That’s me with Linda Clemons. She knows how to own a crowd! Check out her book “Hush” about non-verbal communication.
I ain’t even going to lie, even lil’ ol’ extroverted me had nerves walking into the Sixth Annual Women in Business Luncheon hosted by the DC Chamber of Commerce.
I’m still getting used to not having a big company name and title behind me. I was showing up as just me: full-time entrepreneur, wife, and soon to be mom of three….three!
I’ve been feeling different in my skin.
In the span of a few short months, I was laid off from my lucrative tech job, turned 40, pregnant with my third child (surprise), and moved from the west to the east coast. I’m trying to catch the rhythm to this new beat life gave me.
So, when it was time to head to my second event during women’s history month, I reached for something that was comfortable and I knew would look good on me (and stretchy). I wore the same dress I had worn at my last speaking engagement, and felt damn good about it (younger me would never).
The moment I walked in, a board member from the historic Ben’s Chili Bowl pulled me aside.
She saw something in me.
And when she spoke into me, my glow became undeniable. I was done right then and there. I didn’t even need to make it to my table (but I did, because a pregnant lady got to eat). A woman of that caliber deliberately pouring into me helped ease any remaining tension I was feeling about me being off-beat.
And the luncheon kept getting better.
At my table sat women who had kids as teenagers, kids later in life, kids they didn’t plan, and women with no kids at all. I sat amongst a former Presidential Appointee, prominent business women, corporate queens, and women pivoting or just getting started.
All of us at the same table. All of us building something.
We laughed, exchanged resources, and shared intimate truths with an ease that made it easy to forget that we just met.
I ate it all up…right alongside my salmon, risotto, and cheesecake!
I might have walked in with nerves, but I left knowing that when I catch this beat, y’all going to see me dancing.
Drop me a line if y’all know this feeling...
Chat Soon,
Titi