpy farmers, but this is the job that really shaped me as a professional because it was my first taste of success due to work ethic.
I’ve always said the service industry chooses you. No one would be crazy enough to start working in service on their own. You either love it or you hate it. Like I said before, that barista job lit a fire in me that I just can’t seem to put out.
I went off to college with the goal of becoming a special education teacher. Come to find out, life had other plans for me. I decided to take a year off from college to heal from some of the damage life had done.
One day, I went into a Charming Charlie to buy a watch. I went into that store only with the intention of buying a watch. I left the store with my first retail job (and don’t worry, a watch).
That job actually changed my life path. I was instantly successful as a salesperson. I got addicted to being an employee of the month and zoned to the front of the store. I again was addicted to feeling accomplished as I locked the store doors at the end of the night. Again, the service industry sucked me in. I was so satisfied with the quick wins it can bring. I decided to go back to college and change my major to Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing because I loved my time at CC so much.
I drove to Houston from Austin every weekend to keep my status with the company. I knew retail was where I wanted to be. I had no problem giving up my social life because I felt so sure of my future.
Life happens and my time with the company came to an end. I then did serval internships within the retail industry. I did a visual merchandising internship with Buckle and Cotton On. I found a whole new obsession within the industry; how my merchandising decisions could impact sales. I loved tracking sales based on product placement. I also just enjoyed getting to be a part of something bigger than me. Decisions I was making was helping a huge company succeed. That was so cool to me.
My love for visual merchandising took over and I applied for a job at Anthropologie one night after a few glasses of wine. I remember telling my friends, “visual positions are so competitive with this company, there is no way!”
Well, I got the job! This job led me to a network of women that would lead me to my next job in a brand new boutique in Houston, Favor The Kind. My manager from Anthro saw the fire in me and took me with her to be the Assistant Manager at this incredible new store.
Managing a retail store was my end goal when I started my retail journey. I never wanted to be corporate. I always wanted to be out on the floor working in the store and helping customers. I loved selling and merchandising.
BUT, I let a little voice in my head get to me at this point in my career. “You’re 25 and you’ve reached your goal. What’s next? Is this what you’re going to do forever? You’ll never make more money than this.” I had known quick success throughout my whole career and this new job was such a good position that it felt like a stopping place. The fire in my couldn’t get comfortable with that.
So, I left retail altogether and became a commercial construction recruiter. Yep. You read that right. I left years of merchandising and selling success to staff commercial construction jobs. And I FAILED MISERABLY AT IT. This was my first taste of failure in my career path and it was UGLY for me mentally.
My mom had just started her journey in opening a wedding venue at this time and with my tail between my legs, I asked her for the opportunity to work for her cleaning the venue until I could figure out what was next for me.
Here we are a year later. I am the Business Operations Manager for Pattison House and have started my own Day-Of Coordinating business. Watching my mom live her dream helped me create one of my own. I have been able to take all my natural talents and love of service and help make couples wedding days unforgettable. I feel like I’m exactly where my twisted road was always trying to lead me!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth having is easy. My advice would be to take both success and failure head-on.
Failure is important and necessary. Failure is growth.
Never be too confident and never allow yourself to be insecure either. Trust your decisions that lead to growth. Understand that you’ll mess up. Know that if you make the wrong decision, you can come back from it. Don’t be afraid to take risk.
I played it safe for the majority of my career and I found success doing that. I knew I could be successful if I stuck to what I knew. That is what lead to the voice inside my head saying “what’s next? This isn’t enough for you.” because I never felt challenged. You have to motivate yourself to really find your worth as a professional.
It wasn’t until I took a step out of my comfort zone and took a LEAP in the WRONG direction that I found myself as a professional and somehow landed myself on my right path again.
Find a mentor and LISTEN to their advice. Find someone with similar goals and drive as you and learn from their leaps.
Please tell us about Pattison Houston.
I am SO proud of the Pattison House. We are a women-owned, mother/daughter run business. We strive to be more than a wedding venue, but a place for an unforgeable experience.
There are so many small details that make Pattison House special. First being, our attention to detail.
We offer more than just a space to rent. We are with you every step of the way. We GENUINELY want your wedding day to be the best day of your life.
We don’t want you to look back and think “what a good day.” We want you to look back and think “What a perfect day at Pattison House.”
I could brag on our business all day. I am
so proud of it and the success that it has seen this year.
My title is Business Operations Manager which is a LinkedIn way of saying “I wear a lot of hats.” I designed our website, run our marketing, and run the office side of the business. Trena Anderson, my mother, is the real gem behind Pattison House. Her testimony and servant heart make Pattison House one of a kind. I encourage everyone to visit our website to learn more about how we started and what a dream come true this business is. My love for service and my mother’s talent have created something r incredible.
I can’t take credit for Pattison House. This was my mother’s dream and investment that I was lucky enough to tag myself into.
What I’m personally most proud of is what I have added to the business. I started a Day-Of Coordinating business that I offer exclusively to Pattison House couples. Getting to be such a big part of such a special day is unlike any other feeling. I get to combine my love for recognizing what drives a business and my love for service and give people their dream event.
Who have you been inspired by?
Dolly Parton. She makes it cool to be different. She is bright, loud, and proud. My personality has always been big and loud. She makes me proud of that.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3602 North st
Pattison, Texas - Website: www.pattisonhouse.com
- Phone: 9792578902
- Email: avery.pattisonhouse@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thepattisonhouse
Image Credit:
Heather Grissom, Heather Purvis, Tyler Wright
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