Thursday, March 19, 2009

Discovering Yourself

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a fellow Bradley University family member who was looking for some career advice and tips on how to break into the PR/Marketing industry. She is just about to graduate college and head off into this big, bad world of total responsibility and is considering the big move to LA. When her sister (a friend of mine and also a BU alum) contacted me to let me know that her younger sister was going to be in Los Angeles during her spring break and she wanted to meet up with me, I was so flattered. Have I really accomplished enough already to have a mentoree? Wow, apparently so, as I just received a wonderful email from her thanking me for my time and invaluable information that I gave her over dinner last night. We had a great time and I love seeing people go after their dreams.

It was only a few short years ago when this was me. I also took my Spring Break, Senior Year, to come out to Los Angeles for a second trip that year, to make absolute sure that this was where I wanted to start my career. I met with fellow BU alums, too, and picked their brains with my questions. After a resounding, but silent, "Yes!" came to me as I flew back to Illinois, I knew that opportunities would be endless in the the City of Angels. I could not describe the intense feelings of excitement and anticipation (ok, and a little fear!) that I was feeling, but I was ready to conquer the world.

Sacrifice, tears, joy, hard work and darn-near bloodshed have gotten me to where I'm at today, and it's only the beginning. Today I am so empowered to be given the opportunity to make a positive impact in other women's lives. I was born an entrepreneur, and know that it's so important to live your dreams and not just talk about them. I want my story to become one of inspiration and motivation. I believe I'll start writing a book to include all the details because it's no easy feat to be here every day. But as for right now, I'm happy to know that I've helped someone find direction and I look forward to paying it forward again as so many have done before me.

This was the quote at the bottom of her email. How perfect, don't you think?

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." - Alan Alda

You may not have to physically re-locate across the country, but do what you must to fulfill YOUR destiny.