The Summer of Deliveries
A Summer For The Books
As we soak in the last few weeks of summer, I can honestly say this was one for the books. My gigs slowed down as I prepared for two very important, and potentially life-altering deliveries. One being a TEDx talk. But I need to first take you back to January of 2017, which kicked things off in an unexpected way. I was laid off from my corporate job. Living in Manhattan with big bills, a baby, and a partner who was out of work, it was a less than ideal time to be filing unemployment! Still, I took the cards I was dealt and decided I would find a way to prevail. Within days I began marketing myself as a professional emcee, and within days of that, I booked my first gig. Talk about a good sign! Since then it has been a lesson in business, craft, and humility.
Unleash the Speaker Within
Over the next 1.5 years I would establish my business, which provides emcee and media production services to clients. I produced a TV series, worked with some of the most reputable companies in America, and found myself fully enjoying the ride. Still, something was amiss. I knew that there was more I could offer. Throughout my life’s journey I have not only paid attention to the patterns that worked, but I also confronted the ones that didn’t. I wanted to inspire people the same way I inspired my own spirit on a daily basis. My desire was to walk into conferences and ignite motivation in the hearts of those struggling to find their truth, strike their balance, and fulfill their dreams.
If You Build It…
I began to work on a talk, and then a workshop. I was ready! But, I didn’t have reference material to deliver to clients who were interested in booking me. How could I convince them that I was the answer to their ‘corporate lunch and learns’ and ‘annual conference keynote’ needs? I decided to continue watering my business where I saw the most growth: in the emcee sector. I also decided to continue honing my speaking craft by keeping up with Toastmasters and writing talks that would make an impact. In my heart I knew the time would come where these skills would be put to the test. And then it happened. I was asked to speak at a TEDx conference in Ohio. Without a moment’s hesitation, I accepted. Was I prepared? No. Was I walking into this with a wealth of experience speaking for long periods to large audiences? No. Did I even have a topic? No. Was I going to be 8 months pregnant when I delivered this talk? YES! Was going to make it work at all costs? Absolutely.
And So It Began…
This opportunity excited and frightened me at the same time. And that’s why I took it. For several months I took every spare moment I had (and as a mom, full time employee, and business owner, I don’t have many) and I invested them into developing my TEDx talk. This talk was about so much more than me. It was about an idea that I felt was so completely worth spreading, that I put my own personal trials and tribulations into it to demonstrate my point.
Focus On The Prize
With all the distractions and FOMO that come with summer, I had to stay focused. I knew these were my last few months before I would be plunged into the chaos that is the first year of motherhood, but I stayed on course. I put in the work, did the research, and rehearsed my heart out. Things don’t always happen the way we plan them to but, as it turns out, my first motivational talk was delivered on a TEDx stage, and is now available on the TEDx youtube channel (hello, 20 million subscribers!!!). I could have made a million excuses to not take this opportunity, but I knew that this was as it was meant to be. Go hard, or go home. I went hard. The summer of 2019 is one for the books. And it’s not over yet…
Watch my talk HERE
