“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
Failure, defined as a lack of success, and the omission of expected or required action. It is mentioned with negative connotations and associations of shame. I challenge you today to replace point of view, and magnify all failure as data points – data points for what will not work, measurements for improving, and understanding your resilience.
“I’m rooting for everybody black” ~ Issa Rae
As a long-time follower of TED Talks via YouTube, I was very excited to attend my first TEDx event in my hometown, Detroit! For those of you that don’t know, TEDx is a locally curated version of TED Talks; and local entrepreneurs come and share their ideas, or their atypical paths to success. Based on the individuals selected to share, the consideration given to diversity was very clear. No two speakers or performances were alike, and the organization and execution was flawless. It was the first time in a while, that I’d gone to a conference and had been fully engaged the entire time!
Needless to say, there were a lot valuable takeaways, and in true Corporate Momming fashion, I’m here to share! There were sooooo many jewels dropped. However, here are my top 10:
This past Saturday, I sat on a panel for a Motherhood related event. Leading up to the event, I had contemplated sitting out because I don’t truly believe that I am in a place to be put on a pedestal, when it comes to having it all together. I accomplished somethings in my life and in my career, but I have soooooo much more growth ahead of me, and honestly, I’m still asking people to be my mentor. Needless to say, I went through with the event because I gave my word, and I didn’t want to back out. It went well, and I think there was some valuable information and networking that took place.
In the spirit of transparency, I don’t really love these type of events and I will say why. Many times they last two or three hours and in that short time, someone shares their story of how they got their business of the ground, how they became an influencer, or there’s some “link-up” of girl bosses. You do leave feeling empowered, but by the time the next week has rolled around, no real action or followup takes place to ensure you’re on the path to “success” (however you define it) for yourself. I further think there is a current trend or wave of these types of events, and I sometimes question the credibility or the experience of those involved.
I knew that I didn’t want my side hustle to stay a side hustle…
If you’ve ever thought about starting a business, side hustles (jobs) are a great way to build and develop your ideas, while maintaining a steady income. Side hustles give you the opportunity to start small, as you learn and work your way up. They are also a way to bring in additional income, and to just pursue multiple things you’re passionate about. The nice thing about side hustles is, you can commit as much or as little as you chose to, and there is a ton of flexibility involved.
…the more I did it, the easier it got…
We always hear the saying “your network determines your net worth”, but what about those who are afraid or shy away from approaching unfamiliar faces. Believe it or not, I get really awkward (in my opinion) when it’s time for me to speak to someone about what I do. I wouldn’t consider myself an introvert per say. However, I have always struggled with “small talk”. I’m fairly reserved and if i could have my way, I’d prefer to people watch.
My first experience with networking came early on in my career, in public accounting. We would have after work mixers, and team building outings that forced us to meet new faces. Initially, I would go off in a corner or stick with familiar faces, to avoid having to talk to new people. It wasn’t until I became a business owner that I had to force myself to actually talk to people. The one thing I will say is, the more I did it, the easier it got.
