"As an entrepreneur you can do anything but you can't do everything!"

I've taken the plunge and hired publicist Mary Lower from the Sterling Cross Communications agency. I'm excited for what will unfold. While Mary and I were meeting yesterday, we discussed the media I'd like to see Purple Crayon Factory in. I said that I really thought we'd be in Upsize this coming year. I mentioned that I'd sent in an Upsize Lifelines Award nomination for our virtual assistant, Jean Hanson but I hadn't heard from them so doubted we were in the running. Lo and behold, when I returned from the meeting I had a message from Beth Ewen, Upsize editor saying she'd mailed us a congratulations letter weeks before but it had been misaddressed and returned. I love synchronicity! Beth said she'll be calling me next week for an interview. The article will be to honor Jean for being my business lifeline but it will still be a nice mention. (I've raved about Jean earlier in this blog. In the nomination I shared how Jean has helped me to really move PCF forward and that what I've learned from working with Jean is, "As an entrepreneur you can do anything but you can't do everything!" Heeding that advice, that's why I realized I needed a publicist at this stage and that it would be very helpful to have an intern. More about that later!

Staying focused

On Sunday, I facilitated my largest session to date for a group of almost 300. This is 5 times the largest size I've ever facilitated. The session was Treat Yourself to Treasured Holidays, a tailored version of our Envision Your Ideal Future workshop. It was part of a fundraiser for the Jeremiah Program that was orchestrated by Zonta International. I'm happy to say that it went great but not without a bout of anxiety. Each night for the previous two weeks, I'd have bad dreams that I forgot something very important and botched the whole thing. Every morning, I'd have to replace those thoughts with affirmations that I'd do my best, stay sincere and it would all turn out.

While I was presenting, there were a couple of tools that I used to help myself stay focused:
1) I found several faces that were obviously very engaged and appreciative. Each time I felt my confidence slipping, I'd look back at one of these faces for encouragement and to regain my strength.
2) I reminded myself to breathe and allow pauses regularly.
3) I kept thinking the word "trust" to help myself trust that I was doing the best I could.

It was truly a gift to have this experience. I was touched to be in the presence of so many, helping them connect with each other and contemplate how they'd like to be mindful during their holidays. And I learned so much, myself.