Summer is usually a time to relax and take it easy. But I decided instead to say YES! and “put myself out there” and make a point to re/connect with professional women who inspire me, check out organizations and events where I could potentially meet even more professional women to inspire me even more, and simultaneously force myself out of my comfort zone personally, professionally, and creatively. Despite a couple of duds, results so far have been overwhelmingly positive. I feel invigorated, happy, connected, and confident. It’s amazing what YES! can do!
This summer I’ve said YES to…
…Spending time one-on-one with amazing entrepreneurial women doing really cool shit:
- Caroline Greene of IvanExpert and I chowed down on Superiority Burger and I learned about all the cool and creative things she’s doing with textiles, 3D printing, and painting.
- Jeanie of apartmentjeanie, photojeanie, and partyjeanie fame and I enjoyed shop-talk over fresh-squeezed lemonade and old-school New York vibes at Old Town Bar.
- Content-strategist and all-around business know-it-all (in the best possible way) Melea Seward joined me for lunch at local Prospect Heights favorite Healthy Nibbles to fill me in on her west coast adventures.
- The Pitch Girl Laura Allen, who I actually met at Melea’s birthday party several years ago and have been Facebook friends with but haven’t seen since, offered a free hour consultation on her Facebook wall and I jumped at the chance to get some insight from her. It was eye-opening and extremely helpful and we’ve been in touch ever since.
- I had “frozé” (frozen rosé) at El Rey on the LES with Julia Lovallo Chaykin, a kick-ass creative and design consultant I met a couple years back at a (really great) SEO class she taught.
- I had a delicious and healthy lunch at the Sun In Bloom in my ‘hood with mission, messaging, and strategy master Jackie Boone and heard all about her adventures in the south of France with her Master Your Mission group.
- Justine Clay of Pitch Perfect Presentation and I met up for lunch at The Butcher’s Daughter in Nolita for minty water, yummy salads, and working mum talk.
- I spent a day showing PR maven and writer/editor Nell Alk around my favorite spots in Rockaway Beach.
…Checking out new organizations dedicated to getting women together and helping them succeed:
- Per Laura Allen’s suggestion, I went to the SheWorx PR panel event and brought along superstar career coach (and client and friend) Bryn Johnson. “Networking” is not generally my favorite thing to do, but overall it was a dynamic group and the focus was on gaining knowledge, so that was great.
- I read about a secret society of feminists in NYC who are doing really cool shit. I asked my network if they know anyone involved. Someone put me in touch with a member they knew, I got invited to an event they were having the following week, and from there I was invited to join! So far it’s been a great group and resource and I’m excited to get more involved.
- I follow a lot of artists I admire on Instagram. Three illustrators I follow started this really cool project called Ladies Drawing Night (and have a book of the same name coming out next month). One of them, Leah Goren (whose work I’m OBSESSED with), posted about a Ladies Drawing Night event they were hosting not far from my place, so I RSVP’d for two and invited along a dear high school friend of mine who I don’t get to see nearly enough. I expected a bit of instruction, but it turned out that other than the two of us, most attendees were pros! Still, I dove right in and had fun with it. I was able to pick up an early copy of the book and was the first person any of them had signed a book for, which was exciting for everyone! Meet your idols!
- I went to my first Freelancers Union event.
…Doing a couple of things that ultimately weren’t really for me:
- I visited a BNI networking group as a guest. The group was very welcoming and seemed to really enjoy and support each other and I’m glad I went (at the very least to practice my “pitch” in front of a new group), but the pressure to join was heavy and it’s just not the right fit for me as a long-term commitment.
- I went to an event my high school threw for alumni in New York City (I went to boarding school in Massachusetts). I didn’t know anyone there and it seemed like more of a pick-up scene than I was prepared for. I’ll stick to making plans with the high school friends I know and like, thankyouverymuch!
…A few more things I’ll be squeezing in before Labor Day:
- I’m meeting up with the friend-of-a-friend who nominated me for the feminist secret society to learn more about her and her work and we’ll be talking about organizing a craft night!
- I’ll be going to a feminist entrepreneur event at the Grind co-working space my client Cari Sommer recommended to me.
- I’ll be attending the SheWorx one-year anniversary party.
- I’ll be attending my first Running With Heels lunchtime event (I’ve been to a couple of dinners and loved them). This one will focus on RWH founder Jenny Powers’ podcasting advice. (Because who knows? Maybe podcasting is what I say YES! to next!)
…Paving the way to say YES! this fall:
- I want to do a video! And I finally got some creative inspiration! I wrote to Evi Abeler, one of my favorite collaborators, and she’s down! Stay tuned…
- I want to get more high-caliber women professionals together on a smaller-scale to simply be connected to and invested in one another. I’m planning an event for September and hopefully it will continue quarterly from there (fingers crossed!).
- I want to start a small-scale, highly-vetted, real-talk database where professionals give the real referrals they would give you face-to-face.
- I want more lunches and cocktails and coffees and concerts and creating! Hit me up!
What else should I say YES! to? Just ask!
What is one thing you can say YES! to today? DO IT! (Then tell me all about it!)