Lately, I’ve been reading books about fostering creativity and this past Tuesday I attended a “meeting” for business women. It turned out to be more of a travelling pep rally for women who want to pursue their dreams. The event started at the yoga studio where I take classes three times a week.
I felt sacrilegious wearing my boots in the actual yoga studio space, but after we watched two champion yogis, who were also instructors, we did some breathing exercises and one posture. Then came the moment I’d been waiting for although I didn’t know it at the time. The inspirational speaker for the evening told us her story of being fired, then leading a small class of ten women through an exercise bootcamp. She had her clients use a piece of equipment during the bootcamp, which she kept bugging the company about making 100% green. She bugged them about this so much that they told her that she should buy the company.
So she did!
With all the power and energy her tiny stature could muster, she encouraged us to follow our dreams, think wildly and never give up. It was something that I knew in theory, but needed a booster.
We travelled to a nearby beauty salon, received more free goodies and I took the opportunity to network, passing out Austin Writers Roulette flyers like crazy to everyone who I spoke with. At our last stop, which was a restaurant, I had my opportunity to speak with the guest of honor in person. She was so warm and attentive that I felt self-conscious about taking up so much of her time, but one thing that she corrected me on was something that had been holding me back for a while.
Although I visualize a packed room for every roulette, there’s always this nagging fear that I’ll never make money from my creative efforts and will be condemned to work for other people, not necessarily enjoying what I’m doing. She pointed out that as long as I thought that way, I’ll remain in my present situation. She told me that I should think of my dream as a huge tree that needs to be planted in a large area rather than in a small pot.
That fuelled me just in time for today’s roulette. I know that I’m more prepared than ever before. We’re at a new location. I don’t need to set up a lot of stuff. I don’t need a team of volunteers. I’ve lowered the overhead. I have a wonderful line up. Everything’s in place. All I have to do is follow through, follow up and adjust my game plan to maximize future success.
After all, I’ve been on this path for seven months now. I know far more than I did seven months ago. By the close of January, I will have spoken publicly on three occasions, which is three times my original spoken presentation goal last year. Just being the organizer of such an event means that I’ve helped bring a creative space once a month that did not previously exist.
Once I figure out how to sustain it and grow it, then I’ll be in the position where I want to be. And it all starts by thinking creatively, wildly and fearlessly.